Origin
City of Murfreesboro, TN
Morning in City of Murfreesboro on Sunday
Local time
7:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from City of Murfreesboro, TN to Cleveland, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 34m
Distance
131.6 mi
212 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 24m
★
6 AM
2h 35m
8 AM
2h 55m
10 AM
2h 42m
12 PM
2h 40m
3 PM
2h 43m
5 PM
2h 54m
8 PM
2h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
City of Murfreesboro, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Murfreesboro, TN to Cleveland, TN is 131.6 miles and takes about 2h 34m via I 24 and I 75, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, traversing Tennessee for its entirety. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, making it ideal for a single day of travel. You'll find this route efficient for getting from point A to point B without significant detours or complications. Consider it if you need a quick and uncomplicated journey between these two Tennessee cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.8 miles from City of Murfreesboro, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 24 | 105.3 mi | 1h 58m |
| I 75 | 18.4 mi | 22m |
| South Lee Highway | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| New Salem Highway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| US 74 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Inman Street West | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Golf Lane | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Keith Street Southwest | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 105.3 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Murfreesboro, TN and Cleveland, TN.
1
Start on Golf Lane
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Golf Lane
2
Continue on SR 99
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
New Salem Highway
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
4
Merge onto I 24
105 mi
·
1 hr 58 min
·
I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 185 B
Toward I 75 North: Knoxville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 75
18 mi
·
22 min
·
I 75
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 20
Toward US 64 Bypass East: Cleveland
8
Keep slight left at fork
281 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 20
Toward US 64 Bypass East: Cleveland
9
Turn right onto US 74
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 74
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
11
Turn left onto US 11; US 64
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
South Lee Highway
12
Continue on US 11
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Keith Street Southwest
13
Turn right onto Inman Street West
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Inman Street West
Use the right lane.
14
Arrive at destination
US 64
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 34 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for a flexible departure time. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $21, you won't need extensive planning. A good tip for this route is to monitor traffic on I 24 and I 75, especially if you're traveling during peak commuting hours or on weekends, as congestion can impact your arrival time. Plan to refuel before you leave Murfreesboro or shortly after hitting I 24 to ensure you have ample gas for the longest stretch.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.8 miles from City of Murfreesboro, TN, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.3 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 29 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.8 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 4m
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 City of Murfreesboro, 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 City of Murfreesboro, TN
This is one driving day of about 131.6 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from City of Murfreesboro, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 24 for about 105.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.8 miles from City of Murfreesboro, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 24 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 126.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
107.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 185 B
Toward I 75 North: Knoxville
5
108.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
126.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 26m 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
126.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 27m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.57 one way
$41.15 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.59 | $45.18 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.33 | $50.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.06 | $58.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.5 | 0 | $13.82 | $6.32 |
| Efficient EV | 32.9 | 0 | $11.51 | $5.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.6 | 0 | $18.42 | $8.42 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Destination
Cleveland, TN
Morning in Cleveland on Sunday
Local time
8:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
6 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 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Stones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the journey utilizing major interstates. You'll spend the majority of your time on I 24 and I 75, experiencing a fast-paced drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 105.3 miles, primarily on I 24, meaning extended periods without needing to exit. While the majority is interstate, the final portion includes South Lee Highway, offering a slight change of pace before reaching your destination. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal slowdowns.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105.3 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and I 75. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in near I 24.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 131.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 2.1 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.3 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 34m. Total distance: 131.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105.3 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cleveland, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.3 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cleveland, TN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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