How far is Chattanooga, TN from Cowan, TN?

The driving distance from Chattanooga, TN to Cowan, TN is about 58.3 miles (93.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 40.5 miles (65.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
58.3 mi
01h 12m
Flight
40.46 mi
65.11 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chattanooga.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
40.46 mi
Kilometers
65.11 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
58.3 mi
Kilometers
93.83 km
Drive Time
01h 12m

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 01h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cowan
Sat, Apr 18, 8:34 PM CDT
Return by in Chattanooga
Sat, Apr 18, 10:46 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chattanooga
2026-04-18T20:21
Arrive Cowan
Sat, Apr 18, 9:34 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:12 AM to 10:12 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:06 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chattanooga
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Kimball
TN

Town in Tennessee, United States

From Chattanooga
29.1 mi
00h 36m
To Cowan
29.1 mi
00h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 12:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S
Destination
85°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    44.7 mi · 51 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward 41A: Monteagle, Sewanee

    990 ft · 27 sec

  7. 7

    Turn slight right

    15 m · 10 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1.6 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

  9. 9

    Continue on David Crockett Highway

    2171 ft · 37 sec · David Crockett Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Sewanee Highway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Sewanee Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Sollace M Freeman Highway

    2 mi · 3 min · Sollace M Freeman Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Sewanee Highway

    5 mi · 7 min · Sewanee Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Cumberland Street East

    1.4 km · 1 min · Cumberland Street East

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Tennessee Avenue North

    3 m · 1 sec · Tennessee Avenue North

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Tennessee Avenue North

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
15 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
25.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
24
45.2 mi · 77%
Sewanee Highway
6.8 mi · 12%
Sollace M Freeman Highway
1.99 mi · 3%
West Main Street
1.59 mi · 3%
West Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.05 mi · 2%
Cumberland Street East
0.87 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

24

Merge slight left

44.7 mi · 00h 51m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 12m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+17.8 mi
40.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kimball
00h 36m from Chattanooga
Leave By
4:06 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving Chattanooga and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Cowan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 58.3 miles (93.8 km) and usually takes 01h 12m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Kimball is a useful midpoint, sitting about 29.1 miles from Chattanooga and 29.1 miles from Cowan.

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

The direct path is about 40.5 miles (65.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 17.8 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:06 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.77 one way or $15.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 18.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Chattanooga and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Cowan.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chattanooga and Cowan. Straight-line distance: 40.46 mi (65.11 km).

Chattanooga

#1 Chattanooga

The fourth most populous city in Tennessee.

Population184,742
Coordinates35.0456300, -85.3096800
Altitude206
CountryUnited States
Cowan

#2 Cowan

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

Population1,668
Coordinates35.1645300, -86.0105400
Altitude297
CountryUnited States
Start: Chattanooga (-85.30968, 35.04563)
End: Cowan (-86.01054, 35.16453)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 94 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.06 gal
7.79 L · about $7.77
Round trip
$15.54
4.12 gal · 15.58 L
Estimated CO2
18.3 kg one way
Round trip: 36.6 kg / 81 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $7.77 $15.54
Mid-grade $4.25 $8.76 $17.52
Premium $4.65 $9.59 $19.17
Diesel $5.30 $10.93 $21.85

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 19, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Chattanooga, TN and Cowan, TN. The current time in Chattanooga is 20:21:47, although it is 19:21:47 in Cowan.

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.