Spanning 344.5 miles across Tennessee, this trek from Lakeland to Cleveland takes approximately 5 hours and 7 minutes of drive time. You will navigate via Canada Road, the Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, and I-840 East to complete the journey. Given the duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day of travel, though you should budget roughly $51 for fuel costs. As you transition across the state, expect a steady pace that connects the Southeast region from end to end. It is a straightforward trek that works best if you enjoy a consistent flow behind the wheel without the need for an overnight stay.
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
172.2 miles from Lakeland, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
155.7 mi
2h 47m
I 24
110 mi
2h 3m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
52.2 mi
55m
I 75
18.4 mi
22m
South Lee Highway
2.5 mi
4m
US 74
1.2 mi
1m
Canada Road
0.5 mi
1m
Inman Street West
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
— 155.7 mi, about 2h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland, TN and Cleveland, TN.
1
Start on Leeward Slopes Lane
229 ft·15 sec·Leeward Slopes Lane
2
At end of road, turn left onto Canada Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Canada Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
4
Merge onto I 40
156 mi·2 hr 47 min·Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
6
Merge onto I 840
52 mi·55 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi·2 min
Exit 53AToward I 24 East: ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 24
110 mi·2 hr 3 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 185 BToward I 75 North: KnoxvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 75
18 mi·22 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 20Toward US 64 Bypass East: Cleveland
12
Keep slight left at fork
281 ft·9 sec
Exit 20Toward US 64 Bypass East: Cleveland
13
Turn right onto US 74
1.2 mi·1 min·US 74
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
15
Turn left onto US 11; US 64
2.5 mi·4 min·South Lee Highway
16
Continue on US 11
0.4 mi·34 sec·Keith Street Southwest
17
Turn right onto Inman Street West
0.4 mi·41 sec·Inman Street West
Use the right lane.
18
Arrive at destination
US 64
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy route, plan to leave early in the morning to allow for a comfortable arrival in Cleveland without rushing through the localized sections. You have one scheduled stop to manage, so use that time to refuel and stretch, especially since the technical nature of the roads requires more focus than standard interstate driving. Keep your $51 fuel budget in mind when planning your stops, as local roads can impact your overall consumption compared to highway driving. My best advice is to familiarize yourself with your turns along the Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway before you depart, as the frequent transitions demand your full attention. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, allowing you to pace your drive at a speed that feels safe for the winding, local-heavy segments.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 172.2 miles from Lakeland, TN, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 155.7 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 76 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.2 miles or 3h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 12m
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 Lakeland, 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 Lakeland, TN
This is one driving day of about 344.4 miles and 6h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Lakeland, 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 Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway for about 155.7 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 0.8 and 339.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
156.5 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Take the exit toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
7
209.4 mi into trip|~3h 46m in
Take the exit toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 53A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
8
320.2 mi into trip|~5h 52m 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
7
339.6 mi into trip|~6h 16m 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
$53.84 one way
$107.69 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$59.12
$118.23
premium
$4.89
$66.28
$132.55
diesel
$5.61
$76.04
$152.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
103.3
1
$36.16
$16.53
Efficient EV
86.1
0
$30.13
$13.78
EV Truck/SUV
137.8
1
$48.22
$22.04
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Lakeland, TN
Late night
in Lakeland on Tuesday
Local time
3:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cleveland, TN
Late night
in Cleveland on Tuesday
Local time
4:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°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
4 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
6h 24m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 213.8
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 drive that keeps you engaged throughout the 344.5-mile journey. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies on local roads rather than high-speed highway stretches, which currently make up 0% of your travel. Because the longest stretch on Canada Road is essentially zero miles of uninterrupted highway, you will find yourself navigating frequent turns and transitions. This personality makes the drive feel more like a technical, localized experience than a high-speed cruise. Prepare for a hands-on driving day where the road surface and direction shift frequently as you move toward your destination.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 155.7 mi on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 344.4 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 0.8 miles (I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 156.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 209.4 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.
On the drive from Lakeland, TN to Cleveland, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Franklin along the way.
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 6h 24m. Total distance: 344.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 24m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 155.7 miles on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway. 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 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 0.8 miles (I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 156.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 209.4 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 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cleveland, TN before the return drive.
