Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 8m
Distance
103.2 mi
166 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chattanooga, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Bedford, TN
Kelly
This 103.2-mile drive from Chattanooga, TN, to Bedford, TN, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 8 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-24, South Jackson Street, and Wattendorf Memorial Highway, the route is heavily highway-focused, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. Budget around $16 for fuel for this journey. Given its manageable distance and duration, this trip doesn't require an overnight stay, offering flexibility for your schedule. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region of the US for the entirety of this drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.6 miles from Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 24 | 61.8 mi | 1h 10m |
| South Jackson Street | 14.5 mi | 17m |
| Wattendorf Memorial Highway | 10.6 mi | 14m |
| Lewis Avenue | 6.6 mi | 9m |
| SR 64 | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Wattendorf Highway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| North Cannon Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| US 27 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Chattanooga, TN and Bedford, TN.
Start on TN 8
Turn left
Merge onto US 27
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 24
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto Wattendorf Memorial Hwy
Continue on Wattendorf Memorial Highway
Continue on Wattendorf Highway
Continue on Forrest Boulevard
Continue on South Anderson Street
Turn left onto SR 55
Turn right onto US 41A; SR 55; SR 130
Turn left onto SR 64
Turn right onto SR 64; SR 82; SR 130
Continue on SR 64; SR 82; SR 130
Continue on SR 64; SR 130
Turn left onto US 231; SR 64; SR 130
Turn right onto SR 64; SR 130
Arrive at destination
With a total travel time of just over 2 hours, this route offers significant flexibility for departure. You could easily start in the morning and be in Bedford with plenty of daylight left. Consider breaking up the longest stretch of 61.8 miles on I-24 with a brief stop for fuel or a stretch, though with a total trip cost of only $16, fuel is unlikely to be a major concern. Pay attention to your navigation as you transition between I-24, South Jackson Street, and Wattendorf Memorial Highway to ensure a smooth continuation of your journey.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 23 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.6 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bedford, TN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Chattanooga, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chattanooga, TN
This is one driving day of about 103.2 miles and 2h 8m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 51.6 miles from Chattanooga, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 24 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 63.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward 24: Nashville, Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Arnold Airforce Base, Tullahoma
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Arnold Airforce Base, Tullahoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$16.13 one way
$32.27 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.71 | $35.43 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.86 | $39.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.79 | $45.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31 | 0 | $10.84 | $4.95 |
| Efficient EV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.03 | $4.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.3 | 0 | $14.45 | $6.60 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
8:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
Destination
Morning in Bedford on Sunday
Local time
7:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a highway-centric experience on this 103.2-mile journey, with 64% of the drive taking place on interstates and major roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 61.8 miles on I-24, providing a solid period of consistent travel. While the primary focus is on efficient travel via I-24 and Wattendorf Memorial Highway, you'll also navigate segments on South Jackson Street. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes reaching your destination with minimal detours.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and South Jackson Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 103.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chattanooga, TN and Bedford, TN, road signs point toward Arnold Airforce Base and Tullahoma.
Arnold Airforce Base
Tullahoma
Chattanooga is the 4th largest city in Tennessee. It is the seat of Hamilton County. It is in Southeast Tennessee on the Tennessee River and near the border of Georgia. It was immortalized in the popular 1941 song "Chattanooga Choo Choo", made famous by Glenn Miller.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 103.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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