How far is Bells, TN from East Chattanooga, TN?

The driving distance from Bells, TN to East Chattanooga, TN is about 274.6 miles (442 km), with a travel time of about 04h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 220.8 miles (355.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 35m 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
274.62 mi
04h 17m
Flight
220.75 mi
355.27 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
220.75 mi
Kilometers
355.27 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
274.62 mi
Kilometers
441.96 km
Drive Time
04h 17m

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 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in East Chattanooga
Thu, Apr 16, 4:42 AM EDT
Return by in Bells
Thu, Apr 16, 8:00 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bells
2026-04-15T23:24
Arrive East Chattanooga
Thu, Apr 16, 3:42 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:18 AM to 1:18 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
8:24 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
136.9 mi
02h 08m
To East Chattanooga
137.7 mi
02h 08m

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
85°F
Thursday

Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bells and East 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

    1323 ft · 50 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Georgia Avenue

    2587 ft · 1 min · Georgia Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto East 4th Street

    2081 ft · 35 sec · East 4th Street

  15. 15

    Turn straight

    613 ft · 22 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on Riverside Drive

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Riverside Drive

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Wilcox Boulevard

    1.5 km · 2 min · Wilcox Boulevard

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Dodson Avenue

    1.3 km · 1 min · Dodson Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Glass Street

    1871 ft · 46 sec · Glass Street

  20. 20

    Turn sharp right onto North Chamberlain Avenue

    16 m · 1 sec · North Chamberlain Avenue

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Chamberlain Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bells and East 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
21 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 24 East
104 mi · 38%
I-40 East
97.1 mi · 35%
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
52.2 mi · 19%
US 412 East
12.4 mi · 5%
High Street
1.6 mi · 1%
Riverside Drive
1.31 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 17m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+53.8 mi
220.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thompson's Station
02h 08m from Bells
Leave By
8:24 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Bells and Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near East Chattanooga.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 274.6 miles (442 km) and usually takes 04h 17m 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 136.9 miles from Bells and 137.7 miles from East Chattanooga.

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

The direct path is about 220.8 miles (355.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 53.8 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 8:24 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.54 one way or $73.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 86.1 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Bells and East 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 Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near East 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 East Chattanooga. Straight-line distance: 220.75 mi (355.27 km).

Bells

#1 Bells

City in Tennessee, USA

Population2,435
Coordinates35.7111800, -89.0875600
Altitude99
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 East Chattanooga

A neighborhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Population11,000
Coordinates35.0653500, -85.2491200
Altitude208
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-89.087585, 35.711163)
End: North Chamberlain Avenue (-85.249066, 35.06533)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 442 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 09m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 55m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.69 gal
36.68 L · about $36.54
Round trip
$73.08
19.38 gal · 73.36 L
Estimated CO2
86.1 kg one way
Round trip: 172.2 kg / 380 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $36.54 $73.08
Mid-grade $4.25 $41.21 $82.42
Premium $4.65 $45.10 $90.19
Diesel $5.30 $51.40 $102.79

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 East Chattanooga, TN. The current time in Bells is 23:24:32, although it is 00:24:32 in East 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.