How far is Memphis, TN from Watertown, TN?

The driving distance from Memphis, TN to Watertown, TN is about 253.1 miles (407.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 229.6 miles (369.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 25m 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
253.14 mi
04h 42m
Flight
229.57 mi
369.46 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
229.57 mi
Kilometers
369.46 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
253.14 mi
Kilometers
407.39 km
Drive Time
04h 42m

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 04h 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Watertown
Thu, Apr 23, 7:28 AM CDT
Return by in Memphis
Thu, Apr 23, 12:11 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Memphis
2026-04-23T02:46
Arrive Watertown
Thu, Apr 23, 7:28 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:43 AM to 12:43 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
7:34 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
Pleasant Hill
TN

Town in Tennessee, United States

From Memphis
126.4 mi
02h 21m
To Watertown
126.8 mi
02h 21m

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
81°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    28.8 mi · 32 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 70 East: Watertown

    1235 ft · 30 sec

  11. 11

    Turn slight right onto Sparta Pike

    10.6 mi · 15 min · Sparta Pike

  12. 12

    Turn left onto South Pearl Avenue

    680 ft · 32 sec · South Pearl Avenue

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East Main Street

    101 m · 9 sec · East Main Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Main Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
14 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
239 mi · 94%
Sparta Pike
10.6 mi · 4%
Downtown Loop
2.93 mi · 1%
US 70 East
0.23 mi
North B. B. King Boulevard
0.22 mi
South Pearl Avenue
0.13 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
04h 42m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.5 mi
229.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pleasant Hill
02h 21m from Memphis
Leave By
7:34 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Memphis and Sunny near Watertown.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 253.1 miles (407.4 km) and usually takes 04h 42m 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?

Pleasant Hill is a useful midpoint, sitting about 126.4 miles from Memphis and 126.8 miles from Watertown.

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

The direct path is about 229.6 miles (369.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.5 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 7:34 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.68 one way or $67.35 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 79.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Pleasant Hill

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

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

RAIL

Fulton

87 mi away
21 Newton Rd.
RAIL

Newbern–Dyersburg

97 mi away
108 Jefferson St
BUS

Clarksville, TN

98 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Memphis and Watertown. Straight-line distance: 229.57 mi (369.46 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
Photo coming soon

#2 Watertown

City in Wilson County, Tennessee, United States

Population1,517
Coordinates36.1003400, -86.1319300
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Start: Memphis (-90.04898, 35.14953)
End: Watertown (-86.13193, 36.10034)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 407 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.93 gal
33.81 L · about $33.68
Round trip
$67.35
17.86 gal · 67.62 L
Estimated CO2
79.4 kg one way
Round trip: 158.7 kg / 350 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $33.68 $67.35
Mid-grade $4.25 $37.98 $75.96
Premium $4.65 $41.56 $83.12
Diesel $5.30 $47.36 $94.73

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 Watertown. The current time is 02:46:14.

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.