Origin
Memphis, TN
Afternoon in Memphis on Sunday
Local time
3:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Memphis, TN to Arlington, TN
Drive Time
40m
Distance
31.7 mi
51 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Memphis, TN
Kelly
Arlington, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head from Memphis to Arlington, you are looking at a straightforward 31.7-mile journey that typically takes about 40 minutes. This trip is perfect for a quick day outing, as it is easily manageable in a single day without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Thomas Street, Paul W. Barret Parkway, and US 70 as you transition through the Southeast region. With a fuel cost estimate of just $5, it is a very budget-friendly transit. This route offers a practical, no-nonsense connection between these two Tennessee locations, making it a reliable choice for commuters or casual travelers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
15.9 miles from Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 21m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience on this 31.7-mile trek, as the route balances local roads with highway travel. The drive is split evenly, with 50 percent of your journey spent on highways. You will find your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 14.2 miles while traveling along Thomas Street. As you move from the urban environment of Memphis toward Arlington, the road character shifts from city streets to the more open flow of the parkway and US 70. It is a functional drive that requires steady focus rather than a leisurely pace.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Thomas Street is the longest continuous segment at about 14.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Poplar Avenue.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 40m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Poplar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (US 51 / North Danny Thomas Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Poplar Avenue
Depart onto Poplar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 51 / North Danny Thomas Boulevard
Turn left onto US 51 / North Danny Thomas Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
15.1 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward Arlington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Arlington
5
29.7 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward US 70: Lakeland, Arlington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 70: Lakeland, Arlington
4
31.7 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
Walker Street
Turn right onto Walker Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Street | 14.2 mi | 17m |
| Paul W Barret Parkway | 14.2 mi | 16m |
| US 70 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| North Danny Thomas Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Poplar Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Chester Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Walker Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Thomas Street
— 14.2 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis, TN and Arlington, TN.
1
Start on Poplar Avenue
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Poplar Avenue
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto US 51
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Danny Thomas Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 51
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Thomas Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward Arlington
5
Continue on TN 385
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Paul W Barret Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 70: Lakeland, Arlington
7
Turn right onto US 70; US 79
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US 70; US 79
8
Turn right onto Chester Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Chester Street
9
Continue on Chester Street
207 ft
·
6 sec
·
Chester Street
10
Continue on Chester Street
144 ft
·
6 sec
·
Chester Street
11
Turn right onto Walker Street
68 ft
·
3 sec
·
Walker Street
12
Arrive at destination
Walker Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 40-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. Because the entire route covers only 31.7 miles, you won't need to worry about planning formal rest stops or mid-trip breaks. Keep your $5 fuel budget in mind, and ensure your tank is ready before you leave to avoid unnecessary stops along the way. A specific tip for this drive is to pay close attention to your navigation as you transition between Thomas Street and the Paul W. Barret Parkway, as the switch between these main roads is the most critical part of your journey.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 15.9 miles from Memphis, TN, or about 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.2 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 31.7 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.9 miles or 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Memphis, 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 Memphis, TN
This is one driving day of about 31.7 miles and 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Memphis, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Thomas Street for about 14.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.9 mi from Memphis, TN · 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.9 miles from Memphis, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Arlington, TN
The final approach into Arlington, 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 Arlington, 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
$4.81 one way
$9.63 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $5.31 | $10.62 |
| premium | $4.80 | $5.98 | $11.97 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.04 | $14.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Arlington, TN
Afternoon in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
3:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°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
21 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
40m 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 Memphis, TN to Arlington, TN covers 31.7 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Thomas Street, Paul W Barret Parkway, US 70. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.9 miles from Memphis, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.81 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 40m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Poplar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (US 51 / North Danny Thomas Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Memphis, TN to Arlington, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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