This straightforward 152-mile drive from Clifton to Memphis, Tennessee, is easily manageable in under three hours, making it an excellent day trip. You'll primarily be on I-40, with portions of West Main Street and Billy Nance Boulevard also part of the journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $24, this highway-focused route offers a practical way to travel between these two points within the Southeast region. The drive is designed for efficiency, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. It's a direct path, perfect for those prioritizing arrival time.
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
76 miles from Clifton, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
95.7 mi
1h 46m
West Main Street
17.4 mi
19m
Billy Nance Boulevard
15.2 mi
17m
US 412
10.5 mi
11m
US 641
8.1 mi
9m
West Church Sttreet
2.2 mi
2m
West Pillow Street
1.1 mi
2m
Law Road
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 95.7 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on SR 128
0.3 mi·31 sec·West Water Street
2
Turn slight left onto SR 128
463 ft·10 sec·Walnut Street
3
Turn right onto TN 128
1.1 mi·2 min·West Pillow Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 641; SR 128
15 mi·17 min·Billy Nance Boulevard
5
Continue on US 641; SR 202
8.1 mi·9 min·US 641; SR 202
6
Turn left onto US 412
17 mi·19 min·West Main Street
7
Continue on US 412
2.2 mi·2 min·West Church Sttreet
8
Continue on US 412
10 mi·11 min·US 412
9
Turn right onto SR 152
0.8 mi·1 min·Law Road
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
11
Merge onto I 40
82 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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
13
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.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·2 min·I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 1AToward Second Street, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
16
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft·4 sec·Poplar Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 2-hour and 52-minute duration for this 152-mile trip, you have considerable flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Clifton in the morning will get you to Memphis with plenty of daylight remaining. Plan for just one main stop, perhaps midway, to stretch your legs and refuel if needed, although the fuel cost of $24 suggests you might not need extensive stops. Keep an eye on traffic as you get closer to Memphis, as I-40 can become busy during peak hours. This drive is efficient, so you can afford to take your time enjoying the open road.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76 miles from Clifton, TN, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.7 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76 miles or 1h 27m 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 20m
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 Clifton, 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 Clifton, TN
This is one driving day of about 152 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Clifton, 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 95.7 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 55.7 and 151.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
55.7 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
138.2 mi into trip|~2h 35m 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
138.3 mi into trip|~2h 35m 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
149.5 mi into trip|~2h 48m 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
151.5 mi into trip|~2h 51m 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
$23.76 one way
$47.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.09
$52.18
premium
$4.89
$29.25
$58.50
diesel
$5.61
$33.56
$67.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.6
0
$15.96
$7.30
Efficient EV
38
0
$13.30
$6.08
EV Truck/SUV
60.8
0
$21.28
$9.73
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Clifton, TN
Late night
in Clifton on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Memphis, TN
Late night
in Memphis on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Jackson, TN
76 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
21 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 52m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this 152-mile route, with about 75% of your travel occurring on interstates and major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 95.7 miles on I-40. This means you'll have extended periods of consistent speed and straightforward navigation. While the majority of the drive is on high-speed roads, you'll transition onto local streets like West Main Street and Billy Nance Boulevard as you approach your destination, offering a slight change of pace before reaching Memphis.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and West Main Street. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 55.7 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 152 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 55.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 138.2 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 138.3 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 Clifton, 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 2h 52m. Total distance: 152 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 95.7 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 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 55.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 138.2 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 138.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Memphis, TN before heading back.
