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

The driving distance from East Chattanooga, TN to Memphis, TN is about 345.2 miles (555.6 km), with a travel time of about 05h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 271.4 miles (436.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 42m 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
345.25 mi
05h 21m
Flight
271.34 mi
436.68 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
271.34 mi
Kilometers
436.68 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
345.25 mi
Kilometers
555.63 km
Drive Time
05h 21m

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 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Memphis
Sun, Apr 19, 6:33 PM CDT
Return by in East Chattanooga
Mon, Apr 20, 12:54 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave East Chattanooga
2026-04-19T14:12
Arrive Memphis
Sun, Apr 19, 7:33 PM EDT
Route Timing
05h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:21 AM to 12:21 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
6:18 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
Dickson
TN

City in Tennessee, USA

From East Chattanooga
172.3 mi
02h 40m
To Memphis
172.9 mi
02h 40m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Sunday

Rain Showers then Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph N
Destination
68°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    164.8 mi · 2 hr 58 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock

    680 ft · 9 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 West: Little Rock

    11.1 mi · 13 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Second Street, Third Street

    1209 ft · 30 sec

  17. 17

    Continue on North 2nd Street

    1062 ft · 31 sec · North 2nd Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Poplar Avenue

    62 m · 4 sec · Poplar Avenue

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Poplar Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
218 mi · 63%
South Kelley Street
108 mi · 31%
I 40 West
13.2 mi · 4%
Dodson Avenue
1.84 mi · 1%
North Willow Street
1.12 mi
I 840 West
0.86 mi
Longest Stretch

Tennessee National Guard Parkway

Merge slight left

165 mi · 02h 58m

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 21m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+73.8 mi
271.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dickson
02h 40m from East Chattanooga
Leave By
6:18 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers then Partly Sunny leaving East Chattanooga and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Memphis.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 345.2 miles (555.6 km) and usually takes 05h 21m 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?

Dickson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 172.3 miles from East Chattanooga and 172.9 miles from Memphis.

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

The direct path is about 271.4 miles (436.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 73.8 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 6:18 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $45.93 one way or $91.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 108.2 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 Memphis, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers then Partly Sunny around East Chattanooga and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Memphis.

Stop Ideas Near Dickson

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

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

BUS

Clarksville, TN

51 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n
BUS

Nashville, TN

56 mi away
705 5th Avenue South

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between East Chattanooga and Memphis. Straight-line distance: 271.34 mi (436.68 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 East Chattanooga

A neighborhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

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

#2 Memphis

The twenty-ninth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Memphis metropolitan area.

Population649,705
Coordinates35.1495300, -90.0489800
Altitude78
CountryUnited States
Start: North Chamberlain Avenue (-85.249066, 35.06533)
End: Poplar Avenue (-90.048923, 35.149674)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 556 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 55m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.18 gal
46.12 L · about $45.93
Round trip
$91.86
24.36 gal · 92.24 L
Estimated CO2
108.2 kg one way
Round trip: 216.5 kg / 477 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $45.93 $91.86
Mid-grade $4.25 $51.80 $103.60
Premium $4.65 $56.69 $113.37
Diesel $5.30 $64.60 $129.21

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 Memphis, TN. The current time in East Chattanooga is 14:12:19, although it is 13:12:19 in Memphis.

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.