If you are planning to travel from Arlington to Memphis, prepare for a 183.1-mile journey that takes approximately 2 hours and 57 minutes to complete. Because this route stays entirely within the Southeast region of Tennessee, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip. You should budget about $27 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating the path requires following Arlington Street, West Main Street, and Highway 13. Since there is only one recommended stop along the way, the trip remains efficient and manageable for most drivers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
91.5 miles from Arlington, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
145.1 mi
2h 39m
State Highway 13
34.3 mi
50m
West Main Street
2.3 mi
5m
North Church Street
0.5 mi
<1m
North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Arlington Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Poplar Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
West Roby Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 145.1 mi, about 2h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on West Roby Street
29 ft·6 sec·West Roby Street
2
Turn left onto Arlington Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·Arlington Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto SR 49
2.3 mi·5 min·West Main Street
4
Turn right onto TN 13
19 mi·28 min·State Highway 13
5
Continue on TN 13
0.5 mi·48 sec·North Church Street
6
Continue on TN 13
15 mi·22 min·State Highway 13
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
8
Merge onto I 40
132 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 40
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 40
Exit 10A-BToward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
11 mi·13 min·I 40
Exit 10BToward I 40 West: Little RockUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·2 min·I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 1AToward Second Street, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
13
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft·4 sec·Poplar Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time to avoid the heaviest local traffic. Plan to make your single recommended stop early to keep your momentum steady throughout the nearly three-hour duration. Keep your $27 fuel budget in mind as you head out, ensuring your tank is ready for the specific demands of these local roads. Because the route relies heavily on turn-heavy streets like Highway 13, verify your navigation before leaving to ensure you remain on track during the transition between major local roads.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 91.5 miles from Arlington, TN, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 40 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.5 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Memphis, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arlington, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arlington, TN
This is one driving day of about 183 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Arlington, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 145.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 37.4 and 182.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
37.4 mi into trip|~58m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
169.2 mi into trip|~3h 21m in|I 40
Take the exit onto I 40 toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 10A-B
Toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississip...
8
169.3 mi into trip|~3h 21m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10B
Toward I 40 West: Little Rock
6
180.5 mi into trip|~3h 34m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8
182.6 mi into trip|~3h 37m in
Take the exit toward Second Street, Third Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1A
Toward Second Street, Third Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.61 one way
$57.22 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.41
$62.83
premium
$4.89
$35.22
$70.43
diesel
$5.61
$40.40
$80.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.9
0
$19.22
$8.78
Efficient EV
45.8
0
$16.01
$7.32
EV Truck/SUV
73.2
0
$25.62
$11.71
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Arlington, TN
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Memphis, TN
Late night
in Memphis on Sunday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph60% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 38m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a zero-percent highway share. You will spend your time navigating local roads where the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on Arlington Street. This configuration demands your full attention behind the wheel, as you will be frequently adjusting to the changing turns of the local path. It is a practical route for those who prefer backroads over high-speed traffic, offering a consistent, hands-on driving experience from start to finish.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and State Highway 13. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 37.4 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 183 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 37.4 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.2 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
593 ft256 ft
Total Climb
331 ft
Total Descent
582 ft
Highest Point
593 ft
~52.3 mi in
Elevation Range
337 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Arlington, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Memphis is the second largest city in the state of Tennessee, after Nashville. The state rests in the southeastern portion of the United States. Memphis, with a population of more than 651,000 (2019), is also the county seat for Shelby County. The city's claims to fame include Graceland, the mansion Elvis Presley lived in during his later years. Perhaps more importantly, Memphis is considered by many to be the home of blues music.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 38m. Total distance: 183 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 145.1 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 37.4 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.2 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Donelson National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Memphis, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
