Origin
Clarksville, TN
Evening in Clarksville on Sunday
Local time
6:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clarksville, TN to Memphis, TN
Drive Time
4h 9m
Distance
208.9 mi
336 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 56m
★
6 AM
4h 9m
8 AM
4h 36m
10 AM
4h 19m
12 PM
4h 16m
3 PM
4h 20m
5 PM
4h 34m
8 PM
4h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clarksville, TN
Kelly
Memphis, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Clarksville, TN to Memphis, TN covers 208.9 miles and takes about 4h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, State Highway 48, Center Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 165.6 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.73 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
104.4 miles from Clarksville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 4h 9m highway drive covering 208.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and State Highway 48. The longest continuous stretch is about 165.6 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 19 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 165.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and State Highway 48. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 41A Bypass; SR 48 / South Riverside Drive.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 208.9 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 0.3 miles (US 41A Bypass; SR 48 / South Riverside Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 195 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 195.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 41A Bypass; SR 48 / South Riverside Drive
At end of road, turn left onto US 41A Bypass; SR 48 / South Riverside Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
195 mi into trip
|
~3h 51m 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
195.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 52m 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
206.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 5m 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
208.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 8m 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 Along This Route
On the drive from Clarksville, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Little Rock
195 mi in
|
~3h 51m
|
via I 40
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 165.6 mi | 3h 1m |
| State Highway 48 | 23.4 mi | 34m |
| Center Avenue | 9.1 mi | 16m |
| State Highway 13 | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| South Riverside Drive | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Cumberland Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North 2nd Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 165.6 mi, about 3h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarksville, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on North 2nd Street
353 ft
·
11 sec
·
North 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
58 sec
·
Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 41A Bypass; SR 48
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Riverside Drive
Use the none lane.
4
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn straight onto TN 13; TN 48
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Cumberland Drive
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on TN 13; TN 48
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 13
7
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 48
23 mi
·
34 min
·
State Highway 48
8
Turn left onto US 70 Business
332 ft
·
8 sec
·
West College Street
9
Turn right onto SR 48 Alternate
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Church Street
10
Continue on SR 48 Alternate
9.1 mi
·
16 min
·
Center Avenue
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 163
Toward SR 48: Centerville
12
Merge onto I 40
152 mi
·
2 hr 44 min
·
I 40
Use the none lane.
13
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
14
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.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 1A
Toward Second Street, Third Street
Use the slight right lane.
17
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft
·
4 sec
·
Poplar Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
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 104.4 miles from Clarksville, TN, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.6 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 80 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.4 miles or 2h 13m 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 26m
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 Clarksville, 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 Clarksville, TN
This is one driving day of about 208.9 miles and 4h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Clarksville, 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 165.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 104.4 mi from Clarksville, TN · 2h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 104.4 miles from Clarksville, 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 165.6 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.
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
$31.73 one way
$63.46 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $34.98 | $69.96 |
| premium | $4.80 | $39.44 | $78.87 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $46.41 | $92.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.7 | 0 | $21.93 | $10.03 |
| Efficient EV | 52.2 | 0 | $18.28 | $8.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.6 | 1 | $29.25 | $13.37 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Memphis, TN
Evening in Memphis on Sunday
Local time
6:25 PM
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.
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
1 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 9m 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 Clarksville, TN to Memphis, TN covers 208.9 miles and takes about 4h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, State Highway 48, Center Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 104.4 miles from Clarksville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.73 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 is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 208.9 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 0.3 miles (US 41A Bypass; SR 48 / South Riverside Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 195 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 195.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Clarksville, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
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