Origin
Memphis, TN
Afternoon in Memphis on Sunday
Local time
3:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Memphis, TN to Bluff City, TN
Drive Time
9h 11m
Distance
501 mi
806 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$76
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 3m
★
6 AM
9h 12m
8 AM
9h 28m
10 AM
9h 17m
12 PM
9h 16m
3 PM
9h 18m
5 PM
9h 27m
8 PM
9h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Memphis, TN
Kelly
Bluff City, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Crossing the entire state of Tennessee from Memphis to Bluff City is a substantial 501-mile journey that typically takes about 9 hours and 11 minutes of driving time. Because of the length, it is best to treat this as a two-day trip rather than a grueling single-day haul. You will primarily navigate via I-40 and I-81, eventually transitioning onto the Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway. Budgeting around $76 for fuel is a smart starting point for your planning. Since both your start and end points are located within the Southeast, you will experience the diverse geography of the state while remaining in the same region throughout your travel.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
250.5 miles from Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a high-speed, interstate-heavy experience, as 99% of this route is comprised of highways. The personality of the drive is defined by a massive 420.4-mile stretch along I-40, which serves as the backbone of your journey. While this ensures efficient travel, it leans toward a long-distance interstate grind rather than a meandering backroads tour. As you progress from the western side of the state toward the eastern mountains, the rhythm of the road remains consistent due to the heavy reliance on major transit corridors. Preparing for several hours of steady highway driving is essential for maintaining focus behind the wheel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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 420.4 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,724 ft
258 ft
Total Climb
2,494 ft
Total Descent
1,299 ft
Highest Point
1,724 ft
~334 mi in
Elevation Range
1,465 ft
Notable High Points
1,724 ft at ~334 miles
+617 ft prominence
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. 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 16 significant decision points across 501 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 16 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 Bluff City, 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 | 420.4 mi | 7h 39m |
| I 81 | 69.1 mi | 1h 14m |
| Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| Downtown Loop | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| SR 390 | 2 mi | 3m |
| North B. B. King Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Carter Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Holston Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 420.4 mi, about 7h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis, TN and Bluff City, 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
174 mi
·
3 hr 9 min
·
I 40
Exit 211A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi
·
40 min
·
I 40
Use the none lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
69 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
I 81
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 69
Toward SR 394: Blountville, Bristol
13
Turn slight right
109 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 81 Alt North
14
Turn right onto TN 394; I 81 Alt
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto SR 390
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
SR 390
16
Turn left onto Holston Drive
391 ft
·
18 sec
·
Holston Drive
17
Turn right onto Carter Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Carter Street
18
Turn left onto SR 44
60 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
SR 44
Trip Plan
To keep your energy levels steady over these 501 miles, plan to integrate at least two substantial stops into your itinerary. Splitting the drive over two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue, especially considering the long-distance profile of the route. When finalizing your travel schedule, keep a close eye on the 420.4-mile segment on I-40, as this is where you will spend the bulk of your time and should coordinate your fuel and rest breaks accordingly. Since the majority of your travel is on major interstates, try to time your departure to avoid peak traffic hours in the urban corridors along I-40. Staying flexible with your pace will make this long trek across Tennessee much more manageable.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 250.5 miles from Memphis, TN, or about 4h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 420.4 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 110 miles or 2h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 250.5 miles or 4h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 250.5 miles or 4h 35m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bluff City, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Memphis, TN
Aim for roughly 251 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Bluff City, TN
Aim for roughly 251 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 110 miles from Memphis, TN.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 420.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 250.5 mi from Memphis, TN · 4h 35m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
165 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
Overnight candidate
331 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Johnson, TNOvernight Options
Night 1
251 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Johnson, TN after about 251 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 110 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 250.5 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 420.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 251 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.
Arriving in Bluff City, TN
The final approach into Bluff City, 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 Bluff City, TN.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Bluff City, TN with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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
$76.10 one way
$152.19 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
175 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $83.89 | $167.78 |
| premium | $4.80 | $94.58 | $189.16 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $111.30 | $222.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$76
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$206–$316
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 175.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 150.3 | 1 | $52.60 | $24.05 |
| Efficient EV | 125.3 | 1 | $43.84 | $20.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 200.4 | 2 | $70.14 | $32.06 |
Gas CO2
175 kg
EV CO2
59 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
Bluff City, TN
Afternoon in Bluff City on Sunday
Local time
4:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
S 0 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Along the Route
61°F
Johnson, TN
331 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
22 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
9h 11m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 Bluff City, TN covers 501 miles and takes about 9h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 81, Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 251 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 250.5 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 $76.10 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 501 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 Bluff City, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
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