Origin
Kingsport, TN
Afternoon in Kingsport on Monday
Local time
12:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kingsport, TN to Memphis, TN
Drive Time
7h 11m
Distance
491.5 mi
791 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$75
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 0m
★
6 AM
7h 11m
8 AM
7h 33m
10 AM
7h 19m
12 PM
7h 17m
3 PM
7h 20m
5 PM
7h 32m
8 PM
7h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Memphis, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Kingsport, TN to Memphis, TN covers 491.5 miles and takes about 7h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Broad Street, East Main Street, East Sullivan Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $74.65 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
245.8 miles from Kingsport, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 11m drive with frequent turns across 491.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Broad Street 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
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 11m, 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 Kingsport, TN to Memphis, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Broad Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Sullivan Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Wilcox Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sullivan Gardens Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sullivan Gardens Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nashville | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Broad Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kingsport, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on West Center Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Center Street
2
Turn right onto Broad Street
436 ft
·
12 sec
·
Broad Street
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Broad Street
49 ft
·
2 sec
·
Broad Street
4
Exit the roundabout onto Broad Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Broad Street
5
Turn left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
6
Continue on East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Sullivan Street
7
Turn right onto South Wilcox Drive
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Wilcox Drive
8
Turn right onto Sullivan Gardens Parkway
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Sullivan Gardens Parkway
9
Continue on South Wilcox Drive
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Wilcox Drive
10
Continue on Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Sullivan Gardens Drive
11
Continue straight
2.3 mi
·
2 min
12
Continue straight
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
13
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
14
Merge slight left
49 mi
·
53 min
15
Continue on I 40 West: Knoxville
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 40 West: Knoxville
16
Merge slight left
53 mi
·
59 min
17
Keep slight right to continue on Nashville
155 mi
·
2 hr 46 min
·
Nashville
18
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
19
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
20
Merge slight right onto Downtown Loop
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Downtown Loop
21
Continue on Downtown Loop
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Downtown Loop
22
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Memphis
197 mi
·
3 hr 33 min
·
I 40 West: Memphis
23
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
24
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 West: Little Rock
11 mi
·
13 min
·
I 40 West: Little Rock
25
Keep slight left
2.1 mi
·
2 min
26
Take the exit slight right toward Second Street, Third Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Second Street, Third Street
27
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
North 2nd Street
28
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
203 ft
·
4 sec
·
Poplar Avenue
29
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 245.8 miles from Kingsport, TN, or about 3h 35m 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 108 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 245.8 miles or 3h 35m 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 18m
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 Kingsport, 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 Kingsport, TN
This is one driving day of about 491.5 miles and 7h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 108 miles from Kingsport, 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 245.8 mi from Kingsport, TN · 3h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
246 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 108 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 245.8 miles from Kingsport, 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
$74.65 one way
$149.31 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
172 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $82.30 | $164.59 |
| premium | $4.80 | $92.79 | $185.57 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $109.19 | $218.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$75
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$100–$125
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 172 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 147.5 | 1 | $51.61 | $23.59 |
| Efficient EV | 122.9 | 1 | $43.01 | $19.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 196.6 | 2 | $68.81 | $31.46 |
Gas CO2
172 kg
EV CO2
58 kg (66% 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 Monday
Local time
11:05 AM
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
13 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 11m 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 Kingsport, TN to Memphis, TN covers 491.5 miles and takes about 7h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Broad Street, East Main Street, East Sullivan Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 245.8 miles from Kingsport, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $74.65 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 11m, 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 Kingsport, TN to Memphis, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Kingsport, TN to Memphis, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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