{{Short description|Highway in Tennessee, United States}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox road | state = TN | route = 30 | type = Dual | maint = [[Tennessee Department of Transportation|TDOT]] | length_mi = 118.15 | established = October 1, 1923<ref name="1925report">{{cite book |type = Report |author1 = Highway Planning Survey Division |year = 1925 |title = Biennial Report of the Commissioner of the Department of Highways and Public Works State of Tennessee for the Years 1923 and 1924 |url = https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tdot/documents/100years/Biennial_Report%2c_Department_of_Highways_1923%2c_1924.pdf |location = Nashville |publisher = Tennessee Department of Highways and Public Works |access-date = May 19, 2023 |pages = 39–44 |oclc = }}</ref> | direction_a = West | terminus_a = {{jct|state=TN|US|70S}} near [[McMinnville, Tennessee|McMinnville]] | junction = *{{jct|state=TN|US|127}} in [[Pikeville, Tennessee|Pikeville]] *{{jct|state=TN|US|27}} in [[Dayton, Tennessee|Dayton]] *{{jct|state=TN|I|75}} in [[Athens, Tennessee|Athens]] *{{jct|state=TN|US|411}} in [[Etowah, Tennessee|Etowah]] | direction_b = East | terminus_b = {{jct|state=TN|US|64|US|74}} in the [[Cherokee National Forest]] | counties = [[Warren County, Tennessee|Warren]], [[Van Buren County, Tennessee|Van Buren]], [[Bledsoe County, Tennessee|Bledsoe]], [[Rhea County, Tennessee|Rhea]], [[Meigs County, Tennessee|Megis]], [[McMinn County, Tennessee|McMinn]], [[Polk County, Tennessee|Polk]] | previous_type = SR | previous_route = 29 | next_type = US | next_route = 31 | map={{maplink-road|from=Tennessee State Route 30.map}} |map_custom=yes |map_notes=SR 30; primary in red, secondary in blue }} '''State Route 30''' ('''SR 30''') is an east-west state highway in the [[Middle Tennessee|central]] and [[East Tennessee|eastern]] portions of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Tennessee]]. It runs generally west to east, connecting [[McMinnville, Tennessee|McMinnville]] in [[Warren County, Tennessee|Warren County]] with Parksville along the [[Ocoee River]] in [[Polk County, Tennessee|Polk County]]. It crosses several major geographic features in Tennessee, including the [[Cumberland Plateau]], the [[Sequatchie Valley]], the [[Tennessee River]], and parts of the [[Cherokee National Forest]].
==Route description== [[File:TNSR30.jpg|thumb|left|TN SR 30 highlighted in bold black]] '''SR 30''' begins just east of [[McMinnville, Tennessee|McMinnville]] in [[Warren County, Tennessee|Warren County]] at an intersection with [[U.S. Route 70S in Tennessee|US 70S]]. Just beyond this initial junction, SR 30 intersects [[Tennessee State Route 127|SR 127]], which connects the area to [[Tullahoma, Tennessee|Tullahoma]] to the southwest. SR 30 continues eastward, crossing into [[Van Buren County, Tennessee|Van Buren County]] at the [[Rocky River (Tennessee)|Rocky River]]. After passing several miles through predominantly-rural western Van Buren, the highway ascends over {{convert|900|ft|m}} through a series of [[hairpin turn|switchback curves]] to the top of the [[Cumberland Plateau]], where it enters the town of [[Spencer, Tennessee|Spencer]].<ref>U.S. Geological Survey. Spencer, TN. 1:24,000.</ref> Following College Street through Spencer, SR 30 intersects [[Tennessee State Route 111|SR 111]] just east of the town's downtown area.