How far is Bells, TN from Chattanooga, TN?

The driving distance from Bells, TN to Chattanooga, TN is about 269.6 miles (433.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 217.7 miles (350.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
269.61 mi
04h 08m
Flight
217.72 mi
350.39 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bells.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
217.72 mi
Kilometers
350.39 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
269.61 mi
Kilometers
433.89 km
Drive Time
04h 08m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chattanooga
Thu, Apr 16, 2:52 AM EDT
Return by in Bells
Thu, Apr 16, 6:00 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bells
2026-04-15T21:43
Arrive Chattanooga
Thu, Apr 16, 1:52 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:09 AM to 1:09 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:42 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bells
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Thompson's Station
TN

Town in Williamson County, Tennessee, United States

From Bells
134.7 mi
02h 04m
To Chattanooga
135 mi
02h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SSW
Destination
56°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 3:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bells and Chattanooga.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bells and Chattanooga.

  1. 1

    Start on High Street

    1.6 mi · 2 min · High Street

  2. 2

    Take the ramp slight right toward US 412 East: Jackson

    929 ft · 25 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left

    12.2 mi · 15 min

  4. 4

    Turn left onto I-40 East, US 412 East: Nashville

    97.1 mi · 1 hr 45 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin

    1.1 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway

    52.2 mi · 56 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 24 East: Chattanooga

    1.3 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    103.1 mi · 1 hr 55 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga

    2163 ft · 47 sec

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    1.2 km · 60 sec

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

    1123 ft · 26 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard

    897 ft · 30 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bells and Chattanooga.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
13 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 24 East
104 mi · 39%
I-40 East
97.1 mi · 36%
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
52.2 mi · 19%
US 412 East
12.4 mi · 5%
High Street
1.6 mi · 1%
US 27 North
1.14 mi
Longest Stretch

I 24 East

Merge slight left

103 mi · 01h 55m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 08m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+51.9 mi
217.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thompson's Station
02h 04m from Bells
Leave By
8:42 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Bells and Partly Cloudy near Chattanooga.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bells to Chattanooga?

The road trip is about 269.6 miles (433.9 km) and usually takes 04h 08m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Thompson's Station is a useful midpoint, sitting about 134.7 miles from Bells and 135 miles from Chattanooga.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 217.7 miles (350.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 51.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:42 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.86 one way or $71.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 84.5 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Bells and Chattanooga, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Bells and Partly Cloudy near Chattanooga.

Stop Ideas Near Thompson's Station

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Thompson's Station, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Thompson's Station.

BUS

Nashville, TN

41 mi away
705 5th Avenue South
BUS

Clarksville, TN

91 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bells and Chattanooga. Straight-line distance: 217.72 mi (350.39 km).

Bells

#1 Bells

City in Tennessee, USA

Population2,435
Coordinates35.7111800, -89.0875600
Altitude99
CountryUnited States
Chattanooga

#2 Chattanooga

The fourth most populous city in Tennessee.

Population184,742
Coordinates35.0456300, -85.3096800
Altitude206
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-89.087585, 35.711163)
End: West Martin Luther King Boulevard (-85.309688, 35.045753)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 434 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.51 gal
36.01 L · about $35.86
Round trip
$71.72
19.02 gal · 72.02 L
Estimated CO2
84.5 kg one way
Round trip: 169 kg / 373 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $35.86 $71.72
Mid-grade $4.25 $40.45 $80.89
Premium $4.65 $44.26 $88.52
Diesel $5.30 $50.44 $100.88

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Tennessee · Apr 16, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Bells, TN and Chattanooga, TN. The current time in Bells is 21:43:20, although it is 22:43:20 in Chattanooga.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.