How far is Lafayette, TN from Memphis, TN?

The driving distance from Lafayette, TN to Memphis, TN is about 279.3 miles (449.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 253.5 miles (408 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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
279.31 mi
04h 20m
Flight
253.51 mi
407.98 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lafayette.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
253.51 mi
Kilometers
407.98 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
279.31 mi
Kilometers
449.5 km
Drive Time
04h 20m

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 04h 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Memphis
Wed, Apr 15, 10:13 AM CDT
Return by in Lafayette
Wed, Apr 15, 2:33 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lafayette
2026-04-15T05:52
Arrive Memphis
Wed, Apr 15, 10:13 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:21 AM to 12:21 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:18 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lafayette
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Lobelville
TN

Human settlement in Perry County, Tennessee, United States of America

From Lafayette
139.5 mi
02h 10m
To Memphis
139.8 mi
02h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 2:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSW
Destination
84°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Nashville Highway

    4.8 mi · 7 min · Nashville Highway

  2. 2

    Turn left

    3.6 mi · 6 min

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right

    746 ft · 18 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    54.7 mi · 59 min

  5. 5

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

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  6. 6

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

    2263 ft · 43 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight right onto Downtown Loop

    1 km · 52 sec · Downtown Loop

  8. 8

    Continue on Downtown Loop

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Memphis

    196.9 mi · 3 hr 34 min

  10. 10

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

    680 ft · 9 sec

  11. 11

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

    11.1 mi · 13 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Second Street, Third Street

    1209 ft · 30 sec

  14. 14

    Continue on North 2nd Street

    1062 ft · 31 sec · North 2nd Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Poplar Avenue

    62 m · 4 sec · Poplar Avenue

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Poplar Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
16 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
211 mi · 75%
Nashville Highway
59.6 mi · 21%
Downtown Loop
2.92 mi · 1%
I 24 West
2.14 mi · 1%
Second Street
0.23 mi
North 2nd Street
0.2 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

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.

Drive Time
04h 20m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.8 mi
253.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lobelville
02h 10m from Lafayette
Leave By
8:18 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Lafayette and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Memphis.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lafayette to Memphis?

The road trip is about 279.3 miles (449.5 km) and usually takes 04h 20m 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?

Lobelville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 139.5 miles from Lafayette and 139.8 miles from Memphis.

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

The direct path is about 253.5 miles (408 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.8 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:18 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.18 one way or $74.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Lafayette and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Memphis.

Stop Ideas Near Lobelville

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lobelville, 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 Lobelville.

BUS

Clarksville, TN

92 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n
BUS

Nashville, TN

100 mi away
705 5th Avenue South

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lafayette and Memphis. Straight-line distance: 253.51 mi (407.98 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Lafayette

Lafayette is a place in Tennessee, United States.

Population0
Coordinates36.1858900, -85.7160900
Altitude303
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: Nashville Highway (-85.716092, 36.185897)
End: Poplar Avenue (-90.048926, 35.149666)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 450 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.86 gal
37.31 L · about $37.18
Round trip
$74.36
19.72 gal · 74.62 L
Estimated CO2
87.6 kg one way
Round trip: 175.3 kg / 386 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $37.18 $74.36
Mid-grade $4.25 $41.93 $83.87
Premium $4.65 $45.89 $91.78
Diesel $5.30 $52.30 $104.59

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Lafayette and Memphis. The current time is 05:52:30.

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.