Nashville Chattanooga Shuttle: The best way to get between cities 

If you want to travel from Nashville to Chattanooga you won’t find a train or even a bus.  Your options are mostly limited to the Nashville Chattanooga shuttle.

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Nashville is a lively party city, with lots of great food.  Event better, Nashville has a ton of direct flights from all over the US and other areas in North America, which makes it very accessible. 

But if you want to visit somewhere a little quieter, and more in tune with the outdoors, Chattanooga is calling. The difficult part is getting there.  There are limited direct flights into Chattanooga which means prices are usually higher, and if you aren’t in one of those hubs, you’ll have to spend extra time with layovers. Save on time and money by flying into Nashville.  You can even spend a day or two there before you head out to Chattanooga. 

What about a Chattanooga to Nashville bus or train?

Transportation in or out of Chattanooga is limited.  There is no bus from Nashville to Chattanooga or vice versa.  You will not find any service for Greyhound, FlixBus or Mega Bus in the area.  One of my waiters in Chattanooga said there used to be a bus but it is no longer in service.  

On top of the lack of bus service, there is no Nashville Amtrak service either. This surprised me considering how popular Nashville is, and its proximity to Louisville, Memphis, Birmingham and Chattanooga. Truly a missed opportunity. 

Driving from Nashville to Chattanooga

You could rent a car and drive from Nashville to Chattanooga, but I wouldn’t recommend it.  This isn’t because the drive is far, full of traffic or not scenic.  In fact, it is only two hours, extremely beautiful and generally a very easy drive.  But you will spend at least $100-120 for a one way rental.  Then when you start to account for gas, insurance, and the extra effort of driving and dropping off vehicles.  It’s not really worth it.

Plus, if you do not need a car in Chattanooga (which I don’t think you do) it is just something else you have to deal with.  There is a lot you can see and do around Chattanooga on foot, via the free shuttle bus, or through ride shares.  

So, what is the best way to travel between Nashville and Chattanooga?

Groome shuttle Nashville to Chattanooga 

Groome Transportation is a nationwide shuttle service company that mostly operates between international airports and outlying areas. 

Nashville to Chattanooga shuttle schedule

Groome has their Nashville Chattanooga shuttle running 24 hours a day.  Shuttles leave every 90 minutes either on the 20 or 50 minute marker, from 1:20am to 11:50 pm.  You should book your BNA to Chattanooga shuttle reservation at least 24 hours in advance of your requested departure time. 

The drive between Nashville and Chattanooga is typically 2 to 2.5 hours with drop off at the Groome Transportation office in East Ridge, just outside of Chattanooga.  There are up to three stops along the route at Monteagle, Manchester and Clarksville.  These are to pick up additional riders, which also provides an opportunity to quickly stretch or take a restroom break. 

Groome shuttle cost

The cost for a one way shuttle is $61/person.  Groome also has a Nashville to Atlanta shuttle for $120. Or if you are continuing directly to Atlanta after your time in Chattanooga, you can book the Chattanooga to Atlanta shuttle for $61. 

Their customer service team told me it is best to book online rather than over the phone as there may be an additional service charge added to the total. 

Find all everything you need to know about the Groome transportation Nashville schedule and how to book here. This will also have the schedule for the Chattanooga shuttle to Nashville if you are returning to Nashville. 

How comfortable is Nashville to Chattanooga shuttle bus

Groome has large vans that fit around 8 or 9 passengers.  The seats are fairly comfortable, but if the van is full during your scheduled route, it can feel like close quarters.  But the drive is very scenic which helps pass the time quickly between cities.

The bus is also equipped with USB A (older style) charging ports if you need to charge your phone or other devices during the drive. 

Groome transportation Nashville airport pickup location

The shuttle pick up and drop off locations are in different areas of the Nashville airport.  The pick up for the Nashville Chattanooga shuttle is in the Ground Transportation Center near the hotel shuttles.  They will have signs at the airport directing you how to get there.  The drop off location is much easier.  If you’re returning from Chattanooga, you will be dropped curbside in the departures zone, and head directly into the terminal. 

When you arrive in Chattanooga, the Groome office is outside of the city in East Ridge. The office is 15 minutes southeast of the downtown area, and 10 minutes south of the airport.  A ride share from the Groome office into the city center is around $15. 

My Nashville Chattanooga shuttle review

I had a great experience taking the Groome shuttle service between Nashville and Chattanooga.  Every person that I interacted with at Groom from the customer service, to check in and our driver was very friendly.  The car arrived and departed right on schedule. The driver will take care of getting all your luggage stored in the back.

I’m really glad we booked the shuttle rather than renting a car to travel between cities.  It was so much easier and less of a hassle to just let someone else do the driving. 

Whether you’re trying to get from Nashville to Chattanooga or vice versa, this is the best option. 

Nashville to Chattanooga FAQs

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