<ref name=tdotmap>{{cite map |url= https://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/tdot/attachments/2015-16_Official_SMap_(Back_Side)110915.pdf |title= Official Transportation Map |author= Tennessee Department of Transportation |author-link= Tennessee Department of Transportation |year= 2016 |scale= c.1:1,013,760 |location= Nashville |publisher= Tennessee Department of Transportation |sections= C10-C11, D11-D12, E12 |access-date= June 29, 2016 |archive-date= January 12, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160112221430/https://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/tdot/attachments/2015-16_Official_SMap_(Back_Side)110915.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref name="DeLorme">{{cite map |publisher = DeLorme |title = Tennessee Atlas & Gazetteer |edition = 2017 |year = 2017 |author = DeLorme |location = Yarmouth, Maine |scale = 1 in:2.5 mi |isbn = 978-1946494047 }}</ref>
[[File:Spencer-Old-Times-Cafe-tn1.jpg|thumb|left|SR 30 in [[Spencer, Tennessee|Spencer]]]] Continuing east beyond Spencer, SR 30 descends more than {{convert|900|ft|m}} from the edge of the plateau into the Dry Fork Gulf.<ref name=usgsbaldknob>U.S. Geological Survey. Bald Knob, TN. 1:24,000.</ref> This area marks the outer reaches of [[Fall Creek Falls State Park]]. At the base of the valley, SR 30 crosses Cane Creek and joins [[Tennessee State Route 285|SR 285]], which approaches from further down the valley in the direction of [[Doyle, Tennessee|Doyle]]. The merged highway then continues eastward, reascending more than {{convert|800|ft|m}} back to the top of the plateau,<ref name=usgsbaldknob /> before SR 285 diverges northward, and SR 30 continues toward the east. Just before reaching the Van Buren-[[Bledsoe County, Tennessee|Bledsoe]] county line, SR 30 intersects [[Tennessee State Route 284|SR 284]], which provides the primary access to Fall Creek Falls State Park to the south.<ref name=tdotmap /><ref name="DeLorme"/>
In the [[Mount Crest, Tennessee|Mount Crest]] area of western Bledsoe, SR 30 intersects [[Tennessee State Route 101|SR 101]], which runs in a northeastward direction to [[Crossville, Tennessee|Crossville]]. Just past Mount Crest, SR 30 begins another significant elevation change, this time descending more than {{convert|1000|ft|m}} from the edge of Cumberland Plateau into the [[Sequatchie Valley]].<ref>U.S. Geological Survey. Billingsley Gap, TN. 1:24,000.</ref> This particularly steep section of the highway endures occasional closures due to rockslides.<ref>Ben Burton, "[http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2016/jun/17/road-repairs-close-state-highway-30-between-p/371505/ Road Repairs to Close State Highway 30 Between Pikeville and Fall Creek Falls]," ''Chattanooga Times Free Press'', 17 June 2016.</ref> In [[Pikeville, Tennessee|Pikeville]], SR 30 merges with the north-south-oriented [[U.S. Route 127 in Tennessee|US 127]]. This merged route travels along the east side of Pikeville before the two highways split just south of the downtown area, with US 127 continuing southward to [[Dunlap, Tennessee|Dunlap]], and SR 30 crossing the [[Sequatchie River]] before turning east.<ref name=tdotmap /><ref name="DeLorme"/>
Continuing across the relatively narrow Sequatchie Valley, SR 30 begins another ascent of the Cumberland Plateau, climbing more than {{convert|1000|ft|m}} before topping out near [[Summer City, Tennessee|Summer City]].<ref>U.S. Geological Survey. Pikeville, TN. 1:24,000.</ref> After traversing this section of the plateau, known as [[Walden Ridge]], and crossing into [[Rhea County, Tennessee|Rhea County]], SR 30 enters its final major elevation change, this time winding its way more than {{convert|1200|ft|m}} down the side of the Cumberland Plateau into the Tennessee Valley.<ref>U.S. Geological Survey. Morgan Springs, TN. 1:24,000.</ref> In [[Dayton, Tennessee|Dayton]], SR 30 intersects [[U.S. Route 27 in Tennessee|US 27]], which connects Dayton with [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga]] to the south.<ref name=tdotmap /><ref name="DeLorme"/>
