New South Memphis, TN to Dandridge, TN is 422.4 miles and takes about 7h 50m via I 40 and Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $66 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, traversing the Southeast region of the state. You'll experience a mix of highway travel and surface roads. Given the duration and distance, it's a manageable one-day drive, but you could also opt to break it up if you prefer a more relaxed pace. Plan for about two stops along the way.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
211.2 miles from New South Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
204.5 mi
3h 44m
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
196.5 mi
3h 32m
Sam Cooper Boulevard
6.1 mi
9m
South Parkway East
4.4 mi
7m
US 25W
3.4 mi
5m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
4m
East Parkway South
2.3 mi
3m
South Third Street
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 204.5 mi, about 3h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New South Memphis, TN and Dandridge, 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
197 mi·3 hr 32 min·Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 208AToward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, HuntsvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 40
0.5 mi·42 sec·Downtown Loop
Exit 211B; 211AToward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
174 mi·3 hr 9 min·I 40
Exit 211AToward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
31 mi·34 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward US 25W, US 70: Dandrige
14
Turn slight right onto US 25W; US 70
2.8 mi·4 min·US 25W; US 70
15
Turn slight right
365 ft·13 sec
16
Turn straight onto US 25W; US 70; SR 92
0.6 mi·1 min·US 25W; US 70; SR 92
17
Turn right onto SR 92
525 ft·15 sec·Chestnut Hill Road
18
Turn left onto East Main Street
74 ft·3 sec·East Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7h 50m drive, consider an early morning departure from New South Memphis to maximize daylight. With two recommended stops, you can pace your journey comfortably, perhaps one around the halfway point and another for a final break. The fuel cost is estimated at $66, so ensure your tank is full before you leave and be mindful of fuel availability on less populated stretches. Since this is a feasible one-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your stops based on your energy levels. Keep an eye on the road signs as you transition from the main highways to surface streets in the Dandridge area.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 211.2 miles from New South Memphis, TN, or about 3h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 204.5 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 93 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 211.2 miles or 3h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dandridge, 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.
+
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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from New South Memphis, TN
This is one driving day of about 422.4 miles and 7h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from New South Memphis, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 204.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 210.8 and 387.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
210.8 mi into trip|~3h 55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsv...
5
211 mi into trip|~3h 56m in|I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop
Merge onto I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
213.4 mi into trip|~3h 59m in|I 40 / Downtown Loop
Continue onto I 40 / Downtown Loop toward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, Chattanooga
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 211B; 211A
Toward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksv...
9
214 mi into trip|~4h in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 211A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...
6
387.8 mi into trip|~7h 9m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$66.04 one way
$132.07 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg148 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$72.51
$145.01
premium
$4.89
$81.29
$162.57
diesel
$5.61
$93.26
$186.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 147.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
4 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
Blink Charging Station
Memphis, Tennessee
Blink
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Brownsville, Tennessee
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Memphis, Tennessee
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Memphis, Tennessee
Blink
1 DCFC
Blink: 2
ChargePoint: 2
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
126.7
1
$44.35
$20.28
Efficient EV
105.6
1
$36.96
$16.90
EV Truck/SUV
169
2
$59.14
$27.03
Gas CO2
148 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (67% 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
New South Memphis, TN
Night
in New South Memphis on Saturday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dandridge, TN
Late night
in Dandridge on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
36 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
7h 50m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 51% highway share, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your time on major interstates like I 40. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 204.5 miles, primarily on I 40. Expect to transition from highway driving to surface roads, particularly as you approach your destination. The presence of Sam Cooper Boulevard and Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway suggests you'll encounter urban and suburban merging traffic early on before transitioning to more open highway cruising.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 204.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 210.8 miles in.
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 12 significant decision points across 422.4 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: at 210.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 211 miles (I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 213.4 miles (I 40 / Downtown Loop): 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 New South Memphis, TN and Dandridge, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Huntsville
210.8 mi in|~3h 55m
Louisville
213.4 mi in|~3h 59m|via I 40
Knoxville
213.4 mi in|~3h 59m|via I 40
Chattanooga
213.4 mi in|~3h 59m|via I 40
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 50m. Total distance: 422.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 50m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 204.5 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 Dandridge, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 210.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 211 miles (I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 213.4 miles (I 40 / Downtown Loop): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dandridge, TN before the return drive.
