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Trip from New South Memphis, TN to Bells, TN

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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 31m ★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 42m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 34m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown New South Memphis, TN, TN

New South Memphis, TN

Dee Hunna

city in Tennessee, USA

Bells, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway — 45.3 mi, about 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New South Memphis, TN and Bells, TN.

1

Start on US 61

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Third Street
2

Turn right onto South Parkway East

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Parkway East
3

Continue on South Parkway East

2.7 mi · 4 min · South Parkway East
4

Continue on South Parkway East

0.4 mi · 40 sec · South Parkway East
Use the right lane.
5

Continue on SR 277

2.3 mi · 3 min · East Parkway South
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Turn right onto Sam Cooper Boulevard

6.1 mi · 9 min · Sam Cooper Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on I 40

45 mi · 49 min · Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 18 sec
Exit 56 Toward SR 76: Brownsville, Somerville
9

Keep slight left at fork

178 ft · 7 sec
Exit 56 Toward SR 76: Brownsville, Somerville
10

Turn left onto SR 76

0.1 mi · 13 sec · SR 76
11

Continue on TN 76

2.6 mi · 4 min · Anderson Avenue
12

Turn right onto US 70; US 79; TN 19

2.5 mi · 3 min · South Dupree Street
13

At end of road, turn right onto US 70A; US 79

11 mi · 16 min · US 70A; US 79
14

Arrive at destination

US 70A; US 79; SR 88

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38 miles from New South Memphis, TN, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.3 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from New South Memphis, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway for about 45.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Tennessee, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bartlett, TN

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.

Popular next leg

Bartlett, TN to Bells, TN

60.6 mi · 1h 17m

Pacing Suggestions

Bartlett, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hickory Withe, TN

Meal break

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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

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.

4
1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in | South Parkway East

Turn right onto South Parkway East

Navigation decision point

4
8.2 mi into trip | ~13m in | Sam Cooper Boulevard

Turn right onto Sam Cooper Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
59.6 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in

Take the exit toward SR 76: Brownsville, Somerville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 56 Toward SR 76: Brownsville, Somerville
8
59.7 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in

Keep slight left at fork toward SR 76: Brownsville, Somerville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 56 Toward SR 76: Brownsville, Somerville
4
59.7 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in | SR 76

Turn left onto SR 76

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.88 one way

$23.76 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

New South Memphis, TN

Morning in New South Memphis on Sunday

Local time

6:32 AM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bells, TN

Morning in Bells on Sunday

Local time

6:32 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°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

5 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

1h 38m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

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.

Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.3 mi on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

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.

Driving Effort 4/10

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.

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 New South Memphis, TN to Bells, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Somerville along the way.

Somerville

59.6 mi in | ~1h 12m

Who Is This Route For?

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 45.3 miles on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bells, TN before heading back.

How this page is built

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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