This 226.5-mile journey from Selmer, TN, to Chattanooga, TN, is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can comfortably be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 4 hours and 34 minutes on the road, with a fuel cost estimated around $35. The primary routes guiding you through Tennessee's Southeast region are US 64 and I-24. With 78% of the drive on highways, it offers an efficient way to travel between these two points without needing an overnight stop. This trip is well-suited for those looking for a direct and uncomplicated drive.
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
113.2 miles from Selmer, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 64
87.2 mi
1h 47m
United States Route 64
44.4 mi
50m
I 24
43.7 mi
49m
Wayne Road
31.1 mi
35m
Sewanee Highway
6.8 mi
10m
Cumberland Street West
2.6 mi
3m
Sollace M Freeman Highway
2 mi
2m
Cowan Highway
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 64
— 87.2 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-24
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,974 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,367
Quietest
2 AM
~348 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Selmer, TN and Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on US 64 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·East Court Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 64
20 mi·30 min·US 64
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto Water Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Water Street
4
Turn left onto TN 128
344 ft·12 sec·Pickwick Street South
5
Turn right onto US 64; SR 69; SR 128
0.1 mi·20 sec·Main Street
6
Continue on US 64; SR 128
31 mi·35 min·Wayne Road
7
Continue on US 64
0.8 mi·52 sec·Dexter L Woods Memorial Boulevard
8
Continue on US 64
44 mi·50 min·United States Route 64
9
Continue on US 64
0.7 mi·48 sec·West College Street
10
Continue on US 64
67 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 64
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
12
Keep slight right at fork
184 ft·5 sec
13
Turn straight onto US 41A
1.7 mi·2 min·Cowan Highway
14
Continue on US 41A
2.6 mi·3 min·Cumberland Street West
15
Continue on US 41A
5.0 mi·7 min·Sewanee Highway
16
Continue on US 41A
2.0 mi·2 min·Sollace M Freeman Highway
17
Continue on US 41A
1.8 mi·2 min·Sewanee Highway
18
Continue on US 41A
0.4 mi·36 sec·David Crockett Highway
19
Continue on US 41A
1.3 mi·1 min·West Main Street
20
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
21
Merge onto I 24; US 64
44 mi·49 min·I 24;US 64
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 184BToward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
23
Continue on US 27
0.7 mi·59 sec·US 27
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 1BToward Downtown
25
Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.2 mi·29 sec·West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
26
Arrive at destination
TN 8
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 4-hour and 34-minute duration, you can easily tackle this drive in one day. Leaving Selmer in the morning allows ample time to reach Chattanooga before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in timing your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 87.2 miles on US 64, where services might be less frequent. Planning your departure to avoid peak traffic in and around Chattanooga will make your arrival smoother.
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 113.2 miles from Selmer, TN, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.2 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 50 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.2 miles or 2h 18m 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 47m
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 Selmer, 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 Selmer, TN
This is one driving day of about 226.5 miles and 4h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Selmer, 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 87.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 226.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.1 mi into trip|~1m in|US 64
Turn left onto US 64
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
166.1 mi into trip|~3h 19m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
225 mi into trip|~4h 31m 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
226.1 mi into trip|~4h 33m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 1B
Toward Downtown
6
226.3 mi into trip|~4h 33m 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
$33.45 one way
$66.90 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$36.93
$73.85
premium
$4.72
$42.05
$84.11
diesel
$4.80
$42.77
$85.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68
0
$23.78
$10.87
Efficient EV
56.6
0
$19.82
$9.06
EV Truck/SUV
90.6
1
$31.71
$14.50
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Selmer, TN
Late night
in Selmer on Monday
Local time
1:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 5 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 1:29PM CDT by NWS Nashville TN
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:57PM CDT by NWS Nashville TN
Destination
Chattanooga, TN
Late night
in Chattanooga on Monday
Local time
2:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 5 mph40% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 1:29PM CDT by NWS Nashville TN
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:57PM CDT by NWS Nashville TN
89°F
Ardmore, TN
113 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
2 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 34m 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?
Primarily a highway-focused experience, this route dedicates 78% of its mileage to faster roads. You'll navigate segments of US 64 and I-24, allowing for consistent progress. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 87.2 miles, primarily on US 64, meaning you can settle in for a good period without frequent turns. While the highway nature suggests a less varied landscape, the transition between these major arteries provides a steady rhythm for the drive.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.2 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 around 1.1 miles in near US 64.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 34m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (US 64): Lane positioning matters here; at 166.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 225 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
Top landmarks
•Delta Queen — paddle steamer launched in 1926
•Hunter Museum of American Art — art museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee
•Saints Peter and Paul Basilica — historic church in Tennessee, United States
The longest stretch is about 87.2 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: at 1.1 miles (US 64): Lane positioning matters here; at 166.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 225 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Chattanooga, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
