How far is Chattanooga, TN from Brighton, TN?

The driving distance from Chattanooga, TN to Brighton, TN is about 310.7 miles (500 km), with a travel time of about 05h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 250.9 miles (403.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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
310.69 mi
05h 59m
Flight
250.9 mi
403.79 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chattanooga.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
250.9 mi
Kilometers
403.79 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
310.69 mi
Kilometers
500.01 km
Drive Time
05h 59m

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 05h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Brighton
Wed, Apr 15, 4:28 AM CDT
Return by in Chattanooga
Wed, Apr 15, 11:28 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chattanooga
2026-04-14T23:29
Arrive Brighton
Wed, Apr 15, 5:28 AM EDT
Route Timing
05h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM CDT

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

Leave by
5:00 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chattanooga
9:00 PM EDT
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
Burns
TN

Human settlement in Dickson County, Tennessee, United States of America

From Chattanooga
155.2 mi
02h 59m
To Brighton
155.5 mi
02h 59m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S
Destination
87°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Martin Luther King Boulevard

    1761 ft · 56 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn left

    1246 ft · 31 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left

    1.2 km · 59 sec

  4. 4

    Keep slight right to continue on 24: Nashville, Birmingham

    2222 ft · 42 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    104.9 mi · 1 hr 57 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin

    1.4 km · 2 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway

    53.7 mi · 58 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    109.8 mi · 1 hr 58 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 70: Brownsville, Ripley

    1247 ft · 32 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right onto East Main Street

    9.5 mi · 14 min · East Main Street

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 5 toward West Main Street

    122 m · 11 sec · West Main Street

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout onto West Main Street

    21.7 mi · 32 min · West Main Street

  13. 13

    Continue on East Liberty Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · East Liberty Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left

    6.6 mi · 11 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight left

    725 ft · 22 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on Old Highway 51 South

    1 km · 2 min · Old Highway 51 South

  17. 17

    Turn sharp left onto East Kenwood Avenue

    1567 ft · 43 sec · East Kenwood Avenue

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Kenwood Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
18 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
163 mi · 53%
24
105 mi · 34%
West Main Street
21.8 mi · 7%
East Main Street
9.48 mi · 3%
West Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.05 mi
I 840 West
0.86 mi
Longest Stretch

Tennessee National Guard Parkway

Merge slight left

110 mi · 01h 58m

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
05h 59m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
12h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+59.8 mi
250.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Burns
02h 59m from Chattanooga
Leave By
5:00 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Chattanooga and Mostly Sunny near Brighton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 310.7 miles (500 km) and usually takes 05h 59m 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?

Burns is a useful midpoint, sitting about 155.2 miles from Chattanooga and 155.5 miles from Brighton.

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

The direct path is about 250.9 miles (403.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 59.8 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:00 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.33 one way or $82.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Chattanooga and Mostly Sunny near Brighton.

Stop Ideas Near Burns

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Burns, 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 Burns.

BUS

Nashville, TN

50 mi away
705 5th Avenue South
BUS

Clarksville, TN

53 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chattanooga and Brighton. Straight-line distance: 250.9 mi (403.79 km).

Chattanooga

#1 Chattanooga

The fourth most populous city in Tennessee.

Population184,742
Coordinates35.0456300, -85.3096800
Altitude206
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Brighton

Brighton is a place in Tennessee, United States.

Population0
Coordinates35.4839700, -89.7250800
Altitude104
CountryUnited States
Start: Chattanooga (-85.30968, 35.04563)
End: Brighton (-89.72508, 35.48397)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 500 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.96 gal
41.5 L · about $41.33
Round trip
$82.66
21.92 gal · 83 L
Estimated CO2
97.4 kg one way
Round trip: 194.8 kg / 429 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $41.33 $82.66
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.61 $93.23
Premium $4.65 $51.01 $102.02
Diesel $5.30 $58.13 $116.26

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 15, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Chattanooga, TN and Brighton, TN. The current time in Chattanooga is 23:29:18, although it is 22:29:18 in Brighton.

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.