New South Memphis, TN to Lafayette, TN is 269.8 miles and takes about 5h 11m via Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, beginning in the Southeast region and ending in the same area. Given its mostly surface road profile and single-day recommendation, this route is best suited for drivers who prefer a more relaxed pace with opportunities to observe local scenery rather than a high-speed transit. Consider this drive if you're looking for a straightforward connection between these two Tennessee locations without the need for an overnight stop.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
134.9 miles from New South Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
196.5 mi
3h 32m
West Broadway
17 mi
21m
Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
15 mi
17m
SR 52
12.6 mi
18m
I 65
9.1 mi
11m
Sam Cooper Boulevard
6.1 mi
9m
South Parkway East
4.4 mi
7m
East Parkway South
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
— 196.5 mi, about 3h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New South Memphis, TN and Lafayette, 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 left at fork
0.4 mi·29 sec
Exit 208BToward I 65 North: LouisvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 65
1.7 mi·2 min·Downtown Loop
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
8.9 mi·10 min·I 65
Exit 86AToward I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, LouisvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 65
0.2 mi·14 sec·I 65
12
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 386
15 mi·17 min·Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Exit 95Toward SR 386: Hendersonville, GallatinUse the slight right lane.
13
Continue on SR 665
2.0 mi·2 min·Long Hollow Pike
14
Continue on TN 25
0.4 mi·33 sec·Red River Road
15
Turn left onto US 31E
0.2 mi·25 sec·Nashville Pike
16
Continue on US 31E
17 mi·21 min·West Broadway
17
Turn right onto SR 52
13 mi·18 min·SR 52
18
Turn left onto TN 10
0.5 mi·53 sec·College Street
19
Turn right onto TN 10; TN 261
104 ft·3 sec·Public Square
20
Enter roundabout
520 ft·10 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Aim to depart in the morning to make the most of the daylight for your 5h 11m drive. With a total distance of 269.8 miles and a fuel cost estimated at $43, you can complete this in one day. The route has one recommended stop, but since it's not an overly long drive, you have flexibility. Pay attention as you transition from Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway to West Broadway and Vietnam Veterans Boulevard, as these surface roads will likely have more local traffic and varied speed limits. Ensure you have enough fuel before leaving New South Memphis, as the longest continuous stretch on the highway is nearly 200 miles.
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 134.9 miles from New South Memphis, TN, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 196.5 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 59 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.9 miles or 2h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lafayette, 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 269.8 miles and 5h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 196.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 269.7 — 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
8
210.8 mi into trip|~3h 55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 North: Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 208B
Toward I 65 North: Louisville
9
212.9 mi into trip|~3h 58m in|I 65
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65 toward I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 86A
Toward I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, Loui...
9
222 mi into trip|~4h 9m in|TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard toward SR 386: Hendersonville, Gallatin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 95
Toward SR 386: Hendersonville, Gallatin
5
269.7 mi into trip|~5h 11m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.01 one way
$90.01 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$49.11
$98.21
premium
$5.25
$55.80
$111.60
diesel
$6.28
$66.66
$133.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.9
0
$28.33
$12.95
Efficient EV
67.5
0
$23.61
$10.79
EV Truck/SUV
107.9
1
$37.77
$17.27
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 22, 2026
Origin
New South Memphis, TN
Evening
in New South Memphis on Thursday
Local time
8:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Sunny
NNE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lafayette, TN
Evening
in Lafayette on Thursday
Local time
8:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
NNE 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive 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
3 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
5h 11m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Stones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
30 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 213.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive primarily utilizes surface roads, with only 11% of the route on highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 196.5 miles on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway before transitioning to local roads. Expect to encounter frequent intersections and lower speed limits for a substantial portion of your travel. The shift from highway cruising to surface road navigation will be noticeable as you progress.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 196.5 mi on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near South Parkway East.
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 11 significant decision points across 269.8 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 1.4 miles (South Parkway East): Navigation decision point; at 210.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 212.9 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
958 ft260 ft
Total Climb
1,266 ft
Total Descent
568 ft
Highest Point
958 ft
~269.8 mi in
Elevation Range
698 ft
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 Lafayette, TN, road signs point toward Louisville and Gallatin.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 11m. Total distance: 269.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 196.5 miles on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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.
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 Lafayette, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (South Parkway East): Navigation decision point; at 210.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 212.9 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lafayette, TN before the return drive.
