Spanning 235.8 miles across Tennessee, this trek from Savannah to Cleveland takes approximately 4 hours and 5 minutes of pure driving time. Since the entire route is composed of local roads rather than high-speed interstates, it is best approached as a full day of travel. You should budget about $35 for fuel to complete the journey. Because this is a turn-heavy drive, it serves as a straightforward day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You will remain within the Southeast region for the duration of the trip, moving between two distinct Tennessee cities. It is a practical choice if you prefer local scenery over the monotony of major highways.
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
117.2 miles from Savannah, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 64
66.8 mi
1h 17m
I 24
50.5 mi
58m
United States Route 64
44.4 mi
50m
Wayne Road
31.1 mi
35m
I 75
18.4 mi
22m
Sewanee Highway
6.8 mi
10m
Cumberland Street West
2.6 mi
3m
South Lee Highway
2.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 64
— 66.8 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Savannah, TN and Cleveland, TN.
1
Start on Guinn Street
312 ft·19 sec·Guinn Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto Water Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Water Street
3
Turn left onto TN 128
344 ft·12 sec·Pickwick Street South
4
Turn right onto US 64; SR 69; SR 128
0.1 mi·20 sec·Main Street
5
Continue on US 64; SR 128
31 mi·35 min·Wayne Road
6
Continue on US 64
0.8 mi·52 sec·Dexter L Woods Memorial Boulevard
7
Continue on US 64
44 mi·50 min·United States Route 64
8
Continue on US 64
0.7 mi·48 sec·West College Street
9
Continue on US 64
67 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 64
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
11
Keep slight right at fork
184 ft·5 sec
12
Turn straight onto US 41A
1.7 mi·2 min·Cowan Highway
13
Continue on US 41A
2.6 mi·3 min·Cumberland Street West
14
Continue on US 41A
5.0 mi·7 min·Sewanee Highway
15
Continue on US 41A
2.0 mi·2 min·Sollace M Freeman Highway
16
Continue on US 41A
1.8 mi·2 min·Sewanee Highway
17
Continue on US 41A
0.4 mi·36 sec·David Crockett Highway
18
Continue on US 41A
1.3 mi·1 min·West Main Street
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
20
Merge onto I 24; US 64
51 mi·58 min·I 24;US 64
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 185 BToward I 75 North: KnoxvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 75
18 mi·22 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 20Toward US 64 Bypass East: Cleveland
24
Keep slight left at fork
281 ft·9 sec
Exit 20Toward US 64 Bypass East: Cleveland
25
Turn right onto US 74
1.2 mi·1 min·US 74
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
27
Turn left onto US 11; US 64
2.5 mi·4 min·South Lee Highway
28
Continue on US 11
0.4 mi·34 sec·Keith Street Southwest
29
Turn right onto Inman Street West
0.4 mi·41 sec·Inman Street West
Use the right lane.
30
Arrive at destination
US 64
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of these local roads, you should plan to depart early in the morning to ensure you reach Cleveland before nightfall. Since the route includes one dedicated stop, use that break to stretch and refuel your vehicle, keeping your $35 fuel budget in mind throughout the day. Because you aren't tied to a high-speed highway, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace if traffic on Main Street or Pickwick Street South becomes dense. Pay close attention to navigation, as the lack of highway stretches means you will be making frequent turns. Prioritize steady focus over speed, as the technical local roads require more active steering than a typical interstate path.
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 117.2 miles from Savannah, TN, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.8 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 52 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.2 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 47m
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 Savannah, 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 Savannah, TN
This is one driving day of about 234.4 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Savannah, 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 US 64 for about 66.8 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 229.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Water Street
At end of road, turn left onto Water Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
144.4 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
8
210.1 mi into trip|~4h 8m 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
5
211 mi into trip|~4h 9m in|I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
229.6 mi into trip|~4h 32m 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
$36.65 one way
$73.29 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$40.24
$80.47
premium
$4.89
$45.11
$90.22
diesel
$5.61
$51.75
$103.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.3
0
$24.61
$11.25
Efficient EV
58.6
0
$20.51
$9.38
EV Truck/SUV
93.8
1
$32.82
$15.00
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 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 15, 2026
Origin
Savannah, TN
Late night
in Savannah on Sunday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cleveland, TN
Late night
in Cleveland on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Fayetteville, TN
117 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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
5 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
4h 39m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a technical driving experience as you navigate away from the interstate system entirely. With a highway share of 0%, this route relies on Water Street, Pickwick Street South, and Main Street to guide you toward your destination. The road is consistently turn-heavy, requiring your full attention as there is no single long stretch of straight road; in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment on Water Street is 0 miles. This journey feels far more personal and winding than a standard highway commute. You will spend the entire 4-hour and 5-minute duration navigating local infrastructure, making it a unique change of pace for drivers used to the grid-like patterns of national interstates.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.8 mi on US 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 and I 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Water Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 234.4 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 0.1 miles (Water Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 144.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 210.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 234.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.8 miles on US 64. 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 0.1 miles (Water Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 144.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 210.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Cleveland, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
