Origin
Columbia, TN
Evening in Columbia on Thursday
Local time
6:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, TN to Memphis, TN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 46m
Distance
196.8 mi
317 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 34m
★
6 AM
3h 47m
8 AM
4h 12m
10 AM
3h 56m
12 PM
3h 53m
3 PM
3h 57m
5 PM
4h 11m
8 PM
3h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Memphis, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Heading from Columbia, Tennessee, to Memphis, Tennessee, you're looking at a trip of about 197 miles that should take around 3 hours and 46 minutes. This drive is best suited for a single day, especially with a fuel cost estimated at $31. The route primarily utilizes I-40, with some segments on Linden Highway and Hampshire Pike, offering a mixed driving experience. Since both your origin and destination are in the Southeast region, you'll remain within familiar territory throughout this journey. It's a straightforward trip that allows for flexibility in your departure time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
98.4 miles from Columbia, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 46m. Total distance: 196.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
This drive features a highway share of 54%, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads, but also experience more local driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 95.7 miles on I-40, providing a solid period of consistent travel. The profile is described as a 'mixed drive,' suggesting a blend of interstate speeds and potentially slower sections on Linden Highway and Hampshire Pike. Expect the road conditions to vary, transitioning between efficient highway travel and more community-oriented roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 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. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 100.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 196.8 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 100.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 182.9 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 183.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
100.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
182.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 29m 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
183.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 29m 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
194.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 43m 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
196.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 45m 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 Columbia, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Little Rock
182.9 mi in
|
~3h 29m
|
via I 40
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 95.7 mi | 1h 46m |
| Linden Highway | 51.3 mi | 59m |
| Hampshire Pike | 16.5 mi | 20m |
| Columbia Highway | 13 mi | 16m |
| US 412 | 10.5 mi | 11m |
| East Main Street | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| West Church Sttreet | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| West 7th Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 95.7 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on West 7th Street
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
West 7th Street
2
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412 Business
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 7th Street
3
Continue on US 412 Business
17 mi
·
20 min
·
Hampshire Pike
4
Continue on US 412
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Columbia Highway
5
Continue on US 412
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
East Main Street
6
Continue on US 412
51 mi
·
59 min
·
Linden Highway
7
Continue on US 412
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Church Sttreet
8
Continue on US 412
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 412
9
Turn right onto SR 152
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Law Road
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
11
Merge onto I 40
82 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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
13
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.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 1A
Toward Second Street, Third Street
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft
·
4 sec
·
Poplar Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 197-mile journey, starting early in the morning is a good strategy to avoid heavier traffic, especially as you approach Memphis. With a duration of under four hours and only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during the 95.7-mile stretch on I-40, as services can be more spread out on interstates. Budgeting around $31 for fuel should cover your travel needs. Consider taking your break on one of the local highway segments to break up the interstate driving.
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 98.4 miles from Columbia, TN, or about 1h 56m 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 43 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.4 miles or 1h 56m 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 5m
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 Columbia, 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 Columbia, TN
This is one driving day of about 196.8 miles and 3h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Columbia, 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 98.4 mi from Columbia, TN · 1h 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
98 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 98.4 miles from Columbia, 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
$30.77 one way
$61.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
69 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $33.78 | $67.56 |
| premium | $4.89 | $37.87 | $75.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.45 | $86.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59 | 0 | $20.66 | $9.45 |
| Efficient EV | 49.2 | 0 | $17.22 | $7.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 78.7 | 0 | $27.55 | $12.60 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Thursday
Local time
6:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
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
3h 46m 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 Columbia, TN to Memphis, TN covers 196.8 miles and takes about 3h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Linden Highway, Hampshire Pike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 98.4 miles from Columbia, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.77 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 196.8 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 100.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 182.9 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 183.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Columbia, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
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