Skip to main content

Trip from Bolivar, TN to Memphis, TN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 27m

Distance

69.5 mi

112 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 21m ★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 24m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

seat of Hardeman County in Tennessee

Bolivar, TN

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Shelby County, Tennessee, United States

Memphis, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Driving from Bolivar to Memphis is a straightforward 69.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 27 minutes. You will traverse the Southeast as you head west, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. With an estimated fuel cost of just $11, it is a budget-friendly way to connect these two Tennessee locations. Because the trip is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to enjoy your time at either end. Whether you are heading into the city for business or a change of pace, this route offers a simple, efficient connection between the two points.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West Market Street 48.4 mi 1h 1m
I 40 13.3 mi 16m
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway 7 mi 8m
North 2nd Street 0.2 mi <1m
Poplar Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: West Market Street — 48.4 mi, about 1h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bolivar, TN and Memphis, TN.

1

Start on US 64; SR 18

48 mi · 1 hr 1 min · West Market Street
2

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 31 sec
Toward Memphis
3

Merge onto I 40

7.0 mi · 8 min · Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Take the exit onto I 40

0.1 mi · 8 sec · I 40
Exit 10A-B Toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
5

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

11 mi · 13 min · I 40
Exit 10B Toward I 40 West: Little Rock Use the slight right lane.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 1A Toward Second Street, Third Street Use the slight right lane.
8

Continue on North 2nd Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Turn left onto Poplar Avenue

202 ft · 4 sec · Poplar Avenue
10

Arrive at destination

Poplar Avenue

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

human settlement in Fayette County, Tennessee, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Oakland, TN

35 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Somerville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hickory Withe, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 34.7 miles from Bolivar, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 48.7 and 69 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
48.7 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in | I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway

Merge onto I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
55.7 mi into trip | ~1h 10m 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
55.8 mi into trip | ~1h 10m 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
66.9 mi into trip | ~1h 23m 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
69 mi into trip | ~1h 26m 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

$10.87 one way

$21.73 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 24 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $11.93 $23.86
premium $4.89 $13.37 $26.75
diesel $5.61 $15.34 $30.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 24.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 20.8 0 $7.30 $3.34
Efficient EV 17.4 0 $6.08 $2.78
EV Truck/SUV 27.8 0 $9.73 $4.45

Gas CO2

24 kg

EV CO2

8 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

Bolivar, TN

Late night in Bolivar on Sunday

Local time

2:47 AM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Memphis, TN

Late night in Memphis on Sunday

Local time

2:47 AM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 10 mph 60% chance Live forecast

78°F

Oakland, TN

35 mi in

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

30 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

1h 27m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that transitions into faster interstate travel as you progress. You will spend a significant portion of your time on West Market Street, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 48.4 miles. While the route utilizes I-40 and the Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, the highway share remains low at only 19%. This creates a driving experience that feels more grounded in local roads than high-speed motorway cruising. Be prepared for a varied pace behind the wheel as the road shifts from local thoroughfares to the major highway segments.

Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.4 mi on West Market Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 48.7 miles in near I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 48.7 miles (I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.7 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Bolivar, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.

Little Rock

55.7 mi in | ~1h 10m | via I 40

About the Cities

Arriving in Memphis, TN

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 69.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 48.4 miles on West Market Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Memphis, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 48.7 miles (I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.7 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Memphis, TN before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Bolivar, TN or browse trips ending in Memphis, TN.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.