How far is Memphis, TN from East Chattanooga, TN?
The driving distance from Memphis, TN to East Chattanooga, TN is about 342.4 miles (551.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 18m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 271.4 miles (436.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 18m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
City in Tennessee, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Memphis and East Chattanooga.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis and East Chattanooga.
-
1
Start on Poplar Avenue
58 m · 11 sec · Poplar Avenue
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2
Turn left onto North B. B. King Boulevard
1162 ft · 34 sec · North B. B. King Boulevard
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3
Take the ramp right toward I 40 East
553 ft · 14 sec
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4
Merge slight left
12 mi · 15 min
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5
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
166.6 mi · 3 hr
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6
Take the exit slight right toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
1.1 km · 1 min
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7
Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway
52.2 mi · 56 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
1.3 km · 2 min
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9
Merge slight left
103.1 mi · 1 hr 55 min
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10
Take the exit slight right toward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
2163 ft · 47 sec
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11
Continue straight
1.2 km · 60 sec
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12
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown
1123 ft · 26 sec
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13
Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
1323 ft · 50 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard
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14
Turn left onto Georgia Avenue
2587 ft · 1 min · Georgia Avenue
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15
Turn right onto East 4th Street
2081 ft · 35 sec · East 4th Street
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16
Turn straight
613 ft · 22 sec
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17
Continue on Riverside Drive
1.3 mi · 2 min · Riverside Drive
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18
Turn right onto Wilcox Boulevard
1.5 km · 2 min · Wilcox Boulevard
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19
Turn left onto Dodson Avenue
1.3 km · 1 min · Dodson Avenue
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20
Turn right onto Glass Street
1871 ft · 46 sec · Glass Street
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21
Turn sharp right onto North Chamberlain Avenue
16 m · 1 sec · North Chamberlain Avenue
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Chamberlain Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Memphis and East Chattanooga.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 40 East
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
167 mi · 03h 00m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Memphis 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 Memphis to East Chattanooga?
The road trip is about 342.4 miles (551.1 km) and usually takes 05h 18m 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 170.8 miles from Memphis and 171.7 miles from East Chattanooga.
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 71 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 6:22 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $45.55 one way or $91.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 107.4 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Memphis 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 Memphis and Sunny near East Chattanooga.
Stop Ideas Near Dickson
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Dickson.
Clarksville, TN
Nashville, TN
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Memphis and East Chattanooga. Straight-line distance: 271.34 mi (436.68 km).
#1 Memphis
The twenty-ninth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Memphis metropolitan area.
| Population | 649,705 |
| Coordinates | 35.1495300, -90.0489800 |
| Altitude | 78 |
| Country | United States |
#2 East Chattanooga
A neighborhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
| Population | 11,000 |
| Coordinates | 35.0653500, -85.2491200 |
| Altitude | 208 |
| Country | United States |
End: North Chamberlain Avenue (-85.249066, 35.06533)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 551 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 24m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 33m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 50m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 42m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 53m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 16m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $45.55 | $91.11 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $51.38 | $102.75 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $56.22 | $112.44 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $64.07 | $128.14 |
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 · Jun 03, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.