Origin
Fall Branch, TN
Late night in Fall Branch on Tuesday
Local time
5:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fall Branch, TN to Memphis, TN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 40m
Distance
475.4 mi
765 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$74
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 33m
★
6 AM
8h 41m
8 AM
8h 56m
10 AM
8h 46m
12 PM
8h 45m
3 PM
8h 47m
5 PM
8h 55m
8 PM
8h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fall Branch, TN
Super cute
Memphis, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fall Branch, TN to Memphis, TN is 475.4 miles and takes about 8h 40m via I 40 and I 81, with a fuel budget near $74 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Tennessee, crossing from the eastern part of the state to the western edge. With a recommended two days of travel, you'll have ample time to break up the drive. The route is predominantly highway, making it a straightforward option for getting across the state.
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
237.7 miles from Fall Branch, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 18m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 420.4 mi | 7h 39m |
| I 81 | 50.1 mi | 53m |
| Downtown Loop | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| TN 93 | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| SR 93 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North 2nd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Poplar Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 420.4 mi, about 7h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fall Branch, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on TN 93
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
TN 93
2
Continue on SR 93
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
SR 93
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
4
Merge onto I 81
49 mi
·
52 min
·
I 81
5
Continue on I 81
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 81
Exit 1B
Toward 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 Nashville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
I 40
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Use 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, Memphis
Use 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 210A
Toward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, Louisville
Use 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: Memphis
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto I 40
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 40
Exit 10A-B
Toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
11 mi
·
13 min
·
I 40
Exit 10B
Toward I 40 West: Little Rock
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 1A
Toward Second Street, Third Street
Use the slight right lane.
17
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft
·
4 sec
·
Poplar Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 40m estimated drive time, it's best to plan for an overnight stay. Splitting the 475.4 miles into two days makes the trip much more manageable. Consider stopping around the halfway point or slightly beyond to break up the longest stretch of I 40, which is 420.4 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the extended highway segments, and aim to refuel before hitting major stretches where services might be less frequent. The $74 fuel cost is an estimate, so monitor prices as you travel.
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 237.7 miles from Fall Branch, TN, or about 4h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 420.4 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 105 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 237.7 miles or 4h 18m 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 237.7 miles or 4h 18m
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 Memphis, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fall Branch, 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 Fall Branch, TN
Aim for roughly 238 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Memphis, TN
Aim for roughly 238 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 105 miles from Fall Branch, 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 420.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
238 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Lafayette, TNOvernight Options
Night 1
238 mi · about 4.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Lafayette, TN after about 238 miles or 4.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 105 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 237.7 miles from Fall Branch, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 420.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 238 miles or 4.3 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 104.4 and 474.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
104.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m 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
259.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 41m 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
261.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 44m 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
461.7 mi into trip
|
~8h 23m 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
8
474.9 mi into trip
|
~8h 39m 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
$74.32 one way
$148.65 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
166 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $81.60 | $163.21 |
| premium | $4.89 | $91.49 | $182.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $104.96 | $209.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$204–$314
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 166.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $50 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 142.6 | 1 | $49.92 | $22.82 |
| Efficient EV | 118.9 | 1 | $41.60 | $19.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 190.2 | 2 | $66.56 | $30.43 |
Gas CO2
166 kg
EV CO2
56 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Memphis, TN
Late night in Memphis on Tuesday
Local time
4:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Lafayette, TN
238 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.
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
5 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 40m 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.
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 245.9
View on nps.gov
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 65.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with 99% of the 475.4 miles on major interstates like I 40 and I 81. You'll encounter a 420.4-mile stretch of I 40, indicating long periods of consistent cruising. Expect frequent exits and entrances as you traverse the state. The route transitions to the Downtown Loop in Memphis, signaling the end of the high-speed highway portion.
99% 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: 420.4 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 104.4 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 15 significant decision points across 475.4 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 104.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 259.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 261.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,897 ft
258 ft
Total Climb
1,147 ft
Total Descent
2,387 ft
Highest Point
1,897 ft
~169.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,638 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fall Branch, TN and Memphis, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Louisville.
Nashville
104.4 mi in
|
~1h 55m
|
via I 40
Louisville
262.5 mi in
|
~4h 46m
|
via I 40
About the Cities
Arriving in Memphis, TN
Full guide →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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 420.4 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 238 miles on day one.
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.
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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 104.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 259.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 261.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.7 hours each way, a round trip means 17.4 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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