Origin
Cleveland, TN
Evening in Cleveland on Sunday
Local time
6:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cleveland, TN to Memphis, TN
Drive Time
5h 28m
Distance
369.1 mi
594 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 16m
★
6 AM
5h 29m
8 AM
5h 56m
10 AM
5h 38m
12 PM
5h 36m
3 PM
5h 40m
5 PM
5h 54m
8 PM
5h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Memphis, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Crossing Tennessee from Cleveland to Memphis spans 369.1 miles and requires approximately 5 hours and 28 minutes of driving time. Because this route relies on local roads rather than interstates, it functions best as a dedicated day trip. You should budget roughly $55 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast cities. While the trip is manageable in a single day, the turn-heavy nature of the route means you will need to stay alert behind the wheel. Given the duration and local road focus, consider whether you prefer a long day of driving or an overnight stop to break up the journey. This trek offers a direct, practical way to traverse the state while avoiding the typical interstate grind.
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
184.5 miles from Cleveland, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a significantly different experience than a standard highway cruise, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will navigate a sequence of local roads, starting with Broad Street Southwest, 3rd Street Southwest, and Lee Highway. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on any single road is 0 miles on Broad Street Southwest, your focus will remain constantly engaged by frequent turns. This is a technical, turn-heavy drive that prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed transit. You will feel every bit of the 369.1-mile distance as you navigate the winding, localized path across the state.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Broad Street Southwest is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 28m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cleveland, TN to Memphis, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Broad Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 3rd Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lee Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Lee Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 24 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Chattanooga | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 840 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Broad Street Southwest
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cleveland, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on Inman Street West
69 ft
·
9 sec
·
Inman Street West
2
Turn left onto Broad Street Southwest
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Broad Street Southwest
3
Turn right onto 3rd Street Southwest
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
3rd Street Southwest
4
Continue on Lee Highway
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Lee Highway
5
Turn left onto South Lee Highway
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South Lee Highway
6
Take the ramp right
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
7
Merge slight left
1.3 mi
·
1 min
8
Take the exit left
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
9
Merge slight left
18 mi
·
22 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
0.7 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
11
Continue on Chattanooga, Nashville
112 mi
·
2 hr 6 min
·
Chattanooga, Nashville
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
13
Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway
54 mi
·
58 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
14
Merge slight left
165 mi
·
2 hr 58 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
16
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 West: Little Rock
11 mi
·
13 min
·
I 40 West: Little Rock
17
Keep slight left
2.1 mi
·
2 min
18
Take the exit slight right toward Second Street, Third Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Second Street, Third Street
19
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
North 2nd Street
20
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
203 ft
·
4 sec
·
Poplar Avenue
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Planning for this 5-hour and 28-minute drive requires careful attention to your route navigation, as you will be relying on local roads rather than major interstates. Since you only have one designated stop planned, ensure you have your supplies and fuel ready before departing, keeping that $55 budget in mind. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue, especially since the turn-heavy nature of the drive demands your full attention. Because the route is composed entirely of local roads, stay mindful of changing speed limits and traffic patterns. Use your single stop strategically to stretch your legs and reset, as the constant turning can be more taxing than a straight highway haul.
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 184.5 miles from Cleveland, TN, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
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 81 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 184.5 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 35m
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 Cleveland, 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 Cleveland, TN
This is one driving day of about 369.1 miles and 5h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Cleveland, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 184.5 mi from Cleveland, TN · 2h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
185 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 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 184.5 miles from Cleveland, 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.
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
$56.06 one way
$112.13 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
129 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $61.80 | $123.60 |
| premium | $4.80 | $69.68 | $139.36 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $82.00 | $164.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 110.7 | 1 | $38.76 | $17.72 |
| Efficient EV | 92.3 | 1 | $32.30 | $14.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 147.6 | 1 | $51.67 | $23.62 |
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 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
Evening in Memphis on Sunday
Local time
5:03 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 28m 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 Cleveland, TN to Memphis, TN covers 369.1 miles and takes about 5h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Broad Street Southwest, 3rd Street Southwest, Lee Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 184.5 miles from Cleveland, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $56.06 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 straightforward 5h 28m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cleveland, TN to Memphis, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cleveland, TN to Memphis, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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