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Trip from Cleveland, TN to Cookeville, 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 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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 16m ★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 45m
10 AM
2h 33m
12 PM
2h 31m
3 PM
2h 34m
5 PM
2h 44m
8 PM
2h 20m

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

city in Tennessee, United States

Cookeville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: I 40 — 27 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 64

0.4 mi · 40 sec · Inman Street West
2

Turn right onto US 11

1.5 mi · 2 min · Keith Street
Use the straight lane.
3

Turn left onto TN 60

0.3 mi · 35 sec · 25th Street Northwest
Use the left lane.
4

Continue on TN 60

0.6 mi · 58 sec · 25th Street NW
Use the straight lane.
5

Continue on TN 60

0.2 mi · 21 sec · 25th Street Northwest
6

Continue on TN 60

7.7 mi · 12 min · Georgetown Road Northwest
Use the straight lane.
7

Continue on SR 60

0.6 mi · 1 min · Georgetown Rd NW
8

Continue on SR 60

14 mi · 20 min · Highway 60
9

Continue on SR 60

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Blythe Ferry Road
10

Turn straight onto SR 60

1.6 mi · 2 min · Hiwassee Highway
11

Take the ramp

278 ft · 5 sec
Use the right lane.
12

Merge onto US 27

18 mi · 24 min · US 27
13

Turn left onto Piccadilly Avenue

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Piccadilly Avenue
Use the left lane.
14

Continue on Herb M Wassom Mem Highway

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Herb M Wassom Mem Highway
15

At end of road, turn right onto SR 68

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Herb M Wassom Mem Highway
16

Continue on SR 68

20 mi · 29 min · Wassom Memorial Highway
17

Turn straight onto US 127

7.7 mi · 12 min · US 127
18

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
19

Merge onto I 40

27 mi · 29 min · I 40
20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward US 70N: Cookeville
21

Keep slight right at fork

382 ft · 9 sec
Toward US 70N: Cookeville
22

Turn straight onto US 70N

3.0 mi · 4 min · East Spring Street
23

Continue on US 70N

0.5 mi · 57 sec · East Spring Street
24

Turn right onto South Dixie Avenue

270 ft · 11 sec · South Dixie Avenue
25

Arrive at destination

South Dixie Avenue

Trip Plan

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.

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 51.9 miles from Cleveland, TN, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Cleveland, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 27 miles.

Where to Stop

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

human settlement in Rhea County, Tennessee, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Spring City, 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

Dayton, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Spring City, TN

Meal break

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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

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.

5
0.4 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 11 / Keith Street

Turn right onto US 11 / Keith Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
4
1.9 mi into trip | ~3m in | TN 60 / 25th Street Northwest

Turn left onto TN 60 / 25th Street Northwest

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
44.3 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | Piccadilly Avenue

Turn left onto Piccadilly Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
44.9 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in | SR 68 / Herb M Wassom Mem Highway

At end of road, turn right onto SR 68 / Herb M Wassom Mem Highway

Navigation decision point

6
100.2 mi into trip | ~2h 19m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 70N: Cookeville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward US 70N: Cookeville

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.24 one way

$32.49 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Cleveland, TN

Late night in Cleveland on Sunday

Local time

4:05 AM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cookeville, TN

Late night in Cookeville on Sunday

Local time

3:05 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

1 hour earlier

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

Temperature spread

34 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

2h 25m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

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.

63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

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.

Driving Effort 7/10

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.

About the Cities

Arriving in Cookeville, TN

Full guide →

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).

Who Is This Route For?

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 27 miles on I 40. 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 Cookeville, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cookeville, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Cookeville, TN to Cleveland, TN

Plan the drive back the other way.

104 mi 2h 24m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.