Drive Time
3h 31m
Distance
205.3 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
The drive from Clifton, TN to East Chattanooga, TN covers 205.3 miles and takes about 3h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Main Street, Billy Nance Highway West, Billy Nance Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.48 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
102.6 miles from Clifton, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 45m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 31m drive with frequent turns across 205.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Billy Nance Highway West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Billy Nance Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Savannah Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dexter L Woods Memorial Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Route 64 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West College Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cowan Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, TN and East Chattanooga, TN.
Start on West Water Street
Turn right onto Main Street
At the end of the road, turn left onto Billy Nance Highway West
Continue on Billy Nance Road
At the end of the road, turn left onto Savannah Highway
Continue on Dexter L Woods Memorial Boulevard
Continue on United States Route 64
Continue on West College Street
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right
Keep slight right
Turn straight onto Cowan Highway
Continue on Cumberland Street West
Continue on Sewanee Highway
Continue on Sollace M Freeman Highway
Continue on Sewanee Highway
Continue on David Crockett Highway
Continue on West Main Street
Take the ramp slight right
Merge slight left onto I 24;US 64
Take the exit slight right toward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown
Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Turn left onto Georgia Avenue
Turn right onto East 4th Street
Turn straight
Continue on Riverside Drive
Turn right onto Wilcox Boulevard
Turn left onto Dodson Avenue
Turn right onto Glass Street
Turn sharp right onto North Chamberlain Avenue
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.6 miles or 1h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Chattanooga, TN than in the middle of the route.
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 205.3 miles and 3h 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 102.6 mi from Clifton, TN · 1h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 102.6 miles from Clifton, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into East 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 East Chattanooga, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$30.48 one way
$60.96 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $34.38 | $68.75 |
| premium | $4.65 | $37.62 | $75.23 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $42.87 | $85.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.6 | 0 | $21.56 | $9.85 |
| Efficient EV | 51.3 | 0 | $17.96 | $8.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.1 | 1 | $28.74 | $13.14 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Clifton on Saturday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in East Chattanooga on Saturday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
86°F
Huntsville, AL
103 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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Explore more options from Clifton, TN or browse trips ending in East Chattanooga, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.
Explore maps for Clifton, TN or East Chattanooga, TN on MapSof.net.