Cleveland, TN to Seymour, TN is 97.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 52 minutes via I 75 and I 40, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this trip. It's a straightforward journey, ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Consider this route for its simplicity and directness, making it a practical choice for a quick travel day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.6 miles from Cleveland, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
75.8 mi
1h 22m
Chapman Highway
11.5 mi
13m
I 40
2.9 mi
3m
Boyds Creek Highway
2.3 mi
3m
Keith Street
1.5 mi
2m
Henley Street
0.6 mi
1m
25th Street NW
0.6 mi
<1m
25th Street Northwest
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 75.8 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cleveland, TN and Seymour, 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·18 sec·25th Street Northwest
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
7
Merge onto I 75
76 mi·1 hr 22 min·I 75
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
11
Continue on US 441
0.6 mi·1 min·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 441; SR 33
11 mi·13 min·Chapman Highway
13
Turn left onto SR 338
2.3 mi·3 min·Boyds Creek Highway
14
Arrive at destination
SR 338
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour 52 minutes, this trip offers flexibility; you can depart at your convenience. With only 97.2 miles, you won't need to meticulously plan many stops, but it's always wise to take a break during the 75.8-mile stretch on I 75. Fuel costs are estimated at $15, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you set off, as services can be spread out on longer highway segments. Keep an eye on road signs for any potential construction or traffic delays, especially as you approach the I 40 interchange.
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 48.6 miles from Cleveland, TN, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.8 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 21 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.6 miles or 54m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seymour, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cleveland, TN
This is one driving day of about 97.2 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Cleveland, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 75.8 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 82.3 — 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.
5
2.9 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
3.2 mi into trip|~5m in|I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
81.9 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 388
Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee Histor...
7
82.3 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 388
Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee Histor...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.20 one way
$30.39 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.68
$33.37
premium
$4.89
$18.71
$37.41
diesel
$5.61
$21.46
$42.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.2
0
$10.21
$4.67
Efficient EV
24.3
0
$8.50
$3.89
EV Truck/SUV
38.9
0
$13.61
$6.22
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Cleveland, TN
Late night
in Cleveland on Tuesday
Local time
4:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Seymour, TN
Late night
in Seymour on Tuesday
Local time
4:53 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
7 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
1h 52m 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.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
23 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 97.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 81% of the route utilizing major interstates like I 75 and I 40. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 75.8 miles on I 75, offering a consistent pace. While the profile is predominantly highway, there are segments on Chapman Highway that introduce a different driving feel. Overall, anticipate a drive characterized by smooth, fast travel, punctuated by transitions between different major roadways. It's designed for efficiency rather than winding backroads.
81% 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: 75.8 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Chapman Highway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 11 / Keith Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 97.2 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.4 miles (US 11 / Keith Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3.2 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Seymour, TN, road signs point toward Convention Center, Tennessee History Center and Museum Of Art.
Cleveland is the county seat of Bradley County, Tennessee. As of 2020, the population was 45,902. Just like in other areas of the South, Native Americans such as the Cherokees were forced to cede their tribal homelands and move west in what was termed "The Trail Of Tears", in which many died. Cleveland was an exhibition in all this in that not only was it the site of the diminishing Cherokee's council at a place called Charleston and then Red Clay nearby, but it also was where federal troops imprisoned tribal members in stockades for forced removal by the time the crafty Treaty of New Echota passed in 1835. These things are represented at the Museum Center At Five Points and Red Clay State Park.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 97.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.8 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 11 / Keith Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3.2 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 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 Seymour, TN before heading back.
