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Trip from Chattanooga, TN to Brighton, TN

Data updated 0 seconds ago

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

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 47m ★
6 AM
6h 0m
8 AM
6h 26m
10 AM
6h 9m
12 PM
6h 6m
3 PM
6h 10m
5 PM
6h 24m
8 PM
5h 52m

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

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

Chattanooga, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Brighton, TN, TN

Brighton, TN

Kelly

Trip Overview

The drive from Chattanooga, TN to Brighton, TN covers 310.7 miles and takes about 5h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 24, I 840 West, Tennessee National Guard Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.57 one way before food or hotel costs.

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 59m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 5h 59m drive with frequent turns across 310.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
24 is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 5h 59m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chattanooga, TN to Brighton, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
24 Unavailable Refreshing
I 840 West Unavailable Refreshing
Tennessee National Guard Parkway Unavailable Refreshing
US 70 Unavailable Refreshing
East Main Street Unavailable Refreshing
West Main Street Unavailable Refreshing
East Liberty Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
Highway 51 South Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: 24 — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West Martin Luther King Boulevard

0.3 mi · 56 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard
2

Turn left

0.2 mi · 31 sec
3

Merge slight left

0.7 mi · 59 sec
4

Keep slight right to continue on 24: Nashville, Birmingham

0.4 mi · 42 sec · 24: Nashville, Birmingham
5

Merge slight left

105 mi · 1 hr 57 min
6

Take the exit slight right toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin

0.9 mi · 1 min · I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
7

Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway

54 mi · 58 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway
8

Merge slight left

110 mi · 1 hr 57 min
9

Take the exit slight right toward US 70: Brownsville, Ripley

0.2 mi · 32 sec · US 70: Brownsville, Ripley
10

Turn right onto East Main Street

9.5 mi · 14 min · East Main Street
11

Enter the roundabout and take exit 5 toward West Main Street

400 ft · 11 sec · West Main Street
12

Exit the roundabout onto West Main Street

22 mi · 32 min · West Main Street
13

Continue on East Liberty Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Liberty Avenue
14

Turn left

6.6 mi · 10 min
15

Take the exit slight left

0.1 mi · 22 sec
16

Continue on Old Highway 51 South

0.6 mi · 1 min · Old Highway 51 South
17

Turn sharp left onto East Kenwood Avenue

0.3 mi · 43 sec · East Kenwood Avenue
18

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 155.3 miles from Chattanooga, TN, or about 2h 59m into the drive.

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 80 miles or 1h 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 155.3 miles or 2h 59m 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 54m

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

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 155.3 mi from Chattanooga, TN · 2h 59m into the drive

city and county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Franklin, TN

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.

Pacing Suggestions

East Chattanooga, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Franklin, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 155.3 miles from Chattanooga, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Brighton, TN

The final approach into Brighton, TN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Brighton, TN.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$48.57 one way

$97.15 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 109 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Chattanooga, TN

Late night in Chattanooga on Wednesday

Local time

12:32 AM

EDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Brighton, TN

Night in Brighton on Tuesday

Local time

11:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

13 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

5h 59m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Chattanooga, TN to Brighton, TN covers 310.7 miles and takes about 5h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 24, I 840 West, Tennessee National Guard Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 155.3 miles from Chattanooga, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.57 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 59m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chattanooga, TN to Brighton, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Chattanooga, TN to Brighton, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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