How far is Chattanooga, TN from Dickson, TN?

The driving distance from Chattanooga, TN to Dickson, TN is about 169.5 miles (272.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 136.8 miles (220.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 23m 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
169.48 mi
03h 11m
Flight
136.82 mi
220.19 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
136.82 mi
Kilometers
220.19 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
169.48 mi
Kilometers
272.75 km
Drive Time
03h 11m

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 03h 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Dickson
Fri, Apr 10, 8:03 PM CDT
Return by in Chattanooga
Sat, Apr 11, 12:15 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chattanooga
2026-04-10T17:51
Arrive Dickson
Fri, Apr 10, 9:03 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
8:12 AM to 10:12 AM CDT

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

Leave by
10:36 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
Bell Buckle
TN

Town in Tennessee

From Chattanooga
84.7 mi
01h 35m
To Dickson
84.8 mi
01h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW
Destination
80°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    3.1 mi · 3 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 46: Centerville, Dickson

    1446 ft · 31 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right

    4.4 mi · 7 min

  11. 11

    Turn left onto East College Street

    3115 ft · 1 min · East College Street

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West College Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
12 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
4 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
24
105 mi · 62%
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
56.7 mi · 33%
West Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.05 mi · 1%
I 840 West
0.86 mi · 1%
East College Street
0.59 mi
SR 46
0.27 mi
Longest Stretch

24

Merge slight left

105 mi · 01h 57m

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
03h 11m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.7 mi
136.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bell Buckle
01h 35m from Chattanooga
Leave By
10:36 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Chattanooga and Sunny near Dickson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 169.5 miles (272.8 km) and usually takes 03h 11m 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?

Bell Buckle is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.7 miles from Chattanooga and 84.8 miles from Dickson.

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

The direct path is about 136.8 miles (220.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.7 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 10:36 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.55 one way or $45.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.1 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Chattanooga and Sunny near Dickson.

Stop Ideas Near Bell Buckle

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

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

BUS

Nashville, TN

73 mi away
705 5th Avenue South

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chattanooga and Dickson. Straight-line distance: 136.82 mi (220.19 km).

Chattanooga

#1 Chattanooga

The fourth most populous city in Tennessee.

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

#2 Dickson

City in Tennessee, USA

Population15,543
Coordinates36.0770000, -87.3877900
Altitude245
CountryUnited States
Start: Chattanooga (-85.30968, 35.04563)
End: Dickson (-87.38779, 36.077)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 273 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.98 gal
22.64 L · about $22.55
Round trip
$45.10
11.96 gal · 45.28 L
Estimated CO2
53.1 kg one way
Round trip: 106.3 kg / 234 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.55 $45.10
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.43 $50.87
Premium $4.65 $27.83 $55.66
Diesel $5.30 $31.72 $63.44

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 10, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Chattanooga, TN and Dickson, TN. The current time in Chattanooga is 17:51:47, although it is 16:51:47 in Dickson.

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.