How far is Nashville, TN from Memphis, TN?

The driving distance from Nashville, TN to Memphis, TN is about 212.3 miles (341.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 196.2 miles (315.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 24m 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
212.35 mi
03h 12m
Flight
196.25 mi
315.83 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Nashville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
196.25 mi
Kilometers
315.83 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
212.35 mi
Kilometers
341.75 km
Drive Time
03h 12m

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 03h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Memphis
Sun, Apr 19, 2:16 PM CDT
Return by in Nashville
Sun, Apr 19, 5:28 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Nashville
2026-04-19T11:04
Arrive Memphis
Sun, Apr 19, 2:16 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:12 AM to 11:12 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:36 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Nashville
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
Clarksburg
TN

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

From Nashville
106.1 mi
01h 36m
To Memphis
106.3 mi
01h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph NW
Destination
68°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    2013 ft · 2 min

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

    2546 ft · 1 min · Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn right onto George L Davis Boulevard

    26 m · 1 sec · George L Davis Boulevard

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight toward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, Louisville

    1579 ft · 39 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop

    2582 ft · 40 sec · Downtown Loop

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Memphis

    196.9 mi · 3 hr 34 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock

    680 ft · 9 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 West: Little Rock

    11.1 mi · 13 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Second Street, Third Street

    1209 ft · 30 sec

  11. 11

    Continue on North 2nd Street

    1062 ft · 31 sec · North 2nd Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Poplar Avenue

    62 m · 4 sec · Poplar Avenue

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Poplar Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
13 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
210 mi · 99%
Downtown Loop
0.49 mi
Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
0.24 mi
Dr. Martin L. King
0.24 mi
Second Street
0.23 mi
North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
Longest Stretch

I 40 West

Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Memphis

197 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
03h 12m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.1 mi
196.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clarksburg
01h 36m from Nashville
Leave By
10:36 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Nashville and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Memphis.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 212.3 miles (341.7 km) and usually takes 03h 12m 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?

Clarksburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 106.1 miles from Nashville and 106.3 miles from Memphis.

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

The direct path is about 196.2 miles (315.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.1 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:36 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.24 one way or $56.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 66.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Nashville and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Memphis.

Stop Ideas Near Clarksburg

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

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

RAIL

Newbern–Dyersburg

83 mi away
108 Jefferson St
RAIL

Fulton

85 mi away
21 Newton Rd.
BUS

Clarksville, TN

118 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Nashville and Memphis. Straight-line distance: 196.25 mi (315.83 km).

Nashville

#1 Nashville

The twenty-second most populous city in the United States and the center of the Nashville metropolitan area.

Population684,410
Coordinates36.1658900, -86.7844400
Altitude170
CountryUnited States
Memphis

#2 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
Start: (-86.784719, 36.165773)
End: Poplar Avenue (-90.048923, 35.149674)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 342 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.49 gal
28.37 L · about $28.24
Round trip
$56.49
14.98 gal · 56.74 L
Estimated CO2
66.6 kg one way
Round trip: 133.1 kg / 293 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $28.24 $56.49
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.85 $63.71
Premium $4.65 $34.86 $69.72
Diesel $5.30 $39.73 $79.45

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Nashville and Memphis. The current time is 11:04:21.

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.