How far is Bristol, TN from Memphis, TN?

The driving distance from Bristol, TN to Memphis, TN is about 503 miles (809.5 km), with a travel time of about 07h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 451.1 miles (726 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 44m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
502.97 mi
07h 22m
Flight
451.13 mi
726.02 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bristol.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
451.13 mi
Kilometers
726.02 km
Flight Time
00h 54m

Driving Distance

Road route
502.97 mi
Kilometers
809.46 km
Drive Time
07h 22m

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 07h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Memphis
Thu, Apr 23, 7:02 AM CDT
Return by in Bristol
Thu, Apr 23, 3:24 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bristol
2026-04-23T00:39
Arrive Memphis
Thu, Apr 23, 8:02 AM EDT
Route Timing
07h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:22 PM to 1:52 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
9:16 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bristol
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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.

Mid-route stop
Watertown
TN

City in Wilson County, Tennessee, United States

From Bristol
251.2 mi
03h 41m
To Memphis
251.8 mi
03h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph SW
Destination
80°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bristol and Memphis.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bristol and Memphis.

  1. 1

    Start on West State Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · West State Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Gate City Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Gate City Highway

  3. 3

    Turn left

    1873 ft · 46 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    75.6 mi · 1 hr 21 min

  5. 5

    Continue on I 40 West: Knoxville

    1.1 km · 45 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    52.8 mi · 59 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Nashville

    154.8 mi · 2 hr 47 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis

    2263 ft · 43 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight right onto Downtown Loop

    1 km · 52 sec · Downtown Loop

  11. 11

    Continue on Downtown Loop

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Memphis

    196.9 mi · 3 hr 34 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock

    680 ft · 9 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 West: Little Rock

    11.1 mi · 13 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Second Street, Third Street

    1209 ft · 30 sec

  17. 17

    Continue on North 2nd Street

    1062 ft · 31 sec · North 2nd Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Poplar Avenue

    62 m · 4 sec · Poplar Avenue

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Poplar Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bristol and Memphis.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
19 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
264 mi · 52%
Nashville
155 mi · 31%
Gate City Highway
77 mi · 15%
Downtown Loop
2.92 mi · 1%
I 24 West
2.14 mi
West State Street
1.21 mi
Longest Stretch

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.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
07h 22m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+51.9 mi
451.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Watertown
03h 41m from Bristol
Leave By
9:16 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Bristol 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 Bristol to Memphis?

The road trip is about 503 miles (809.5 km) and usually takes 07h 22m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Watertown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 251.2 miles from Bristol and 251.8 miles from Memphis.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 451.1 miles (726 km), while the road route adds roughly 51.9 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $66.94 one way or $133.87 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 157.7 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Bristol 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 Bristol and Mostly Sunny near Memphis.

Stop Ideas Near Watertown

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Watertown, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Watertown.

BUS

Nashville, TN

58 mi away
705 5th Avenue South

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bristol and Memphis. Straight-line distance: 451.13 mi (726.02 km).

Bristol

#1 Bristol

City in Tennessee

Population27,142
Coordinates36.5951100, -82.1887400
Altitude511
CountryUnited States
Memphis

#2 Memphis

The twenty-ninth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Memphis metropolitan area.

Population649,705
Coordinates35.1495300, -90.0489800
Altitude78
CountryUnited States
Start: West State Street (-82.188739, 36.595132)
End: Poplar Avenue (-90.048923, 35.149674)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 809 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.75 gal
67.19 L · about $66.94
Round trip
$133.87
35.5 gal · 134.38 L
Estimated CO2
157.7 kg one way
Round trip: 315.5 kg / 696 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $66.94 $133.87
Mid-grade $4.25 $75.49 $150.98
Premium $4.65 $82.61 $165.22
Diesel $5.30 $94.15 $188.29

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

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Bristol, TN and Memphis, TN. The current time in Bristol is 00:39:56, although it is 23:39:56 in Memphis.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.