How far is South Carthage, TN from Memphis, TN?

The driving distance from South Carthage, TN to Memphis, TN is about 265.9 miles (428 km), with a travel time of about 04h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 242 miles (389.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 11m 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
265.97 mi
04h 05m
Flight
241.94 mi
389.37 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from South Carthage.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
241.94 mi
Kilometers
389.37 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
265.97 mi
Kilometers
428.03 km
Drive Time
04h 05m

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 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Memphis
Sun, Apr 19, 8:05 AM CDT
Return by in South Carthage
Sun, Apr 19, 12:11 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave South Carthage
2026-04-19T03:59
Arrive Memphis
Sun, Apr 19, 8:05 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:06 AM to 12:06 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
8:48 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in South Carthage
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
New Johnsonville
TN

City in Humphreys County, Tennessee, United States of America

From South Carthage
132.8 mi
02h 02m
To Memphis
133.2 mi
02h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 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 South Carthage and Memphis.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Carthage and Memphis.

  1. 1

    Start on Cookeville Highway

    2620 ft · 46 sec · Cookeville Highway

  2. 2

    Turn slight right

    72 m · 9 sec

  3. 3

    Continue straight

    4.2 mi · 7 min

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right

    1013 ft · 25 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    44.9 mi · 48 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis

    2263 ft · 43 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight right onto Downtown Loop

    1 km · 52 sec · Downtown Loop

  9. 9

    Continue on Downtown Loop

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Memphis

    196.9 mi · 3 hr 34 min

  11. 11

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

    680 ft · 9 sec

  12. 12

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

    11.1 mi · 13 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Second Street, Third Street

    1209 ft · 30 sec

  15. 15

    Continue on North 2nd Street

    1062 ft · 31 sec · North 2nd Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Poplar Avenue

    62 m · 4 sec · Poplar Avenue

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Poplar Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between South Carthage 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
17 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
211 mi · 79%
Cookeville Highway
49.8 mi · 19%
Downtown Loop
2.92 mi · 1%
I 24 West
2.14 mi · 1%
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
04h 05m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.9 mi
242 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
New Johnsonville
02h 02m from South Carthage
Leave By
8:48 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving South Carthage 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 South Carthage to Memphis?

The road trip is about 265.9 miles (428 km) and usually takes 04h 05m 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?

New Johnsonville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 132.8 miles from South Carthage and 133.2 miles from Memphis.

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

The direct path is about 242 miles (389.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.9 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:48 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.41 one way or $70.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 83.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near New Johnsonville

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

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

BUS

Clarksville, TN

78 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n
RAIL

Fulton

100 mi away
21 Newton Rd.
BUS

Nashville, TN

108 mi away
705 5th Avenue South
RAIL

Newbern–Dyersburg

117 mi away
108 Jefferson St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between South Carthage and Memphis. Straight-line distance: 241.94 mi (389.37 km).

South Carthage

#1 South Carthage

Town in Smith County, Tennessee, United States

Population1,406
Coordinates36.2420000, -85.9519300
Altitude155
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: Cookeville Highway (-85.95182, 36.242014)
End: Poplar Avenue (-90.048923, 35.149674)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 428 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.39 gal
35.53 L · about $35.41
Round trip
$70.82
18.78 gal · 71.06 L
Estimated CO2
83.4 kg one way
Round trip: 166.9 kg / 368 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $35.41 $70.82
Mid-grade $4.25 $39.94 $79.87
Premium $4.65 $43.70 $87.40
Diesel $5.30 $49.80 $99.61

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 South Carthage and Memphis. The current time is 03:59:31.

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.