How far is Memphis, TN from Sparta, TN?

The driving distance from Memphis, TN to Sparta, TN is about 307 miles (494 km), with a travel time of about 05h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 263.3 miles (423.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 18m 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
306.93 mi
05h 39m
Flight
263.27 mi
423.69 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
263.27 mi
Kilometers
423.69 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
306.93 mi
Kilometers
493.96 km
Drive Time
05h 39m

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 05h 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sparta
Thu, Apr 23, 3:02 AM CDT
Return by in Memphis
Thu, Apr 23, 8:41 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Memphis
2026-04-22T21:23
Arrive Sparta
Thu, Apr 23, 3:02 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:39 AM to 1:39 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
5:42 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
Lobelville
TN

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

From Memphis
153.3 mi
02h 49m
To Sparta
153.7 mi
02h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSW
Destination
79°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    77.5 mi · 1 hr 24 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward TN 111: Livingston, Sparta

    1461 ft · 25 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right

    14 mi · 17 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right

    1575 ft · 43 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left

    32 m · 3 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto West Bockman Way

    1.5 mi · 3 min · West Bockman Way

  15. 15

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    9 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
16 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
288 mi · 94%
Downtown Loop
2.93 mi · 1%
West Bockman Way
1.49 mi
TN 111
0.59 mi
North B. B. King Boulevard
0.22 mi
Poplar Avenue
0.04 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
05h 39m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.7 mi
263.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lobelville
02h 49m from Memphis
Leave By
5:42 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Memphis and Sunny near Sparta.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 307 miles (494 km) and usually takes 05h 39m 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 153.3 miles from Memphis and 153.7 miles from Sparta.

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

The direct path is about 263.3 miles (423.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.7 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 5:42 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.84 one way or $81.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Memphis and Sunny near Sparta.

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 Memphis and Sparta. Straight-line distance: 263.27 mi (423.69 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
Sparta

#2 Sparta

City in and county seat of White County, Tennessee, United States

Population4,980
Coordinates35.9259000, -85.4641400
Altitude281
CountryUnited States
Start: Memphis (-90.04898, 35.14953)
End: Sparta (-85.46414, 35.9259)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 494 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.83 gal
41 L · about $40.84
Round trip
$81.68
21.66 gal · 82 L
Estimated CO2
96.2 kg one way
Round trip: 192.5 kg / 424 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $40.84 $81.68
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.06 $92.12
Premium $4.65 $50.40 $100.81
Diesel $5.30 $57.44 $114.88

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Memphis and Sparta. The current time is 21:23:57.

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.