This 181.9-mile drive from Erin, TN to Memphis, TN is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes. The route is almost entirely highway, with 99% of it on major roads, making it a straightforward journey. You can expect a fuel cost of around $28 for this trip, which stays within the Southeast region throughout. Given the relatively short duration and highway-focused nature, this drive is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
90.9 miles from Erin, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
145.1 mi
2h 39m
State Highway 13
34.3 mi
50m
East Main Street
1.3 mi
3m
North Church Street
0.5 mi
<1m
North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Poplar Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Spring Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 145.1 mi, about 2h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Erin, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on Spring Street
7 ft·2 sec·Spring Street
2
Turn right onto SR 49
1.3 mi·3 min·East Main Street
3
Turn right onto TN 13
19 mi·28 min·State Highway 13
4
Continue on TN 13
0.5 mi·48 sec·North Church Street
5
Continue on TN 13
15 mi·22 min·State Highway 13
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
7
Merge onto I 40
132 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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
9
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.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·2 min·I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 1AToward Second Street, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft·4 sec·Poplar Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 35-minute drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Memphis and settle in. With only one recommended stop and the majority of the route on I-40, pacing yourself is key. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 145.1-mile stretch on I-40, to ensure you don't need to detour for gas. The estimated fuel cost is $28, so factor that into your budget. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart at a time that best suits your schedule.
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 90.9 miles from Erin, TN, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.1 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 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.9 miles or 1h 54m 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 57m
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 Erin, 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 Erin, TN
This is one driving day of about 181.9 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Erin, 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 145.1 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 36.3 and 181.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
36.3 mi into trip|~55m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
168.1 mi into trip|~3h 18m 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
168.2 mi into trip|~3h 18m 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
179.3 mi into trip|~3h 31m 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
181.4 mi into trip|~3h 34m 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
$28.44 one way
$56.88 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.22
$62.45
premium
$4.89
$35.01
$70.01
diesel
$5.61
$40.16
$80.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.6 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
54.6
0
$19.10
$8.73
Efficient EV
45.5
0
$15.92
$7.28
EV Truck/SUV
72.8
0
$25.47
$11.64
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 17, 2026
Origin
Erin, TN
Late night
in Erin on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Memphis, TN
Late night
in Memphis on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SSE 5 mph50% chanceLive forecast
77°F
Camden, TN
91 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
10 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 35m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 99% of the journey on major roads, primarily I-40. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 145.1 miles on I-40, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent speed. While the majority of the drive is on the interstate, you will begin and end on local roads: East Main Street in Erin and State Highway 13. This profile suggests a relatively smooth and efficient transit, with minimal detours or slower, winding sections.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and State Highway 13. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 36.3 miles in near I 40.
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 181.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 36.3 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.1 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 168.2 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 Erin, 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 35m. Total distance: 181.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 145.1 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 36.3 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.1 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 168.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Donelson National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Memphis, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
