How far is Parsons, TN from Chattanooga, TN?

The driving distance from Parsons, TN to Chattanooga, TN is about 222.8 miles (358.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 164.2 miles (264.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 52m 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
222.74 mi
03h 26m
Flight
164.15 mi
264.17 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Parsons.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
164.15 mi
Kilometers
264.17 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
222.74 mi
Kilometers
358.47 km
Drive Time
03h 26m

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 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chattanooga
Thu, Apr 23, 1:44 PM EDT
Return by in Parsons
Thu, Apr 23, 4:10 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Parsons
2026-04-23T09:17
Arrive Chattanooga
Thu, Apr 23, 12:44 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:26 AM to 12:26 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
10:08 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Parsons
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
Nolensville
TN

City is located in Williamson County, Tennessee.

From Parsons
111.2 mi
01h 43m
To Chattanooga
111.5 mi
01h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Thursday

Sunny

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

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 7:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Main Street

    19 m · 6 sec · East Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Tennessee Avenue

    13.9 mi · 16 min · North Tennessee Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the exit slight right

    1391 ft · 34 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    50.1 mi · 54 min

  5. 5

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

    1.1 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway

    52.2 mi · 56 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 24 East: Chattanooga

    1.3 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    103.1 mi · 1 hr 55 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

    897 ft · 30 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard

  13. 13

    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 Parsons 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
13 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 24 East
104 mi · 47%
North Tennessee Avenue
64.2 mi · 29%
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
52.2 mi · 23%
US 27 North
1.14 mi · 1%
I 840 East
0.7 mi
Downtown
0.21 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 26m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+58.6 mi
164.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Nolensville
01h 43m from Parsons
Leave By
10:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Parsons and Sunny near Chattanooga.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 222.8 miles (358.5 km) and usually takes 03h 26m 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?

Nolensville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 111.2 miles from Parsons and 111.5 miles from Chattanooga.

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

The direct path is about 164.2 miles (264.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.6 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 10:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.64 one way or $59.28 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 69.9 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

Stop Ideas Near Nolensville

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

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

BUS

Nashville, TN

24 mi away
705 5th Avenue South
BUS

Clarksville, TN

90 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Parsons and Chattanooga. Straight-line distance: 164.15 mi (264.17 km).

Parsons

#1 Parsons

City in Decatur County, Tennessee, United States

Population2,272
Coordinates35.6497900, -88.1267000
Altitude151
CountryUnited States
Chattanooga

#2 Chattanooga

The fourth most populous city in Tennessee.

Population184,742
Coordinates35.0456300, -85.3096800
Altitude206
CountryUnited States
Start: US 412 (-88.126693, 35.649769)
End: West Martin Luther King Boulevard (-85.309688, 35.045753)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 358 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 46m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.86 gal
29.75 L · about $29.64
Round trip
$59.28
15.72 gal · 59.5 L
Estimated CO2
69.9 kg one way
Round trip: 139.7 kg / 308 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $29.64 $59.28
Mid-grade $4.25 $33.43 $66.86
Premium $4.65 $36.58 $73.16
Diesel $5.30 $41.69 $83.38

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 Parsons, TN and Chattanooga, TN. The current time in Parsons is 09:17:41, although it is 10:17:41 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.