Origin
Memphis, TN
Afternoon in Memphis on Sunday
Local time
3:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Memphis, TN to Baxter, TN
Drive Time
5h 13m
Distance
283.1 mi
456 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 0m
★
6 AM
5h 13m
8 AM
5h 40m
10 AM
5h 23m
12 PM
5h 20m
3 PM
5h 24m
5 PM
5h 39m
8 PM
5h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Memphis, TN
Kelly
Baxter, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Spanning 283.1 miles across Tennessee, this drive from Memphis to Baxter is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 5 hours and 13 minutes. Because the route is compact, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $43 for fuel to complete the journey. The route stays entirely within the Southeast region, transitioning from the Mississippi River area toward the interior of the state. It is a highly practical drive for those looking to traverse the state efficiently, though you should be prepared for a consistent pace throughout the journey.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
141.5 miles from Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is heavily focused on highway travel, with 97% of your time spent on major routes like I-40. Expect a long, sustained pull behind the wheel, as your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 275 miles on the interstate. The transition from the open road to the local feel of the Downtown Loop and Old Baxter Road marks the final stages of the drive. While the interstate portion is efficient, the shift to local roads at the end provides a necessary change of pace. You will find that the character of the road remains consistent, favoring speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 275 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Old Baxter Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North B. B. King Boulevard.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 283.1 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: near the start (North B. B. King Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North B. B. King Boulevard
Turn left onto North B. B. King Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 40 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 40 East
8
12.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
9
210.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsv...
9
213.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 54m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 211A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...
Towns Along This Route
Between Memphis, TN and Baxter, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Huntsville
210.2 mi in
|
~3h 50m
Louisville
212.9 mi in
|
~3h 53m
|
via I 40
Knoxville
212.9 mi in
|
~3h 53m
|
via I 40
Chattanooga
212.9 mi in
|
~3h 53m
|
via I 40
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 275 mi | 4h 59m |
| Old Baxter Road | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Downtown Loop | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| North B. B. King Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Poplar Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 275 mi, about 4h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis, TN and Baxter, TN.
1
Start on Poplar Avenue
190 ft
·
11 sec
·
Poplar Avenue
2
Turn left onto North B. B. King Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
North B. B. King Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward I 40 East
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 40
12 mi
·
14 min
·
I 40
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
198 mi
·
3 hr 34 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Downtown Loop
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 40
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Downtown Loop
Exit 211B; 211A
Toward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
65 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 40
Exit 211A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
492 ft
·
12 sec
Toward Old Baxter Road
11
Turn left onto SR 141
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Old Baxter Road
12
Arrive at destination
SR 141
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 13-minute travel time, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 275-mile interstate slog. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue during the longest highway segments. Since the route is almost entirely highway-dependent, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before entering the final stretches toward Baxter. Flexibility is a major advantage here, as you can easily complete the trip in a single day without rushing. Use your single planned stop strategically to refresh, as the majority of your time will be spent focused on the steady flow of I-40 traffic.
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 141.5 miles from Memphis, TN, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 275 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 80 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.5 miles or 2h 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 4h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baxter, 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 283.1 miles and 5h 13m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 275 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 141.5 mi from Memphis, TN · 2h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
142 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 141.5 miles from Memphis, 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 275 miles.
Arriving in Baxter, TN
The final approach into Baxter, 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 Baxter, TN.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.00 one way
$86.00 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
99 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $47.40 | $94.81 |
| premium | $4.80 | $53.44 | $106.89 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $62.90 | $125.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.9 | 1 | $29.73 | $13.59 |
| Efficient EV | 70.8 | 0 | $24.77 | $11.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 113.2 | 1 | $39.63 | $18.12 |
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 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
Baxter, TN
Afternoon in Baxter on Sunday
Local time
3:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°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
1 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
5h 13m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Baxter, TN covers 283.1 miles and takes about 5h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Old Baxter Road, Downtown Loop. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 141.5 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 $43.00 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 283.1 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: near the start (North B. B. King Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Memphis, TN and Baxter, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
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