How far is Memphis, TN from Athens, TN?
The driving distance from Memphis, TN to Athens, TN is about 394.3 miles (634.6 km), with a travel time of about 07h 19m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 308.3 miles (496.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 39m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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 19m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Town in Williamson County, Tennessee, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Memphis and Athens.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis and Athens.
-
1
Start on Poplar Avenue
58 m · 11 sec · Poplar Avenue
-
2
Turn left onto North B. B. King Boulevard
1162 ft · 34 sec · North B. B. King Boulevard
-
3
Take the ramp right toward I 40 East
553 ft · 14 sec
-
4
Merge slight left
12 mi · 15 min
-
5
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
166.6 mi · 3 hr
-
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
1.1 km · 1 min
-
7
Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway
52.2 mi · 56 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway
-
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
1.3 km · 2 min
-
9
Merge slight left
110 mi · 2 hr 4 min
-
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 75 North: Knoxville
1.4 km · 1 min
-
11
Merge slight left
46.6 mi · 52 min
-
12
Take the exit slight right toward SR 30: Athens, Decatur
1574 ft · 29 sec
-
13
Turn right onto Decatur Pike
3.2 mi · 5 min · Decatur Pike
-
14
Continue on Green Street
2926 ft · 53 sec · Green Street
-
15
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
766 ft · 15 sec · Washington Avenue
-
16
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Washington Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Memphis and Athens.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 40 East
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
167 mi · 03h 00m
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.
Partly Sunny leaving Memphis and Mostly Sunny near Athens.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Memphis to Athens?
The road trip is about 394.3 miles (634.6 km) and usually takes 07h 19m 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?
Thompson's Station is a useful midpoint, sitting about 197 miles from Memphis and 197.3 miles from Athens.
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 86 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 CDT. 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 $52.45 one way or $104.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 123.6 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Memphis and Athens, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Memphis and Mostly Sunny near Athens.
Stop Ideas Near Thompson's Station
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 Thompson's Station.
Nashville, TN
Clarksville, TN
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Memphis and Athens. Straight-line distance: 308.31 mi (496.17 km).
#1 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 |
#2 Athens
Town in Tennessee, United States
| Population | 14,120 |
| Coordinates | 35.4428500, -84.5929900 |
| Altitude | 262 |
| Country | United States |
End: Athens (-84.59299, 35.44285)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 635 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 13h 08m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 51m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 53m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 34m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 37m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 55m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $52.45 | $104.91 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $59.16 | $118.32 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $64.74 | $129.47 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $73.78 | $147.56 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.