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Trip from Cleveland, TN to Oak Ridge, TN

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

1h 34m

Distance

78.2 mi

126 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 27m ★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 48m
8 PM
1h 30m

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

city in Tennessee, United States

Oak Ridge, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Cleveland, TN to Oak Ridge, TN covers 78.2 miles and takes about 1h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Keith Street, 25th Street Northwest, 25th Street NW for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.23 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

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

39.1 miles from Cleveland, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 34m drive with frequent turns across 78.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Keith Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Cleveland, TN to Oak Ridge, TN is easy. At 1h 34m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cleveland, TN to Oak Ridge, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Keith Street
25th Street Northwest
25th Street NW
US 321
Lamar Alexander Parkway
White Wing Road
North Illinois Avenue

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Keith Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Inman Street West

0.4 mi · 40 sec · Inman Street West
2

Turn right onto Keith Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · Keith Street
3

Turn left onto 25th Street Northwest

0.3 mi · 35 sec · 25th Street Northwest
4

Continue on 25th Street NW

0.6 mi · 59 sec · 25th Street NW
5

Continue on 25th Street Northwest

0.2 mi · 18 sec · 25th Street Northwest
6

Take the exit right

0.3 mi · 35 sec
7

Merge slight left

56 mi · 1 hr
8

Take the exit slight right toward US 321, Primary SR 95: Lenoir City, Oak Ridge

0.2 mi · 29 sec · US 321, Primary SR 95: Lenoir City, Oak Ridge
9

Turn left onto Lamar Alexander Parkway

4.8 mi · 7 min · Lamar Alexander Parkway
10

Continue on White Wing Road

14 mi · 20 min · White Wing Road
11

Turn left onto North Illinois Avenue

33 ft · North Illinois Avenue
12

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 39.1 miles from Cleveland, TN, or about 47m into the drive.

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 17 miles or 20m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39.1 miles or 47m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oak Ridge, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Cleveland, TN

This is one driving day of about 78.2 miles and 1h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Cleveland, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39.1 mi from Cleveland, TN · 47m into the drive

city in Loudon County, Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lenoir City, TN

39 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

Calhoun, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lenoir City, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.1 miles from Cleveland, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Oak Ridge, TN

The final approach into Oak Ridge, TN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.23 one way

$24.45 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.42 $26.85
premium $4.89 $15.05 $30.10
diesel $5.61 $17.27 $34.53

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.5 0 $8.21 $3.75
Efficient EV 19.6 0 $6.84 $3.13
EV Truck/SUV 31.3 0 $10.95 $5.00

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Cleveland, TN

Afternoon in Cleveland on Wednesday

Local time

4:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Oak Ridge, TN

Afternoon in Oak Ridge on Wednesday

Local time

4:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°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

1 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

1h 34m 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 Oak Ridge, TN covers 78.2 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keith Street, 25th Street Northwest, 25th Street NW. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.1 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 $12.23 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.
The drive from Cleveland, TN to Oak Ridge, TN is easy. At 1h 34m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cleveland, TN to Oak Ridge, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cleveland, TN to Oak Ridge, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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