How far is Chattanooga, TN from Henderson, NC?

The driving distance from Chattanooga, TN to Henderson, NC is about 491.8 miles (791.5 km), with a travel time of about 09h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 397.7 miles (640.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 28m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
491.79 mi
09h 14m
Flight
397.73 mi
640.08 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
397.73 mi
Kilometers
640.08 km
Flight Time
00h 48m

Driving Distance

Road route
491.79 mi
Kilometers
791.46 km
Drive Time
09h 14m

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 09h 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Henderson
Wed, Sep 23, 9:21 PM EDT
Return by in Chattanooga
Thu, Sep 24, 6:36 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chattanooga
2026-09-23T12:07
Arrive Henderson
Wed, Sep 23, 9:21 PM EDT
Route Timing
09h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
3:14 PM to 4:44 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
5:32 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chattanooga
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Glade Spring
VA

Town of the United States

From Chattanooga
245.4 mi
04h 37m
To Henderson
246.4 mi
04h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Today

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Sep 23 7:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S
Destination
61°F
Overnight

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Sep 23 3:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Martin Luther King Boulevard

    24 m · 6 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Market Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Market Street

  3. 3

    Turn left

    1378 ft · 23 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    5.8 mi · 8 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75 North: Knoxville

    1.4 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    99.2 mi · 1 hr 50 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    36.7 mi · 41 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol

    157.1 mi · 2 hr 48 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 77 South: Charlotte North Carolina

    23.5 mi · 27 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 148, SR 775: Fancy Gap

    1381 ft · 36 sec

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto Chance Creek Road

    1.4 km · 1 min · Chance Creek Road

  12. 12

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Fancy Gap Highway

    9.4 mi · 11 min · Fancy Gap Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on North Andy Griffith Parkway

    31.6 mi · 36 min · North Andy Griffith Parkway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on NC 74 East

    13.3 mi · 16 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on US 421 South: Greensboro

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Salem Parkway

    11.4 mi · 13 min · Salem Parkway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville

    7.8 mi · 10 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight right

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 43 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Durham

    9.4 mi · 11 min

  21. 21

    Keep slight left

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  22. 22

    Continue straight

    4.3 mi · 5 min

  23. 23

    Keep slight left

    36 mi · 39 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 39: Downtown Henderson

    1649 ft · 40 sec

  25. 25

    Turn right onto West Andrews Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · West Andrews Avenue

  26. 26

    Turn left onto North Garnett Street

    6 m · 1 sec · North Garnett Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Garnett Street

Car Route Details

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

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
27 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
4 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 81 North
157 mi · 32%
I 75 North
137 mi · 28%
I 85 North
51.5 mi · 10%
I 40 East
46.3 mi · 9%
North Andy Griffith Parkway
31.6 mi · 6%
I 77 South
23.5 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

I 81 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol

157 mi · 02h 48m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
09h 14m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
18h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+94.1 mi
397.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Glade Spring
04h 37m from Chattanooga
Leave By
5:32 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Chattanooga and Chance Light Rain near Henderson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 491.8 miles (791.5 km) and usually takes 09h 14m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Glade Spring is a useful midpoint, sitting about 245.4 miles from Chattanooga and 246.4 miles from Henderson.

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

The direct path is about 397.7 miles (640.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 94.1 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $70.58 one way or $141.16 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 154.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Chattanooga and Chance Light Rain near Henderson.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chattanooga and Henderson. Straight-line distance: 397.73 mi (640.08 km).

Chattanooga

#1 Chattanooga

The fourth most populous city in Tennessee.

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

#2 Henderson

City in Vance County, North Carolina, United States

Population15,109
Coordinates36.3295900, -78.3991600
Altitude154
CountryUnited States
Start: Chattanooga (-85.30968, 35.04563)
End: Henderson (-78.39916, 36.32959)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 791 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 01m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.35 gal
65.69 L · about $70.58
Round trip
$141.16
34.7 gal · 131.38 L
Estimated CO2
154.2 kg one way
Round trip: 308.4 kg / 680 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.07 $70.58 $141.16
Mid-grade $4.53 $78.54 $157.09
Premium $4.94 $85.69 $171.38
Diesel $6.22 $107.83 $215.66

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 · Sep 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Chattanooga and Henderson. The current time is 12:07:28.

Distance to Other Cities

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