Trip from Memphis, TN to East Ridge, TN

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are I 40, I 81, Davy Crockett Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Q: Should I split this drive into multiple days?

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 221 miles on day one.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 220.7 miles from Memphis, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $67.03 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

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.

Q: How many breaks should I plan?

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.

Drive Time

8h 9m

Distance

441.3 mi

710 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$67

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

27 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

8h 2m ★

6 AM

8h 10m

8 AM

8h 26m

10 AM

8h 15m

12 PM

8h 14m

3 PM

8h 16m

5 PM

8h 25m

8 PM

8h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Memphis, TN to East Ridge, TN covers 441.3 miles and takes about 8h 9m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on I 40, I 81, Davy Crockett Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 420.4 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $67.03 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

220.7 miles from Memphis, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 2m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 8h 9m highway drive covering 441.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 420.4 miles on I 40.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 18 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

1,296 ft 258 ft

Total Climb

1,174 ft

Total Descent

136 ft

Highest Point

1,296 ft

~441.3 mi in

Elevation Range

1,038 ft

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 441.3 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 points

These 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 East Ridge, 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	7.9 mi	8m
Davy Crockett Parkway	7.5 mi	9m
Downtown Loop	2.9 mi	4m
Morelock Road	0.7 mi	2m
Elgin Drive	0.7 mi	2m
North B. B. King Boulevard	0.2 mi	<1m
Rosa Circle	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 40 — 420.4 mi, about 7h 39m

Trip Plan

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 220.7 miles from Memphis, TN, or about 4h 2m 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 97 miles or 1h 47m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 220.7 miles or 4h 2m 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 220.7 miles or 4h 2m

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 6h 57m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Ridge, 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 221 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into East Ridge, TN

Aim for roughly 221 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 97 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 220.7 mi from Memphis, TN · 4h 2m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Hendersonville, TN

221 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 Hendersonville, TN

Overnight Options

Night 1

Hendersonville, TN

221 mi · about 4.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Hendersonville, TN after about 221 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Clarksville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 97 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Nashville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 220.7 miles from Memphis, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 420.4 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 221 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.

Arriving in East Ridge, TN

The final approach into East Ridge, 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 East Ridge, TN.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach East Ridge, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Stones River National Battlefield

National Battlefield

The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...

21 mi from route ~52 min detour Free near mile 228.3

View on nps.gov

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

National Park

Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour Free near mile 410.9

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$67.03 one way

$134.06 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 154 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$73.89	$147.78
premium	$4.80	$83.31	$166.62
diesel	$5.64	$98.04	$196.08

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$67

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$197–$307

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 154.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

27 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Casey Jones Village - Tesla Supercharger

Jackson, TN

Tesla

24 DCFC

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Nashville, TN

Tesla

24 DCFC

Poplar Plaza - Tesla Supercharger

Memphis, TN

Tesla

16 DCFC

Park Place Centre - Tesla Supercharger

Memphis, TN

Tesla

16 DCFC

The Market at Wolfcreek - Tesla Supercharger

Memphis, TN

Tesla

12 DCFC

Fast Stop - Tesla Supercharger

Wildersville, TN

Tesla

12 DCFC

Holiday Inn Express & Suites - Tesla Supercharger

Dickson, TN

Tesla

8 DCFC

Taubman The Mall at Green Hills (Nashville, TN)

Nashville, TN

Electrify America

8 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 8 Tesla: 7 Electrify America: 4 eVgo Network: 3 Non-Networked: 2 Blink Network: 2 EV Connect: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	132.4	1	$46.34	$21.18
Efficient EV	110.3	1	$38.61	$17.65
EV Truck/SUV	176.5	2	$61.78	$28.24

Gas CO2

154 kg

EV CO2

52 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Memphis, TN

Late night in Memphis on Monday

Local time

3:23 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

East Ridge, TN

Late night in East Ridge on Monday

Local time

4:23 AM

EDT

Current temp

78°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.

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

14 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

8h 9m 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 East Ridge, TN covers 441.3 miles and takes about 8h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.