Trip from Clifton, TN to Chattanooga, TN

Drive Time

3h 48m

Distance

192.3 mi

309 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 36m ★
6 AM
3h 48m
8 AM
4h 14m
10 AM
3h 57m
12 PM
3h 55m
3 PM
3h 59m
5 PM
4h 13m
8 PM
3h 41m

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

Downtown Clifton, TN, TN

Clifton, TN

Kelly

Downtown Chattanooga, TN, TN

Chattanooga, TN

Kelly

Trip Overview

Traveling from Clifton to Chattanooga covers 192.3 miles of Tennessee landscape, a journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 48 minutes behind the wheel. Because the route is highway-focused, you can comfortably complete the entire trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $29 for fuel for this one-way excursion. You will be traveling entirely within the Southeast region, moving from the smaller community of Clifton toward the major urban hub of Chattanooga. This trip offers a straightforward, efficient path that is ideal for those who prefer a direct drive over a winding, multi-day adventure.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

96.2 miles from Clifton, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .

Drive Character

With 81% of your journey spent on highways, this drive is built for steady cruising rather than technical maneuvering. You will rely primarily on US 64 and I-24 to navigate across the state. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 66.8-mile segment on US 64, allowing you to settle into a consistent pace early on. As you transition from the local roads onto the interstate, the personality of the drive shifts from a quieter, regional highway feel to the higher-traffic rhythm of the I-24 corridor. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that prioritizes efficiency as you head toward your destination.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 66.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 and United States Route 64. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 131.9 miles in.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 192.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 131.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 147.1 miles (I 24; US 64 / I 24;US 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 190.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
131.9 mi into trip | ~2h 33m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
147.1 mi into trip | ~2h 56m in | I 24; US 64 / I 24;US 64

Merge onto I 24; US 64 / I 24;US 64

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
5
190.8 mi into trip | ~3h 45m 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
191.9 mi into trip | ~3h 47m in

Take the exit toward Downtown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 1B Toward Downtown
6
192.1 mi into trip | ~3h 47m in | West Martin Luther King Boulevard

Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

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
Savannah Highway 12.4 mi 14m
Sewanee Highway 6.8 mi 10m
Billy Nance Road 4.4 mi 5m
Cumberland Street West 2.6 mi 3m
Sollace M Freeman Highway 2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 64 — 66.8 mi, about 1h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on SR 128

75 ft · 3 sec · West Water Street
2

Turn right onto Main Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · Main Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto US 641

1.1 mi · 1 min · Billy Nance Highway West
4

Continue on US 641

4.4 mi · 5 min · Billy Nance Road
5

At end of road, turn left onto US 64

12 mi · 14 min · Savannah Highway
6

Continue on US 64

0.8 mi · 52 sec · Dexter L Woods Memorial Boulevard
7

Continue on US 64

44 mi · 50 min · United States Route 64
8

Continue on US 64

0.7 mi · 48 sec · West College Street
9

Continue on US 64

67 mi · 1 hr 17 min · US 64
Use the none lane.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 35 sec
11

Keep slight right at fork

184 ft · 5 sec
12

Turn straight onto US 41A

1.7 mi · 2 min · Cowan Highway
13

Continue on US 41A

2.6 mi · 3 min · Cumberland Street West
14

Continue on US 41A

5.0 mi · 7 min · Sewanee Highway
15

Continue on US 41A

2.0 mi · 2 min · Sollace M Freeman Highway
16

Continue on US 41A

1.8 mi · 2 min · Sewanee Highway
17

Continue on US 41A

0.4 mi · 36 sec · David Crockett Highway
18

Continue on US 41A

1.3 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
19

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
20

Merge onto I 24; US 64

44 mi · 49 min · I 24;US 64
Use the none lane.
21

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 46 sec
Exit 184B Toward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
22

Continue on US 27

0.7 mi · 59 sec · US 27
23

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Exit 1B Toward Downtown
24

Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard

0.2 mi · 29 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
25

Arrive at destination

TN 8

Trip Plan

Since this is a manageable day trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Planning for at least one stop is recommended to break up the nearly four-hour duration and keep your focus sharp. Given the length of the longest stretch on US 64, make sure to fuel up or address any immediate needs before committing to that 66.8-mile section. Because the drive is relatively short, you can easily adjust your pace to accommodate traffic or weather conditions without falling behind. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, keeping the $29 budget in mind, and you will find this route a straightforward experience.

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 96.2 miles from Clifton, TN, or about 1h 51m 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 96.2 miles or 1h 51m 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 8m

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 Clifton, 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 Clifton, TN

This is one driving day of about 192.3 miles and 3h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Clifton, 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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 96.2 mi from Clifton, TN · 1h 51m into the drive

Downtown Huntsville, AL, AL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Huntsville, AL

96 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

Huntsville, AL

Fuel and coffee

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

Huntsville, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 96.2 miles from Clifton, 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.

Arriving in Chattanooga, TN

The final approach into Chattanooga, 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 Chattanooga, 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

$29.21 one way

$58.42 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 67 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $32.20 $64.40
premium $4.80 $36.30 $72.60
diesel $5.64 $42.72 $85.44

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 67.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 57.7 0 $20.19 $9.23
Efficient EV 48.1 0 $16.83 $7.69
EV Truck/SUV 76.9 0 $26.92 $12.31

Gas CO2

67 kg

EV CO2

22 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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 2 days ago

Origin

Clifton, TN

Evening in Clifton on Sunday

Local time

7:53 PM

CDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chattanooga, TN

Evening in Chattanooga on Sunday

Local time

8:53 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°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 later

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

Temperature spread

21 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

3h 48m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Clifton, TN to Chattanooga, TN covers 192.3 miles and takes about 3h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 64, United States Route 64, I 24. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 96.2 miles from Clifton, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.21 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 192.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 131.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 147.1 miles (I 24; US 64 / I 24;US 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 190.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Clifton, TN to Chattanooga, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Chattanooga, TN to Clifton, TN

Plan the drive back the other way.

193.8 mi 3h 50m

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

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