Skip to main content

Trip from Memphis, TN to Lebanon, TN

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 28m

Distance

242.5 mi

390 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 15m ★
6 AM
4h 29m
8 AM
4h 55m
10 AM
4h 38m
12 PM
4h 35m
3 PM
4h 39m
5 PM
4h 54m
8 PM
4h 21m

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

city in and county seat of Shelby County, Tennessee, United States

Memphis, TN

Wikimedia Commons

city in Wilson County, Tennessee, United States

Lebanon, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Memphis, TN to Lebanon, TN covers 242.5 miles and takes about 4h 28m 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 $37.91 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

121.3 miles from Memphis, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 28m. Total distance: 242.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 28m drive with frequent turns across 242.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 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.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 28m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Memphis, TN to Lebanon, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North B
I 40 East
Downtown Loop
US 231
Murfreesboro Road
South Cumberland Street
Tennessee Boulevard
South College Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Memphis, TN and Lebanon, 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

27 mi · 29 min · I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
10

Take the exit slight right toward US 231: Lebanon, Hartsville

0.1 mi · 21 sec · US 231: Lebanon, Hartsville
11

Turn left onto Murfreesboro Road

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Murfreesboro Road
12

Continue on South Cumberland Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · South Cumberland Street
13

Turn right onto Tennessee Boulevard

358 ft · 15 sec · Tennessee Boulevard
14

Turn left onto South College Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South College Street
15

Turn left onto East Main Street

361 ft · 6 sec · East Main Street
16

Enter the roundabout toward Public Square

66 ft · 1 sec · Public Square
17

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 121.3 miles from Memphis, TN, or about 2h 14m into the drive.

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 53 miles or 58m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 121.3 miles or 2h 14m 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 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lebanon, 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 242.5 miles and 4h 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 121.3 mi from Memphis, TN · 2h 14m into the drive

city in Tennessee, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dickson, TN

121 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

Brownsville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dickson, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 121.3 miles from Memphis, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lebanon, TN

The final approach into Lebanon, 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 Lebanon, TN.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.91 one way

$75.82 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 85 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $41.63 $83.25
premium $4.89 $46.67 $93.33
diesel $5.61 $53.54 $107.08

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: 84.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 72.8 0 $25.46 $11.64
Efficient EV 60.6 0 $21.22 $9.70
EV Truck/SUV 97 1 $33.95 $15.52

Gas CO2

85 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Memphis, TN

Morning in Memphis on Friday

Local time

7:32 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lebanon, TN

Morning in Lebanon on Friday

Local time

7:32 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°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 28m 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 Lebanon, TN covers 242.5 miles and takes about 4h 28m 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 121.3 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 $37.91 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 straightforward 4h 28m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Memphis, TN to Lebanon, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Memphis, TN to Lebanon, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Lebanon, TN to Memphis, TN

Plan the drive back the other way.

242.5 mi 4h 29m

Explore more options from Memphis, TN or browse trips ending in Lebanon, TN.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.