After crossing the [[Tennessee River]] east of Dayton, SR 30 continues winding its away around the various ridges and valleys that characterize the region, and passes through the county seats of [[Decatur, Tennessee|Decatur]] and [[Athens, Tennessee|Athens]]. In the latter city, SR 30 crosses [[Interstate 75 in Tennessee|I-75]] and [[U.S. Route 11 in Tennessee|US 11]], both of which run northeastward to [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]] and southwestward to Chattanooga. In [[Etowah, Tennessee|Etowah]] in eastern [[McMinn County, Tennessee|McMinn County]], SR 30 merges with [[U.S. Route 411 in Tennessee|US 411]], and veers southward into [[Polk County, Tennessee|Polk County]]. The highway provides access to [[Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park]] (via Spring Creek Road) before crossing the [[Hiwassee River]], with SR 30 splitting off from US 411 less than {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} later, turning eastward up the Hiwassee Valley into the [[Cherokee National Forest]].<ref name=tdotmap /><ref name="DeLorme"/>
In the old community of [[Reliance, Polk County, Tennessee|Reliance]], SR 30 intersects [[Tennessee State Route 315|SR 315]], which runs northward in the direction of [[Tellico Plains, Tennessee|Tellico Plains]]. Just past this junction, SR 30 turns sharply to the south, and winds its way into the Greasy Creek Valley. The highway follows this valley southwestward to the Parksville area along the [[Ocoee River]], where it terminates at [[U.S. Route 64 in Tennessee|US 64]] and [[U.S. Route 74 in Tennessee|US 74]].<ref name=tdotmap /><ref name="DeLorme"/>
==History== SR 30 was one of the original routes of the [[Tennessee State Route System]], established on October 1, 1923, between Pikeville and Dayton.<ref name="1925report"/> Around 1927 or 1928, SR 30 was extended west to McMinnville and east to Athens. The latter extension utilized [[Washington Ferry]], a historic ferry crossing the Tennessee River that had been established around 1807.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Guffey |first1=Pat |title=A Ferry Lived Here |url=https://www.rheaheraldnews.com/lifestyles/article_ec186de1-ce6e-51dd-bcdd-da6069398130.html |access-date=December 29, 2025 |work=The Herald-News |date=August 17, 2012 |location=Dayton, Tennessee}}</ref> In 1931 or 1932, the route was extended east to US 411 in [[Englewood, Tennessee|Englewood]]. Around 1941, SR 30 was swapped with SR 39 between Athens and Englewood, extended along its present-day concurrency with US 411, and replaced [[Tennessee State Route 40|SR 40]] between this route and US 64.
In 1973, the {{convert|1.8|mi|km|adj=on}} section of SR 30 between I-75 and US 11 was widened to four lanes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Neyland Drive, I-75 Projects Announced |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-neyland-driv/187681661/ |page=5 |access-date=December 29, 2025 |work=The Knoxville News-Sentinel |date=November 17, 1972 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> On September 17, 1996, the Washington Ferry Bridge across the Tennessee River opened, replacing Washington Ferry which closed the same day.