Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
31.7 mi
51 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
7 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Memphis, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TN
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning to head from Memphis to Arlington, you are looking at a straightforward 31.7-mile journey that typically takes about 40 minutes. This trip is perfect for a quick day outing, as it is easily manageable in a single day without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Thomas Street, Paul W. Barret Parkway, and US 70 as you transition through the Southeast region. With a fuel cost estimate of just $5, it is a very budget-friendly transit. This route offers a practical, no-nonsense connection between these two Tennessee locations, making it a reliable choice for commuters or casual travelers.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Street | 14.2 mi | 17m |
| Paul W Barret Parkway | 14.2 mi | 16m |
| US 70 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| North Danny Thomas Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Poplar Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Chester Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Walker Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis, TN and Arlington, TN.
Start on Poplar Avenue
Turn left onto US 51
Continue on US 51
Take the exit
Continue on TN 385
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 70; US 79
Turn right onto Chester Street
Continue on Chester Street
Continue on Chester Street
Turn right onto Walker Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 31.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Depart onto Poplar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 51 / North Danny Thomas Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Arlington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward US 70: Lakeland, Arlington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto Walker Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$4.96 one way
$9.91 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.44 | $10.88 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.10 | $12.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.00 | $14.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Late night in Memphis on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°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 mixed driving experience on this 31.7-mile trek, as the route balances local roads with highway travel. The drive is split evenly, with 50 percent of your journey spent on highways. You will find your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 14.2 miles while traveling along Thomas Street. As you move from the urban environment of Memphis toward Arlington, the road character shifts from city streets to the more open flow of the parkway and US 70. It is a functional drive that requires steady focus rather than a leisurely pace.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Poplar Avenue.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 40m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Poplar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (US 51 / North Danny Thomas Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
201 ft
Total Descent
178 ft
Highest Point
324 ft
~27.2 mi in
Elevation Range
90 ft
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 40m. Total distance: 31.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Straightforward navigation.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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