Origin
Athens, TN
Night in Athens on Friday
Local time
11:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Athens, TN to Cleveland, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
38m
Distance
31.4 mi
50 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Athens, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 31.4-mile drive from Athens, TN to Cleveland, TN is a quick trip that can easily be completed in about 38 minutes, making it perfect for a single day. The majority of your journey, about 75% of it, will be on the interstate, offering a straightforward and efficient passage. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $5, this route is budget-friendly. Since it's such a short distance, you won't need to worry about overnight stays, giving you flexibility in your departure and arrival times. This drive stays within the Southeast region, specifically within Tennessee, keeping the scenery consistent.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 31.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this trip, with 75% of the mileage on interstates. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 23.5 miles on I-75, providing a steady pace. The route primarily utilizes I-75, Decatur Pike, and Keith Street. While the interstate offers speed, be prepared for transitions as you navigate local road segments like Decatur Pike and Keith Street closer to your destination. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway travel and more local road conditions.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 23.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Decatur Pike. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North White Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 38m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North White Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SR 39 / East Madison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 28 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North White Street
Turn left onto North White Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SR 39 / East Madison Avenue
Turn left onto SR 39 / East Madison Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
28 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward SR 60: Cleveland, Dayton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 60: Cleveland, Dayton
5
28.2 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
TN 60 / Georgetown Road Northwest
Turn right onto TN 60 / Georgetown Road Northwest
Navigation decision point
6
30.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
Inman Street West
Turn left onto Inman Street West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Athens, TN to Cleveland, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Dayton along the way.
Dayton
28 mi in
|
~32m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 23.5 mi | 25m |
| Decatur Pike | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Keith Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Green Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| 25th Street NW | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Inman Street West | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 25th Street Northwest | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Georgetown Road Northwest | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 23.5 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Athens, TN and Cleveland, TN.
1
Start on SR 39
186 ft
·
9 sec
·
Washington Avenue
2
Turn left onto North White Street
244 ft
·
12 sec
·
North White Street
3
Turn left onto SR 39
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Madison Avenue
4
Turn left onto SR 30; SR 39
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
Green Street
5
Continue on TN 30
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Decatur Pike
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
7
Merge onto I 75
23 mi
·
25 min
·
I 75
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward SR 60: Cleveland, Dayton
9
Turn right onto TN 60
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Georgetown Road Northwest
10
Continue on TN 60
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
25th Street Northwest
11
Continue on TN 60
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
25th Street NW
12
Continue on TN 60
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
25th Street Northwest
13
Turn right onto US 11
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Keith Street
14
Turn left onto Inman Street West
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Inman Street West
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
US 64
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.91 one way
$9.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.39 | $10.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.04 | $12.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.93 | $13.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Cleveland, TN
Night in Cleveland on Friday
Local time
11:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
38m 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 Athens, TN to Cleveland, TN covers 31.4 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, Decatur Pike, Keith Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.7 miles from Athens, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.91 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 38m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North White Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SR 39 / East Madison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 28 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Athens, TN to Cleveland, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Dayton along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Cleveland, TN
More trips to Cleveland, TN
Explore more options from Athens, TN or browse trips ending in Cleveland, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.