This 88.3-mile drive from Jackson, TN to Memphis, TN is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 41 minutes. With 97% of the journey on major highways, it's an efficient way to get between these two Southeast Tennessee locations. The estimated fuel cost is around $14, making it an economical option for a day trip. You won't need to break this drive up overnight; it's perfectly suited for a single day's travel. The overall feel is practical and direct, prioritizing reaching your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.1 miles from Jackson, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
82.5 mi
1h 32m
US 45 Bypass
3.4 mi
4m
Airways Boulevard
1.1 mi
1m
East Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Poplar Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 82.5 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on East Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Main Street
2
Continue on Airways Boulevard
1.1 mi·1 min·Airways Boulevard
3
Turn right onto US 45 Bypass
3.4 mi·4 min·US 45 Bypass
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 40 West: Memphis
5
Merge onto I 40; US 412
69 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 40; US 412
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
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
7
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.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·2 min·I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 1AToward Second Street, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft·4 sec·Poplar Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 41-minute duration and 88.3-mile distance, this trip offers great flexibility. You can depart Jackson, TN at your leisure, as it's well within the capabilities of a single day. With no designated stops provided, plan your own brief breaks as needed, perhaps around the halfway point or closer to Memphis. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 82.5-mile stretch on I-40, to ensure you have enough to comfortably reach Memphis. The $14 fuel cost estimate is a good baseline for planning.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.1 miles from Jackson, TN, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.5 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.1 miles or 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 24m
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 Jackson, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jackson, TN
This is one driving day of about 88.3 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Jackson, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 82.5 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 87.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.6 mi into trip|~2m in|US 45 Bypass
Turn right onto US 45 Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
74.5 mi into trip|~1h 23m 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
74.6 mi into trip|~1h 24m 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
85.7 mi into trip|~1h 37m 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
87.8 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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
$13.80 one way
$27.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.16
$30.31
premium
$4.89
$16.99
$33.99
diesel
$5.61
$19.50
$38.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.5
0
$9.27
$4.24
Efficient EV
22.1
0
$7.73
$3.53
EV Truck/SUV
35.3
0
$12.36
$5.65
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Jackson, TN
Late night
in Jackson on Sunday
Local time
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Memphis, TN
Late night
in Memphis on Sunday
Local time
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Arlington, TN
44 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
20 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
1h 41m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 97% of the travel occurring on major roadways like I-40. You'll encounter one significant stretch of 82.5 miles on I-40, offering a consistent pace for a good portion of the journey. The route is designed for efficiency, meaning you'll spend most of your time on fast-moving highways rather than navigating slower local roads. Airways Boulevard will guide you into Memphis, marking the transition from high-speed travel to your final destination.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 45 Bypass. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near US 45 Bypass.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.6 miles (US 45 Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 74.5 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.6 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 Jackson, 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 1h 41m. Total distance: 88.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.5 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (US 45 Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 74.5 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Memphis, TN before heading back.
