Origin
New South Memphis, TN
Morning in New South Memphis on Sunday
Local time
6:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 38m
Distance
76 mi
122 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New South Memphis, TN
Dee Hunna
Bells, TN
Wikimedia Commons
New South Memphis, TN to Bells, TN is 76 miles and takes about 1 hour 38 minutes via Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway and US 70A, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, moving you from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a route with frequent turns, more akin to navigating local roads than a straight shot on a major highway. With a relatively short duration and a low fuel cost, this trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion, offering a straightforward journey between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38 miles from New South Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway | 45.3 mi | 49m |
| US 70A | 11.1 mi | 16m |
| Sam Cooper Boulevard | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| South Parkway East | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Anderson Avenue | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| South Dupree Street | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| East Parkway South | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| South Third Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between New South Memphis, TN and Bells, TN.
Start on US 61
Turn right onto South Parkway East
Continue on South Parkway East
Continue on South Parkway East
Continue on SR 277
Turn right onto Sam Cooper Boulevard
Continue on I 40
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto SR 76
Continue on TN 76
Turn right onto US 70; US 79; TN 19
At end of road, turn right onto US 70A; US 79
Arrive at destination
Given the 1 hour 38 minute duration, this route is easily manageable in a single day, so you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best. Plan to fuel up before you depart, as there are no designated stops on this particular route, and the longest stretch is over 45 miles. Keep an eye on your navigation, as the 'turn-heavy' profile means you'll be making several changes in direction. The $12 fuel cost suggests that fuel efficiency on this route is quite good, so you likely won't need to worry about finding a gas station mid-journey.
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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bells, TN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving New South Memphis, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from New South Memphis, TN
This is one driving day of about 76 miles and 1h 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 38 miles from New South Memphis, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 1.4 and 59.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto South Parkway East
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Sam Cooper Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward SR 76: Brownsville, Somerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 76: Brownsville, Somerville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto SR 76
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$11.88 one way
$23.76 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.05 | $26.09 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.63 | $29.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.78 | $33.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.98 | $3.65 |
| Efficient EV | 19 | 0 | $6.65 | $3.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.64 | $4.86 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in New South Memphis on Sunday
Local time
6:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Bells on Sunday
Local time
6:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This trip is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 24% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a varied road experience, transitioning between main roads like Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway and US 70A, and likely some local streets. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 45.3 miles on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, indicating that most of your drive will involve more frequent adjustments and navigation. Be prepared for a driving pace that is dictated more by local traffic patterns and intersections than by high-speed highway travel.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near South Parkway East.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 38m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (South Parkway East): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles (Sam Cooper Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 59.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from New South Memphis, TN to Bells, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Somerville along the way.
Somerville
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 76 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (24%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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.
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