Origin
Newport, TN
Afternoon in Newport on Sunday
Local time
4:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newport, TN to Memphis, TN
Drive Time
8h 3m
Distance
439.9 mi
708 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$67
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 55m
★
6 AM
8h 4m
8 AM
8h 21m
10 AM
8h 10m
12 PM
8h 8m
3 PM
8h 11m
5 PM
8h 20m
8 PM
7h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newport, TN
Kelly
Memphis, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Crossing the entire state of Tennessee from Newport to Memphis is a significant undertaking, spanning 439.9 miles of mostly interstate travel. You should plan for approximately 8 hours and 3 minutes of driving time, though traffic through major urban corridors can influence this. Because of the length, I recommend splitting this journey into two days to keep your arrival in Memphis fresh and manageable. Expect to spend around $67 on fuel for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Since both cities reside within the Southeast region, you will remain in a familiar geographic corridor, but the transition from the mountainous eastern border to the Mississippi River delta provides a distinct shift in landscape.
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
220 miles from Newport, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a straightforward, highway-focused experience, as 99% of this route consists of high-speed travel. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-40, which accounts for a 434.6-mile stretch of the journey. While you start by navigating local roads like Cosby Highway to reach the interstate, the character of the drive quickly shifts to a consistent, high-mileage pace. It is a no-nonsense interstate grind that prioritizes efficiency over technical winding roads. By the time you reach the Downtown Loop in Memphis, you will have navigated one of the longest continuous highway segments in the state.
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 434.6 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 around 68.9 miles in near I 40.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 439.9 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 68.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 223.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 225.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
68.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Nashville
9
223.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 4m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
8
225.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 8m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
8
426.2 mi into trip
|
~7h 46m 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
8
439.5 mi into trip
|
~8h 2m 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 Along This Route
Between Newport, TN and Memphis, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Louisville.
Nashville
68.9 mi in
|
~1h 18m
|
via I 40
Louisville
227 mi in
|
~4h 9m
|
via I 40
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 434.6 mi | 7h 55m |
| Downtown Loop | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Cosby Highway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| East Broadway Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North 2nd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Poplar Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| McMahan Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 434.6 mi, about 7h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newport, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on this road
56 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto US 321
94 ft
·
5 sec
·
McMahan Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 25; US 70; US 321
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Broadway Street
4
Turn left onto US 321; SR 32
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Cosby Highway
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
6
Merge onto I 40
67 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
I 40
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
155 mi
·
2 hr 46 min
·
I 40
Toward Nashville
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
I 40
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 40
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 40
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Downtown Loop
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 40
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Downtown Loop
Exit 210A
Toward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, Louisville
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
197 mi
·
3 hr 33 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 West: Memphis
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto I 40
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 40
Exit 10A-B
Toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
11 mi
·
13 min
·
I 40
Exit 10B
Toward I 40 West: Little Rock
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 1A
Toward Second Street, Third Street
Use the slight right lane.
17
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft
·
4 sec
·
Poplar Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
To tackle this 439.9-mile haul successfully, aim for an early morning departure to get ahead of urban congestion. With two recommended stops built into your itinerary, use them to break up the 8-hour duration and avoid driver fatigue during the long stretch on I-40. Budget roughly $67 for your fuel costs and monitor your tank closely, as the high-speed nature of the interstate can impact your consumption. A great strategy for this specific route is to treat the trip as a two-day excursion, allowing you to pace yourself across the state rather than pushing through the entire distance in one grueling sitting. Always stay alert when transitioning from the open highway into the busy Memphis Downtown Loop.
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 220 miles from Newport, TN, or about 4h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 434.6 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 97 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 220 miles or 4h 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 220 miles or 4h
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 6h 56m
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 Newport, 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 Newport, TN
Aim for roughly 220 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Memphis, TN
Aim for roughly 220 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 97 miles from Newport, 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 434.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 220 mi from Newport, TN · 4h into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
220 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, TNOvernight Options
Night 1
220 mi · about 4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Hendersonville, TN after about 220 miles or 4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 97 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 220 miles from Newport, 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 434.6 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 220 miles or 4 hours on the road.
Arriving in Memphis, TN
The final approach into Memphis, 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 Memphis, TN.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Memphis, 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
$66.82 one way
$133.63 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
154 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $73.66 | $147.31 |
| premium | $4.80 | $83.04 | $166.09 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $97.73 | $195.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$67
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$197–$307
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 153.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 132 | 1 | $46.19 | $21.12 |
| Efficient EV | 110 | 1 | $38.49 | $17.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 176 | 2 | $61.59 | $28.15 |
Gas CO2
154 kg
EV CO2
51 kg (67% 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
Memphis, TN
Afternoon in Memphis on Sunday
Local time
3:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
5 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
8h 3m 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 Newport, TN to Memphis, TN covers 439.9 miles and takes about 8h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Downtown Loop, Cosby Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
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 220 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 220 miles from Newport, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $66.82 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 439.9 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 68.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 223.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 225.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Newport, TN and Memphis, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Louisville.
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