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

The driving distance from East Chattanooga, TN to Bells, TN is about 277.2 miles (446.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 220.8 miles (355.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 22m 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
277.16 mi
05h 11m
Flight
220.75 mi
355.27 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from East Chattanooga.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
220.75 mi
Kilometers
355.27 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
277.16 mi
Kilometers
446.05 km
Drive Time
05h 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 05h 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bells
Mon, Apr 13, 7:10 PM CDT
Return by in East Chattanooga
Tue, Apr 14, 1:21 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave East Chattanooga
2026-04-13T14:59
Arrive Bells
Mon, Apr 13, 8:10 PM EDT
Route Timing
05h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:11 AM to 12:11 PM CDT

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

Leave by
6:38 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in East 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
Thompson's Station
TN

Town in Williamson County, Tennessee, United States

From East Chattanooga
138.5 mi
02h 35m
To Bells
138.7 mi
02h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Monday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Apr 13 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S
Destination
83°F
Monday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, Apr 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Chamberlain Avenue

    16 m · 11 sec · North Chamberlain Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn sharp left onto Glass Street

    1871 ft · 38 sec · Glass Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Dodson Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Dodson Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto East 3rd Street

    717 ft · 22 sec · East 3rd Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto North Willow Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North Willow Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    109 m · 8 sec · East Main Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto South Kelley Street

    2993 ft · 1 min · South Kelley Street

  8. 8

    Take the ramp right

    889 ft · 22 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    107.5 mi · 2 hr 1 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin

    1.4 km · 2 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway

    53.7 mi · 58 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    96.4 mi · 1 hr 44 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 412 West: Alamo, Dyersburg

    1308 ft · 32 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on US 412 West: Alamo, Dyersburg

    82 m · 7 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on US 412 West: Alamo, Dyersburg

    12.2 mi · 15 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward US 70A West, US 79 South: Bells, Brownsville

    778 ft · 33 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight

    1.8 mi · 3 min

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · High Street

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
150 mi · 54%
South Kelley Street
108 mi · 39%
US 412 West
12.5 mi · 5%
Dodson Avenue
1.84 mi · 1%
North Willow Street
1.12 mi
I 840 West
0.86 mi
Longest Stretch

South Kelley Street

Merge slight left

108 mi · 02h 01m

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
05h 11m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+56.4 mi
220.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thompson's Station
02h 35m from East Chattanooga
Leave By
6:38 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving East Chattanooga and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Bells.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 277.2 miles (446.1 km) and usually takes 05h 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?

Thompson's Station is a useful midpoint, sitting about 138.5 miles from East Chattanooga and 138.7 miles from Bells.

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

The direct path is about 220.8 miles (355.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 56.4 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 6:38 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.88 one way or $73.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 86.9 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around East Chattanooga and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Bells.

Stop Ideas Near Thompson's Station

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Thompson's Station, 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 Thompson's Station.

BUS

Nashville, TN

41 mi away
705 5th Avenue South
BUS

Clarksville, TN

91 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between East Chattanooga and Bells. Straight-line distance: 220.75 mi (355.27 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 East Chattanooga

A neighborhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Population11,000
Coordinates35.0653500, -85.2491200
Altitude208
CountryUnited States
Bells

#2 Bells

City in Tennessee, USA

Population2,435
Coordinates35.7111800, -89.0875600
Altitude99
CountryUnited States
Start: East Chattanooga (-85.24912, 35.06535)
End: Bells (-89.08756, 35.71118)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 446 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.78 gal
37.02 L · about $36.88
Round trip
$73.76
19.56 gal · 74.04 L
Estimated CO2
86.9 kg one way
Round trip: 173.8 kg / 383 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $36.88 $73.76
Mid-grade $4.25 $41.59 $83.19
Premium $4.65 $45.52 $91.03
Diesel $5.30 $51.87 $103.75

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 13, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between East Chattanooga, TN and Bells, TN. The current time in East Chattanooga is 14:59:51, although it is 13:59:51 in Bells.

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.