How far is Dickson, TN from East Chattanooga, TN?

The driving distance from Dickson, TN to East Chattanooga, TN is about 172.4 miles (277.5 km), with a travel time of about 02h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 139.1 miles (223.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 41m 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
172.44 mi
02h 50m
Flight
139.03 mi
223.75 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Dickson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
139.03 mi
Kilometers
223.75 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
172.44 mi
Kilometers
277.51 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 East Chattanooga
Thu, Apr 23, 12:55 PM EDT
Return by in Dickson
Thu, Apr 23, 2:46 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dickson
2026-04-23T09:04
Arrive East Chattanooga
Thu, Apr 23, 11:55 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
11:51 AM to 1:51 PM EDT

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

Leave by
12:48 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Dickson
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Bell Buckle
TN

Town in Tennessee

From Dickson
85.9 mi
01h 25m
To East Chattanooga
86.6 mi
01h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S
Destination
83°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West College Street

    3115 ft · 1 min · West College Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto SR 46

    4.6 mi · 7 min · SR 46

  3. 3

    Take the exit left

    1217 ft · 30 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    3.5 mi · 4 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin

    1.1 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway

    52.2 mi · 56 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 24 East: Chattanooga

    1.3 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    103.1 mi · 1 hr 55 min

  9. 9

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

    2163 ft · 47 sec

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    1.2 km · 60 sec

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

    1123 ft · 26 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard

    1323 ft · 50 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Georgia Avenue

    2587 ft · 1 min · Georgia Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto East 4th Street

    2081 ft · 35 sec · East 4th Street

  15. 15

    Turn straight

    613 ft · 22 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on Riverside Drive

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Riverside Drive

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Wilcox Boulevard

    1.5 km · 2 min · Wilcox Boulevard

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Dodson Avenue

    1.3 km · 1 min · Dodson Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Glass Street

    1871 ft · 46 sec · Glass Street

  20. 20

    Turn sharp right onto North Chamberlain Avenue

    16 m · 1 sec · North Chamberlain Avenue

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Chamberlain Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Dickson and East 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
21 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 24 East
104 mi · 60%
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
52.2 mi · 30%
SR 46
8.32 mi · 5%
Riverside Drive
1.31 mi · 1%
US 27 North
1.14 mi · 1%
Wilcox Boulevard
0.94 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 24 East

Merge slight left

103 mi · 01h 55m

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 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.3 mi
139.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bell Buckle
01h 25m from Dickson
Leave By
12:48 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Dickson and Sunny near East Chattanooga.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 172.4 miles (277.5 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?

Bell Buckle is a useful midpoint, sitting about 85.9 miles from Dickson and 86.6 miles from East Chattanooga.

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

The direct path is about 139.1 miles (223.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.3 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 12:48 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.93 one way or $45.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Dickson and East Chattanooga. Straight-line distance: 139.03 mi (223.75 km).

Dickson

#1 Dickson

City in Tennessee, USA

Population15,543
Coordinates36.0770000, -87.3877900
Altitude245
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 East Chattanooga

A neighborhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Population11,000
Coordinates35.0653500, -85.2491200
Altitude208
CountryUnited States
Start: West College Street (-87.387913, 36.076908)
End: North Chamberlain Avenue (-85.249066, 35.06533)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 278 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.08 gal
23.03 L · about $22.93
Round trip
$45.86
12.16 gal · 46.06 L
Estimated CO2
54 kg one way
Round trip: 108.1 kg / 238 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.93 $45.86
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.86 $51.72
Premium $4.65 $28.30 $56.59
Diesel $5.30 $32.25 $64.50

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 Dickson, TN and East Chattanooga, TN. The current time in Dickson is 09:04:32, although it is 10:04:32 in East 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.