Estill Springs, TN to Memphis, TN is 261.1 miles and takes about 5h 14m via I 40 and Linden Highway, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, taking you from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. With a mixed highway and surface road profile, this route offers a blend of faster travel and more local cruising. It's a manageable drive for a single day, allowing you to reach Memphis without needing an overnight stay.
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
130.6 miles from Estill Springs, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
95.7 mi
1h 46m
Linden Highway
51.3 mi
59m
South Jackson Street
19.7 mi
24m
Bear Creek Pike
17 mi
20m
Hampshire Pike
13.3 mi
15m
Columbia Highway
13 mi
16m
US 412
10.7 mi
12m
Old Columbia Road
7.9 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 95.7 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Estill Springs, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on US 41A
1.3 mi·1 min·South Main Street
2
Continue on US 41A
4.3 mi·5 min·Tullahoma Highway
3
Continue on US 41A
20 mi·24 min·South Jackson Street
4
Continue on US 41A
0.5 mi·50 sec·Elm Street
5
Continue on US 41A
7.2 mi·10 min·Union Street
6
Turn left onto SR 270
2.4 mi·4 min·Old Columbia Road
7
Continue on SR 270
1.5 mi·2 min·Old Columbia Highway
8
Continue on SR 270
5.5 mi·9 min·Old Columbia Road
9
Turn left onto US 31A; SR 99
0.2 mi·25 sec·Nashville Highway
10
Turn right onto SR 99
7.5 mi·11 min·Sylvester Chunn Highway
11
At end of road, turn right onto US 431; SR 99
0.8 mi·1 min·Lewisburg and Franklin Pike
12
Turn left onto SR 99
17 mi·20 min·Bear Creek Pike
13
Continue on US 43; US 412
0.8 mi·57 sec·US 43; US 412
14
Turn left onto US 412
0.3 mi·41 sec·US 412
15
Turn left onto US 412
13 mi·15 min·Hampshire Pike
16
Continue on US 412
13 mi·16 min·Columbia Highway
17
Continue on US 412
4.6 mi·5 min·East Main Street
18
Continue on US 412
51 mi·59 min·Linden Highway
19
Continue on US 412
2.2 mi·2 min·West Church Sttreet
20
Continue on US 412
10 mi·11 min·US 412
21
Turn right onto SR 152
0.8 mi·1 min·Law Road
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
23
Merge onto I 40
82 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
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
25
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.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·2 min·I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 1AToward Second Street, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
28
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft·4 sec·Poplar Avenue
30
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Estill Springs to maximize daylight. The route has a single recommended stop, so plan to break up the 261.1 miles around that point. With a fuel cost estimated at $41, it's a budget-friendly trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into longer stretches like the 95.7 miles on I 40, to avoid needing unexpected detours for gas.
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 130.6 miles from Estill Springs, TN, or about 2h 47m 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 57 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.6 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 21m
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 Estill Springs, 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 Estill Springs, TN
This is one driving day of about 261.1 miles and 5h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Estill Springs, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 164.8 and 260.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
164.8 mi into trip|~3h 27m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
247.3 mi into trip|~4h 57m 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
247.4 mi into trip|~4h 57m 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
258.6 mi into trip|~5h 10m 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
260.7 mi into trip|~5h 13m 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
$43.55 one way
$87.11 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$47.52
$95.04
premium
$5.25
$54.00
$108.00
diesel
$6.28
$64.51
$129.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.3
0
$27.42
$12.53
Efficient EV
65.3
0
$22.85
$10.44
EV Truck/SUV
104.4
1
$36.55
$16.71
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% 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 Oct 22, 2026
Origin
Estill Springs, TN
Late night
in Estill Springs on Saturday
Local time
5:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Sunny
NNE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Memphis, TN
Late night
in Memphis on Saturday
Local time
5:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
NNE 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
3 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
5h 14m 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 includes 41% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch on I 40 measuring 95.7 miles. You'll experience a mix of highway travel and surface roads, transitioning at some point after your main highway segment. Expect a blend of faster cruising and potentially more exits or traffic as you move between highway and local routes.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 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 route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 164.8 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 261.1 miles you will encounter 15 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 164.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 247.3 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 247.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
946 ft258 ft
Total Climb
513 ft
Total Descent
1,201 ft
Highest Point
946 ft
Elevation Range
688 ft
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 Estill Springs, 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 14m. Total distance: 261.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
Yes — we found about 12 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 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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 164.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 247.3 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 247.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Memphis, TN before the return drive.
