Origin
Cleveland, TN
Late night in Cleveland on Sunday
Local time
4:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 25m
Distance
103.9 mi
167 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cookeville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Cleveland to Cookeville covers 103.9 miles, making this a straightforward journey that fits easily into a single day. You can expect to spend approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes behind the wheel, primarily utilizing I-40, the Wassom Memorial Highway, and US 27. With a fuel budget of about $16, this trip is an affordable way to navigate between these two Southeast Tennessee locations. Because the duration is relatively short, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay unless your schedule requires it. This highway-focused route serves as an efficient connection, allowing you to transition between regions without the fatigue of a multi-day trek.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.9 miles from Cleveland, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 27 mi | 29m |
| Wassom Memorial Highway | 19.8 mi | 29m |
| US 27 | 17.6 mi | 24m |
| Highway 60 | 13.5 mi | 20m |
| Georgetown Road Northwest | 7.7 mi | 12m |
| US 127 | 7.7 mi | 12m |
| East Spring Street | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| Hiwassee Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cleveland, TN and Cookeville, TN.
Start on US 64
Turn right onto US 11
Turn left onto TN 60
Continue on TN 60
Continue on TN 60
Continue on TN 60
Continue on SR 60
Continue on SR 60
Continue on SR 60
Turn straight onto SR 60
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 27
Turn left onto Piccadilly Avenue
Continue on Herb M Wassom Mem Highway
At end of road, turn right onto SR 68
Continue on SR 68
Turn straight onto US 127
Take the exit
Merge onto I 40
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto US 70N
Continue on US 70N
Turn right onto South Dixie Avenue
Arrive at destination
Since this is a manageable 2.5-hour trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. You won't need to stress over complex stop planning, as the duration is short enough to drive straight through without mandatory breaks. Keep in mind that your primary fuel expenditure will be around $16, so checking your tank before hitting the interstate is a smart move. Because the route relies heavily on I-40 and US 27, stay alert for typical highway traffic patterns that could impact your travel time. Taking advantage of the route's simplicity allows you to focus on a comfortable, direct arrival at your 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.
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 23 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.9 miles or 1h 17m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cookeville, TN than in the middle of the route.
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 103.9 miles and 2h 25m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 51.9 miles from Cleveland, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 100.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto US 11 / Keith Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto TN 60 / 25th Street Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Piccadilly Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn right onto SR 68 / Herb M Wassom Mem Highway
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork toward US 70N: Cookeville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$16.24 one way
$32.49 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.83 | $35.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.99 | $39.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.94 | $45.88 |
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, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.91 | $4.99 |
| Efficient EV | 26 | 0 | $9.09 | $4.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.6 | 0 | $14.55 | $6.65 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Cleveland on Sunday
Local time
4:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Cookeville on Sunday
Local time
3:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
75°F
Spring City, 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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a drive defined by its highway-focused nature, with roughly 63% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of road types, transitioning from local stretches onto the broader interstate system. The longest uninterrupted segment you will encounter is a 27-mile stretch on I-40, which offers a consistent rhythm for your cruise. While the route is designed for efficiency, the variety between the Wassom Memorial Highway and US 27 ensures the drive maintains a steady pace throughout the 103.9-mile transit.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Wassom Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 11 / Keith Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 103.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 11 / Keith Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (TN 60 / 25th Street Northwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.3 miles (Piccadilly Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Cookeville is a small city in north central Tennessee and home of Tennessee Tech University. Cookeville is the largest city in the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 103.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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