Origin
Memphis, TN
Afternoon in Memphis on Sunday
Local time
3:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Memphis, TN to Christiana, TN
Drive Time
4h 34m
Distance
247 mi
397 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 21m
★
6 AM
4h 35m
8 AM
5h 1m
10 AM
4h 44m
12 PM
4h 41m
3 PM
4h 45m
5 PM
5h 0m
8 PM
4h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Memphis, TN
Kelly
Christiana, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Traveling from Memphis to Christiana covers 247 miles across Tennessee, making it a manageable journey that fits easily into a single day of driving. Expect to spend about 4 hours and 34 minutes behind the wheel, assuming typical traffic conditions. The route relies primarily on I-40, the Tennessee National Guard Parkway, and I-24, ensuring a direct path across the state. With an estimated fuel cost of $38, this trip is quite budget-friendly for a solo driver or a small group. Since the entire drive stays within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent transit across the Tennessee landscape. It is a straightforward highway-focused drive that works best as a direct, one-day transit rather than a multi-day excursion.
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
123.5 miles from Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highly efficient transit, as 96 percent of your journey takes place on major highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-40, which accounts for a significant 178.5-mile stretch of the total distance. This creates a predictable rhythm, shifting from high-speed interstate travel to the transition onto the Tennessee National Guard Parkway and I-24. Because the route is so highway-heavy, the drive feels like a steady, focused push rather than a winding exploration of local backroads. You should be prepared for a consistent, interstate-focused experience that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers or frequent turns.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 178.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. 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 14 significant decision points across 247 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 14 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
7
231.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 53A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
7
238.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 21m in
Take the exit toward US 231 South: Shelbyville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 81A
Toward US 231 South: Shelbyville
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Memphis, TN to Christiana, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Franklin along the way.
Franklin
178.9 mi in
|
~3h 16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 178.5 mi | 3h 15m |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 52.2 mi | 55m |
| I 24 | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| Shelbyville Highway | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| South Church Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Hwy 269 | 1 mi | 1m |
| North B. B. King Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 178.5 mi, about 3h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis, TN and Christiana, 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
167 mi
·
3 hr
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
7
Merge onto I 840
52 mi
·
55 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
2 min
Exit 53A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 24
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
I 24
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 81A
Toward US 231 South: Shelbyville
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto US 231
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South Church Street
Use the none lane.
12
Continue on US 231
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Shelbyville Highway
13
Turn left onto Hwy 269
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Hwy 269
14
Turn left onto Main Street
492 ft
·
23 sec
·
Main Street
15
Turn right onto Church Street
16 ft
·
5 sec
·
Church Street
16
Turn left
11 ft
·
0 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To keep your drive comfortable, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 4-hour and 34-minute duration. Since your longest segment is nearly 179 miles, use that stretch on I-40 to gauge your fuel levels and personal fatigue before transitioning to the final leg of the trip. Departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid mid-day congestion on the busier interstate sections. Keep your $38 fuel budget in mind, but consider carrying a small buffer for price fluctuations at stations along the interstate corridors. Because this is a single-day trip, you have the advantage of flexibility; if you find yourself feeling tired, prioritize an extra rest stop to ensure you arrive in Christiana feeling refreshed.
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 123.5 miles from Memphis, TN, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 178.5 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 123.5 miles or 2h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Christiana, 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 247 miles and 4h 34m.
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 178.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 123.5 mi from Memphis, TN · 2h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
124 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 123.5 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 178.5 miles.
Arriving in Christiana, TN
The final approach into Christiana, 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 Christiana, 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
$37.52 one way
$75.03 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $41.36 | $82.72 |
| premium | $4.80 | $46.63 | $93.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $54.87 | $109.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.1 | 0 | $25.93 | $11.86 |
| Efficient EV | 61.8 | 0 | $21.61 | $9.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 98.8 | 1 | $34.58 | $15.81 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Christiana, TN
Afternoon in Christiana on Sunday
Local time
3:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°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
20 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
4h 34m 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 Christiana, TN covers 247 miles and takes about 4h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Tennessee National Guard Parkway, I 24. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 123.5 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 $37.52 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 14 significant decision points across 247 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.
On the drive from Memphis, TN to Christiana, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Franklin along the way.
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