If you are planning a trip from New South Memphis to Dover, prepare for a 173.5-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 35 minutes to complete. Because this is a manageable distance, it works perfectly as a one-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $26 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast Tennessee locations. The route relies heavily on local thoroughfares, including the Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, Austin Peay Memorial Highway, and East Main Street. While it is not a high-speed interstate haul, the straightforward nature of the trip makes it a reliable option for travelers looking to move across the region efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
86.7 miles from New South Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
69.4 mi
1h 15m
Austin Peay Memorial Highway
36.5 mi
41m
East Main Street
16.4 mi
24m
US 45E
13.5 mi
19m
Paris Bypass
7.6 mi
8m
US 45 Bypass
6.6 mi
9m
Sam Cooper Boulevard
6.1 mi
9m
South Parkway East
4.4 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
— 69.4 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New South Memphis, TN and Dover, 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
69 mi·1 hr 15 min·Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward TrentonUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto US 45 Bypass
6.6 mi·9 min·US 45 Bypass
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 45E
13 mi·19 min·US 45E
11
Turn right onto US 70A; US 79
2.0 mi·2 min·East Van Hook Street
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on US 70A; US 79
2.1 mi·3 min·Atwood Highway
13
Turn left onto US 70A; US 79
0.7 mi·1 min·Atwood Highway
14
Continue on US 70A; US 79
1.7 mi·2 min·Main Street
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 79
16 mi·24 min·East Main Street
16
Continue on US 79
12 mi·13 min·Austin Peay Memorial Highway
17
Turn right onto SR 218
7.6 mi·8 min·Paris Bypass
18
Turn right onto US 79; SR 218
24 mi·27 min·Austin Peay Memorial Highway
19
Continue on US 79
0.2 mi·11 sec·Fort Donelson Parkway
20
Continue on US 79
0.6 mi·37 sec·Austin Peay Memorial Highway
21
Continue on US 79
0.5 mi·36 sec·Lake Highway
22
Continue on US 79
1.7 mi·1 min·Donelson Parkway
23
Continue on US 79
516 ft·9 sec·Main Street
24
Turn right onto SR 49
384 ft·10 sec·Spring Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn right onto Jackson Street
23 ft·1 sec·Jackson Street
26
Arrive at destination
Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 3-hour and 35-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule. You only need to account for one planned stop to keep your travel time on track. Make sure you fuel up before hitting the road to keep your costs within the estimated $26 budget, as local routes may have fewer convenient service stations than major interstates. A practical tip for this specific drive is to keep a close watch on your navigation when transitioning between the Austin Peay Memorial Highway and East Main Street, as the turn-heavy nature of the route can be easy to miscalculate. Pacing your single stop midway through the trip will help you stay refreshed for the final, more technical local sections.
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 86.7 miles from New South Memphis, TN, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.4 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 38 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.7 miles or 1h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dover, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from New South Memphis, TN
This is one driving day of about 173.5 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from New South 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 Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway for about 69.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 83.7 and 173.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
83.7 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward Trenton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Trenton
5
83.8 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|US 45 Bypass
Merge onto US 45 Bypass
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
103.9 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|US 70A; US 79 / East Van Hook Street
Turn right onto US 70A; US 79 / East Van Hook Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
173.4 mi into trip|~3h 34m in|SR 49 / Spring Street
Turn right onto SR 49 / Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
173.4 mi into trip|~3h 35m in|Jackson Street
Turn right onto Jackson Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.12 one way
$54.25 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.78
$59.56
premium
$4.89
$33.39
$66.78
diesel
$5.61
$38.31
$76.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.1
0
$18.22
$8.33
Efficient EV
43.4
0
$15.18
$6.94
EV Truck/SUV
69.4
0
$24.29
$11.10
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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 16, 2026
Origin
New South Memphis, TN
Night
in New South Memphis on Saturday
Local time
9:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph47% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Dover, TN
Night
in Dover on Saturday
Local time
9:49 PM
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
3h 35m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 167.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as only 17% of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend your longest uninterrupted time behind the wheel during the 69.4-mile stretch along the Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway. The road conditions shift as you transition from the urban atmosphere near Memphis into the more localized, winding paths that define the later segments of the trip. Because you are navigating a series of memorial highways and local main streets, you will need to stay alert for frequent turns. This drive rewards those who prefer a slower, more engaged pace over the repetitive nature of major highway systems.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.4 mi on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 83.7 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 173.5 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 83.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.8 miles (US 45 Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.9 miles (US 70A; US 79 / East Van Hook Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
526 ft260 ft
Total Climb
434 ft
Total Descent
276 ft
Highest Point
526 ft
~136.3 mi in
Elevation Range
266 ft
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 Dover, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Trenton along the way.
Trenton
83.7 mi in|~1h 38m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 35m. Total distance: 173.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (17%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.4 miles on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 83.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.8 miles (US 45 Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.9 miles (US 70A; US 79 / East Van Hook Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Donelson National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Dover, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
