Planning a trip from Greenbrier to Memphis? This 200.8-mile drive will take you about 3 hours and 55 minutes, making it a very manageable one-day adventure. You'll spend most of your time on I-40, with a small portion on SR 49 and Center Avenue as you enter Memphis. With a highway share of 95%, expect a straightforward, efficient journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $31, which is quite reasonable for this distance. Given the relatively short duration and focus on major highways, this route is ideal for a single-day trip without needing an overnight stop. You'll stay within the Southeast region throughout your travel.
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
100.4 miles from Greenbrier, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
165.6 mi
3h 1m
SR 49
17.6 mi
25m
Center Avenue
9.1 mi
16m
SR 48
7.6 mi
11m
North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Church Street
0.1 mi
<1m
West College Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Poplar Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 165.6 mi, about 3h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greenbrier, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on SR 49
18 mi·25 min·SR 49
2
Turn left onto SR 48
7.6 mi·11 min·SR 48
3
Turn left onto US 70 Business
332 ft·8 sec·West College Street
4
Turn right onto SR 48 Alternate
0.1 mi·10 sec·Church Street
5
Continue on SR 48 Alternate
9.1 mi·16 min·Center Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 163Toward SR 48: Centerville
7
Merge onto I 40
152 mi·2 hr 44 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 200.8-mile trip, leaving early in the morning from Greenbrier will allow you to bypass most of the day's traffic. Since the drive is only about 4 hours, you won't need to plan for extensive stops; one brief break should suffice. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before embarking on the 165.6-mile stretch on I-40, as services can be spaced out on longer highway segments. The $31 fuel cost estimate is a good budget to keep in mind. Your flexibility on this shorter route means you can adjust your schedule easily if needed.
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 100.4 miles from Greenbrier, TN, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.6 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 44 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.4 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 14m
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 Greenbrier, 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 Greenbrier, TN
This is one driving day of about 200.8 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Greenbrier, 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 165.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 25.3 and 200.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
25.3 mi into trip|~36m in|SR 48 Alternate / Church Street
Turn right onto SR 48 Alternate / Church Street
Navigation decision point
6
187 mi into trip|~3h 38m 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
187.1 mi into trip|~3h 38m 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
198.3 mi into trip|~3h 51m 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
200.3 mi into trip|~3h 54m 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
$31.39 one way
$62.79 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.47
$68.94
premium
$4.89
$38.64
$77.28
diesel
$5.61
$44.33
$88.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.2
0
$21.08
$9.64
Efficient EV
50.2
0
$17.57
$8.03
EV Truck/SUV
80.3
1
$28.11
$12.85
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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 15, 2026
Origin
Greenbrier, TN
Late night
in Greenbrier on Sunday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Memphis, TN
Late night
in Memphis on Sunday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live 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
3h 55m 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?
This is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the route utilizing major roads like I-40. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 165.6 miles on I-40, which means consistent speeds and minimal slowdowns for most of the journey. While the majority is interstate, you will encounter SR 49 and Center Avenue as you approach your destination, offering a slight change of pace. The character is largely about covering ground efficiently, rather than winding scenic byways, making it a predictable and steady drive.
95% 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: 165.6 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and SR 49. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 25.3 miles in near SR 48 Alternate / Church Street.
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 200.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 25.3 miles (SR 48 Alternate / Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 187 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 187.1 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 Greenbrier, 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 55m. Total distance: 200.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 165.6 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 25.3 miles (SR 48 Alternate / Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 187 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 187.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Memphis, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
