Trip from New South Memphis, TN to Gray, TN

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

Distance

487.2 mi

784 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$76

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

8h 53m ★

6 AM

9h 1m

8 AM

9h 17m

10 AM

9h 6m

12 PM

9h 5m

3 PM

9h 7m

5 PM

9h 16m

8 PM

8h 56m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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New South Memphis, TN

Dee Hunna

Gray, TN

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Trip Overview

The drive from New South Memphis, TN to Gray, TN covers 487.2 miles and takes about 9h behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on I 40, Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, I 81 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 210.5 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $76.17 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

243.6 miles from New South Memphis, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 32m into the drive .

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Drive Character

The drive from New South Memphis, TN to Gray, TN covers 487.2 miles and takes about 9h, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 23 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 210.5 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 210.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 487.2 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 210.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 214 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 387.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

210.8 mi into trip | ~3h 55m 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...

214 mi into trip | ~4h 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...

387.8 mi into trip | ~7h 9m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

424.5 mi into trip | ~7h 50m in | I 81

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 North: Bristol

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 421 Toward I 81 North: Bristol

485.6 mi into trip | ~8h 56m in

Keep slight left at fork toward SR 75 North: Gray

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 13 Toward SR 75 North: Gray

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between New South Memphis, TN and Gray, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.

Huntsville

210.8 mi in | ~3h 55m

Louisville

213.4 mi in | ~3h 59m | via I 40

Knoxville

213.4 mi in | ~3h 59m | via I 40

Chattanooga

213.4 mi in | ~3h 59m | via I 40

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 40	210.5 mi	3h 50m
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway	196.5 mi	3h 32m
I 81	56.6 mi	1h
Sam Cooper Boulevard	6.1 mi	9m
South Parkway East	4.4 mi	7m
James H. Quillen Parkway	3.9 mi	4m
Downtown Loop	2.9 mi	4m
East Parkway South	2.3 mi	3m

Longest stretch: I 40 — 210.5 mi, about 3h 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New South Memphis, TN and Gray, TN.

Start on US 61

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Third Street

Turn right onto South Parkway East

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Parkway East

Continue on South Parkway East

2.7 mi · 4 min · South Parkway East

Continue on South Parkway East

0.4 mi · 40 sec · South Parkway East

Use the right lane.

Continue on SR 277

2.3 mi · 3 min · East Parkway South

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto Sam Cooper Boulevard

6.1 mi · 9 min · Sam Cooper Boulevard

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 40

197 mi · 3 hr 32 min · Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Merge onto I 40; I 65

2.4 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

174 mi · 3 hr 9 min · I 40

Exit 211A Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

37 mi · 40 min · I 40

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

57 mi · 1 hr · I 81

Exit 421 Toward I 81 North: Bristol

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 40 sec

Exit 57A Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville

Merge onto I 26; US 23

3.9 mi · 4 min · James H. Quillen Parkway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Exit 13 Toward SR 75: Gray

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 54 sec

Exit 13 Toward SR 75 North: Gray Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Turn right onto SR 75

0.5 mi · 57 sec · Suncrest Drive

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto Old Gray Station Road

0.4 mi · 52 sec · Old Gray Station Road

Continue on Gray Station Road

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Gray Station Road

Turn left onto Maple Drive

527 ft · 25 sec · Maple Drive

Turn right onto Oak Street

322 ft · 14 sec · Oak Street

Arrive at destination

Oak Street

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 243.6 miles from New South Memphis, TN, or about 4h 32m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 210.5 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 107 miles or 2h 3m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 243.6 miles or 4h 32m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 243.6 miles or 4h 32m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 53m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gray, TN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving New South 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from New South Memphis, TN

Aim for roughly 244 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Gray, TN

Aim for roughly 244 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 107 miles from New South Memphis, TN.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 210.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 243.6 mi from New South Memphis, TN · 4h 32m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Hendersonville, TN

244 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Hendersonville, TN

Overnight Options

Night 1

Hendersonville, TN

244 mi · about 4.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Hendersonville, TN after about 244 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Clarksville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 107 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hendersonville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 243.6 miles from New South 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 210.5 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 244 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.

Arriving in Gray, TN

The final approach into Gray, 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 Gray, TN.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Gray, TN with some flexibility left in the schedule.

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

$76.17 one way

$152.34 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 171 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$83.63	$167.26
premium	$4.89	$93.76	$187.51
diesel	$5.61	$107.57	$215.14

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$76

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$206–$316

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 170.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	146.2	1	$51.16	$23.39
Efficient EV	121.8	1	$42.63	$19.49
EV Truck/SUV	194.9	2	$68.21	$31.18

Gas CO2

170 kg

EV CO2

57 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

New South Memphis, TN

Night in New South Memphis on Tuesday

Local time

9:13 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gray, TN

Night in Gray on Tuesday

Local time

10:13 PM

EDT

Current temp

85°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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

17 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

9h on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from New South Memphis, TN to Gray, TN covers 487.2 miles and takes about 9h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 40, Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, I 81. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 244 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 243.6 miles from New South Memphis, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $76.17 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between New South Memphis, TN and Gray, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.

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