Spanning 372.3 miles across Tennessee, this drive from Brentwood to Germantown is a straightforward trek across the state. Expect to spend approximately 6 hours and 54 minutes behind the wheel, making it a manageable day trip if you get an early start. Budget about $57 for fuel to cover the journey, which relies heavily on I-40. Because nearly the entire trip stays within the Southeast region, you will experience consistent landscape transitions as you move across the state. Whether you are heading west for business or a visit, this route offers a practical, high-speed connection between two major suburban hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
186.1 miles from Brentwood, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
357.9 mi
6h 28m
North Germantown Parkway
5.4 mi
8m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
3m
South Germantown Road
2.2 mi
4m
North Cedar Bluff Road
1.6 mi
3m
Chert Pit Road
0.8 mi
2m
Middlebrook Pike
0.5 mi
1m
Andes Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 357.9 mi, about 6h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brentwood, TN and Germantown, TN.
1
Start on Andes Road
0.3 mi·40 sec·Andes Road
2
Continue on Chert Pit Road
0.8 mi·2 min·Chert Pit Road
3
Turn right onto SR 169
0.5 mi·1 min·Middlebrook Pike
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto North Cedar Bluff Road
1.6 mi·3 min·North Cedar Bluff Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
198 ft·4 sec
Toward I 40, I 75Use the slight right lane.
6
Turn slight right
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 40 West, I 75 South: Nashville, Chattanooga
7
Merge onto I 40; I 75
9.4 mi·10 min·I 40; I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
155 mi·2 hr 46 min·I 40
Toward NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·3 min·I 40
Exit 213BToward I 24 West, I 40 West: NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
0.4 mi·42 sec·I 40
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, MemphisUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 40
0.6 mi·52 sec·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 40
2.3 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Exit 210AToward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
191 mi·3 hr 26 min·I 40
Toward I 40 West: MemphisUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Exit 16AToward TN 177 South: GermantownUse the right lane.
15
Turn straight onto TN 177
5.4 mi·8 min·North Germantown Parkway
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on TN 177
2.2 mi·4 min·South Germantown Road
17
Turn left onto Southern Avenue
175 ft·7 sec·Southern Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Southern Avenue
Trip Plan
To keep your 6 hour and 54 minute drive comfortable, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the monotony of the long I-40 stretch. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to beat traffic, especially when navigating the urban segments near the start and end of your journey. Since fuel costs are estimated at $57, you might want to fill up before hitting the interstate to avoid premium highway gas prices. Keep a close watch on your odometer during that 357.9-mile interstate run, as it is easy to lose track of time on such a lengthy, uninterrupted segment of road.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 186.1 miles from Brentwood, TN, or about 3h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 357.9 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 82 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 186.1 miles or 3h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Germantown, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brentwood, 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 Brentwood, TN
This is one driving day of about 372.3 miles and 6h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Brentwood, 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 357.9 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.9 and 364.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
12.9 mi into trip|~18m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Nashville
9
167.7 mi into trip|~3h 4m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
8
169.8 mi into trip|~3h 8m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
7
173.2 mi into trip|~3h 12m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 West: Memphis
7
364.3 mi into trip|~6h 39m in
Take the exit toward TN 177 South: Germantown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 16A
Toward TN 177 South: Germantown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.20 one way
$116.41 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg130 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$63.91
$127.81
premium
$4.89
$71.65
$143.29
diesel
$5.61
$82.20
$164.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 130.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
111.7
1
$39.09
$17.87
Efficient EV
93.1
1
$32.58
$14.89
EV Truck/SUV
148.9
1
$52.12
$23.83
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 12, 2026
Origin
Brentwood, TN
Late night
in Brentwood on Sunday
Local time
12:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
SW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Germantown, TN
Night
in Germantown on Saturday
Local time
11:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
27 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 54m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Stones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 154
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 98% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will face a significant, long-haul stretch of 357.9 miles on I-40, which dominates the vast majority of your travel time. Once you move off the interstate, the character shifts as you navigate the Downtown Loop and eventually transition onto North Germantown Parkway to reach your destination. While the experience is largely about efficiency rather than technical driving, the high reliance on interstates ensures a steady, consistent pace for most of the trip.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 357.9 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and North Germantown Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.9 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 372.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,046 ft383 ft
Total Climb
139 ft
Total Descent
803 ft
Highest Point
1,046 ft
Elevation Range
664 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Brentwood, TN and Germantown, TN, road signs point toward Memphis and Louisville.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 54m. Total distance: 372.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 54m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 357.9 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.
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 Germantown, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Germantown, TN before the return drive.
