Origin
Memphis, TN
Night in Memphis on Wednesday
Local time
11:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Memphis, TN to Kingston, TN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
6h 30m
Distance
355.8 mi
573 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 18m
★
6 AM
6h 30m
8 AM
6h 55m
10 AM
6h 39m
12 PM
6h 36m
3 PM
6h 40m
5 PM
6h 53m
8 PM
6h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Memphis, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Kingston, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Memphis, TN to Kingston, TN covers 355.8 miles and takes about 6h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, Downtown Loop, North Kentucky Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 351.6 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.63 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
177.9 miles from Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 6h 30m highway drive covering 355.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Downtown Loop. The longest continuous stretch is about 351.6 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 13 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 351.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Downtown Loop. 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 10 significant decision points across 355.8 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 10 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 Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Memphis, TN and Kingston, 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 | 351.6 mi | 6h 23m |
| Downtown Loop | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| North Kentucky Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North B. B. King Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Poplar Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 351.6 mi, about 6h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis, TN and Kingston, 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 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
142 mi
·
2 hr 34 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
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Primary SR 58 South: Kingston
11
Turn left onto SR 58
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Kentucky Street
12
Continue on North Kentucky Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
North Kentucky Street
13
Arrive at destination
SR 58
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 177.9 miles from Memphis, TN, or about 3h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 351.6 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 78 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.9 miles or 3h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kingston, 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 355.8 miles and 6h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 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 351.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 177.9 mi from Memphis, TN · 3h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
178 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 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 177.9 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 351.6 miles.
Arriving in Kingston, TN
The final approach into Kingston, 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 Kingston, 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
$55.63 one way
$111.25 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
125 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $61.07 | $122.15 |
| premium | $4.89 | $68.47 | $136.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $78.56 | $157.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106.7 | 1 | $37.36 | $17.08 |
| Efficient EV | 89 | 1 | $31.13 | $14.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 142.3 | 1 | $49.81 | $22.77 |
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
42 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
Kingston, TN
Late night in Kingston on Thursday
Local time
12:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
18 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
6h 30m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Kingston, TN covers 355.8 miles and takes about 6h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Downtown Loop, North Kentucky Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 177.9 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 $55.63 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 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 10 significant decision points across 355.8 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 Kingston, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
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