How far is Memphis, TN from Alexandria, TN?

The driving distance from Memphis, TN to Alexandria, TN is about 259.2 miles (417.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 234.5 miles (377.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 45m 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
259.24 mi
04h 52m
Flight
234.47 mi
377.35 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Memphis.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
234.47 mi
Kilometers
377.35 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
259.24 mi
Kilometers
417.21 km
Drive Time
04h 52m

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 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alexandria
Sat, Apr 11, 6:13 AM CDT
Return by in Memphis
Sat, Apr 11, 11:05 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Memphis
2026-04-11T01:20
Arrive Alexandria
Sat, Apr 11, 6:13 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:53 AM to 12:53 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
7:14 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Memphis
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
Pleasant Hill
TN

Town in Tennessee, United States

From Memphis
129.4 mi
02h 26m
To Alexandria
129.8 mi
02h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S
Destination
82°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 2:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Poplar Avenue

    58 m · 11 sec · Poplar Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North B. B. King Boulevard

    1162 ft · 34 sec · North B. B. King Boulevard

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right toward I 40 East

    553 ft · 14 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    12 mi · 15 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville

    197.9 mi · 3 hr 34 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville

    1305 ft · 25 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop

  8. 8

    Continue on Downtown Loop

    2764 ft · 43 sec · Downtown Loop

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga

    28.8 mi · 32 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 70 East: Watertown

    1235 ft · 30 sec

  11. 11

    Turn slight right onto Sparta Pike

    15.2 mi · 22 min · Sparta Pike

  12. 12

    Continue on Nashville Highway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Nashville Highway

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Locust Street

    2711 ft · 2 min · Locust Street

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Church Street

    113 m · 19 sec · Church Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    76 m · 11 sec · West Main Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
239 mi · 92%
Sparta Pike
15.2 mi · 6%
Downtown Loop
2.93 mi · 1%
Nashville Highway
1.09 mi
Locust Street
0.51 mi
US 70 East
0.23 mi
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

Keep slight left to continue on I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville

198 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 52m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.7 mi
234.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pleasant Hill
02h 26m from Memphis
Leave By
7:14 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Memphis and Sunny near Alexandria.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 259.2 miles (417.2 km) and usually takes 04h 52m 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?

Pleasant Hill is a useful midpoint, sitting about 129.4 miles from Memphis and 129.8 miles from Alexandria.

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

The direct path is about 234.5 miles (377.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.7 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 7:14 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.50 one way or $69.01 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 81.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Memphis and Sunny near Alexandria.

Stop Ideas Near Pleasant Hill

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

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

RAIL

Fulton

87 mi away
21 Newton Rd.
RAIL

Newbern–Dyersburg

97 mi away
108 Jefferson St
BUS

Clarksville, TN

98 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Memphis and Alexandria. Straight-line distance: 234.47 mi (377.35 km).

Memphis

#1 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
Alexandria

#2 Alexandria

Town in DeKalb County, Tennessee

Population1,020
Coordinates36.0775600, -86.0333200
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: Memphis (-90.04898, 35.14953)
End: Alexandria (-86.03332, 36.07756)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 417 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 42m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.15 gal
34.63 L · about $34.50
Round trip
$69.01
18.3 gal · 69.26 L
Estimated CO2
81.3 kg one way
Round trip: 162.6 kg / 358 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $34.50 $69.01
Mid-grade $4.25 $38.91 $77.83
Premium $4.65 $42.58 $85.17
Diesel $5.30 $48.53 $97.06

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 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Memphis and Alexandria. The current time is 01:20:43.

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.