Chuckey, TN to New South Memphis, TN is 471.3 miles and takes about 8h 45m via I 40 and I 81, with a fuel budget near $72 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Tennessee, traversing the Southeast region from start to finish. You'll spend most of your time on interstates, making it a straightforward drive. With a recommended two days for the trip, you can comfortably break up the 471.3 miles, allowing for a more relaxed pace and a chance to explore along the way. This option is ideal if you prefer minimal navigation and a focus on covering ground efficiently.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
235.6 miles from Chuckey, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
407.1 mi
7h 23m
I 81
22.7 mi
24m
East Andrew Johnson Highway
20.4 mi
24m
Avron B Fogelman Expressway
4.5 mi
6m
W B Fowler Senior Expressway
3.7 mi
5m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
3m
South Perkins Road
2.3 mi
3m
Chuckey Highway
2.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 407.1 mi, about 7h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chuckey, TN and New South Memphis, TN.
1
Start on Chuckey Highway
2.1 mi·5 min·Chuckey Highway
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 11E; US 321
20 mi·24 min·East Andrew Johnson Highway
3
Turn left
0.3 mi·39 sec
4
Merge onto I 81
22 mi·23 min·I 81
5
Continue on I 81
0.7 mi·45 sec·I 81
Exit 1BToward I 40 West: Knoxville
6
Merge onto I 40
53 mi·59 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
155 mi·2 hr 46 min·I 40
Toward NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
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.
10
Merge onto I 40
0.6 mi·52 sec·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
197 mi·3 hr 33 min·I 40
Toward I 40 West: MemphisUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on Sam Cooper Boulevard
1.6 mi·2 min·Sam Cooper Boulevard
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 9Toward Perkins RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto North Perkins Road
1.1 mi·1 min·North Perkins Road
16
Continue on Perkins Extended
1.3 mi·2 min·Perkins Extended
17
Continue on South Perkins Road
2.3 mi·3 min·South Perkins Road
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 240 West
19
Merge onto I 240
4.5 mi·6 min·Avron B Fogelman Expressway
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on I 240
3.7 mi·5 min·W B Fowler Senior Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Exit 7Toward US 61: Vicksburg, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 61 North: Third StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
23
Turn straight onto US 61
0.4 mi·36 sec·South Third Street
24
Arrive at destination
US 61
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 45m estimated drive time, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended. Plan to start early to maximize daylight, especially if you decide to drive it in one go, though two days allows for a more leisurely pace. With two recommended stops, you can break the drive into manageable segments. For example, aim to cover roughly half the distance on day one, ensuring you have ample time for fuel and rest. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without significant exits is over 400 miles, and budget around $72 for gas.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 235.6 miles from Chuckey, TN, or about 4h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 407.1 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 104 miles or 1h 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 235.6 miles or 4h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 235.6 miles or 4h 21m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 33m
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 Chuckey, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chuckey, TN
Aim for roughly 236 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into New South Memphis, TN
Aim for roughly 236 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 104 miles from Chuckey, TN.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 407.1 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 98.3 and 470.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
98.3 mi into trip|~1h 53m 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
253.2 mi into trip|~4h 40m 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
255.3 mi into trip|~4h 43m 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
8
470.6 mi into trip|~8h 43m 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
470.7 mi into trip|~8h 43m 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
$71.90 one way
$143.80 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg165 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$79.19
$158.39
premium
$4.81
$89.18
$178.35
diesel
$5.40
$100.25
$200.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$72
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$202–$312
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 164.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
141.4
1
$49.49
$22.62
Efficient EV
117.8
1
$41.24
$18.85
EV Truck/SUV
188.5
2
$65.98
$30.16
Gas CO2
165 kg
EV CO2
55 kg (67% 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 25, 2026
Origin
Chuckey, TN
Afternoon
in Chuckey on Saturday
Local time
12:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New South Memphis, TN
Morning
in New South Memphis on Saturday
Local time
11:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
11 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
8h 45m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on the highway for 93% of this 471.3-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on the interstate is 407.1 miles, primarily on I 40. This means you'll experience extended periods of cruising without significant turns or exits. Expect a mostly highway profile with a dense network of exits and services common to major interstates. Surface roads will only become a factor for the final portion of your drive.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 407.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 98.3 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 471.3 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 98.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 253.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 255.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chuckey, TN and New South Memphis, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Memphis and Louisville.
Nashville
98.3 mi in|~1h 53m|via I 40
Memphis
255.3 mi in|~4h 43m|via I 40
Louisville
256.4 mi in|~4h 45m|via I 40
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 407.1 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 236 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 48 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 48 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 98.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 253.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 255.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.8 hours each way, a round trip means 17.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New South Memphis, TN before the return drive.
