How far is East Chattanooga, TN from Chapel Hill, TN?

The driving distance from East Chattanooga, TN to Chapel Hill, TN is about 253.5 miles (408 km), with a travel time of about 04h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 186.2 miles (299.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 46m 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
253.5 mi
04h 53m
Flight
186.17 mi
299.61 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
186.17 mi
Kilometers
299.61 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
253.5 mi
Kilometers
407.97 km
Drive Time
04h 53m

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 04h 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chapel Hill
Sun, Apr 19, 2:24 AM CDT
Return by in East Chattanooga
Sun, Apr 19, 8:17 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave East Chattanooga
2026-04-18T22:31
Arrive Chapel Hill
Sun, Apr 19, 3:24 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:53 AM to 11:53 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
7:14 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
Eagleville
TN

Human settlement in Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States of America

From East Chattanooga
126.7 mi
02h 26m
To Chapel Hill
126.8 mi
02h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW
Destination
80°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between East Chattanooga and Chapel Hill.

  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

    67.6 mi · 1 hr 12 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroads, Lexington, Huntingdon

    878 ft · 22 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left

    118 m · 5 sec

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    11.9 mi · 18 min

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Lexington Bypass

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Lexington Bypass

  17. 17

    Turn left

    5.8 mi · 10 min

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Joe Horton Road

    902 ft · 43 sec · Joe Horton Road

  19. 19

    Turn left

    989 ft · 43 sec

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
121 mi · 48%
South Kelley Street
108 mi · 43%
Primary SR 22
12.1 mi · 5%
Dodson Avenue
1.84 mi · 1%
Lexington Bypass
1.29 mi · 1%
North Willow Street
1.12 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
04h 53m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+67.3 mi
186.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Eagleville
02h 26m from East Chattanooga
Leave By
7:14 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving East Chattanooga and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Chapel Hill.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from East Chattanooga to Chapel Hill?

The road trip is about 253.5 miles (408 km) and usually takes 04h 53m 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?

Eagleville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 126.7 miles from East Chattanooga and 126.8 miles from Chapel Hill.

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

The direct path is about 186.2 miles (299.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 67.3 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:14 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.71 one way or $67.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 79.4 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 Chapel Hill, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around East Chattanooga and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Chapel Hill.

Stop Ideas Near Eagleville

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

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

BUS

Nashville, TN

47 mi away
705 5th Avenue South
BUS

Clarksville, TN

109 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between East Chattanooga and Chapel Hill. Straight-line distance: 186.17 mi (299.61 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 East Chattanooga

A neighborhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Population11,000
Coordinates35.0653500, -85.2491200
Altitude208
CountryUnited States
Chapel Hill

#2 Chapel Hill

Human settlement in Marshall County, Tennessee, United States of America

Population1,571
Coordinates35.5986800, -88.4867200
Altitude167
CountryUnited States
Start: East Chattanooga (-85.24912, 35.06535)
End: Chapel Hill (-88.48672, 35.59868)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 408 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.94 gal
33.86 L · about $33.71
Round trip
$67.43
17.88 gal · 67.72 L
Estimated CO2
79.4 kg one way
Round trip: 158.9 kg / 350 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $33.71 $67.43
Mid-grade $4.25 $38.02 $76.04
Premium $4.65 $41.61 $83.21
Diesel $5.30 $47.42 $94.84

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 19, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between East Chattanooga, TN and Chapel Hill, TN. The current time in East Chattanooga is 22:31:20, although it is 21:31:20 in Chapel Hill.

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.