McEwen to Memphis is 171 miles and takes about 3 hours 18 minutes via I-40 and State Highway 13, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, taking you from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, making it a solid option for a single-day journey without needing an overnight stay. If you're looking for a quick transit between these two points with minimal fuss, this route delivers.
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
85.5 miles from McEwen, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 18m. Total distance: 171 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 99% of your journey on major roads like I-40 and State Highway 13. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 145.1 miles on I-40, meaning extended periods of consistent driving. Expect a smooth, relatively uninterrupted experience as you navigate primarily through high-speed corridors. The character of the road remains largely consistent, favoring efficient travel over varied scenery.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 145.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and State Highway 13. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 25.5 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 171 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 25.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 157.2 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 157.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
25.5 mi into trip|~38m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
157.2 mi into trip|~3h 1m 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
157.4 mi into trip|~3h 1m 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
168.5 mi into trip|~3h 15m 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
170.6 mi into trip|~3h 17m 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 McEwen, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Little Rock
157.2 mi in|~3h 1m|via I 40
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
145.1 mi
2h 39m
State Highway 13
15.3 mi
22m
US 70
8.3 mi
12m
East Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
South Church Street
0.3 mi
<1m
North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Poplar Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
High Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 145.1 mi, about 2h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McEwen, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on High Street
164 ft·7 sec·High Street
2
Turn right onto US 70
8.3 mi·12 min·US 70
3
Turn left onto East Acre Avenue
114 ft·5 sec·East Acre Avenue
4
Turn right onto East Main Street
1.2 mi·2 min·East Main Street
5
Turn left onto TN 13
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Church Street
6
Continue on TN 13
15 mi·22 min·State Highway 13
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
8
Merge onto I 40
132 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 40
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 40
Exit 10A-BToward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
11 mi·13 min·I 40
Exit 10BToward I 40 West: Little RockUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·2 min·I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 1AToward Second Street, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
13
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft·4 sec·Poplar Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of about 3 hours and 18 minutes, you have flexibility with your departure time. Aiming to leave McEwen in the morning will give you ample time to reach Memphis before evening. With only 171 miles, you might not need many stops, but be aware that the longest stretch on I-40 is over 145 miles, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach Memphis, where services might be more concentrated.
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 85.5 miles from McEwen, TN, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.1 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 38 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.5 miles or 1h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 43m
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 McEwen, 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 McEwen, TN
This is one driving day of about 171 miles and 3h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from McEwen, 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 145.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 85.5 mi from McEwen, TN
· 1h 43m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...
29 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 5.9
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.3
0
$17.96
$8.21
Efficient EV
42.8
0
$14.96
$6.84
EV Truck/SUV
68.4
0
$23.94
$10.94
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
McEwen, TN
Morning
in McEwen on Friday
Local time
9:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Memphis, TN
Morning
in Memphis on Friday
Local time
9:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Huntingdon, TN
86 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
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 18m 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 McEwen, TN to Memphis, TN covers 171 miles and takes about 3h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, State Highway 13, US 70. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85.5 miles from McEwen, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.73 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 171 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 25.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 157.2 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 157.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from McEwen, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
