Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 39m
Distance
135.6 mi
218 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Memphis, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Bruceton, TN
Wikimedia Commons
This 135.6-mile journey from Memphis, TN to Bruceton, TN is a manageable day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 39 minutes to complete. Primarily following I-40 and TN-22, the route is heavily highway-focused, making for a direct and efficient drive. With an estimated fuel cost of $21, it's an economical option for a quick getaway within the Southeast region. The drive is designed for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You'll find the experience to be a straightforward travel segment, ideal if you prefer to cover ground quickly.
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
67.8 miles from Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 110.1 mi | 2h 1m |
| TN 22 | 13.6 mi | 18m |
| Broadway of America | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| Broad Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| South Veterans Drive | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| US 70 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North B. B. King Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis, TN and Bruceton, TN.
Start on Poplar Avenue
Turn left onto North B. B. King Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Take the exit
Turn left onto SR 22
Continue on TN 22
Continue on SR 22; SR 424
Continue on TN 22
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 70
Take the exit onto US 70
At end of road, turn right onto US 70
Continue on US 70
Continue on US 70
Arrive at destination
Given the 2-hour 39-minute duration, departing Memphis in the morning will comfortably get you to Bruceton well before evening. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with your stop schedule, though planning for one stop is built into the route's simplicity. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the longest stretch on I-40, and consider refueling before leaving Memphis to maximize your budget efficiency. The $21 fuel cost is an estimate, so checking current prices is always a good idea.
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.
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 30 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.8 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bruceton, TN than in the middle of the route.
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 135.6 miles and 2h 39m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
68 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 67.8 miles from Memphis, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 110.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 110.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto North B. B. King Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 40 East
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$21.20 one way
$42.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $23.28 | $46.55 |
| premium | $4.89 | $26.09 | $52.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.94 | $59.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.7 | 0 | $14.24 | $6.51 |
| Efficient EV | 33.9 | 0 | $11.86 | $5.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.2 | 0 | $18.98 | $8.68 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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 Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Bruceton on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
77°F
Brownsville, TN
68 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
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 highway-focused drive for this trip, with 92% of the route utilizing major roadways like I-40 and TN-22. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 110.1 miles on I-40, offering a chance to maintain a steady pace. The "Broadway of America" designation suggests a route with historical significance, though its modern iteration here is largely integrated with efficient highway travel. This profile means you'll spend most of your time on faster roads, with minimal time navigating slower local streets.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and TN 22. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North B. B. King Boulevard.
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 135.6 miles you will encounter 10 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: 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Memphis, TN and Bruceton, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville, Primary Sr 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington and Huntingdon.
Knoxville
Primary Sr 22: Parkers Crossroad
Lexington
Huntingdon
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 39m. Total distance: 135.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Memphis, TN or browse trips ending in Bruceton, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.
