How far is Central, TN from Memphis, TN?
The driving distance from Central, TN to Memphis, TN is about 498.9 miles (802.9 km), with a travel time of about 07h 37m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 442.5 miles (712.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 15m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EST.
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 07h 37m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City in Wilson County, Tennessee, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Areas Of Fog then Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Central and Memphis.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Central and Memphis.
-
1
Start on Elizabethton Highway
1.5 mi · 3 min · Elizabethton Highway
-
2
Continue on East Main Street
1.8 mi · 5 min · East Main Street
-
3
Turn straight
71 m · 10 sec
-
4
Turn right onto Legion Street
722 ft · 15 sec · Legion Street
-
5
Take the ramp slight right
747 ft · 18 sec
-
6
Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway
14.3 mi · 17 min · James H. Quillen Parkway
-
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 81 South: Knoxville
1100 ft · 38 sec
-
8
Merge slight left
56.4 mi · 1 hr
-
9
Continue on I 40 West: Knoxville
1.1 km · 45 sec
-
10
Merge slight left
52.8 mi · 59 min
-
11
Keep slight right to continue on Nashville
154.8 mi · 2 hr 47 min
-
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
2.1 mi · 3 min
-
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
2263 ft · 43 sec
-
14
Merge slight right onto Downtown Loop
1 km · 52 sec · Downtown Loop
-
15
Continue on Downtown Loop
2.3 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop
-
16
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Memphis
196.9 mi · 3 hr 34 min
-
17
Take the exit slight right toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
680 ft · 9 sec
-
18
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 West: Little Rock
11.1 mi · 13 min
-
19
Keep slight left
2.1 mi · 3 min
-
20
Take the exit slight right toward Second Street, Third Street
1209 ft · 30 sec
-
21
Continue on North 2nd Street
1062 ft · 31 sec · North 2nd Street
-
22
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
62 m · 4 sec · Poplar Avenue
-
23
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Poplar Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Central 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.
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.
Areas Of Fog then Sunny leaving Central 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 Central to Memphis?
The road trip is about 498.9 miles (802.9 km) and usually takes 07h 37m 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 248.8 miles from Central and 250 miles from Memphis.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 442.5 miles (712.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 56.4 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 EST. 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 $64.80 one way or $129.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 156.4 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Central and Memphis, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Areas Of Fog then Sunny around Central and Mostly Sunny near Memphis.
Stop Ideas Near Watertown
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 Watertown.
Nashville, TN
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Central and Memphis. Straight-line distance: 442.57 mi (712.24 km).
#1 Central
Central is a place in Tennessee, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 36.3262200, -82.2895800 |
| Altitude | 505 |
| 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 (-90.048926, 35.149666)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 803 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 37m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 28m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 58m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 18m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 07m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 13m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.68 | $64.80 | $129.61 |
| Mid-grade | $4.15 | $73.04 | $146.08 |
| Premium | $4.56 | $80.31 | $160.62 |
| Diesel | $5.90 | $103.79 | $207.57 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
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