Best Time to Drive: Memphis, TN to Pigeon Forge, TN

The best overall window to drive from Memphis, TN to Pigeon Forge, TN is August to September. June is especially comfortable, and 8 AM to 11 AM is usually the easiest departure window. The main things to watch are heavy rain and ponding.

Best overall window

August to September

This stretch gives the steadiest mix of comfort, daylight, and lower weather friction.

Easiest departure pattern

8 AM to 11 AM

Mid-morning is usually the steadiest all-around departure window.

Most challenging stretch

January to March

February is one of the harder months for this route because the weather friction stacks up faster.

Why This Route Scores Differently

You can usually do this in one long day, which makes daylight and storm timing more important than hotel planning.

The current best window is August to September, when the drive is more likely to feel steady end to end.

This score uses multiple NOAA sample points along the route instead of a single state-wide climate average.

Month-by-Month Driving Conditions

Jan

Difficult 29°F

Feb

Difficult 32°F

Mar

Challenging 38°F

Apr

Fair 44°F

May

Good 50°F

Jun

Good 56°F

Jul

Good 58°F

Aug

Great 58°F

Sep

Good 53°F

Oct

Fair 45°F

Nov

Challenging 37°F

Dec

Difficult 31°F

Best Good/Fair Challenging

Average Conditions by Month

January

Avg high / low 36 / 22°F

Moisture 4.9 in rain

Rating Difficult

Best departure

9 AM to 12 PM

Wet stretches

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Weather is mixed enough that departure timing still matters.

February

Avg high / low 40 / 24°F

Moisture 4.8 in rain

Rating Difficult

Best departure

9 AM to 12 PM

Wet stretches

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Weather is mixed enough that departure timing still matters.

March

Avg high / low 46 / 29°F

Moisture 5.4 in rain

Rating Challenging

Best departure

7 AM to 10 AM

Storm-prone

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Rain is common enough that extra buffer time makes sense.

April

Avg high / low 53 / 36°F

Moisture 5.2 in rain

Rating Fair

Best departure

7 AM to 10 AM

Storm-prone

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Rain is common enough that extra buffer time makes sense.

May

Avg high / low 58 / 42°F

Moisture 5.2 in rain

Rating Good

Best departure

7 AM to 10 AM

Storm-prone Patchy fog

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Rain is common enough that extra buffer time makes sense.

June

Avg high / low 63 / 48°F

Moisture 4.8 in rain

Rating Good

Best departure

8 AM to 11 AM

Wet stretches Patchy fog

Daytime temperatures usually stay in a comfortable driving range.

Weather is mixed enough that departure timing still matters.

July

Avg high / low 65 / 51°F

Moisture 5.4 in rain

Rating Good

Best departure

7 AM to 10 AM

Storm-prone Patchy fog Holiday traffic

Daytime temperatures usually stay in a comfortable driving range.

Rain is common enough that extra buffer time makes sense.

August

Avg high / low 65 / 50°F

Moisture 3.7 in rain

Rating Great

Best departure

8 AM to 11 AM

Steady driving window

Daytime temperatures usually stay in a comfortable driving range.

Weather is mixed enough that departure timing still matters.

September

Avg high / low 61 / 45°F

Moisture 4 in rain

Rating Good

Best departure

8 AM to 11 AM

Steady driving window

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Weather is mixed enough that departure timing still matters.

October

Avg high / low 54 / 37°F

Moisture 3.6 in rain

Rating Fair

Best departure

8 AM to 11 AM

Steady driving window

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Weather is mixed enough that departure timing still matters.

November

Avg high / low 45 / 28°F

Moisture 4.2 in rain

Rating Challenging

Best departure

9 AM to 12 PM

Wet stretches Holiday traffic

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Weather is mixed enough that departure timing still matters.

December

Avg high / low 39 / 24°F

Moisture 5.2 in rain

Rating Difficult

Best departure

7 AM to 10 AM

Storm-prone Holiday traffic

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Rain is common enough that extra buffer time makes sense.

Seasonal Hazards on This Route

Heavy rain and ponding

Mar - Dec

Short intense downpours can make a same-day drive feel longer than the raw route time suggests.

Tropical weather window

Jun - Nov

Track tropical systems and leftover Gulf moisture closely, especially if your travel day is not flexible.

Best Departure Time by Season

Spring

7 AM to 10 AM

A morning departure gives you more room to adjust if rain slows the drive down.

Summer

8 AM to 11 AM

Mid-morning is usually the steadiest all-around departure window.

Fall

8 AM to 11 AM

Mid-morning is usually the steadiest all-around departure window.

Winter

9 AM to 12 PM

Waiting for a little daylight and warmer pavement usually makes the drive easier.

How This Score Was Built

Source

Route-sampled NOAA climate normals

High confidence. Built from 4 NOAA-backed route checkpoints rather than a single statewide estimate.

Origin zone

Southeast

Destination zone

Southeast

Route sample points

Late route

Late route checkpoint

TN MEMPHIS INTL AP 72334 (7.3 mi away)

Late route

Late route checkpoint

TN WARNER PARK (3.9 mi away)

Late route

Late route checkpoint

TN HARRIMAN 4.5 SW (2.7 mi away)

Destination

Pigeon Forge, TN

TN GATLINBURG 2 SW (7 mi away)

Ready to plan? See the full trip plan from Memphis, TN to Pigeon Forge, TN with stops, fuel costs, and directions.

Considering flying instead? Compare driving vs flying for this route.