Trip from Memphis, TN to Alexandria, TN

Drive Time

4h 52m

Distance

259.2 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Memphis, TN to Alexandria, TN covers 259.2 miles and takes about 4h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North B, I 40 East, Downtown Loop for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.48 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

129.6 miles from Memphis, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 52m drive with frequent turns across 259.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

North B is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North B	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 40 East	Unavailable	Refreshing
Downtown Loop	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 70 East	Unavailable	Refreshing
Sparta Pike	Unavailable	Refreshing
Nashville Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Locust Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Church Street	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: North B — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Memphis, TN and Alexandria, TN.

1

Start on Poplar Avenue

190 ft · 11 sec · Poplar Avenue

2

Turn left onto North B. B. King Boulevard

0.2 mi · 34 sec · North B. B. King Boulevard

3

Take the ramp right toward I 40 East

0.1 mi · 14 sec · I 40 East

4

Merge slight left

12 mi · 14 min

5

Keep slight left to continue on I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville

198 mi · 3 hr 34 min · I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville

6

Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville

0.2 mi · 25 sec · I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville

7

Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop

2.4 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop

8

Continue on Downtown Loop

0.5 mi · 43 sec · Downtown Loop

9

Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga

29 mi · 31 min · I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga

10

Take the exit slight right toward US 70 East: Watertown

0.2 mi · 30 sec · US 70 East: Watertown

11

Turn slight right onto Sparta Pike

15 mi · 21 min · Sparta Pike

12

Continue on Nashville Highway

1.1 mi · 1 min · Nashville Highway

13

Turn left onto Locust Street

0.5 mi · 2 min · Locust Street

14

At the end of the road, turn left onto Church Street

371 ft · 19 sec · Church Street

15

Turn right onto West Main Street

249 ft · 11 sec · West Main Street

16

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 129.6 miles from Memphis, TN, or about 2h 26m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

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 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 129.6 miles or 2h 26m 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 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Memphis, TN

This is one driving day of about 259.2 miles and 4h 52m.

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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Clarksville, TN

130 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Alexandria, 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 Alexandria, TN.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 129.6 mi from Memphis, TN

Clarksville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Clarksville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 129.6 miles from Memphis, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.77	$38.48	$76.96
midgrade	$4.25	$43.40	$86.80
premium	$4.65	$47.49	$94.99
diesel	$5.30	$54.13	$108.25

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 90.7 kg one way.

Travel Intel

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Compare the departure city with the arrival city before you leave so the route feels predictable, not reactive.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Memphis, TN

Late night in Memphis on Saturday

Local time

2:59 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Forecast unavailable right now

CDT Live mapsof forecast

Destination

Alexandria, TN

Late night in Alexandria on Saturday

Local time

2:59 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Forecast unavailable right now

CDT Live mapsof forecast

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

4h 52m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Memphis, TN to Alexandria, TN covers 259.2 miles and takes about 4h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North B, I 40 East, Downtown Loop. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 129.6 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 $38.48 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.