Memphis to Sale Creek is 338.3 miles and takes about 6h 32m via I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Tennessee, moving from the western part of the state to the eastern side. Given that it's a single-day trip with a highway-focused profile, it's a straightforward journey for those looking to cover ground efficiently. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it a practical option for a quick transition 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
169.1 miles from Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
178.5 mi
3h 15m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
52.2 mi
55m
John Bragg Highway
15.6 mi
18m
TN 8
12.6 mi
17m
Harrison Ferry Road
12.3 mi
17m
SR 111
11.5 mi
13m
Nashville Highway
10.1 mi
11m
McMinnville Highway
8.2 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 178.5 mi, about 3h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis, TN and Sale Creek, 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
6.2 mi·6 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 81BToward US 231 North: MurfreesboroUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto US 231
0.6 mi·43 sec·South Church Street
12
Turn right onto South Rutherford Boulevard
3.8 mi·5 min·South Rutherford Boulevard
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right onto US 70S
16 mi·18 min·John Bragg Highway
14
Continue on US 70S
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
15
Continue on US 70S; SR 53
8.2 mi·10 min·McMinnville Highway
16
Continue on US 70S
10 mi·11 min·Nashville Highway
17
Continue on US 70S
2.1 mi·3 min·West Main Street
18
Continue on SR 380
308 ft·11 sec·West Main Street
19
Continue on SR 380
0.4 mi·41 sec·West Main Street
20
Continue on SR 380
0.4 mi·43 sec·East Main Street
21
At end of road, turn left onto SR 56
1.3 mi·1 min·Beersheba Highway
22
Turn slight left onto TN 8
12 mi·17 min·Harrison Ferry Road
23
Continue on TN 8
7.3 mi·10 min·State Highway 8
24
At end of road, turn right onto TN 8; TN 111
13 mi·17 min·TN 8; TN 111
25
Continue on SR 111
11 mi·13 min·SR 111
26
Continue on TN 111
5.3 mi·6 min·TN 111
27
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
28
Merge onto US 27
5.9 mi·6 min·US 27
29
Turn right onto Patterson Road
24 ft·1 sec·Patterson Road
30
Arrive at destination
Patterson Road
Trip Plan
With a total duration of around 6.5 hours, this trip is comfortably achievable in a single day. Aim to depart Memphis in the morning to allow ample time for the drive and any unexpected delays. You'll encounter one major stretch of 178.5 miles on I 40, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you hit that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the provided budget of $53 suggests a need for at least one refueling stop along the 338.3-mile journey.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 169.1 miles from Memphis, TN, or about 3h 5m 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 74 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 169.1 miles or 3h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sale Creek, 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 338.3 miles and 6h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 238.9 — 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
238.9 mi into trip|~4h 22m in
Take the exit toward US 231 North: Murfreesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 81B
Toward US 231 North: Murfreesboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.34 one way
$102.69 round trip
$3.86/gal25.4 MPG avg118 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$57.36
$114.73
premium
$4.73
$62.96
$125.92
diesel
$5.99
$79.81
$159.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 118.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
101.5
1
$35.52
$16.24
Efficient EV
84.6
0
$29.60
$13.53
EV Truck/SUV
135.3
1
$47.36
$21.65
Gas CO2
118 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Memphis, TN
Late night
in Memphis on Monday
Local time
12:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
ENE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Sale Creek, TN
Late night
in Sale Creek on Monday
Local time
1:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
NE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
25 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
6h 32m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 233.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 83% of it utilizing major roads like I 40 and John Bragg Highway. Expect long stretches of consistent speed, including a significant 178.5-mile segment on I 40 without a major change in road type. While the majority is high-speed, the inclusion of Tennessee National Guard Parkway and John Bragg Highway might offer slight variations in scenery and speed compared to the interstate. Overall, it’s a drive built for covering distance effectively.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 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 17 significant decision points across 338.3 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,907 ft258 ft
Total Climb
2,158 ft
Total Descent
1,685 ft
Highest Point
1,907 ft
~290 mi in
Elevation Range
1,649 ft
Notable High Points
1,907 ft at ~290 miles+753 ft prominence
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 Sale Creek, 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 32m. Total distance: 338.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 32m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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.
Yes — we found about 19 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Sale Creek, 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. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sale Creek, TN before the return drive.
