The City of Murfreesboro, TN to New South Memphis, TN is 240.6 miles and takes about 4h 30m via I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, primarily traversing Tennessee. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip. Expect a steady pace with minimal detours, allowing you to reach your destination efficiently.
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
120.3 miles from City of Murfreesboro, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
164.8 mi
2h 58m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
53.7 mi
58m
Avron B Fogelman Expressway
4.5 mi
6m
W B Fowler Senior Expressway
3.7 mi
5m
I 24
3.3 mi
3m
South Perkins Road
2.3 mi
3m
Sam Cooper Boulevard
1.6 mi
2m
Old Fort Parkway
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 164.8 mi, about 2h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Murfreesboro, TN and New South Memphis, TN.
1
Start on Golf Lane
0.4 mi·1 min·Golf Lane
2
Turn right onto SR 96
1.4 mi·2 min·Old Fort Parkway
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 24 West: Nashville
4
Merge onto I 24
3.3 mi·3 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 74AToward I 840 West: Memphis, FranklinUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 840
54 mi·58 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 40
165 mi·2 hr 58 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on Sam Cooper Boulevard
1.6 mi·2 min·Sam Cooper Boulevard
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 9Toward Perkins RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto North Perkins Road
1.1 mi·1 min·North Perkins Road
11
Continue on Perkins Extended
1.3 mi·2 min·Perkins Extended
12
Continue on South Perkins Road
2.3 mi·3 min·South Perkins Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 240 West
14
Merge onto I 240
4.5 mi·6 min·Avron B Fogelman Expressway
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on I 240
3.7 mi·5 min·W B Fowler Senior Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Exit 7Toward US 61: Vicksburg, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 61 North: Third StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto US 61
0.4 mi·36 sec·South Third Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 61
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 30m duration, starting your drive in the morning from Murfreesboro will allow ample time to reach Memphis before evening. With only one recommended stop and 96% highway driving, you can easily cover the 240.6 miles in a single day. The longest stretch without a major change is 164.8 miles on I 40, so plan your fuel and restroom breaks accordingly before embarking on that segment. The fuel cost is estimated at $37, which is a reasonable budget for this distance.
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 120.3 miles from City of Murfreesboro, TN, or about 2h 13m 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 53 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.3 miles or 2h 13m 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 37m
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 City of Murfreesboro, 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 City of Murfreesboro, TN
This is one driving day of about 240.6 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from City of Murfreesboro, 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 240 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.3 mi into trip|~5m in|I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
5.6 mi into trip|~8m 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
226.5 mi into trip|~4h 9m 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
239.9 mi into trip|~4h 28m 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
240 mi into trip|~4h 29m 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
$35.53 one way
$71.06 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$39.23
$78.45
premium
$4.72
$44.67
$89.34
diesel
$4.80
$45.43
$90.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.2
0
$25.26
$11.55
Efficient EV
60.2
0
$21.05
$9.62
EV Truck/SUV
96.2
1
$33.68
$15.40
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
City of Murfreesboro, TN
Late night
in City of Murfreesboro on Sunday
Local time
5:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Patchy Fog
WNW 0 to 10 mph33% chanceLive forecast
Destination
New South Memphis, TN
Late night
in New South Memphis on Sunday
Local time
5:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
W 5 mph5% chanceLive forecast
90°F
Waverly, TN
120 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 30m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly on highways, with 96% of the route utilizing major roads like I 40 and the Avron B Fogelman Expressway. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 164.8 miles on I 40 before transitioning to surface roads closer to Memphis. The high highway percentage means you'll experience consistent speeds and a steady flow of traffic, punctuated by frequent exits along the main thoroughfares.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 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 2.3 miles in near I 24.
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 240.6 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 2.3 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 226.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
789 ft260 ft
Total Climb
467 ft
Total Descent
786 ft
Highest Point
789 ft
~34.4 mi in
Elevation Range
529 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 30m. Total distance: 240.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). 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.
Yes — we found about 19 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 226.5 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 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at New South Memphis, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
