How far is Clarksville, TN from Chattanooga, TN?

The driving distance from Clarksville, TN to Chattanooga, TN is about 179.5 miles (288.9 km), with a travel time of about 02h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 154 miles (247.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 40m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
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
179.5 mi
02h 50m
Flight
153.99 mi
247.82 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clarksville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
153.99 mi
Kilometers
247.82 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
179.5 mi
Kilometers
288.87 km
Drive Time
02h 50m

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 02h 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chattanooga
Thu, Apr 23, 1:55 AM EDT
Return by in Clarksville
Thu, Apr 23, 3:45 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clarksville
2026-04-22T22:05
Arrive Chattanooga
Thu, Apr 23, 12:55 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
11:50 AM to 1:50 PM EDT

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

Leave by
12:50 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Clarksville
9:30 PM CDT
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
Plainview
TN

City in Union County, Tennessee, United States of America

From Clarksville
88.9 mi
01h 25m
To Chattanooga
90.6 mi
01h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW
Destination
81°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North 2nd Street

    816 ft · 22 sec · North 2nd Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Franklin Street

    1762 ft · 52 sec · Franklin Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto University Avenue

    931 ft · 31 sec · University Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Madison Street

    4.7 mi · 8 min · Madison Street

  5. 5

    Turn left

    3.1 mi · 4 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right

    2202 ft · 54 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    33.3 mi · 36 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 24 East, I 65 South: Nashville

    2.3 mi · 3 min

  9. 9

    Continue on I 24 East: Chattanooga, Knoxville

    2.8 mi · 4 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 24 East: Chattanooga

    126.9 mi · 2 hr 21 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga

    2163 ft · 47 sec

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    1.2 km · 60 sec

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

    1123 ft · 26 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard

    897 ft · 30 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Clarksville and 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
16 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 24 East
132 mi · 74%
Madison Street
38.4 mi · 21%
I 40 East
2.06 mi · 1%
US 27 North
1.14 mi · 1%
Franklin Street
0.33 mi
Downtown
0.21 mi
Longest Stretch

I 24 East

Take the exit slight right toward I 24 East: Chattanooga

127 mi · 02h 21m

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
02h 50m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.5 mi
154 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Plainview
01h 25m from Clarksville
Leave By
12:50 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Clarksville and Sunny near Chattanooga.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 179.5 miles (288.9 km) and usually takes 02h 50m 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?

Plainview is a useful midpoint, sitting about 88.9 miles from Clarksville and 90.6 miles from Chattanooga.

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

The direct path is about 154 miles (247.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.5 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:50 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.87 one way or $47.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 56.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Plainview

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

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

BUS

Nashville, TN

63 mi away
705 5th Avenue South

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clarksville and Chattanooga. Straight-line distance: 153.99 mi (247.82 km).

Clarksville

#1 Clarksville

The second most populous city in Tennessee.

Population161,247
Coordinates36.5297700, -87.3594500
Altitude145
CountryUnited States
Chattanooga

#2 Chattanooga

The fourth most populous city in Tennessee.

Population184,742
Coordinates35.0456300, -85.3096800
Altitude206
CountryUnited States
Start: North 2nd Street (-87.359454, 36.529769)
End: West Martin Luther King Boulevard (-85.309688, 35.045753)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 289 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.33 gal
23.98 L · about $23.87
Round trip
$47.74
12.66 gal · 47.96 L
Estimated CO2
56.3 kg one way
Round trip: 112.5 kg / 248 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.87 $47.74
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.92 $53.84
Premium $4.65 $29.46 $58.92
Diesel $5.30 $33.57 $67.15

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 23, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Clarksville, TN and Chattanooga, TN. The current time in Clarksville is 22:05:37, although it is 23:05:37 in 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.