Mount Pleasant, TN to Memphis, TN is 189.4 miles and takes about 3h 41m via I 40 and Linden Highway, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across the state of Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to the same region. Expect a mixed drive that's mostly highway but includes some local road time. It's a straightforward, single-day journey perfect for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
94.7 miles from Mount Pleasant, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 41m. Total distance: 189.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
This route offers a mixed driving experience, with 56% of it being highway driving. You'll spend a significant portion on I 40, including a long stretch of 95.7 miles without needing to exit. While much of the drive is on faster roads, the inclusion of Linden Highway and Columbia Highway means you'll also experience more local road conditions. The drive transitions from more rural highway segments to potentially busier areas as you approach Memphis.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 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 95.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.7 miles in near US 412 / Hampshire Pike.
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 189.4 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: at 7.7 miles (US 412 / Hampshire Pike): Navigation decision point; at 175.6 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 175.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
7.7 mi into trip|~13m in|US 412 / Hampshire Pike
At end of road, turn left onto US 412 / Hampshire Pike
Navigation decision point
6
175.6 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|I 40
Take the exit onto I 40 toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 10A-B
Toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississip...
8
175.7 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10B
Toward I 40 West: Little Rock
6
186.9 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8
188.9 mi into trip|~3h 40m in
Take the exit toward Second Street, Third Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1A
Toward Second Street, Third Street
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Mount Pleasant, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Little Rock
175.6 mi in|~3h 24m|via I 40
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
95.7 mi
1h 46m
Linden Highway
51.3 mi
59m
Columbia Highway
13 mi
16m
US 412
10.5 mi
11m
Pisgah Ridge Road
5.7 mi
10m
East Main Street
4.6 mi
5m
Hampshire Pike
2.9 mi
3m
West Church Sttreet
2.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 95.7 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Pleasant, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on SR 166; SR 243
0.3 mi·37 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn left onto TN 166
1.8 mi·3 min·1st Avenue
3
Continue on TN 166
1.8 mi·3 min·Pisgah Ridge Road
4
Keep slight left at fork onto TN 166
3.8 mi·6 min·Pisgah Ridge Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 412
2.9 mi·3 min·Hampshire Pike
6
Continue on US 412
13 mi·16 min·Columbia Highway
7
Continue on US 412
4.6 mi·5 min·East Main Street
8
Continue on US 412
51 mi·59 min·Linden Highway
9
Continue on US 412
2.2 mi·2 min·West Church Sttreet
10
Continue on US 412
10 mi·11 min·US 412
11
Turn right onto SR 152
0.8 mi·1 min·Law Road
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
13
Merge onto I 40
82 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto I 40
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 40
Exit 10A-BToward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
11 mi·13 min·I 40
Exit 10BToward I 40 West: Little RockUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·2 min·I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 1AToward Second Street, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
18
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft·4 sec·Poplar Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 3h 41m drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and arrive with plenty of time. With only one recommended stop, you have a lot of flexibility to take breaks when you feel like it. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 95.7-mile stretch on I 40, as services might be less frequent. The $30 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you go. Given its manageable length, you can easily complete this trip in one day without feeling rushed.
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 94.7 miles from Mount Pleasant, TN, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.7 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 42 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.7 miles or 1h 55m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Memphis, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mount Pleasant, 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 Mount Pleasant, TN
This is one driving day of about 189.4 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Mount Pleasant, 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 95.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94.7 mi from Mount Pleasant, TN
· 1h 55m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.61 one way
$59.22 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.51
$65.02
premium
$4.89
$36.45
$72.90
diesel
$5.61
$41.82
$83.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.8
0
$19.89
$9.09
Efficient EV
47.4
0
$16.57
$7.58
EV Truck/SUV
75.8
0
$26.52
$12.12
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 15, 2026
Origin
Mount Pleasant, TN
Morning
in Mount Pleasant on Friday
Local time
10:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Memphis, TN
Morning
in Memphis on Friday
Local time
10:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 41m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Mount Pleasant, TN to Memphis, TN covers 189.4 miles and takes about 3h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Linden Highway, Columbia Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 94.7 miles from Mount Pleasant, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.61 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 189.4 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: at 7.7 miles (US 412 / Hampshire Pike): Navigation decision point; at 175.6 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 175.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Mount Pleasant, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
