How far is Memphis, TN from Gatlinburg, TN?
The driving distance from Memphis, TN to Gatlinburg, TN is about 428.9 miles (690.2 km), with a travel time of about 08h 03m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 370 miles (595.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 06m 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 08h 03m.
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.
The twenty-second most populous city in the United States and the center of the Nashville metropolitan area.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Memphis and Gatlinburg.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis and Gatlinburg.
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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
2.9 mi · 4 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
2116 ft · 28 sec
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
2403 ft · 56 sec
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13
Continue on Henley Street
1 km · 1 min · Henley Street
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14
Continue on Chapman Highway
22.1 mi · 26 min · Chapman Highway
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15
Continue on West Main Street
1.8 mi · 3 min · West Main Street
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16
Turn right onto Forks of the River Parkway
3212 ft · 46 sec · Forks of the River Parkway
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17
Turn right onto Parkway
7.1 mi · 12 min · Parkway
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18
Continue on Gatlinburg Spur Road
4.4 mi · 7 min · Gatlinburg Spur Road
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19
Continue on Parkway
1.2 mi · 4 min · Parkway
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20
Turn right
124 m · 30 sec
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21
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Memphis and Gatlinburg.
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.
Sunny leaving Memphis and Sunny near Gatlinburg.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Memphis to Gatlinburg?
The road trip is about 428.9 miles (690.2 km) and usually takes 08h 03m 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?
Nashville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 214.1 miles from Memphis and 214.7 miles from Gatlinburg.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 370 miles (595.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.9 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 $57.06 one way or $114.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 134.5 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Memphis and Gatlinburg, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Memphis and Sunny near Gatlinburg.
Stop Ideas Near Nashville
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 Nashville.
Nashville, TN
Clarksville, TN
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Memphis and Gatlinburg. Straight-line distance: 370.01 mi (595.48 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 Gatlinburg
Resort city in Sevier County, Tennessee
| Population | 3,779 |
| Coordinates | 35.7145300, -83.5118900 |
| Altitude | 394 |
| Country | United States |
End: Gatlinburg (-83.51189, 35.71453)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 690 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 17m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 43m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 34m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 08m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 07m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 21m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $57.06 | $114.11 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $64.35 | $128.70 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $70.42 | $140.83 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $80.25 | $160.50 |
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 · May 14, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.