How far is Athens, TN from Memphis, TN?
The driving distance from Athens, TN to Memphis, TN is about 397.1 miles (639.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 54m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 308.3 miles (496.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 05h 54m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City in Cheatham County, Tennessee, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Athens and Memphis.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Athens and Memphis.
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1
Start on Washington Avenue
57 m · 9 sec · Washington Avenue
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2
Turn left onto North White Street
75 m · 12 sec · North White Street
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3
Turn left onto East Madison Avenue
943 ft · 26 sec · East Madison Avenue
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4
Turn left onto Green Street
76 m · 6 sec · Green Street
-
5
Turn slight right onto Ingleside Avenue
2.8 mi · 5 min · Ingleside Avenue
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6
Continue on John J Duncan Parkway
4 mi · 6 min · John J Duncan Parkway
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7
Continue on Clearwater Road
6.9 mi · 12 min · Clearwater Road
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8
At the end of the road, turn left
2 mi · 3 min
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9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
43 m · 2 sec
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10
Exit the roundabout
12 m · 2 sec
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11
Turn slight right
3.9 mi · 5 min
-
12
Continue on Watts Bar Highway
6.1 mi · 8 min · Watts Bar Highway
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13
Turn right onto New Lake Road
3.4 mi · 6 min · New Lake Road
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14
Continue on Piccadilly Avenue
2655 ft · 53 sec · Piccadilly Avenue
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15
Continue on Herb M Wassom Mem Highway
635 ft · 13 sec · Herb M Wassom Mem Highway
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16
At the end of the road, turn right onto Herb M Wassom Mem Highway
1448 ft · 31 sec · Herb M Wassom Mem Highway
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17
Continue on Wassom Memorial Highway
19.8 mi · 30 min · Wassom Memorial Highway
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18
Turn straight
7.7 mi · 12 min
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19
Take the exit left
983 ft · 24 sec
-
20
Merge slight left
104.1 mi · 1 hr 52 min
-
21
Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
2.1 mi · 3 min
-
22
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
2263 ft · 43 sec
-
23
Merge slight right onto Downtown Loop
1 km · 52 sec · Downtown Loop
-
24
Continue on Downtown Loop
2.3 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop
-
25
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Memphis
196.9 mi · 3 hr 34 min
-
26
Take the exit slight right toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
680 ft · 9 sec
-
27
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 West: Little Rock
11.1 mi · 13 min
-
28
Keep slight left
2.1 mi · 3 min
-
29
Take the exit slight right toward Second Street, Third Street
1209 ft · 30 sec
-
30
Continue on North 2nd Street
1062 ft · 31 sec · North 2nd Street
-
31
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
62 m · 4 sec · Poplar Avenue
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32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Poplar Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Athens and Memphis.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 40 West
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Memphis
197 mi · 03h 34m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Sunny leaving Athens and Mostly Sunny near Memphis.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Athens to Memphis?
The road trip is about 397.1 miles (639.1 km) and usually takes 05h 54m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Kingston Springs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 189 miles from Athens and 208.2 miles from Memphis.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 308.3 miles (496.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 88.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:12 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $52.83 one way or $105.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 124.5 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Athens and Memphis, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Athens and Mostly Sunny near Memphis.
Stop Ideas Near Kingston Springs
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Kingston Springs.
Nashville, TN
Clarksville, TN
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Athens and Memphis. Straight-line distance: 308.31 mi (496.17 km).
#1 Athens
Town in Tennessee, United States
| Population | 14,120 |
| Coordinates | 35.4428500, -84.5929900 |
| Altitude | 262 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Memphis
The twenty-ninth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Memphis metropolitan area.
| Population | 649,705 |
| Coordinates | 35.1495300, -90.0489800 |
| Altitude | 78 |
| Country | United States |
End: Poplar Avenue (-90.048923, 35.149674)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 639 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 13h 13m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 55m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 56m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 37m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 40m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 57m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $52.83 | $105.66 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $59.58 | $119.17 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $65.20 | $130.41 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $74.31 | $148.62 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Tennessee · Apr 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.