Eastern Chipmunks are small, rather chunky rodents with prominent longitudinal stripes on their bodies. Eastern Chipmunks average 9.6 inches in length (including the tail), weighing in at about 3 ounces. The Eastern Chipmunk has five nearly black stripes on its back and sides. It has a narrow, dark stripe that extends from the back of the head toward the rump. This is bordered on each side by wider stripes of gray to reddish-organge. On each side are two narrow, dark stripes enclosing a wider stripe of white or yellowish white. Below the stripes, the Eastern Chipmunk's sides are yellow-orange, grading into a buffy white on its underparts.

The eastern chipmunk lives in open deciduous forests and at the edges of woodlands. It can also be found in bushy areas and in rocky areas like walls near houses and other buildings. It prefers locations with rocky areas, brush or log piles, and shrubs to provide cover. The Eastern Chipmunk's menu is dominated by nuts, seeds, tubers, and fruits. The eastern chipmunk spends a large part of its waking hours gathering and storing food for the winter. The eastern chipmunk defends its burrow and lives a solitary life, except during mating season.