Origin
Central, TN
Morning in Central on Wednesday
Local time
7:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Central, TN to Memphis, TN
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
9h 11m
Distance
499 mi
803 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$78
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 3m
★
6 AM
9h 12m
8 AM
9h 28m
10 AM
9h 17m
12 PM
9h 16m
3 PM
9h 18m
5 PM
9h 27m
8 PM
9h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Central, TN
Diego Girón
Memphis, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Central, TN to Memphis, TN covers 499 miles and takes about 9h 11m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 40, I 81, James H. Quillen Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 420.4 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $78.01 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
249.5 miles from Central, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 36m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 9h 11m highway drive covering 499 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 420.4 miles on I 40.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 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 420.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 127.9 miles in near I 40.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 499 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 127.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 282.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 284.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
127.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 26m 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
282.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 12m 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
284.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 15m 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
485.3 mi into trip
|
~8h 54m 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
498.5 mi into trip
|
~9h 10m 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.
Between Central, TN and Memphis, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Louisville.
Nashville
127.9 mi in
|
~2h 26m
|
via I 40
Louisville
286 mi in
|
~5h 17m
|
via I 40
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 420.4 mi | 7h 39m |
| I 81 | 57.1 mi | 1h 1m |
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 14.3 mi | 17m |
| Downtown Loop | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| East Main Street | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Elizabethton Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North 2nd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Legion Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 420.4 mi, about 7h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Central, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on SR 91
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Elizabethton Highway
2
Continue on SR 91
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Main Street
3
Turn straight
234 ft
·
10 sec
4
Turn right onto SR 91
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Legion Street
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
6
Merge onto I 26; US 19W; US 23
14 mi
·
17 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 8A
Toward I 81 South: Knoxville
8
Merge onto I 81
56 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 81
9
Continue on I 81
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 81
Exit 1B
Toward I 40 West: Knoxville
10
Merge onto I 40
53 mi
·
59 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
155 mi
·
2 hr 46 min
·
I 40
Toward Nashville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
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.
14
Merge onto I 40
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
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.
16
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.
17
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
18
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.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 1A
Toward Second Street, Third Street
Use the slight right lane.
21
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft
·
4 sec
·
Poplar Avenue
23
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 249.5 miles from Central, TN, or about 4h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 420.4 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 110 miles or 2h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 249.5 miles or 4h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 249.5 miles or 4h 36m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 3m
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 Central, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Central, TN
Aim for roughly 250 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Memphis, TN
Aim for roughly 250 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 110 miles from Central, TN.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 420.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 249.5 mi from Central, TN · 4h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
250 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Hendersonville, TNOvernight Options
Night 1
250 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Hendersonville, TN after about 250 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 110 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 249.5 miles from Central, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 420.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 250 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Memphis, TN.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Memphis, TN with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$78.01 one way
$156.03 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
175 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $85.66 | $171.31 |
| premium | $4.89 | $96.03 | $192.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $110.17 | $220.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$78
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$208–$318
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 174.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 149.7 | 1 | $52.39 | $23.95 |
| Efficient EV | 124.8 | 1 | $43.66 | $19.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 199.6 | 2 | $69.86 | $31.94 |
Gas CO2
175 kg
EV CO2
58 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Memphis, TN
Morning in Memphis on Wednesday
Local time
6:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
8 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
9h 11m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Central, TN to Memphis, TN covers 499 miles and takes about 9h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 81, James H. Quillen Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 250 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 249.5 miles from Central, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $78.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 499 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 127.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 282.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 284.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Central, TN and Memphis, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Louisville.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Memphis, TN
Explore more options from Central, TN or browse trips ending in Memphis, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.
Explore maps for Central, TN or Memphis, TN on MapSof.net.