Origin
Unicoi, TN
Morning in Unicoi on Monday
Local time
10:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Unicoi, TN to New South Memphis, TN
Drive Time
9h 22m
Distance
507.3 mi
816 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$77
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 14m
★
6 AM
9h 22m
8 AM
9h 39m
10 AM
9h 28m
12 PM
9h 26m
3 PM
9h 29m
5 PM
9h 38m
8 PM
9h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Unicoi, TN
Kelly
New South Memphis, TN
Dee Hunna
Trip Overview
The drive from Unicoi, TN to New South Memphis, TN covers 507.3 miles and takes about 9h 22m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 40, I 81, James H. Quillen Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 407.1 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $77.05 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
253.7 miles from Unicoi, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 39m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 507.3 miles and 9h 22m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are I 40 and I 81.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 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 407.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 134.4 miles in near I 40.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 507.3 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 134.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 289.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 291.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
134.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Nashville
9
289.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 17m 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 straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
8
291.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 20m 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
506.6 mi into trip
|
~9h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 61: Vicksburg, 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 7
Toward US 61: Vicksburg, Third Street
8
506.7 mi into trip
|
~9h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 61 North: Third Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 61 North: Third Street
Towns Along This Route
Between Unicoi, TN and New South Memphis, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Memphis and Louisville.
Nashville
134.4 mi in
|
~2h 31m
|
via I 40
Memphis
291.4 mi in
|
~5h 20m
|
via I 40
Louisville
292.5 mi in
|
~5h 22m
|
via I 40
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 407.1 mi | 7h 23m |
| I 81 | 57.1 mi | 1h 1m |
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 23 mi | 27m |
| Avron B Fogelman Expressway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| W B Fowler Senior Expressway | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Downtown Loop | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| South Perkins Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Sam Cooper Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 407.1 mi, about 7h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Unicoi, TN and New South Memphis, TN.
1
Start on SR 173
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Unicoi Drive
2
Turn left onto SR 173
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
SR 173
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
4
Merge onto I 26; US 19W; US 23
23 mi
·
27 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 8A
Toward I 81 South: Knoxville
6
Merge onto I 81
56 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 81
7
Continue on I 81
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 81
Exit 1B
Toward I 40 West: Knoxville
8
Merge onto I 40
53 mi
·
59 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
155 mi
·
2 hr 46 min
·
I 40
Toward Nashville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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 straight / slight right lanes.
11
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.
12
Merge onto I 40
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 40
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Downtown Loop
Exit 210A
Toward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, Louisville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
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.
15
Continue on Sam Cooper Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Sam Cooper Boulevard
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 9
Toward Perkins Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto North Perkins Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Perkins Road
18
Continue on Perkins Extended
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Perkins Extended
19
Continue on South Perkins Road
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Perkins Road
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 240 West
21
Merge onto I 240
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Avron B Fogelman Expressway
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on I 240
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
W B Fowler Senior Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Exit 7
Toward US 61: Vicksburg, Third Street
Use the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward US 61 North: Third Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
25
Turn straight onto US 61
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
South Third Street
26
Arrive at destination
US 61
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 253.7 miles from Unicoi, TN, or about 4h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 407.1 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 112 miles or 2h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 253.7 miles or 4h 39m 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 253.7 miles or 4h 39m
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 8h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New South Memphis, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Unicoi, 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 Unicoi, TN
Aim for roughly 254 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into New South Memphis, TN
Aim for roughly 254 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 112 miles from Unicoi, 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 407.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 253.7 mi from Unicoi, TN · 4h 39m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
167 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
335 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 Nashville, TNOvernight Options
Night 1
254 mi · about 4.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Johnson, TN after about 254 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 112 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 253.7 miles from Unicoi, 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 407.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 254 miles or 4.7 hours on the road.
Arriving in New South Memphis, TN
The final approach into New South 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 New South Memphis, TN.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach New South 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
$77.05 one way
$154.11 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
178 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $84.94 | $169.89 |
| premium | $4.80 | $95.77 | $191.54 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $112.70 | $225.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$77
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$207–$317
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 177.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 152.2 | 1 | $53.27 | $24.35 |
| Efficient EV | 126.8 | 1 | $44.39 | $20.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 202.9 | 2 | $71.02 | $32.47 |
Gas CO2
177 kg
EV CO2
59 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
New South Memphis, TN
Morning in New South Memphis on Monday
Local time
9:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
61°F
Johnson, TN
167 mi in
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
11 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 22m 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 Unicoi, TN to New South Memphis, TN covers 507.3 miles and takes about 9h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 81, James H. Quillen Parkway. 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 254 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 253.7 miles from Unicoi, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $77.05 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 18 significant decision points across 507.3 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 134.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 289.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 291.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Unicoi, TN and New South Memphis, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Memphis and Louisville.
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