Origin
Elizabethton, TN
Morning in Elizabethton on Friday
Local time
8:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elizabethton, TN to Memphis, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 48m
Distance
504.7 mi
812 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$79
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 40m
★
6 AM
7h 49m
8 AM
8h 7m
10 AM
7h 55m
12 PM
7h 53m
3 PM
7h 56m
5 PM
8h 6m
8 PM
7h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabethton, TN
Kelly
Memphis, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Elizabethton, TN to Memphis, TN covers 504.7 miles and takes about 7h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Elk Avenue, North Riverside Drive, East E Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $78.90 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
252.4 miles from Elizabethton, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 54m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 48m. Total distance: 504.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 48m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-distance drive route profile.
Drive Character
At 504.7 miles and 7h 48m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are East Elk Avenue and North Riverside Drive.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Elk Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 7h 48m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 48m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Elizabethton, TN to Memphis, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Elk Avenue | — | — |
| North Riverside Drive | — | — |
| East E Street | — | — |
| North Sycamore Street | — | — |
| Broad Street | — | — |
| West Elk Avenue | — | — |
| James H | — | — |
| I 81 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Elk Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabethton, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on the route
33 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
2
Exit the roundabout onto East Elk Avenue
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
East Elk Avenue
3
Turn right onto North Riverside Drive
285 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Riverside Drive
4
Continue on East E Street
446 ft
·
24 sec
·
East E Street
5
Turn right onto North Sycamore Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Sycamore Street
6
Turn left onto Broad Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
7
Continue on West Elk Avenue
7.4 mi
·
12 min
·
West Elk Avenue
8
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
9
Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway
15 mi
·
18 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 81 South: Knoxville
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 81 South: Knoxville
11
Merge slight left
56 mi
·
1 hr
12
Continue on I 40 West: Knoxville
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 40 West: Knoxville
13
Merge slight left
53 mi
·
59 min
14
Keep slight right to continue on Nashville
155 mi
·
2 hr 46 min
·
Nashville
15
Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
16
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
17
Merge slight right onto Downtown Loop
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Downtown Loop
18
Continue on Downtown Loop
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Downtown Loop
19
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Memphis
197 mi
·
3 hr 33 min
·
I 40 West: Memphis
20
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
21
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 West: Little Rock
11 mi
·
13 min
·
I 40 West: Little Rock
22
Keep slight left
2.1 mi
·
2 min
23
Take the exit slight right toward Second Street, Third Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Second Street, Third Street
24
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
North 2nd Street
25
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
203 ft
·
4 sec
·
Poplar Avenue
26
Arrive at your destination
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 252.4 miles from Elizabethton, TN, or about 3h 54m 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 111 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 252.4 miles or 3h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 53m
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 Elizabethton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Elizabethton, TN
This is one driving day of about 504.7 miles and 7h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 111 miles from Elizabethton, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 252.4 mi from Elizabethton, TN · 3h 54m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
167 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Meal stop
333 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 111 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 252.4 miles from Elizabethton, 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
$78.90 one way
$157.81 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
177 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $86.63 | $173.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $97.12 | $194.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $111.43 | $222.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$79
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$104–$129
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 176.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 151.4 | 1 | $52.99 | $24.23 |
| Efficient EV | 126.2 | 1 | $44.16 | $20.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 201.9 | 2 | $70.66 | $32.30 |
Gas CO2
177 kg
EV CO2
59 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 Friday
Local time
7:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Johnson, TN
167 mi in
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
15 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
7h 48m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Elizabethton, TN to Memphis, TN covers 504.7 miles and takes about 7h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Elk Avenue, North Riverside Drive, East E Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 252.4 miles from Elizabethton, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $78.90 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 48m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Elizabethton, TN to Memphis, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Elizabethton, TN to Memphis, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Memphis, TN
More trips to Memphis, TN
Explore more options from Elizabethton, TN or browse trips ending in Memphis, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.