East Chattanooga, TN to Selmer, TN is 233.1 miles and takes about 4h 45m via US 64 and I-24, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. You'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface road travel. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
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
116.6 miles from East Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 64
47.4 mi
59m
I 24
47.4 mi
54m
Lawrenceburg Highway
44.4 mi
50m
Pulaski Highway
31 mi
35m
Winchester Highway
16.8 mi
19m
David Crockett Highway
13.6 mi
15m
Sewanee Highway
6.8 mi
10m
Bridge Avenue
4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 64
— 47.4 mi, about 59m
Traffic on I-24
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,972 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,410
Quietest
2 AM
~353 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Chattanooga, TN and Selmer, TN.
1
Start on North Chamberlain Avenue
52 ft·10 sec·North Chamberlain Avenue
2
Turn sharp left onto SR 17
0.4 mi·37 sec·Glass Street
3
Turn left onto SR 17
1.8 mi·3 min·Dodson Avenue
4
Turn right onto SR 17
0.1 mi·21 sec·East 3rd Street
5
Turn left onto SR 17
1.1 mi·2 min·North Willow Street
6
Turn left onto US 41; US 76
356 ft·8 sec·East Main Street
7
Turn right onto South Kelley Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Kelley Street
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
9
Merge onto I 24
47 mi·54 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 134Toward 41A: Monteagle, Sewanee
11
Turn slight right
50 ft·9 sec
12
Turn left onto US 41A
1.6 mi·2 min·West Main Street
13
Continue on US 41A
0.4 mi·36 sec·David Crockett Highway
14
Continue on US 41A
1.8 mi·2 min·Sewanee Highway
15
Continue on US 41A
2.0 mi·2 min·Sollace M Freeman Highway
16
Continue on US 41A
5.0 mi·7 min·Sewanee Highway
17
Continue on US 41A
2.6 mi·3 min·Cumberland Street East
18
Continue on US 41A
1.8 mi·2 min·Cowan Highway
19
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
20
Merge onto US 64
3.6 mi·4 min·Veterans Memorial Drive
21
Continue on US 64
13 mi·14 min·David Crockett Highway
22
Continue on US 64
17 mi·19 min·Winchester Highway
23
Continue on US 64 Business
0.5 mi·48 sec·Mulberry Avenue
24
Continue on US 64 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·College Street East
25
Turn slight right onto US 64 Business
0.2 mi·14 sec·Morgan Avenue North
26
Continue on US 64 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Washington Street West
27
Continue on US 64
31 mi·35 min·Pulaski Highway
28
Turn left onto US 64
0.7 mi·50 sec·West College Street
29
Continue on US 64
44 mi·50 min·Lawrenceburg Highway
30
Continue on US 64
0.8 mi·56 sec·Dexter L Woods Memorial Boulevard
31
Turn right onto US 64
31 mi·35 min·US 64
32
Turn slight left onto Hanna Boulevard
521 ft·17 sec·Hanna Boulevard
33
Turn right onto Water Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Water Street
34
At end of road, turn left onto US 64; SR 69
4.0 mi·6 min·Bridge Avenue
35
Continue on US 64; SR 22; SR 69
16 mi·23 min·US 64; SR 22; SR 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Take the exit
334 ft·9 sec
37
Turn right onto US 64 Business
1.0 mi·1 min·Mulberry Avenue
38
Arrive at destination
US 64 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 45m estimated drive time, leaving East Chattanooga in the morning is ideal to ensure you reach Selmer with plenty of daylight. The route has only one suggested stop, so plan your breaks accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from highway to surface roads, and budget around $36 for gas. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart later if needed, but aim to start earlier to enjoy a more relaxed pace.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 116.6 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.4 miles.
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 51 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.6 miles or 2h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Selmer, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving East 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 East Chattanooga, TN
This is one driving day of about 233.1 miles and 4h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from East Chattanooga, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 64 for about 47.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 51.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 17 / Glass Street
Turn sharp left onto SR 17 / Glass Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|SR 17 / East 3rd Street
Turn right onto SR 17 / East 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|SR 17 / North Willow Street
Turn left onto SR 17 / North Willow Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.3 mi into trip|~8m in|I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
51.6 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward 41A: Monteagle, Sewanee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 134
Toward 41A: Monteagle, Sewanee
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.88 one way
$77.77 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$42.43
$84.85
premium
$5.25
$48.21
$96.42
diesel
$6.28
$57.60
$115.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.9
0
$24.48
$11.19
Efficient EV
58.3
0
$20.40
$9.32
EV Truck/SUV
93.2
1
$32.63
$14.92
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
East Chattanooga, TN
Morning
in East Chattanooga on Thursday
Local time
7:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
NE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Selmer, TN
Morning
in Selmer on Thursday
Local time
6:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Clear
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
74°F
Fayetteville, TN
117 mi in
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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
28 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 45m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is 41% highway, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your time on faster-paced roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 47.4 miles on US 64. You’ll transition from highway driving to surface roads, so be prepared for varying speed limits and potentially more exits as you get closer to your destination. The 'Mixed highway & surface' profile indicates you'll encounter both.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.4 mi on US 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 17 / Glass Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 45m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 17 / Glass Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.2 miles (SR 17 / East 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (SR 17 / North Willow Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,836 ft436 ft
Total Climb
1,607 ft
Total Descent
1,839 ft
Highest Point
1,836 ft
~50 mi in
Elevation Range
1,400 ft
Notable High Points
1,836 ft at ~50 miles+873 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between East Chattanooga, TN and Selmer, TN, road signs point toward 41A: Monteagle and Sewanee.
The longest stretch is about 47.4 miles on US 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 17 / Glass Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.2 miles (SR 17 / East 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (SR 17 / North Willow Street): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Selmer, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
