Memphis to Ashland City is 208.5 miles and takes about 4 hours via I 40, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region towards the same region. Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience for most of the journey. It's a straightforward trip, ideal if you're looking for a direct route without many detours. Consider this if you need to cover ground efficiently between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
104.2 miles from Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
190 mi
3h 27m
Sams Creek Road
9.9 mi
17m
River Road
3.8 mi
6m
East Kingston Spring
2.5 mi
4m
SR 49
1 mi
1m
Luyben Hills Road
0.4 mi
<1m
North B. B. King Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
US 70
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 190 mi, about 3h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis, TN and Ashland City, TN.
1
Start on Poplar Avenue
190 ft·11 sec·Poplar Avenue
2
Turn left onto North B. B. King Boulevard
0.2 mi·33 sec·North B. B. King Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward I 40 EastUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 40
12 mi·14 min·I 40
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
178 mi·3 hr 12 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: Nashville, KnoxvilleUse the slight left / straight lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 188Toward SR 249: Kingston Springs, Ashland CityUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn left onto SR 249
0.4 mi·44 sec·Luyben Hills Road
8
Turn right onto SR 249
2.5 mi·4 min·East Kingston Spring
9
At end of road, turn right onto US 70; SR 249
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 70; SR 249
10
Turn left onto SR 249
9.9 mi·17 min·Sams Creek Road
11
At end of road, turn left onto SR 249
3.8 mi·6 min·River Road
12
At end of road, turn right onto SR 49; SR 249
1.0 mi·1 min·SR 49; SR 249
13
At end of road, turn right onto TN 12; TN 49; TN 249
57 ft·0 sec·South Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
TN 12; TN 49; TN 249
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, so you can depart at your convenience. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 190 miles on I 40, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps around the midpoint of that segment. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $33, this route is quite economical. Keep an eye out for the transition off I 40 onto Sams Creek Road and then River Road, as these are the points where the driving experience will change the most.
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 104.2 miles from Memphis, TN, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 190 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 46 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.2 miles or 1h 55m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ashland City, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Memphis, 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 Memphis, TN
This is one driving day of about 208.5 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Memphis, 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 190 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 190.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North B. B. King Boulevard
Turn left onto North B. B. King Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 40 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 40 East
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
12.3 mi into trip|~15m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
8
190.4 mi into trip|~3h 28m in
Take the exit toward SR 249: Kingston Springs, Ashland City
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 188
Toward SR 249: Kingston Springs, Ashland City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.60 one way
$65.19 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$35.79
$71.58
premium
$4.89
$40.12
$80.25
diesel
$5.61
$46.03
$92.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.6
0
$21.89
$10.01
Efficient EV
52.1
0
$18.24
$8.34
EV Truck/SUV
83.4
1
$29.19
$13.34
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 18, 2026
Origin
Memphis, TN
Late night
in Memphis on Tuesday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Cloudy
SSW 10 to 15 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ashland City, TN
Late night
in Ashland City on Tuesday
Local time
4:03 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
10 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
4h on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 drive is heavily focused on highway travel, with 92% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 40. You'll experience a significant stretch of 190 miles on I 40, offering a consistent pace. While Sams Creek Road and River Road offer a brief departure from the interstate, the overall character remains highway-centric. This means you can anticipate relatively high average speeds for the majority of your trip, making for a predictable journey.
92% 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: 190 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Sams Creek Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North B. B. King Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h drive. You will face about 12 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 (North B. B. King Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Memphis, TN to Ashland City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Knoxville 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.
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
Ashland City is in Central Tennessee. Located about 30 minutes northwest of Nashville and 40 minutes southeast of Clarksville, Ashland City offers beautiful rolling hills perfect for hiking and mountain biking. It is the seat of Cheatham County, which also includes the incorporated cities of Kingston Springs, Pegram, and Pleasant View.
The longest stretch is about 190 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: near the start (North B. B. King Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Ashland City, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
