Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
15 mi
24 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Germantown, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Memphis, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling the 15 miles from Germantown to Memphis is a straightforward commute that typically takes about 30 minutes. Since this is a local transit route within Tennessee, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations or crossing regional boundaries. Budgeting approximately $2 for fuel makes this an incredibly affordable trip for a quick day outing. You will rely primarily on surface streets like Poplar Avenue, Poplar Pike, and Park Avenue to reach your destination. Because there are no mandatory stops required, you have the flexibility to complete this drive in a single session without needing to plan for extended breaks.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Poplar Avenue | 11.3 mi | 21m |
| Poplar Pike | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Park Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Dogwood Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Southern Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Johnny Lane | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Ridgeway Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Germantown Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Germantown, TN and Memphis, TN.
Start on Southern Avenue
Turn left onto Johnny Lane
Turn left onto Dogwood Road
At end of road, turn right onto South Germantown Road
Turn left onto North Street
Continue on TN 177
Turn right onto Poplar Pike
Continue on Park Avenue
Turn right onto Ridgeway Road
Turn left onto US 72; SR 57
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 3.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Johnny Lane
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Dogwood Road
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto South Germantown Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Poplar Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 72; SR 57 / Poplar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.35 one way
$4.69 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.57 | $5.15 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.89 | $5.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.31 | $6.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.58 | $0.72 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.31 | $0.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6 | 0 | $2.10 | $0.96 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Germantown on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
Destination
Night in Memphis on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. Your journey is characterized by steady navigation through urban and suburban corridors, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 11.3 miles along Poplar Avenue. Behind the wheel, you will find the experience requires more active attention to local traffic signals and intersections compared to a monotonous highway haul. The road maintains a consistent pace as you transition between these key thoroughfares, ensuring you remain engaged with the local geography throughout the entire 30-minute duration.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Johnny Lane.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 30m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Johnny Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Dogwood Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (South Germantown Road): Navigation decision point.
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 15 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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