New South Memphis, TN to Kingston Springs, TN is 193.2 miles and takes about 3h 39m via Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, beginning in the Southeast region and ending in the same area. You'll primarily be on surface roads for this drive, making it a more local-feeling excursion than a high-speed interstate run. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, it's a straightforward option for a single-day trip.
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
96.6 miles from New South Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
176.8 mi
3h 11m
Sam Cooper Boulevard
6.1 mi
9m
South Parkway East
4.4 mi
7m
East Parkway South
2.3 mi
3m
South Third Street
1.4 mi
2m
West Kingston Spring
1.3 mi
3m
Luyben Hills Road
0.4 mi
<1m
North Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
— 176.8 mi, about 3h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New South Memphis, TN and Kingston Springs, 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
177 mi·3 hr 11 min·Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 188Toward SR 249: Kingston Springs, Ashland CityUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto SR 249
0.4 mi·45 sec·Luyben Hills Road
10
Turn left onto West Kingston Spring
1.3 mi·3 min·West Kingston Spring
11
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·North Main Street
12
Turn left
66 ft·4 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 39m driving time, starting your trip in the morning is advisable to allow for flexibility. You'll want to plan for your single recommended stop to break up the drive, especially since most of the route is on surface roads. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $34, and gas stations might be less frequent on the non-highway portions. Since this is a single-day drive, you have the advantage of not needing to rush; you can adjust your pace as needed, perhaps taking a little longer to navigate the surface road 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 96.6 miles from New South Memphis, TN, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.8 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 43 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.6 miles or 1h 51m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kingston Springs, 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 193.2 miles and 3h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 176.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 193.1 — 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.
8
191 mi into trip|~3h 33m in
Take the exit toward SR 249: Kingston Springs, Ashland City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 188
Toward SR 249: Kingston Springs, Ashland City
4
191.3 mi into trip|~3h 34m in|SR 249 / Luyben Hills Road
Turn left onto SR 249 / Luyben Hills Road
Navigation decision point
4
193.1 mi into trip|~3h 39m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.12 one way
$64.24 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$34.99
$69.98
premium
$5.18
$39.42
$78.85
diesel
$5.35
$40.69
$81.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58
0
$20.29
$9.27
Efficient EV
48.3
0
$16.91
$7.73
EV Truck/SUV
77.3
0
$27.05
$12.36
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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 May 23, 2026
Origin
New South Memphis, TN
Afternoon
in New South Memphis on Wednesday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Patchy Fog
WSW 0 to 5 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued May 22 at 1:46PM EDT until May 23 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
Destination
Kingston Springs, TN
Afternoon
in Kingston Springs on Wednesday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 5 to 10 mph65% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued May 22 at 1:46PM EDT until May 23 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
69°F
Parsons, TN
97 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 39m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with just 34% of the drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway, Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, extends for 176.8 miles. After this highway segment, you'll transition to surface roads, which will likely involve more frequent intersections and varying speed limits as you approach your destination. Expect a driving experience with more local traffic and fewer exits compared to a full interstate trip.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 176.8 mi on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 39m 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 191 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The longest stretch is about 176.8 miles on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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.
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 1.4 miles (South Parkway East): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles (Sam Cooper Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 191 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Kingston Springs, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
