Trip from Cookeville, TN to Cleveland, TN

Drive Time

2h 24m

Distance

104 mi

167 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 14m ★
6 AM
2h 24m
8 AM
2h 44m
10 AM
2h 31m
12 PM
2h 29m
3 PM
2h 32m
5 PM
2h 43m
8 PM
2h 18m

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

Downtown Cookeville, TN, TN

Cookeville, TN

Kelly

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Cookeville to Cleveland, Tennessee, you are looking at a 104-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 24 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to easily complete the drive without needing an overnight stay. Budgeting around $16 for fuel should cover your needs, making this an economical choice for transit between these two Southeast Tennessee locations. Because the trip is relatively short, you have the flexibility to travel at your own pace without feeling rushed. It is a straightforward connection that keeps you moving through the region efficiently.

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

52 miles from Cookeville, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip offers a mixed driving profile, transitioning from major thoroughfares to local roads as you head toward your destination. You will spend roughly 45% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 27.1 miles on I-40. Expect to navigate a combination of interstate travel and secondary routes, including SR 68 and Rhea County Highway. The experience behind the wheel shifts from the steady pace of the interstate to the more varied rhythm of state and local highways. This blend keeps the drive from feeling monotonous while ensuring you make consistent progress toward Cleveland.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 27.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 70N / East Spring Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 2h 24m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 70N / East Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 31 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.6 miles (US 27 / Rhea County Highway): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 70N / East Spring Street

Turn left onto US 70N / East Spring Street

Navigation decision point

6
31 mi into trip | ~35m in

Take the exit toward US 127, TN 28: Crossville, Jamestown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 317 Toward US 127, TN 28: Crossville, Jamestown
6
59.6 mi into trip | ~1h 19m in | US 27 / Rhea County Highway

Turn right onto US 27 / Rhea County Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
6
77.2 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in | SR 378 / Market Street

Turn left onto SR 378 / Market Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
103.5 mi into trip | ~2h 23m in | Inman Street West

Turn left onto Inman Street West

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Cookeville, TN to Cleveland, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Jamestown along the way.

Jamestown

31 mi in | ~35m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 27.1 mi 29m
SR 68 20.1 mi 30m
Rhea County Highway 17.6 mi 23m
Hiwassee Highway 15.1 mi 22m
Georgetown Road Northwest 7.7 mi 12m
North Main Street 7.6 mi 11m
East Spring Street 3.7 mi 5m
Keith Street 1.5 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 27.1 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Dixie Avenue

270 ft · 19 sec · South Dixie Avenue
2

Turn left onto US 70N

3.7 mi · 5 min · East Spring Street
3

Turn left

0.2 mi · 28 sec
4

Merge onto I 40

27 mi · 29 min · I 40
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Exit 317 Toward US 127, TN 28: Crossville, Jamestown
6

Turn straight onto US 127

7.6 mi · 11 min · North Main Street
Use the none lane.
7

Continue on SR 68

20 mi · 30 min · SR 68
Use the left lane.
8

Continue on Herb M Wassom Mem Highway

0.1 mi · 12 sec · Herb M Wassom Mem Highway
Use the left lane.
9

Continue on Piccadilly Avenue

0.5 mi · 57 sec · Piccadilly Avenue
10

Turn right onto US 27

18 mi · 23 min · Rhea County Highway
Use the none lane.
11

Turn left onto SR 378

52 ft · 3 sec · Market Street
Use the left lane.
12

Continue on SR 60

1.6 mi · 2 min · Hiwassee Highway
Use the none lane.
13

Continue on SR 60

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Blythe Ferry Road
14

Turn straight onto SR 60

14 mi · 20 min · Hiwassee Highway
Use the none lane.
15

Continue on SR 60

0.6 mi · 1 min · Georgetown Rd NW
16

Continue on SR 60

7.7 mi · 12 min · Georgetown Road Northwest
Use the none lane.
17

Continue on TN 60

0.1 mi · 12 sec · 25th Street Northwest
18

Continue on TN 60

0.6 mi · 59 sec · 25th Street NW
Use the none lane.
19

Continue on TN 60

0.3 mi · 35 sec · 25th Street Northwest
Use the none lane.
20

Turn right onto US 11

1.5 mi · 2 min · Keith Street
Use the none lane.
21

Turn left onto Inman Street West

0.4 mi · 44 sec · Inman Street West
Use the left lane.
22

Arrive at destination

US 64

Trip Plan

For the smoothest experience, plan your departure to avoid peak local traffic, as the mix of highway and local roads can be sensitive to congestion. Since the drive is just over two hours, you can comfortably complete it in one go without scheduling formal stops. However, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise, even with the modest $16 estimated cost, to ensure you remain prepared for the full 104-mile stretch. Since the route relies on a specific sequence of I-40, SR 68, and Rhea County Highway, keep your navigation handy during the transitions between these roads. The primary advantage of this route is its brevity, so prioritize a flexible start time to maximize your day at the destination.

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 52 miles from Cookeville, TN, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.1 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 80 miles or 1h 47m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 52 miles or 1h 7m 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 54m

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 Cookeville, 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 Cookeville, TN

This is one driving day of about 104 miles and 2h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cookeville, 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 40 for about 27.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 52 mi from Cookeville, TN · 1h 7m into the drive

Downtown Johnson, TN, TN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Johnson, TN

52 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Johnson, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 52 miles from Cookeville, 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

$15.80 one way

$31.59 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $17.41 $34.83
premium $4.80 $19.63 $39.27
diesel $5.64 $23.11 $46.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 36.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 31.2 0 $10.92 $4.99
Efficient EV 26 0 $9.10 $4.16
EV Truck/SUV 41.6 0 $14.56 $6.66

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 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

Cookeville, TN

Evening in Cookeville on Sunday

Local time

8:47 PM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cleveland, TN

Night in Cleveland on Sunday

Local time

9:47 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

61°F

Johnson, TN

52 mi in

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

1 hour later

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

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

2h 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 Cookeville, TN to Cleveland, TN covers 104 miles and takes about 2h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, SR 68, Rhea County Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52 miles from Cookeville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.80 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 2h 24m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 70N / East Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 31 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.6 miles (US 27 / Rhea County Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Cookeville, TN to Cleveland, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Jamestown along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Cleveland, TN to Cookeville, TN

Plan the drive back the other way.

103.9 mi 2h 25m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.

Explore maps for Cookeville, TN or Cleveland, TN on MapSof.net.