How far is Jackson, TN from Chattanooga, TN?

The driving distance from Jackson, TN to Chattanooga, TN is about 254.5 miles (409.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 201.4 miles (324.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 36m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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
254.49 mi
03h 48m
Flight
201.39 mi
324.11 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jackson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
201.39 mi
Kilometers
324.11 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
254.49 mi
Kilometers
409.56 km
Drive Time
03h 48m

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 03h 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chattanooga
Thu, Apr 23, 4:56 AM EDT
Return by in Jackson
Thu, Apr 23, 7:44 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jackson
2026-04-23T00:08
Arrive Chattanooga
Thu, Apr 23, 3:56 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:48 AM to 12:48 PM EDT

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

Leave by
9:24 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jackson
9:00 PM CDT
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 Jackson
127.1 mi
01h 54m
To Chattanooga
127.4 mi
01h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Thursday

Sunny

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

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Main Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · East Main Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Whitehall Street

    4 mi · 6 min · Whitehall Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right

    1170 ft · 29 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    89.2 mi · 1 hr 36 min

  6. 6

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

    1.1 km · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway

    52.2 mi · 56 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 24 East: Chattanooga

    1.3 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    103.1 mi · 1 hr 55 min

  10. 10

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

    2163 ft · 47 sec

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    1.2 km · 60 sec

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

    1123 ft · 26 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard

    897 ft · 30 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard

  14. 14

    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 Jackson 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
14 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 24 East
104 mi · 41%
Whitehall Street
93.5 mi · 37%
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
52.2 mi · 21%
US 27 North
1.14 mi
I 840 East
0.7 mi
East Main Street
0.68 mi
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 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
03h 48m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+53.1 mi
201.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thompson's Station
01h 54m from Jackson
Leave By
9:24 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Jackson and Sunny near Chattanooga.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 254.5 miles (409.6 km) and usually takes 03h 48m 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 127.1 miles from Jackson and 127.4 miles from Chattanooga.

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

The direct path is about 201.4 miles (324.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 53.1 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:24 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.86 one way or $67.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 79.8 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Jackson 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 Jackson and Sunny near Chattanooga.

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 Jackson and Chattanooga. Straight-line distance: 201.39 mi (324.11 km).

Jackson

#1 Jackson

The most populous city in Madison County, Tennessee.

Population67,402
Coordinates35.6145200, -88.8139500
Altitude125
CountryUnited States
Chattanooga

#2 Chattanooga

The fourth most populous city in Tennessee.

Population184,742
Coordinates35.0456300, -85.3096800
Altitude206
CountryUnited States
Start: East Main Street (-88.813966, 35.614178)
End: West Martin Luther King Boulevard (-85.309688, 35.045753)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 410 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 38m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.98 gal
33.99 L · about $33.86
Round trip
$67.73
17.96 gal · 67.98 L
Estimated CO2
79.8 kg one way
Round trip: 159.6 kg / 352 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $33.86 $67.73
Mid-grade $4.25 $38.19 $76.38
Premium $4.65 $41.79 $83.59
Diesel $5.30 $47.63 $95.26

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 Jackson, TN and Chattanooga, TN. The current time in Jackson is 00:08:04, although it is 01:08:04 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.