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Trip from Brownsville, 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

1h 15m

Distance

64 mi

103 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 10m ★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m

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

city in Haywood County, Tennessee, United States

Brownsville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

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

Memphis, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Brownsville, TN to Memphis, TN is 64 miles and takes about 1 hour 15 minutes via I-40, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, direct drive stays within the Southeast region, connecting two points in Tennessee. It's a straightforward trip, primarily on the interstate, making it a quick and easy option for getting from point A to point B. If you're looking for a no-fuss journey with minimal travel time, this route fits the bill perfectly. Consider it for a quick weekend getaway or an efficient transfer between cities.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 64 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the journey taking place on major roads like I-40. You'll experience a consistent pace for the majority of the trip, including a longest stretch of 58.7 miles on I-40. Expect smooth sailing and minimal detours as you travel this well-maintained route. The transition from local roads like Anderson Avenue and East Main Street in Brownsville to the interstate is seamless, setting you up for a predictable and efficient drive towards Memphis.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 58.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Anderson Avenue. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Main Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 64 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 0.1 miles (East Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 50.2 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Main Street

Enter roundabout onto East Main Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

6
50.2 mi into trip | ~58m in | I 40

Take the exit onto I 40 toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock

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

Exit 10A-B Toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississip...
8
50.3 mi into trip | ~58m 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
6
61.5 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8
63.5 mi into trip | ~1h 14m 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

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

On the drive from Brownsville, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.

Little Rock

50.2 mi in | ~58m | via I 40

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 58.7 mi 1h 6m
Anderson Avenue 3.9 mi 6m
East Main Street 0.7 mi 1m
North 2nd Street 0.2 mi <1m
North Washington Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Poplar Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
North Lafayette Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 58.7 mi, about 1h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on TN 54

301 ft · 8 sec · North Washington Avenue
2

Continue on North Lafayette Avenue

65 ft · 1 sec · North Lafayette Avenue
3

Enter roundabout onto East Main Street

317 ft · 5 sec · East Main Street
4

Continue on East Main Street

0.6 mi · 57 sec · East Main Street
5

Turn right onto Anderson Avenue

3.9 mi · 6 min · Anderson Avenue
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward I 40 West
7

Merge onto I 40

45 mi · 49 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

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
9

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.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 1A Toward Second Street, Third Street Use the slight right lane.
12

Continue on North 2nd Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Turn left onto Poplar Avenue

202 ft · 4 sec · Poplar Avenue
14

Arrive at destination

Poplar Avenue

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 32 mi from Brownsville, TN · 38m into the drive

city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lakeland, TN

32 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.

Popular next leg

Lakeland, TN to Memphis, TN

23.7 mi · 29m

Pacing Suggestions

Whiteville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Arlington, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 32 miles from Brownsville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Memphis, TN

The final approach into Memphis, TN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.01 one way

$20.01 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $10.99 $21.97
premium $4.89 $12.32 $24.63
diesel $5.61 $14.13 $28.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.2 0 $6.72 $3.07
Efficient EV 16 0 $5.60 $2.56
EV Truck/SUV 25.6 0 $8.96 $4.10

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Brownsville, TN

Morning in Brownsville on Saturday

Local time

6:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Memphis, TN

Morning in Memphis on Saturday

Local time

6:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

56°F

Lakeland, TN

32 mi in

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

20 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

1h 15m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Brownsville, TN to Memphis, TN covers 64 miles and takes about 1h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 40, Anderson Avenue, East Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 32 miles from Brownsville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 50.2 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

On the drive from Brownsville, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Memphis, TN to Brownsville, TN

Plan the drive back the other way.

63.8 mi 1h 15m

Explore more options from Brownsville, TN or browse trips ending in Memphis, TN.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.