<ref>{{cite news |title=End of an era |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-end-of-an-er/187676050/ |access-date=December 29, 2025 |work=The Knoxville News-Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |date=September 18, 1996 |page=A4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ferry Passes Into History As Hwy. 30 Bridge Opens |url=https://timesfreepress.newsbank.com/doc/news/13F5DF70D95A20A8?search_terms=Washington%2BFerry%2BBridge&text=Washington%20Ferry%20Bridge&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%255B0%255D=CHAT&pdate=1996-09-18 |url-access=limited |access-date=December 29, 2025 |work=Chattanooga Times Free Press |date=September 18, 1996}}</ref> The bridge was dedicated in honor of Tennessee Governor [[Ned McWherter]] on August 19, 2014. During his term as governor, McWherter worked to appropriate funds for the bridge and the expansion of SR 30 to four lanes between Decatur and I-75.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brusseau |first1=Andy |title=Bridge dedication to honor McWherter |url=https://www.dailypostathenian.com/news/article_a1392680-5489-5550-bdca-4adebb3e40aa.html |access-date=December 29, 2025 |work=The Daily Post-Athenian |date=August 15, 2014}}</ref> {{clear}}
==Major intersections== {{mileposts}} {{jcttop|length_ref=}} {{TNint |county=Warren |cspan=2 |location=none |mile=0.0 |road={{jct|state=TN|US|70S|name1=Sparta Highway/[[Tennessee State Route 1|SR 1]]|city1=McMinnville|city2=Doyle|city3=Sparta}} |notes=Western terminus; SR 30 begins as a primary highway }} {{TNint |location=none |mile= |road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|127|dir1=south|name1=Shellsford Road|city1=McMinnville|city2=Viola}} |notes=Northern terminus of SR 127 }} {{TNint |county=Van Buren |cspan=3 |location=Spencer |mile= |road={{jct|state=TN|TN|111|name1=Artillery Road|city1=Sparta|city2=Dunlap}} |notes=Interchange }} {{TNint |location=none |mile= |type=concur |road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|285|dir1=west|name1=Cane Creek-Cummingsville Road|city1=Doyle}} |notes=Western end of SR 285 concurrency }} {{TNint |location=none |mile= |type=concur |road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|285|dir1=east|name1=Mooneyham Road}} |notes=Eastern end of SR 285 concurrency }} {{TNint |county=Bledsoe |cspan=6 |location=none |road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|284|dir1=west|name1=Park Road|location1=[[Fall Creek Falls State Park]]}} |notes=Eastern terminus of SR 284 }} {{TNint |location=Mount Crest |mile= |road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|101|dir1=north|name1=Lantana Road|city1=Lake Tansi Village|city2=Crossville}} |notes=Southern terminus of SR 101 }} {{TNint |location=Pikeville |lspan=3 |mile= |type=concur |road={{jct|state=TN|US|127|dir1=north|name1=[[Alvin C. York]] Highway/[[Tennessee State Route 28|SR 28]] north|city1=Crossville}} |notes=Western end of US 127/SR 28 concurrency }} {{TNint |mile= |type=concur |road={{jct|state=TN|US|127|dir1=south|name1=[[Alvin C. York]] Highway/[[Tennessee State Route 28|SR 28]] south|city1=Dunlap}} |notes=Eastern end of US 127/SR 28 overlap }} {{jctbridge |mile= |bridge=Bridge over the [[Sequatchie River]] }} {{TNint |location=Summer City |mile= |road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|443|dir1=east|name1=New Harmony Road|city1=New Harmony}} |notes=Western terminus of SR 443 }} {{TNint |county=Rhea |cspan=6 |location=none |mile= |road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|443|dir1=west|name1=Ogden Road|city1=Ogden}} |notes=Eastern terminus of SR 443 }} {{TNint |location=none |mile= |road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|303|dir1=south|name1=Cranmore Cove Road|city1=Graysville}} |notes=Northern terminus of SR 303 }} {{TNint |location=Dayton |lspan=3 |mile= |type=concur |road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|378|dir1=north|name1=Market Street}} |notes=Western end of SR 378 concurrency }} {{TNint |mile= |type=concur |road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|378|dir1=south|name1=Market