Traveling from Charlotte to Memphis covers 183.4 miles, making for a manageable 3-hour and 31-minute journey across Tennessee. Because this is a straightforward, highway-focused drive, you can easily complete the entire trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $28 on fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. You will navigate primarily via SR 48 and Center Avenue before settling onto I-40 for the bulk of the transit. This route is an efficient way to cross the Southeast, offering a practical connection between these two points without unnecessary complexity.
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
91.7 miles from Charlotte, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
165.6 mi
3h 1m
Center Avenue
9.1 mi
16m
SR 48
7.6 mi
11m
North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Spring Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Church Street
0.1 mi
<1m
West College Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Poplar Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 165.6 mi, about 3h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on Spencer Alley
32 ft·6 sec·Spencer Alley
2
Turn left onto SR 49
0.1 mi·11 sec·Spring Street
3
Turn left onto SR 48
7.6 mi·11 min·SR 48
4
Turn left onto US 70 Business
332 ft·8 sec·West College Street
5
Turn right onto SR 48 Alternate
0.1 mi·10 sec·Church Street
6
Continue on SR 48 Alternate
9.1 mi·16 min·Center Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 163Toward SR 48: Centerville
8
Merge onto I 40
152 mi·2 hr 44 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 the drive takes less than four hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid potential traffic congestion. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel, as the long, uninterrupted stretch on the interstate can become repetitive. Keep your eyes on the fuel gauge early on, as the $28 estimate is a baseline; ensuring you are topped off before merging onto I-40 is a smart move for peace of mind. Given the duration, you do not need to worry about splitting the trip into multiple days. Using your single allotted stop to break up the 165.6-mile interstate leg will keep you alert and comfortable behind the wheel.
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 91.7 miles from Charlotte, TN, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.6 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 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.7 miles or 1h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 52m
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 Charlotte, 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 Charlotte, TN
This is one driving day of about 183.4 miles and 3h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Charlotte, 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 165.6 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 7.8 and 182.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
7.8 mi into trip|~12m in|SR 48 Alternate / Church Street
Turn right onto SR 48 Alternate / Church Street
Navigation decision point
6
169.5 mi into trip|~3h 13m 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
169.7 mi into trip|~3h 13m 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
180.8 mi into trip|~3h 27m 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
182.9 mi into trip|~3h 30m 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
$28.67 one way
$57.34 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.48
$62.96
premium
$4.89
$35.29
$70.59
diesel
$5.61
$40.49
$80.98
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: 64.2 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
55
0
$19.26
$8.80
Efficient EV
45.9
0
$16.05
$7.34
EV Truck/SUV
73.4
0
$25.68
$11.74
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 19, 2026
Origin
Charlotte, TN
Morning
in Charlotte on Tuesday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Memphis, TN
Morning
in Memphis on Tuesday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
25 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 31m 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 highly efficient trip, as 94% of your travel time is spent on highways. The road's personality is defined by a significant 165.6-mile stretch on I-40, which dominates the middle and final portions of your drive. While your departure involves local roads like Center Avenue and SR 48, these quickly give way to the consistent, fast-paced rhythm of the interstate. You will find that the character of the drive is very steady, lacking the technical demands of winding backroads. It is a classic highway-focused experience that prioritizes speed and directness to get you to your destination.
94% 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: 165.6 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Center Avenue. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.8 miles in near SR 48 Alternate / Church Street.
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 183.4 miles you will encounter 12 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 7.8 miles (SR 48 Alternate / Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 169.5 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.7 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 Charlotte, 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.
Top landmarks
•Graceland — mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, United States; former residence of Elvis Presley
•Blues Hall of Fame — award by Blues Foundation, since 2015 also a music museum in Memphis, Tennessee
•National Civil Rights Museum — hotel that was site of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., now a museum
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 31m. Total distance: 183.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 165.6 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 7.8 miles (SR 48 Alternate / Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 169.5 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Memphis, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
