Trip from Cleveland, TN to Dayton, TN

Drive Time

44m

Distance

28.3 mi

45 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min
4 AM
0h 41m ★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m

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

Downtown Dayton, TN, TN

Dayton, TN

Kelly

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel between Cleveland and Dayton, Tennessee, you are looking at a straightforward 28.3-mile trip that typically takes about 44 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You can expect to spend roughly $4 on fuel for the journey, making it a very budget-friendly transit through the Southeast region. The route relies primarily on Highway 60, Georgetown Road Northwest, and Hiwassee Highway to get you to your destination. Whether you are commuting or just exploring, the simplicity of this drive allows for a stress-free experience without any necessary scheduled stops.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

14.1 miles from Cleveland, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .

Drive Character

This 28.3-mile drive offers a mixed-road profile, transitioning between varied local infrastructure and state highway travel. You will spend approximately 52% of your time on highways, giving the route a balanced feel that avoids the monotony of a purely interstate journey. The longest uninterrupted section you will encounter is a 13.5-mile stretch along Highway 60, which serves as the core of your travel experience. As you progress through the Southeast, the road conditions shift, requiring you to remain attentive as you navigate from the main highway arteries onto local connectors. Expect a steady, predictable pace that is neither overly technical nor aggressively fast.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 60 is the longest continuous segment at about 13.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 11 / Keith Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 28.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.4 miles (US 11 / Keith Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles (US 27): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28 miles (SR 30 / 3rd Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

5
0.4 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 11 / Keith Street

Turn right onto US 11 / Keith Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
26.7 mi into trip | ~41m in | US 27

Merge onto US 27

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

Use the none lane.
5
28 mi into trip | ~43m in | SR 30 / 3rd Avenue

Turn left onto SR 30 / 3rd Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
28.1 mi into trip | ~43m in | Church Street

Turn left onto Church Street

Navigation decision point

5
28.2 mi into trip | ~44m in | 2nd Avenue

Turn right onto 2nd Avenue

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Highway 60 13.5 mi 20m
Georgetown Road Northwest 7.7 mi 12m
Hiwassee Highway 1.6 mi 2m
Keith Street 1.5 mi 2m
US 27 1.2 mi 2m
25th Street NW 0.6 mi <1m
Georgetown Rd NW 0.6 mi 1m
25th Street Northwest 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Highway 60 — 13.5 mi, about 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cleveland, TN and Dayton, TN.

1

Start on US 64

0.4 mi · 40 sec · Inman Street West
2

Turn right onto US 11

1.5 mi · 2 min · Keith Street
Use the straight lane.
3

Turn left onto TN 60

0.3 mi · 35 sec · 25th Street Northwest
Use the left lane.
4

Continue on TN 60

0.6 mi · 58 sec · 25th Street NW
Use the straight lane.
5

Continue on TN 60

0.2 mi · 21 sec · 25th Street Northwest
Use the none lane.
6

Continue on TN 60

7.7 mi · 12 min · Georgetown Road Northwest
Use the straight lane.
7

Continue on SR 60

0.6 mi · 1 min · Georgetown Rd NW
8

Continue on SR 60

14 mi · 20 min · Highway 60
Use the none lane.
9

Continue on SR 60

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Blythe Ferry Road
10

Turn straight onto SR 60

1.6 mi · 2 min · Hiwassee Highway
Use the none lane.
11

Take the ramp

278 ft · 5 sec
Use the right lane.
12

Merge onto US 27

1.2 mi · 2 min · US 27
Use the none lane.
13

Turn left onto SR 30

0.2 mi · 23 sec · 3rd Avenue
Use the left lane.
14

Turn left onto Church Street

351 ft · 17 sec · Church Street
15

Turn right onto 2nd Avenue

301 ft · 13 sec · 2nd Avenue
16

Arrive at destination

2nd Avenue

Trip Plan

Because the total duration is only 44 minutes, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, as you are unlikely to encounter major fatigue. Since there are no required stops on this 28.3-mile route, feel free to plan your departure based on local traffic patterns rather than refueling needs. Keep your budget simple by setting aside about $4 for gas before you head out. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to monitor your speed closely as you transition between the highway stretches and the local segments of Georgetown Road Northwest. By staying mindful of these road changes, you can ensure a smooth and efficient arrival in Dayton.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 14.1 miles from Cleveland, TN, or about 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.5 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 28.3 miles or 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 14.1 miles or 22m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 37m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dayton, TN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Cleveland, 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 Cleveland, TN

This is one driving day of about 28.3 miles and 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cleveland, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Highway 60 for about 13.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 14.1 mi from Cleveland, TN · 22m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

East Chattanooga, TN

14 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

Johnson, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

East Chattanooga, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 14.1 miles from Cleveland, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Dayton, TN

The final approach into Dayton, 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 Dayton, 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

$4.30 one way

$8.60 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 10 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $4.74 $9.48
premium $4.80 $5.34 $10.68
diesel $5.64 $6.29 $12.57

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 8.5 0 $2.97 $1.36
Efficient EV 7.1 0 $2.48 $1.13
EV Truck/SUV 11.3 0 $3.96 $1.81

Gas CO2

10 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (70% 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 3 days ago

Origin

Cleveland, TN

Evening in Cleveland on Sunday

Local time

8:37 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dayton, TN

Evening in Dayton on Sunday

Local time

8:37 PM

EDT

Current temp

60°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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

4 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

44m 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 Cleveland, TN to Dayton, TN covers 28.3 miles and takes about 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 60, Georgetown Road Northwest, Hiwassee Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.1 miles from Cleveland, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.30 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 28.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.4 miles (US 11 / Keith Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles (US 27): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28 miles (SR 30 / 3rd Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Cleveland, TN to Dayton, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Dayton, TN to Cleveland, TN

Plan the drive back the other way.

28.4 mi 43m

Explore more options from Cleveland, TN or browse trips ending in Dayton, TN.

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