Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
17.6 mi
28 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monterey, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Parragon, TN
Kelly
Monterey to Parragon is 17.6 miles and takes about 30 minutes via I 40 and local roads, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to itself. Expect a mixed driving experience that's perfect for a quick trip or an add-on to another journey. Given its brevity, you won't need to worry about significant time commitments, making it a flexible option for your travel plans.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 10.2 mi | 11m |
| Buck Mountain Road | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| Parragon Road | 1.7 mi | 6m |
| Dry Valley Road South | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| South Holly Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| East Spring Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Monterey Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Monterey, TN and Parragon, TN.
Start on SR 84
Turn straight onto US 70N; SR 84
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 40
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto US 70N
Turn right onto Dry Valley Road South
Turn right onto Buck Mountain Road
Turn left onto Parragon Road
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 13.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining
Take the exit toward US 70N: Cookeville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight right at fork toward US 70N: Cookeville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn right onto Buck Mountain Road
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.93 one way
$5.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $3.19 | $6.37 |
| premium | $5.18 | $3.59 | $7.18 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $3.71 | $7.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.84 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.54 | $0.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7 | 0 | $2.46 | $1.13 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Evening in Monterey on Wednesday
Local time
7:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 24 at 12:57PM EDT until May 25 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
Destination
Evening in Parragon on Wednesday
Local time
7:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 24 at 12:57PM EDT until May 25 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This 17.6-mile trip offers a mixed drive, with 58% of it on highway. You'll experience a 10.2-mile stretch on I 40, providing a period of consistent, faster travel. Following this, the route transitions to local roads like Buck Mountain Road and Parragon Road. These segments will likely involve lower speeds and potentially more turns as you navigate the final approach to Parragon. The shift from interstate to more rural roads defines the character of this journey.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 30m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
582 ft
Total Descent
1,049 ft
Highest Point
1,881 ft
Elevation Range
927 ft
Founded 1893
Founded 1988
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 17.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Monterey, TN or browse trips ending in Parragon, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.
