Traveling from Memphis to Christiana covers 247 miles across Tennessee, making it a manageable journey that fits easily into a single day of driving. Expect to spend about 4 hours and 34 minutes behind the wheel, assuming typical traffic conditions. The route relies primarily on I-40, the Tennessee National Guard Parkway, and I-24, ensuring a direct path across the state. With an estimated fuel cost of $38, this trip is quite budget-friendly for a solo driver or a small group. Since the entire drive stays within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent transit across the Tennessee landscape. It is a straightforward highway-focused drive that works best as a direct, one-day transit rather than a multi-day excursion.
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
123.5 miles from Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
178.5 mi
3h 15m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
52.2 mi
55m
I 24
5.8 mi
6m
Shelbyville Highway
4.5 mi
5m
South Church Street
2.4 mi
3m
Hwy 269
1 mi
1m
North B. B. King Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 178.5 mi, about 3h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis, TN and Christiana, 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
167 mi·3 hr·I 40
Toward I 40 East: Nashville, KnoxvilleUse the slight left / straight lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
7
Merge onto I 840
52 mi·55 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi·2 min
Exit 53AToward I 24 East: ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 24
5.8 mi·6 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 81AToward US 231 South: ShelbyvilleUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto US 231
2.4 mi·3 min·South Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 231
4.5 mi·5 min·Shelbyville Highway
13
Turn left onto Hwy 269
1.0 mi·1 min·Hwy 269
14
Turn left onto Main Street
492 ft·23 sec·Main Street
15
Turn right onto Church Street
16 ft·5 sec·Church Street
16
Turn left
11 ft·0 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To keep your drive comfortable, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 4-hour and 34-minute duration. Since your longest segment is nearly 179 miles, use that stretch on I-40 to gauge your fuel levels and personal fatigue before transitioning to the final leg of the trip. Departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid mid-day congestion on the busier interstate sections. Keep your $38 fuel budget in mind, but consider carrying a small buffer for price fluctuations at stations along the interstate corridors. Because this is a single-day trip, you have the advantage of flexibility; if you find yourself feeling tired, prioritize an extra rest stop to ensure you arrive in Christiana feeling refreshed.
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 123.5 miles from Memphis, TN, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 178.5 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 54 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.5 miles or 2h 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 3h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Christiana, 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 247 miles and 4h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 178.5 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 238.4 — 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
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
7
231.8 mi into trip|~4h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 53A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
7
238.4 mi into trip|~4h 21m in
Take the exit toward US 231 South: Shelbyville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 81A
Toward US 231 South: Shelbyville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.62 one way
$77.23 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$42.40
$84.80
premium
$4.89
$47.53
$95.07
diesel
$5.61
$54.53
$109.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.1
0
$25.93
$11.86
Efficient EV
61.8
0
$21.61
$9.88
EV Truck/SUV
98.8
1
$34.58
$15.81
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 20, 2026
Origin
Memphis, TN
Late night
in Memphis on Tuesday
Local time
5:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Christiana, TN
Late night
in Christiana on Tuesday
Local time
5:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°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
22 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 34m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Stones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 238.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient transit, as 96 percent of your journey takes place on major highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-40, which accounts for a significant 178.5-mile stretch of the total distance. This creates a predictable rhythm, shifting from high-speed interstate travel to the transition onto the Tennessee National Guard Parkway and I-24. Because the route is so highway-heavy, the drive feels like a steady, focused push rather than a winding exploration of local backroads. You should be prepared for a consistent, interstate-focused experience that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers or frequent turns.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 178.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North B. B. King Boulevard.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 247 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 12.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Christiana, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Franklin 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 34m. Total distance: 247 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 178.5 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.
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 Christiana, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 12.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Christiana, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
