Spanning 259.7 miles across Tennessee, this drive from Memphis to Decherd is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 5 hours and 16 minutes. Because the route is compact enough for a single day of travel, you won’t need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Expect to budget approximately $39 for fuel for the one-way trip. You will spend the entire drive within the Southeast region, transitioning through the state's interior landscapes. It is a manageable trek that balances highway efficiency with local road navigation, making it a practical choice for those looking to reach Decherd without an exhausting multi-day commitment.
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
129.8 miles from Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 64
156.9 mi
3h 14m
United States Route 64
44.4 mi
50m
Wayne Road
31.1 mi
35m
I 40
20.1 mi
24m
Dinah Shore Boulevard
1.4 mi
1m
David Crockett Highway
1.1 mi
1m
West Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
Dexter L Woods Memorial Boulevard
0.8 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 64
— 156.9 mi, about 3h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis, TN and Decherd, 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
8.1 mi·9 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: Nashville, KnoxvilleUse the slight left / straight lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 18Toward US 64: Somerville, BolivarUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
518 ft·12 sec
Toward US 64 East: Somerville, Bolivar, Oakland, LakelandUse the left / right lanes.
8
Merge onto US 64
73 mi·1 hr 30 min·US 64
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto US 64
20 mi·30 min·US 64
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto Water Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Water Street
11
Turn left onto TN 128
344 ft·12 sec·Pickwick Street South
12
Turn right onto US 64; SR 69; SR 128
0.1 mi·20 sec·Main Street
13
Continue on US 64; SR 128
31 mi·35 min·Wayne Road
14
Continue on US 64
0.8 mi·52 sec·Dexter L Woods Memorial Boulevard
15
Continue on US 64
44 mi·50 min·United States Route 64
16
Continue on US 64
0.7 mi·48 sec·West College Street
17
Continue on US 64
64 mi·1 hr 13 min·US 64
18
Turn left onto TN 16
0.2 mi·21 sec·Rowe Gap Road
19
Enter roundabout onto US 64 Business
35 ft·0 sec·David Crockett Highway
20
Continue on US 64 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·David Crockett Highway
21
Turn slight right onto US 64 Business
0.4 mi·29 sec·1st Avenue Southwest
22
Take the exit onto US 41A; US 64 Business; SR 50
288 ft·7 sec·South College Street
23
Turn right onto US 41A; SR 50
1.4 mi·1 min·Dinah Shore Boulevard
24
Continue on US 41A; SR 50
0.3 mi·26 sec·Decherd Boulevard
25
Turn right onto SR 50
0.9 mi·1 min·West Main Street
26
Turn left
330 ft·14 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Planning for this 5-hour drive is best done by aiming for a morning departure, which allows you to arrive in Decherd well before evening. Since the route includes one scheduled stop, use that time to stretch your legs and refresh your fuel supply to keep your $39 budget on track. Be mindful of the long 156.9-mile segment on US 64; ensure your vehicle is prepped for a sustained stretch of highway driving before you head out. Because this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on local traffic patterns. Prioritize steady pacing during the middle portion of the route to ensure you reach your destination without unnecessary fatigue.
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 129.8 miles from Memphis, TN, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.9 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 57 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.8 miles or 2h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Decherd, 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 259.7 miles and 5h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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 US 64 for about 156.9 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 20.6 — 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
8
20.5 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit toward US 64: Somerville, Bolivar
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 18
Toward US 64: Somerville, Bolivar
9
20.6 mi into trip|~25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 64 East: Somerville, Bolivar, Oakland, Lakeland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward US 64 East: Somerville, Bolivar, Oakland...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.60 one way
$81.20 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$44.58
$89.16
premium
$4.89
$49.98
$99.95
diesel
$5.61
$57.34
$114.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.9
0
$27.27
$12.47
Efficient EV
64.9
0
$22.72
$10.39
EV Truck/SUV
103.9
1
$36.36
$16.62
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Memphis, TN
Night
in Memphis on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph60% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Decherd, TN
Night
in Decherd on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 16m 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with about 85% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will rely primarily on US 64 and Wayne Road to cover the distance, with a significant 156.9-mile stretch serving as the longest uninterrupted portion of the drive. While the route maintains a steady rhythm, the transition between highway segments and local connectors keeps the driving experience varied. You can expect a consistent pace that favors direct travel over winding backroads. Overall, the road feels like a reliable conduit through the Tennessee landscape, requiring steady attention but offering a predictable path to your destination.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 156.9 mi on US 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 and United States Route 64. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 259.7 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.
Between Memphis, TN and Decherd, TN, road signs point toward Bolivar, Oakland and Lakeland.
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 5h 16m. Total distance: 259.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 156.9 miles on US 64. 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 Decherd, 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Decherd, TN before the return drive.
