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Trip from Blaine, TN to Memphis, TN

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 30m

Distance

409.2 mi

659 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$64

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
7h 21m ★
6 AM
7h 31m
8 AM
7h 51m
10 AM
7h 38m
12 PM
7h 36m
3 PM
7h 39m
5 PM
7h 50m
8 PM
7h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Grainger County, Tennessee, United States

Blaine, TN

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Shelby County, Tennessee, United States

Memphis, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Blaine, TN to Memphis, TN covers 409.2 miles and takes about 7h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, Rutledge Pike, Downtown Loop for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 391.3 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $63.97 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

204.6 miles from Blaine, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 46m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 391.3 mi 7h 8m
Rutledge Pike 14.2 mi 16m
Downtown Loop 2.9 mi 3m
North 2nd Street 0.2 mi <1m
Bates Drive <0.1 mi <1m
Poplar Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 391.3 mi, about 7h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Blaine, TN and Memphis, TN.

1

Start on Bates Drive

238 ft · 15 sec · Bates Drive
2

Turn left onto US 11W; SR 1

14 mi · 16 min · Rutledge Pike
3

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
4

Merge onto I 40

24 mi · 27 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

155 mi · 2 hr 46 min · I 40
Toward Nashville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

2.1 mi · 3 min · I 40
Exit 213B Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

0.4 mi · 42 sec · I 40
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis Use the slight left lane.
8

Merge onto I 40

0.6 mi · 52 sec · Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 40

2.3 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop
Exit 210A Toward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, Louisville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

197 mi · 3 hr 33 min · I 40
Toward I 40 West: Memphis Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit onto I 40

0.1 mi · 8 sec · I 40
Exit 10A-B Toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

11 mi · 13 min · I 40
Exit 10B Toward I 40 West: Little Rock Use the slight right lane.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 1A Toward Second Street, Third Street Use the slight right lane.
15

Continue on North 2nd Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16

Turn left onto Poplar Avenue

202 ft · 4 sec · Poplar Avenue
17

Arrive at destination

Poplar Avenue

Trip Plan

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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 204.6 miles from Blaine, TN, or about 3h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 391.3 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 90 miles or 1h 40m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 204.6 miles or 3h 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 6h 23m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Memphis, TN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Blaine, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Blaine, TN

This is one driving day of about 409.2 miles and 7h 30m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 90 miles from Blaine, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 391.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hendersonville, TN

205 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Johnson, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 90 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Nashville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 204.6 miles from Blaine, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 391.3 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 38.2 and 408.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
38.2 mi into trip | ~45m in | I 40

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Nashville
9
193.1 mi into trip | ~3h 31m in | I 40

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 213B Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
8
195.2 mi into trip | ~3h 34m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
8
395.6 mi into trip | ~7h 13m in | I 40

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Little Rock

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 10B Toward I 40 West: Little Rock
8
408.8 mi into trip | ~7h 29m in

Take the exit toward Second Street, Third Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 1A Toward Second Street, Third Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$63.97 one way

$127.95 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 143 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $70.24 $140.48
premium $4.89 $78.75 $157.49
diesel $5.61 $90.35 $180.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$64

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$89–$114

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 143.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 122.8 1 $42.97 $19.64
Efficient EV 102.3 1 $35.81 $16.37
EV Truck/SUV 163.7 2 $57.29 $26.19

Gas CO2

143 kg

EV CO2

48 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Blaine, TN

Afternoon in Blaine on Saturday

Local time

1:37 PM

EDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Memphis, TN

Afternoon in Memphis on Saturday

Local time

12:37 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°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 earlier

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

15 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

7h 30m 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

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...

22 mi from route ~54 min detour Free near mile 183.5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

409.2 mi in 7h 30m, mostly highway — 391.3 mi of that is on I 40.

96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 391.3 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Rutledge Pike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 38.2 miles in near I 40.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 15 significant decision points across 409.2 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 38.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 193.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 195.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Blaine, TN and Memphis, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Louisville.

Nashville

38.2 mi in | ~45m | via I 40

Louisville

196.3 mi in | ~3h 36m | via I 40

About the Cities

Arriving in Memphis, TN

Full guide →

Memphis is the second largest city in the state of Tennessee, after Nashville. The state rests in the southeastern portion of the United States. Memphis, with a population of more than 651,000 (2019), is also the county seat for Shelby County. The city's claims to fame include Graceland, the mansion Elvis Presley lived in during his later years. Perhaps more importantly, Memphis is considered by many to be the home of blues music.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 30m. Total distance: 409.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 30m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 391.3 miles on I 40. 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 Memphis, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 38.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 193.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 195.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 15.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Memphis, TN before the return drive.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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