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

The driving distance from Nashville, TN to East Chattanooga, TN is about 138.1 miles (222.2 km), with a travel time of about 02h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 115 miles (185 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
138.07 mi
02h 20m
Flight
114.97 mi
185.03 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Nashville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
114.97 mi
Kilometers
185.03 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
138.07 mi
Kilometers
222.2 km
Drive Time
02h 20m

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 02h 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in East Chattanooga
Sun, Apr 19, 7:19 PM EDT
Return by in Nashville
Sun, Apr 19, 8:40 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Nashville
2026-04-19T15:59
Arrive East Chattanooga
Sun, Apr 19, 6:19 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
11:21 AM to 1:21 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:48 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Nashville
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Manchester
TN

City in Tennessee

From Nashville
68.7 mi
01h 10m
To East Chattanooga
69.3 mi
01h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph NW
Destination
66°F
Sunday

Rain Showers then Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    2013 ft · 3 min

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

    1718 ft · 44 sec · Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn left onto James Robertson Parkway

    1.1 km · 2 min · James Robertson Parkway

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Interstate Drive

    138 m · 10 sec · Interstate Drive

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 24 East

    918 ft · 22 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop

    1.3 km · 1 min · Downtown Loop

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 24 East: Chattanooga

    126.9 mi · 2 hr 21 min

  9. 9

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

    2163 ft · 47 sec

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    1.2 km · 60 sec

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

    1123 ft · 26 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard

    1323 ft · 50 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Georgia Avenue

    2587 ft · 1 min · Georgia Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto East 4th Street

    2081 ft · 35 sec · East 4th Street

  15. 15

    Turn straight

    613 ft · 22 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on Riverside Drive

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Riverside Drive

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Wilcox Boulevard

    1.5 km · 2 min · Wilcox Boulevard

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Dodson Avenue

    1.3 km · 1 min · Dodson Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Glass Street

    1871 ft · 46 sec · Glass Street

  20. 20

    Turn sharp right onto North Chamberlain Avenue

    16 m · 1 sec · North Chamberlain Avenue

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Chamberlain Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Nashville and East 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
21 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 24 East
127 mi · 92%
I 40 East
2.06 mi · 1%
Riverside Drive
1.31 mi · 1%
US 27 North
1.14 mi · 1%
Wilcox Boulevard
0.94 mi · 1%
Downtown Loop
0.84 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 24 East

Take the exit slight right toward I 24 East: Chattanooga

127 mi · 02h 21m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 20m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.1 mi
115 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Manchester
01h 10m from Nashville
Leave By
1:48 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Nashville and Rain Showers then Partly Sunny near East Chattanooga.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 138.1 miles (222.2 km) and usually takes 02h 20m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Manchester is a useful midpoint, sitting about 68.7 miles from Nashville and 69.3 miles from East Chattanooga.

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

The direct path is about 115 miles (185 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:48 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.36 one way or $36.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 43.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Manchester

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

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

BUS

Nashville, TN

97 mi away
705 5th Avenue South

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Nashville and East Chattanooga. Straight-line distance: 114.97 mi (185.03 km).

Nashville

#1 Nashville

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

Population684,410
Coordinates36.1658900, -86.7844400
Altitude170
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 East Chattanooga

A neighborhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Population11,000
Coordinates35.0653500, -85.2491200
Altitude208
CountryUnited States
Start: (-86.784719, 36.165773)
End: North Chamberlain Avenue (-85.249066, 35.06533)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 222 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 58m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.87 gal
18.44 L · about $18.36
Round trip
$36.73
9.74 gal · 36.88 L
Estimated CO2
43.3 kg one way
Round trip: 86.6 kg / 191 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $18.36 $36.73
Mid-grade $4.25 $20.71 $41.42
Premium $4.65 $22.66 $45.33
Diesel $5.30 $25.83 $51.66

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 Nashville, TN and East Chattanooga, TN. The current time in Nashville is 15:59:06, although it is 16:59:06 in East 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.