Traveling from Christiana to New South Memphis covers 250.2 miles across the state of Tennessee. Expect roughly 4 hours and 40 minutes of travel time, making this a manageable single-day excursion for most drivers. You will primarily utilize I-40, I-24, and the Tennessee National Guard Parkway to navigate between these two Southeast locations. Budget approximately $38 for fuel to complete the trip comfortably. Given the duration, you can easily handle this as a round trip if you start early, though an overnight stay in Memphis provides more flexibility for your arrival.
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
125.1 miles from Christiana, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
164.8 mi
2h 58m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
53.7 mi
58m
I 24
6.5 mi
6m
Shelbyville Highway
4.5 mi
5m
Avron B Fogelman Expressway
4.5 mi
6m
W B Fowler Senior Expressway
3.7 mi
5m
South Church Street
2.7 mi
4m
South Perkins Road
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 164.8 mi, about 2h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Christiana, TN and New South Memphis, TN.
1
Start on this road
11 ft·2 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Church Street
16 ft·5 sec·Church Street
3
Turn left onto Main Street
492 ft·23 sec·Main Street
4
Turn right onto Hwy 269
1.0 mi·1 min·Hwy 269
5
Turn right onto US 231; SR 269
4.5 mi·5 min·Shelbyville Highway
6
Continue on US 231
2.7 mi·4 min·South Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward US 231 South: Shelbyville, Calsonic Arena, Tennessee Walking Horse National CelebrationUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 24
6.5 mi·6 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 74AToward I 840 West: Memphis, FranklinUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 840
54 mi·58 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 40
165 mi·2 hr 58 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on Sam Cooper Boulevard
1.6 mi·2 min·Sam Cooper Boulevard
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 9Toward Perkins RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto North Perkins Road
1.1 mi·1 min·North Perkins Road
15
Continue on Perkins Extended
1.3 mi·2 min·Perkins Extended
16
Continue on South Perkins Road
2.3 mi·3 min·South Perkins Road
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 240 West
18
Merge onto I 240
4.5 mi·6 min·Avron B Fogelman Expressway
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on I 240
3.7 mi·5 min·W B Fowler Senior Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Exit 7Toward US 61: Vicksburg, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 61 North: Third StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Turn straight onto US 61
0.4 mi·36 sec·South Third Street
23
Arrive at destination
US 61
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 250.2-mile journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the long 164.8-mile stretch on I-40. Leaving Christiana early in the morning helps you avoid potential congestion as you approach the Memphis area, keeping your travel time closer to the 4-hour and 40-minute estimate. Keep your fuel gauge in mind during the longer interstate portions to ensure you don't overspend or run low between major interchanges. Since this route is highly highway-dependent, check traffic reports for I-40 and I-24 before you depart to account for any unexpected delays. Having a specific rest area or exit in mind for your single planned stop will help keep your pace steady.
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 125.1 miles from Christiana, TN, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 164.8 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 55 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.1 miles or 2h 19m 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 46m
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 Christiana, 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 Christiana, TN
This is one driving day of about 250.2 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Christiana, 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 164.8 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.3 and 249.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
8.3 mi into trip|~11m in
Turn left toward US 231 South: Shelbyville, Calsonic Arena, Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 231 South: Shelbyville, Calsonic Aren...
8
15.2 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 74A
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
7
236.1 mi into trip|~4h 19m 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
249.5 mi into trip|~4h 39m 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
249.6 mi into trip|~4h 39m 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
$39.12 one way
$78.23 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$42.95
$85.90
premium
$4.89
$48.15
$96.30
diesel
$5.61
$55.24
$110.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.1
0
$26.27
$12.01
Efficient EV
62.6
0
$21.89
$10.01
EV Truck/SUV
100.1
1
$35.03
$16.01
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Christiana, TN
Late night
in Christiana on Sunday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New South Memphis, TN
Late night
in New South Memphis on Sunday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°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
31 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
4h 40m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 17.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive is built for efficiency, with 94% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm on the interstates, which dominate the route's personality. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 164.8 miles along I-40, requiring you to maintain focus during extended periods of interstate travel. While the transition between local roads and major corridors is straightforward, the experience is defined by these fast, arterial highway segments rather than winding backroads. Prepare for a consistent, utilitarian drive that prioritizes speed and direct connectivity between your start and end points.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 164.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.3 miles in.
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 15 significant decision points across 250.2 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 8.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 236.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Christiana, TN to New South Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Franklin along the way.
Franklin
15.2 mi in|~19m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 40m. Total distance: 250.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 40m 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 164.8 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 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. 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 8.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 236.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at New South Memphis, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