Street}} |notes=Eastern end of SR 378 concurrency }} {{TNint |mile= |road={{jct|state=TN|US|27|name1=Rhea County Highway/[[Tennessee State Route 29|SR 29]]|city1=Chattanooga|city2=Soddy-Daisy|city3=Spring City}} |notes= }} {{TNint |location=Old Washington |mile= |road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|302|dir1=north|name1=Old Dixie Highway|city1=Spring City}} |notes=Southern terminus of SR 302 }} {{jctbridge |river=[[Tennessee River]] |mile= |line=yes |bridge=[[Washington Ferry Bridge]] over the [[Tennessee River]] }} {{TNint |county=Meigs |location=Decatur |mile= |road={{jct|state=TN|TN|58|name1=Meigs County Highway|city1=Kingston|city2=Georgetown|city3=Chattanooga}} |notes= }} {{TNint |county=McMinn |cspan=8 |location=Athens |lspan=6 |mile= |road={{jct|state=TN|I|75|city1=Chattanooga|city2=Knoxville}} |notes=I-75 exit 49 }} {{TNint |mile= |road={{jct|state=TN|US|11|name1=Congress Parkway/[[Tennessee State Route 2|SR 2]]|city1=Cleveland|city2=Calhoun|city3=Charleston|city4=Niota|city5=Sweetwater}} |notes= }} {{TNint |mile= |road={{jct|state=TN|US-Bus|11|dab1=Athens|name1=N Jackson Street|location1=Downtown}} |notes= }} {{TNint |mile= |type=concur |road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|39|dir1=west|name1=E Washington Avenue/E Madison Avenue|location1=Downtown|city2=Riceville}} |notes=one-way pair; western end of SR 39 concurrency }} {{TNint |mile= |road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|305|Sec|307|dir1=north|dir2=north|name1=Ingleside Avenue|name2=E Madison Avenue|city1=Sweetwater|to3=to|I|75}} |notes=Southern terminus of SR 305 and SR 307 }} {{TNint |mile= |type=concur |road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|39|dir1=east|name1=New Englewood Road|city1=Englewood}} |notes=Eastern end of SR 39 concurrency }} {{TNint |location=Etowah |lspan=2 |mile= |type=concur |road={{jct|state=TN|US|411|dir1=north|name1=Tennessee Avenue/[[Tennessee State Route 33|SR 33]] north|city1=Englewood}} |notes=Western end of US 411/SR 33 concurrency }} {{TNint |mile= |road={{jct|state=TN|TN|310|dir1=east|name1=Mecca Pike|city1=Tellico Plains}} |notes=Western terminus of SR 310 }} {{TNint |county=Polk |cspan=5 |location=Delano |lspan=3 |mile= |road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|163|dir1=west|name1=Bowater Road|city1=Calhoun|to2=to|I|75}} |notes=Eastern terminus of SR 163 }} {{jctbridge |bridge=Bridge over the [[Hiwassee River]] }} {{TNint |mile= |type=concur |road={{jct|state=TN|US|411|dir1=south|name1=[[Tennessee State Route 33|SR 33]] south|city1=Benton}} |notes=Eastern end of US 411/SR 33 concurrency; SR 30 turns secondary }} {{TNint |location=Reliance |ctdab=Polk |mile= |road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|315|dir1=north|name1=Reliance Road|city1=Tellico Plains}} |notes=Southern terminus of SR 315 }} {{Jctint |location_special=[[Cherokee National Forest]] |mile=118.15 |road={{jct|state=TN|US|64|US|74|name2=[[Ocoee Scenic Byway]]/[[Tennessee State Route 40|SR 40]]|city1=Cleveland|city2=Ocoee|city3=Ducktown}} |notes=Eastern terminus; SR 30 ends as a secondary highway }} {{jctbtm|keys=concur}}
==References== {{Attached KML|display=inline,title}} {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Tennessee State Route 30}}
[[Category:State highways in Tennessee|030]] [[Category:Transportation in Warren County, Tennessee]] [[Category:Transportation in Van Buren County, Tennessee]] [[Category:Transportation in Bledsoe County, Tennessee]] [[Category:Transportation in Rhea County, Tennessee]] [[Category:Transportation in Meigs County, Tennessee]] [[Category:Transportation in McMinn County, Tennessee]] [[Category:Transportation in Polk County, Tennessee]]