Spanning 286.6 miles across Tennessee, this trek from South Cleveland to Jackson is a substantial journey that takes approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes of drive time. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it is best suited as a focused one-day trip. You should budget about $43 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast Tennessee points. While the drive is manageable in a single day, the turn-heavy nature of the route means you should be prepared for active steering and focused attention. It is a practical path if you prefer backroads over the monotony of high-speed transit, provided you have the stamina for a steady pace.
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
143.4 miles from South Cleveland, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
111.9 mi
2h 6m
I 40
88.8 mi
1h 35m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
53.7 mi
58m
I 75
18.4 mi
22m
US 70
6 mi
8m
Appalachian Highway
4.6 mi
5m
East Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Dalton Pike Southeast
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 111.9 mi, about 2h 6m
Traffic on I-24
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 9 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,974 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,367
Quietest
2 AM
~348 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Cleveland, TN and Jackson, TN.
1
Start on this road
123 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn right
38 ft·4 sec
3
Turn right onto 18th Street Southeast
142 ft·8 sec·18th Street Southeast
4
Turn right onto Dalton Pk
0.3 mi·27 sec·Dalton Pk
5
Continue on Dalton Pike Southeast
0.4 mi·45 sec·Dalton Pike Southeast
6
Turn right
0.1 mi·21 sec
7
Turn left onto King Street Southeast
233 ft·10 sec·King Street Southeast
8
Turn right onto US 74; US 64 Bypass
4.6 mi·5 min·Appalachian Highway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Merge onto I 75
18 mi·22 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·56 sec
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 24
112 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 24
Toward Chattanooga, NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 74AToward I 840 West: Memphis, FranklinUse the right lane.
14
Merge onto I 840
54 mi·58 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 40
89 mi·1 hr 35 min·I 40
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 70, US 412 East
17
Turn left onto US 70
4.2 mi·6 min·US 70
18
Turn left onto US 70
1.8 mi·2 min·US 70
19
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
To tackle this 4.5-hour drive comfortably, plan to depart early in the morning to avoid the fatigue of navigating local turns after dark. Given the layout, you should build in at least one designated stop to stretch and regroup, as the technical nature of the roads can be more taxing than standard highway driving. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $43 estimate assumes steady movement through local traffic patterns. Since the route is entirely comprised of local roads, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersection transitions that occur more frequently than on major expressways. Flexibility is your greatest asset here, so allow yourself extra time to adjust to the road conditions as you progress toward Jackson.
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 143.4 miles from South Cleveland, TN, or about 2h 46m 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 63 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.4 miles or 2h 46m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jackson, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South 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 South Cleveland, TN
This is one driving day of about 286.8 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from South 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 136.7 — 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
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Dalton Pk
Turn right onto Dalton Pk
Navigation decision point
6
5.5 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
24.1 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
136.7 mi into trip|~2h 37m 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
$42.35 one way
$84.71 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$46.76
$93.51
premium
$4.72
$53.25
$106.50
diesel
$4.80
$54.15
$108.31
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: 100.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86
1
$30.11
$13.77
Efficient EV
71.7
0
$25.10
$11.47
EV Truck/SUV
114.7
1
$40.15
$18.36
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
South Cleveland, TN
Late night
in South Cleveland on Sunday
Local time
5:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
0 mph32% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:23PM CDT until July 17 at 10:30PM CDT by NWS Nashville TN
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:43PM CDT until July 17 at 9:45PM CDT by NWS Nashville TN
Destination
Jackson, TN
Late night
in Jackson on Sunday
Local time
4:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:23PM CDT until July 17 at 10:30PM CDT by NWS Nashville TN
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:43PM CDT until July 17 at 9:45PM CDT by NWS Nashville TN
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
1 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
5h 23m 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
~9 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 very different experience than a typical interstate slog, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate a series of turn-heavy local roads, including Dalton Pike and 18th Street Southeast, which demand your full concentration. Because the longest stretch on any single road like 18th Street Southeast is 0 miles, you will be making frequent transitions between local thoroughfares. This creates a technical driving environment where the landscape shifts incrementally as you leave the Southeast region. Do not expect long, uninterrupted cruising; instead, anticipate a drive that requires constant engagement with the road layout.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and I 40. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort6/10
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 286.8 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Dalton Pk): Navigation decision point; at 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,080 ft410 ft
Total Climb
878 ft
Total Descent
1,397 ft
Highest Point
1,080 ft
~102.4 mi in
Elevation Range
670 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between South Cleveland, TN and Jackson, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Chattanooga and Franklin.
Jackson is a city in Western Tennessee that grew as a crossroads between various railroads in the four cardinal directions. It was the major commerce center of western Tennessee around the time of its founding in 1821 because Memphis had yet to emerge as a dominant community. Jackson hasn't been without its fair share of trials and travails as it knew the systemic ordeals of slavery for cotton production and lynchings and disenfranchisement as well as other places did in the South, plus high crime and tornadoes.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 23m. Total distance: 286.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). 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.
Yes — we found about 32 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Jackson, 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. There are 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Dalton Pk): Navigation decision point; at 5.5 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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Jackson, TN before the return drive.
