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Trip from Henderson, TN to Chattanooga, TN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 54m

Distance

238.3 mi

384 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 41m ★
6 AM
4h 54m
8 AM
5h 21m
10 AM
5h 4m
12 PM
5h 1m
3 PM
5h 5m
5 PM
5h 20m
8 PM
4h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Chester County, Tennessee, United States

Henderson, TN

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States

Chattanooga, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Embark on a 259.3-mile journey from Henderson, Tennessee, to Chattanooga, Tennessee, a trip that will take approximately 4 hours and 4 minutes. This drive is best suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. With a projected fuel cost of $39, it's an economically friendly option for exploring the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes local roads, indicated by its 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile, so expect a more engaging and less highway-centric experience. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the drive and stretch your legs.

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

119.2 miles from Henderson, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 64 66.8 mi 1h 17m
United States Route 64 44.4 mi 50m
I 24 43.7 mi 49m
TN 100 26 mi 38m
US 641 21.9 mi 24m
Savannah Highway 12.4 mi 14m
Sewanee Highway 6.8 mi 10m
Cumberland Street West 2.6 mi 3m
Longest stretch: US 64 — 66.8 mi, about 1h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Henderson, TN and Chattanooga, TN.

1

Start on North Washington Avenue

61 ft · 10 sec · North Washington Avenue
2

Turn left onto SR 365

2.0 mi · 3 min · East Main Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto TN 100

26 mi · 38 min · TN 100
4

Turn right onto Crawford School Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Crawford School Road
5

Turn left onto Stage Road

0.7 mi · 2 min · Stage Road
6

Turn right onto Brooksie Thompson Road

1.6 mi · 2 min · Brooksie Thompson Road
7

Turn left onto SR 202

527 ft · 12 sec · Brooksie Access
8

Turn right onto US 641

22 mi · 24 min · US 641
9

At end of road, turn left onto US 64

12 mi · 14 min · Savannah Highway
10

Continue on US 64

0.8 mi · 52 sec · Dexter L Woods Memorial Boulevard
11

Continue on US 64

44 mi · 50 min · United States Route 64
12

Continue on US 64

0.7 mi · 48 sec · West College Street
13

Continue on US 64

67 mi · 1 hr 17 min · US 64
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 35 sec
15

Keep slight right at fork

184 ft · 5 sec
16

Turn straight onto US 41A

1.7 mi · 2 min · Cowan Highway
17

Continue on US 41A

2.6 mi · 3 min · Cumberland Street West
18

Continue on US 41A

5.0 mi · 7 min · Sewanee Highway
19

Continue on US 41A

2.0 mi · 2 min · Sollace M Freeman Highway
20

Continue on US 41A

1.8 mi · 2 min · Sewanee Highway
21

Continue on US 41A

0.4 mi · 36 sec · David Crockett Highway
22

Continue on US 41A

1.3 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
23

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
24

Merge onto I 24; US 64

44 mi · 49 min · I 24;US 64
25

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 46 sec
Exit 184B Toward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
26

Continue on US 27

0.7 mi · 59 sec · US 27
27

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Exit 1B Toward Downtown
28

Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard

0.2 mi · 29 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
29

Arrive at destination

TN 8

Trip Plan

Given the 4-hour duration, departing Henderson, TN, in the morning will comfortably get you to Chattanooga, TN, by the afternoon. With only one recommended stop and a turn-heavy profile, consider making it a brief pause for fuel or a quick snack to maintain momentum. The $39 fuel cost is manageable, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Pay close attention to road signs and your GPS, as the numerous turns on local roads can be more demanding than highway driving. A specific tip for this route: be prepared for a more interactive driving experience, so staying alert to your surroundings will enhance your journey.

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 119.2 miles from Henderson, TN, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.8 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 52 miles or 1h 14m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 119.2 miles or 2h 31m 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 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chattanooga, TN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Henderson, 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 Henderson, TN

This is one driving day of about 238.3 miles and 4h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Henderson, 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 66.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Pulaski, TN

119 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.

Popular next leg

Pulaski, TN to Chattanooga, TN

125 mi · 2h 30m

Pacing Suggestions

Mount Carmel, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pulaski, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 119.2 miles from Henderson, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.8 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 238.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | SR 365 / East Main Street

Turn left onto SR 365 / East Main Street

Navigation decision point

5
177.9 mi into trip | ~3h 39m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
236.8 mi into trip | ~4h 51m in

Take the exit toward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 184B Toward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
5
238 mi into trip | ~4h 53m in

Take the exit toward Downtown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 1B Toward Downtown
6
238.2 mi into trip | ~4h 53m in | West Martin Luther King Boulevard

Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.26 one way

$74.51 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 83 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $40.91 $81.81
premium $4.89 $45.86 $91.72
diesel $5.61 $52.61 $105.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$37

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 83.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 71.5 0 $25.02 $11.44
Efficient EV 59.6 0 $20.85 $9.53
EV Truck/SUV 95.3 1 $33.36 $15.25

Gas CO2

83 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (66% 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Henderson, TN

Night in Henderson on Saturday

Local time

9:48 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chattanooga, TN

Night in Chattanooga on Saturday

Local time

10:48 PM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

83°F

Pulaski, TN

119 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 later

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

7 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 54m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is characterized by its 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you won't encounter much highway driving, with a 0% highway share. Prepare for a dynamic experience with frequent turns and changes in direction as you navigate East Main Street, Crawford School Road, and Stage Road. While there's no specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the nature of local roads suggests you'll be frequently adjusting your speed and direction, making for a hands-on driving experience. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise but rather a more involved local exploration through the Tennessee landscape.

85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.8 mi on US 64.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 and United States Route 64. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 365 / East Main Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 54m drive. You will face about 14 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 365 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 177.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 236.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

About the Cities

Arriving in Chattanooga, TN

Full guide →

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).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 54m. Total distance: 238.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (85%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 66.8 miles on US 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 365 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 177.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 236.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Chattanooga, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

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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Explore more options from Henderson, TN or browse trips ending in Chattanooga, TN.

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