Origin
Chapel Hill, TN
Late night in Chapel Hill on Saturday
Local time
12:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chapel Hill, 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
4h 17m
Distance
220.3 mi
355 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 4m
★
6 AM
4h 18m
8 AM
4h 44m
10 AM
4h 27m
12 PM
4h 24m
3 PM
4h 28m
5 PM
4h 43m
8 PM
4h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chapel Hill, TN
Andy Staver
Memphis, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on a journey from Chapel Hill, Tennessee, to Memphis, Tennessee, covers 220.3 miles and is estimated to take about 4 hours and 17 minutes. This route is easily manageable as a single-day trip, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a straightforward drive within the Southeast region. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $34. The drive predominantly utilizes I-40, Linden Highway, and Bear Creek Pike, offering a mixed driving experience. With only one recommended stop, you can maintain a steady pace and arrive in Memphis without feeling overly rushed.
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
110.2 miles from Chapel Hill, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 17m. Total distance: 220.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
This drive presents a mixed driving profile, with 49% of the journey taking place on highways. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 95.7 miles on I-40, providing a good opportunity to cover distance efficiently. Outside of the interstate, the route incorporates Linden Highway and Bear Creek Pike, which likely offer a different feel, perhaps with more local traffic or varying speed limits. This blend means you'll transition between faster highway travel and potentially more varied road conditions as you progress toward Memphis.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
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 95.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 124 miles in.
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 220.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 124 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 206.5 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 206.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
124 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
206.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 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
206.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 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
217.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 13m 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
219.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 16m 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 Chapel Hill, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Little Rock
206.5 mi in
|
~4h
|
via I 40
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 95.7 mi | 1h 46m |
| Linden Highway | 51.3 mi | 59m |
| Bear Creek Pike | 17 mi | 20m |
| Hampshire Pike | 13.3 mi | 15m |
| Columbia Highway | 13 mi | 16m |
| US 412 | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| Sylvester Chunn Highway | 7.5 mi | 11m |
| East Main Street | 4.6 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 95.7 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on US 31A; SR 99
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
South Horton Parkway
2
Continue on US 31A; SR 99
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Nashville Highway
3
Turn right onto SR 99
7.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Sylvester Chunn Highway
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 431; SR 99
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lewisburg and Franklin Pike
5
Turn left onto SR 99
17 mi
·
20 min
·
Bear Creek Pike
6
Continue on US 43; US 412
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 43; US 412
7
Turn left onto US 412
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
US 412
8
Turn left onto US 412
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Hampshire Pike
9
Continue on US 412
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Columbia Highway
10
Continue on US 412
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
East Main Street
11
Continue on US 412
51 mi
·
59 min
·
Linden Highway
12
Continue on US 412
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Church Sttreet
13
Continue on US 412
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 412
14
Turn right onto SR 152
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Law Road
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
16
Merge onto I 40
82 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / 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
For this 4-hour, 17-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Chapel Hill to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential afternoon traffic as you approach Memphis. Since it's a single-day trip, flexibility is key; plan for one stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 95.7-mile stretch on I-40, as services might be less frequent in certain sections. The estimated fuel cost of $34 is a helpful budget point for planning your expenses.
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 110.2 miles from Chapel Hill, TN, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.7 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 48 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.2 miles or 2h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 31m
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 Chapel Hill, 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 Chapel Hill, TN
This is one driving day of about 220.3 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Chapel Hill, 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 40 for about 95.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 110.2 mi from Chapel Hill, TN · 2h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
110 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 110.2 miles from Chapel Hill, 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 95.7 miles.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.44 one way
$68.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
77 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $37.82 | $75.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $42.39 | $84.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $48.64 | $97.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.1 | 0 | $23.13 | $10.57 |
| Efficient EV | 55.1 | 0 | $19.28 | $8.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 88.1 | 1 | $30.84 | $14.10 |
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Late night in Memphis on Saturday
Local time
12:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
SSW 15 mph
2% chance
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 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
4h 17m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Chapel Hill, TN to Memphis, TN covers 220.3 miles and takes about 4h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Linden Highway, Bear Creek Pike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 110.2 miles from Chapel Hill, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.44 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 220.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 124 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 206.5 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 206.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Chapel Hill, 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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