Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 59m
Distance
310.7 mi
500 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
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
Brighton, TN
Kelly
Chattanooga, TN to Brighton, TN is 310.7 miles and takes about 5h 59m via I-40, I-24, and Tennessee National Guard Parkway, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, traversing Tennessee for its entirety. It's primarily a highway-focused journey, making it a straightforward option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground. Plan for a single day of driving, as the estimated time allows for minimal stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
155.3 miles from Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 109.8 mi | 1h 57m |
| I 24 | 104.9 mi | 1h 57m |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 53.7 mi | 58m |
| West Main Street | 21.8 mi | 32m |
| East Main Street | 9.5 mi | 14m |
| US 51 | 6.6 mi | 10m |
| US 27 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Old Highway 51 South | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Chattanooga, TN and Brighton, TN.
Start on TN 8
Turn left
Merge onto US 27
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 24
Take the exit
Merge onto I 840
Merge onto I 40
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 70
Enter roundabout onto TN 54
Continue on TN 54
Continue on TN 54
Turn left onto US 51; TN 59
Take the exit
Continue on Old Highway 51 South
Turn sharp left onto East Kenwood Avenue
Arrive at destination
Given the 5h 59m estimated duration, starting your drive from Chattanooga in the morning should allow you to reach Brighton with ample daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to break up the drive strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or closer to a fuel station. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 109.8-mile stretch on I-40, to ensure you don't need to make an unplanned stop. This is a manageable one-day drive, so you have flexibility in your timing.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 68 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.3 miles or 2h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brighton, 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 310.7 miles and 5h 59m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
155 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 68 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 155.3 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 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109.8 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 107.5 — 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 I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$48.57 one way
$97.15 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $53.33 | $106.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $59.79 | $119.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $68.60 | $137.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 93.2 | 1 | $32.62 | $14.91 |
| Efficient EV | 77.7 | 0 | $27.19 | $12.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 124.3 | 1 | $43.50 | $19.88 |
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Late night in Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
Destination
Night in Brighton on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive is heavily focused on highways, with 89% of the route utilizing them, giving you a consistent pace for much of the journey. You'll experience a longest stretch of 109.8 miles on I-40, which means extended periods of steady driving. Expect a profile that is predominantly high-speed highway travel, with fewer opportunities for scenic detours. The main roads you'll navigate include I-40, I-24, and Tennessee National Guard Parkway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 24. 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 14 significant decision points across 310.7 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 Brighton, TN, road signs point toward Franklin and Ripley.
Franklin
Ripley
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 5h 59m. Total distance: 310.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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