The drive from Memphis, TN to Paris, TN covers 140.7 miles and takes about 2h 54m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, East Main Street, US 45E for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 82.7 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.00 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
70.4 miles from Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 140.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 54m highway drive covering 140.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and East Main Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 82.7 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 19 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 82.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and East Main Street. 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.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 140.7 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 12 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
6
83.1 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward Trenton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Trenton
6
103.3 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|US 70A; US 79 / East Van Hook Street
Turn right onto US 70A; US 79 / East Van Hook Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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 Paris, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville and Trenton.
Knoxville
12.3 mi in|~15m|via I 40
Trenton
83.1 mi in|~1h 33m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
82.7 mi
1h 32m
East Main Street
16.4 mi
24m
US 45E
13.5 mi
19m
Austin Peay Memorial Highway
13.2 mi
15m
US 45 Bypass
6.6 mi
9m
Atwood Highway
2.8 mi
4m
East Van Hook Street
2 mi
2m
Main Street
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 82.7 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis, TN and Paris, 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 EastUse 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
71 mi·1 hr 17 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: Nashville, KnoxvilleUse the slight left / straight lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward TrentonUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto US 45 Bypass
6.6 mi·9 min·US 45 Bypass
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 45E
13 mi·19 min·US 45E
9
Turn right onto US 70A; US 79
2.0 mi·2 min·East Van Hook Street
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on US 70A; US 79
2.1 mi·3 min·Atwood Highway
11
Turn left onto US 70A; US 79
0.7 mi·1 min·Atwood Highway
12
Continue on US 70A; US 79
1.7 mi·2 min·Main Street
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 79
16 mi·24 min·East Main Street
14
Continue on US 79
13 mi·15 min·Austin Peay Memorial Highway
15
Continue on US 79
0.4 mi·45 sec·Tyson Avenue
16
Turn left onto US 641
0.9 mi·1 min·Veterans Drive
17
Turn straight onto US 641
0.1 mi·17 sec·South Market Street
18
Turn left onto SR 54; SR 69
96 ft·1 sec·West Wood Street
19
Arrive at destination
SR 54; SR 69
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.4 miles from Memphis, TN, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.7 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 31 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.4 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paris, 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 140.7 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 82.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 70.4 mi from Memphis, TN
· 1h 19m into the drive
The midpoint is around 70.4 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 82.7 miles.
Arriving in Paris, TN
The final approach into Paris, 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 Paris, TN.
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.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 140.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.00 one way
$43.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.15
$48.30
premium
$4.89
$27.08
$54.15
diesel
$5.61
$31.06
$62.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.2
0
$14.77
$6.75
Efficient EV
35.2
0
$12.31
$5.63
EV Truck/SUV
56.3
0
$19.70
$9.00
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 14, 2026
Origin
Memphis, TN
Late night
in Memphis on Friday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
SSW 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Paris, TN
Late night
in Paris on Friday
Local time
5:10 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
11 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
2h 54m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Paris, TN covers 140.7 miles and takes about 2h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, East Main Street, US 45E. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.4 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 $22.00 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 140.7 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 Paris, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville and Trenton.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fort Donelson National Battlefield.
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.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
