How far is Memphis, TN from Unicoi, TN?

The driving distance from Memphis, TN to Unicoi, TN is about 505.1 miles (812.8 km), with a travel time of about 09h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 438 miles (704.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
505.06 mi
09h 16m
Flight
438.04 mi
704.95 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
438.04 mi
Kilometers
704.95 km
Flight Time
00h 52m

Driving Distance

Road route
505.06 mi
Kilometers
812.81 km
Drive Time
09h 16m

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 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Unicoi
Thu, Apr 23, 3:58 PM EDT
Return by in Memphis
Fri, Apr 24, 12:14 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Memphis
2026-04-23T05:42
Arrive Unicoi
Thu, Apr 23, 2:58 PM CDT
Route Timing
09h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
4:16 PM to 5:46 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
5:28 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Memphis
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Watertown
TN

City in Wilson County, Tennessee, United States

From Memphis
252.2 mi
04h 38m
To Unicoi
252.8 mi
04h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S
Destination
72°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    173.8 mi · 3 hr 10 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    36.7 mi · 41 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol

    56.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville

    2112 ft · 40 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway

    22.7 mi · 27 min · James H. Quillen Parkway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward TN 173

    1599 ft · 45 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left

    2073 ft · 44 sec

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Unicoi Drive

    1.1 km · 1 min · Unicoi Drive

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Unicoi Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
17 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
421 mi · 83%
I 81 North
56.6 mi · 11%
James H. Quillen Parkway
22.7 mi · 5%
Downtown Loop
2.93 mi · 1%
Unicoi Drive
0.69 mi
I 26 East
0.4 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

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.

Drive Time
09h 16m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
18h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+67.1 mi
438 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Watertown
04h 38m from Memphis
Leave By
5:28 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Memphis and Sunny near Unicoi.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 505.1 miles (812.8 km) and usually takes 09h 16m 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 252.2 miles from Memphis and 252.8 miles from Unicoi.

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

The direct path is about 438 miles (704.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 67.1 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 $67.20 one way or $134.40 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 158.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Memphis and Unicoi, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Watertown

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

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

BUS

Nashville, TN

58 mi away
705 5th Avenue South

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Memphis and Unicoi. Straight-line distance: 438.04 mi (704.95 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
Unicoi

#2 Unicoi

City in Unicoi County, Tennessee, United States of America

Population3,579
Coordinates36.1953900, -82.3495800
Altitude586
CountryUnited States
Start: Memphis (-90.04898, 35.14953)
End: Unicoi (-82.34958, 36.19539)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 813 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.82 gal
67.46 L · about $67.20
Round trip
$134.40
35.64 gal · 134.92 L
Estimated CO2
158.4 kg one way
Round trip: 316.7 kg / 698 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $67.20 $134.40
Mid-grade $4.25 $75.79 $151.58
Premium $4.65 $82.93 $165.87
Diesel $5.30 $94.52 $189.03

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

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Memphis, TN and Unicoi, TN. The current time in Memphis is 05:42:25, although it is 06:42:25 in Unicoi.

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.