Trip from Collegedale, TN to Cleveland, TN

Drive Time

24m

Distance

16.9 mi

27 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min
4 AM
0h 22m ★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 28m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 25m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m

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

Downtown Collegedale, TN, TN

Collegedale, TN

Davide Comunian

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick excursion between Collegedale and Cleveland, Tennessee, you are looking at a short, straightforward trip of approximately 16.9 miles. This drive typically takes about 24 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a half-day outing or a simple commute rather than an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-75, South Lee Highway, and Main Street to complete the journey. With fuel costs estimated at just $3, this is an incredibly budget-friendly route within the Southeast region. Whether you are running errands or visiting nearby, the efficiency of this connection makes it a convenient option for travelers.

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

8.5 miles from Collegedale, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip offers a mixed driving profile that transitions from high-speed interstate travel to local surface streets. You will spend about 56% of your time on the highway, with the longest uninterrupted segment covering 8.3 miles on I-75. As you exit the interstate, the character of the road shifts significantly, moving from the steady pace of the highway onto the more traditional flow of South Lee Highway and Main Street. Expect a functional, no-nonsense drive that balances the convenience of major transit corridors with the necessary local connections to reach your destination in Cleveland.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
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 8.3 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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near SR 321 / Main Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 16.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.1 miles (SR 321 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

5
1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | SR 321 / Main Street

Turn right onto SR 321 / Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
3.3 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the ramp

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
11.9 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the exit toward US 64 Bypass East: Cleveland

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 20 Toward US 64 Bypass East: Cleveland
7
12.1 mi into trip | ~16m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 64 Bypass East: Cleveland

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 20 Toward US 64 Bypass East: Cleveland
5
16.5 mi into trip | ~23m in | Inman Street West

Turn right onto Inman Street West

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 8.3 mi 9m
South Lee Highway 2.5 mi 4m
Main Street 1.7 mi 3m
US 74 1.2 mi 1m
Apison Pike 1.1 mi 2m
Lee Highway 0.5 mi 1m
Inman Street West 0.4 mi <1m
Keith Street Southwest 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 8.3 mi, about 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Colcord Drive

70 ft · 7 sec · Colcord Drive
2

Turn left onto SR 317

0.8 mi · 1 min · Apison Pike
3

At end of road, turn left onto SR 317

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Apison Pike
4

Turn right onto SR 321

1.7 mi · 3 min · Main Street
Use the right lane.
5

Turn left onto US 11; US 64

0.5 mi · 1 min · Lee Highway
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Use the right lane.
7

Merge onto I 75

8.3 mi · 9 min · I 75
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 20 Toward US 64 Bypass East: Cleveland
9

Keep slight left at fork

281 ft · 9 sec
Exit 20 Toward US 64 Bypass East: Cleveland
10

Turn right onto US 74

1.2 mi · 1 min · US 74
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
12

Turn left onto US 11; US 64

2.5 mi · 4 min · South Lee Highway
Use the none lane.
13

Continue on US 11

0.4 mi · 34 sec · Keith Street Southwest
Use the none lane.
14

Turn right onto Inman Street West

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Inman Street West
Use the right lane.
15

Arrive at destination

US 64

Trip Plan

Since the entire drive is only 24 minutes, you have maximum flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning formal rest stops given the short distance, allowing you to focus on a direct trip. Keep in mind that while the fuel cost is low at $3, it is always a good practice to ensure your tank is ready before heading out, especially if you plan to do extra driving once you arrive. A helpful tip for this specific route is to monitor traffic patterns on I-75 before you leave, as even short interstate segments can experience congestion during peak hours. Enjoy the simplicity of this quick hop between Tennessee cities.

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 8.5 miles from Collegedale, TN, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.3 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 16.9 miles or 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 8.5 miles or 12m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 19m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Collegedale, 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 Collegedale, TN

This is one driving day of about 16.9 miles and 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Collegedale, 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 I 75 for about 8.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 8.5 mi from Collegedale, TN · 12m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

East Chattanooga, TN

8 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

East Chattanooga, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

East Chattanooga, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 8.5 miles from Collegedale, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Cleveland, TN

The final approach into Cleveland, 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 Cleveland, 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

$2.57 one way

$5.13 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $2.83 $5.66
premium $4.80 $3.19 $6.38
diesel $5.64 $3.75 $7.51

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$28–$53

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 5.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.1 0 $1.77 $0.81
Efficient EV 4.2 0 $1.48 $0.68
EV Truck/SUV 6.8 0 $2.37 $1.08

Gas CO2

6 kg

EV CO2

2 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Collegedale, TN

Evening in Collegedale on Sunday

Local time

7:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cleveland, TN

Evening in Cleveland on Sunday

Local time

7:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

24m 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 Collegedale, TN to Cleveland, TN covers 16.9 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, South Lee Highway, Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.5 miles from Collegedale, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.57 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 16.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.1 miles (SR 321 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Collegedale, TN to Cleveland, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Cleveland, TN to Collegedale, TN

Plan the drive back the other way.

17 mi 25m

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

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