Spanning 267.9 miles across Tennessee, this trek from Cleveland to Lexington is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 5 hours and 5 minutes behind the wheel. Because the duration is manageable, it works perfectly as a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You will spend roughly $41 on fuel, so budgeting accordingly makes for a stress-free experience. As you transition across the state, you will find yourself moving through the Southeast region from start to finish. This drive is best suited for those who prefer local roads over the monotony of major interstates, offering a consistent pace for your travel day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
133.9 miles from Cleveland, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
111.9 mi
2h 6m
I 40
67.6 mi
1h 12m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
53.7 mi
58m
I 75
18.4 mi
22m
TN 22
9.7 mi
14m
South Lee Highway
2.4 mi
3m
US 74
1.3 mi
1m
Lee Highway
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 111.9 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cleveland, TN and Lexington, TN.
1
Start on US 64
68 ft·9 sec·Inman Street West
2
Turn left onto US 64; US 11 Business
0.1 mi·18 sec·Broad Street Southwest
3
Turn right onto US 64; US 11 Business
0.2 mi·23 sec·3rd Street Southwest
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on US 64; US 11 Business
0.3 mi·35 sec·Lee Highway
5
Turn left onto US 11; US 64
2.4 mi·3 min·South Lee Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
7
Merge onto US 74
1.3 mi·1 min·US 74
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Merge onto I 75
18 mi·22 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·56 sec
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 24
112 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 24
Toward Chattanooga, NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 74AToward I 840 West: Memphis, FranklinUse the right lane.
13
Merge onto I 840
54 mi·58 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 40
68 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 40
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroads, Lexington, Huntingdon
16
Turn left onto SR 22
387 ft·5 sec·SR 22
17
Continue on TN 22
9.7 mi·14 min·TN 22
18
Arrive at destination
TN 22
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan to head out early in the morning to account for the turn-heavy nature of the local roads. Since the trip includes one scheduled stop, use that time to stretch your legs and refresh, as the lack of highway stretches can make the 5-hour drive feel more demanding than interstate travel. Keep your fuel costs in mind, as the $41 estimate is based on the full 267.9-mile distance. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay alert at intersections and turns on Lee Highway, as the local road navigation requires more frequent attention than a standard highway route.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 133.9 miles from Cleveland, TN, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.9 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 59 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.9 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lexington, 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 267.9 miles and 5h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Cleveland, 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 111.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 135.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 64; US 11 Business / Broad Street Southwest
Turn left onto US 64; US 11 Business / Broad Street Southwest
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 64; US 11 Business / 3rd Street Southwest
Turn right onto US 64; US 11 Business / 3rd Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
4.6 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
23.3 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
8
135.8 mi into trip|~2h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 74A
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.88 one way
$83.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$45.99
$91.97
premium
$4.89
$51.55
$103.11
diesel
$5.61
$59.15
$118.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.4
0
$28.13
$12.86
Efficient EV
67
0
$23.44
$10.72
EV Truck/SUV
107.2
1
$37.51
$17.15
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
12:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lexington, TN
Night
in Lexington on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
33 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
5h 5m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 138.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will spend your time navigating through areas via Broad Street Southwest, 3rd Street Southwest, and Lee Highway. Because the road is composed entirely of local transit, you should anticipate a more technical driving profile that keeps you engaged with the steering wheel. This is an ideal route if you want to avoid the typical highway grind and prefer a grounded, hands-on driving style throughout the entire duration.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.9 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 64; US 11 Business / Broad Street Southwest.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 267.9 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: near the start (US 64; US 11 Business / Broad Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 64; US 11 Business / 3rd Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cleveland, TN and Lexington, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Chattanooga and Franklin.
Nashville
23.3 mi in|~30m
Chattanooga
24 mi in|~31m|via I 24
Franklin
135.8 mi in|~2h 38m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 5m. Total distance: 267.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.9 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Lexington, 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: near the start (US 64; US 11 Business / Broad Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 64; US 11 Business / 3rd Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lexington, TN before the return drive.
