How far is Memphis, TN from Central, TN?
The driving distance from Memphis, TN to Central, TN is about 498.8 miles (802.8 km), with a travel time of about 09h 11m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 442.5 miles (712.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 23m 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 09h 11m.
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.
City in Wilson County, Tennessee, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Memphis and Central.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis and Central.
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1
Start on Poplar Avenue
58 m · 11 sec · Poplar Avenue
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2
Turn left onto North B. B. King Boulevard
1162 ft · 34 sec · North B. B. King Boulevard
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3
Take the ramp right toward I 40 East
553 ft · 14 sec
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4
Merge slight left
12 mi · 15 min
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5
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
197.9 mi · 3 hr 34 min
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6
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
1305 ft · 25 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop
2.4 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop
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8
Continue on Downtown Loop
2764 ft · 43 sec · Downtown Loop
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9
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
173.8 mi · 3 hr 10 min
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10
Keep slight left
36.7 mi · 41 min
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11
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol
56.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min
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12
Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
2112 ft · 40 sec
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13
Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway
14 mi · 17 min · James H. Quillen Parkway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward TN 91
959 ft · 27 sec
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15
Turn slight left onto East Main Street
1133 ft · 39 sec · East Main Street
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16
Turn straight onto Legion Street
1.2 km · 1 min · Legion Street
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17
Turn left onto King Springs Road
1.7 mi · 4 min · King Springs Road
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18
Turn slight right onto Elizabethton Highway
1.1 mi · 2 min · Elizabethton Highway
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19
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Elizabethton Highway
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Memphis and Central.
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
198 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.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Memphis and Partly Sunny near Central.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Memphis to Central?
The road trip is about 498.8 miles (802.8 km) and usually takes 09h 11m 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 249.1 miles from Memphis and 249.8 miles from Central.
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 56.3 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 $66.37 one way or $132.74 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 Memphis and Central, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Memphis and Partly Sunny near Central.
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 Memphis and Central. Straight-line distance: 442.57 mi (712.24 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 Central
Central is a place in Tennessee, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 36.3262200, -82.2895800 |
| Altitude | 505 |
| Country | United States |
End: Central (-82.28958, 36.32622)
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 | $3.77 | $66.37 | $132.74 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $74.85 | $149.71 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $81.91 | $163.82 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $93.35 | $186.70 |
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 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.