This 119.3-mile drive from Chapel Hill, TN to New South Memphis, TN is an easy one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 23 minutes. You'll spend about 85% of your time on highways, primarily I-40 and US 412, making it a straightforward journey. With a fuel cost estimated at $19, this route is budget-friendly. The drive is a good option if you're looking for efficiency, as it's a direct path within Tennessee. Consider departing in the morning to maximize your day at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.7 miles from Chapel Hill, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
82.3 mi
1h 29m
US 412
10.4 mi
11m
Life Road
5.8 mi
10m
Avron B Fogelman Expressway
4.5 mi
6m
W B Fowler Senior Expressway
3.7 mi
5m
Lexington Bypass
3.6 mi
5m
South Perkins Road
2.3 mi
3m
Sam Cooper Boulevard
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 82.3 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill, TN and New South Memphis, TN.
1
Start on this road
0.2 mi·44 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Joe Horton Road
0.2 mi·41 sec·Joe Horton Road
3
Turn right onto SR 200
0.8 mi·1 min·Life Road
4
Continue on SR 200
5.0 mi·8 min·Life Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto SR 459
3.6 mi·5 min·Lexington Bypass
6
Continue on US 412
10 mi·11 min·US 412
7
Turn right onto SR 152
0.8 mi·1 min·Law Road
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
9
Merge onto I 40
82 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on Sam Cooper Boulevard
1.6 mi·2 min·Sam Cooper Boulevard
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 9Toward Perkins RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto North Perkins Road
1.1 mi·1 min·North Perkins Road
13
Continue on Perkins Extended
1.3 mi·2 min·Perkins Extended
14
Continue on South Perkins Road
2.3 mi·3 min·South Perkins Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 240 West
16
Merge onto I 240
4.5 mi·6 min·Avron B Fogelman Expressway
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on I 240
3.7 mi·5 min·W B Fowler Senior Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Exit 7Toward US 61: Vicksburg, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 61 North: Third StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Turn straight onto US 61
0.4 mi·36 sec·South Third Street
21
Arrive at destination
US 61
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive of just over 2 hours, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits your schedule. However, an early morning departure will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. Plan for minimal stops, given the drive's duration. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest 82.3-mile stretch on I-40, to ensure you have enough gas to reach your destination or a convenient refueling point. The estimated $19 fuel cost is a good baseline for your budgeting.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 59.7 miles from Chapel Hill, TN, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.3 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 26 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.7 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New South Memphis, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chapel Hill, 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 Chapel Hill, TN
This is one driving day of about 119.3 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Chapel Hill, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 82.3 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 118.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Joe Horton Road
At end of road, turn right onto Joe Horton Road
Navigation decision point
5
21.1 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
7
105.2 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward Perkins Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9
Toward Perkins Road
8
118.6 mi into trip|~2h 22m in
Take the exit toward US 61: Vicksburg, 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 7
Toward US 61: Vicksburg, Third Street
8
118.7 mi into trip|~2h 22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 61 North: Third Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 61 North: Third Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.65 one way
$37.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.48
$40.96
premium
$4.89
$22.96
$45.92
diesel
$5.61
$26.34
$52.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.8
0
$12.53
$5.73
Efficient EV
29.8
0
$10.44
$4.77
EV Truck/SUV
47.7
0
$16.70
$7.64
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 15, 2026
Origin
Chapel Hill, TN
Late night
in Chapel Hill on Sunday
Local time
5:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New South Memphis, TN
Late night
in New South Memphis on Sunday
Local time
5:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Brownsville, TN
60 mi in
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
29 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
2h 23m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 119.3-mile trip. You'll be on major roads like I-40 for a significant portion, including an uninterrupted stretch of 82.3 miles. While the highway share is high at 85%, the route does incorporate US 412 and Life Road, offering some variation from pure interstate driving. This profile suggests a generally efficient drive, allowing you to cover ground quickly.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.3 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 412. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Joe Horton Road.
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 12 significant decision points across 119.3 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 0.2 miles (Joe Horton Road): Navigation decision point; at 21.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 105.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 119.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.3 miles on I 40. 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 New South Memphis, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Joe Horton Road): Navigation decision point; at 21.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 105.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New South Memphis, TN before heading back.
