New South Memphis, TN to New Union, TN is 270.7 miles and takes about 5 hours 3 minutes via Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, Tennessee National Guard Parkway, and I 24, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a mixed driving experience that balances highway speeds with potentially more varied road conditions. It's a manageable drive, well-suited for a single day if you're looking for a direct journey without needing an overnight stop. Consider this route if you need an efficient way to get from point A to point B within the state.
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
135.4 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
165.2 mi
2h 58m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
52.2 mi
55m
I 24
34.9 mi
37m
Sam Cooper Boulevard
6.1 mi
9m
South Parkway East
4.4 mi
7m
Woodbury Highway
2.4 mi
3m
East Parkway South
2.3 mi
3m
South Third Street
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
— 165.2 mi, about 2h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New South Memphis, TN and New Union, 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
165 mi·2 hr 58 min·Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
9
Merge onto I 840
52 mi·55 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi·2 min
Exit 53AToward I 24 East: ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 24
35 mi·37 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 110Toward TN 53: Manchester, Woodbury
13
Turn left onto SR 53
2.4 mi·3 min·Woodbury Highway
14
Arrive at destination
SR 53
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, starting your drive in the morning will give you ample time to reach New Union, TN before evening. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your break strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or when you feel the need to stretch your legs. Fuel costs are estimated at $42, so ensure your tank is full before departing New South Memphis, as the longest stretch on the Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway is quite substantial at 165.2 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during this extended highway portion.
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 135.4 miles from New South Memphis, TN, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.2 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 60 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.4 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Union, 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 270.7 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 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 165.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 179.5 and 268.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
179.5 mi into trip|~3h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
5
180.2 mi into trip|~3h 23m in|I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge onto I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
232.4 mi into trip|~4h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 53A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
5
233.2 mi into trip|~4h 21m in|I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
268.1 mi into trip|~4h 58m in
Take the exit toward TN 53: Manchester, Woodbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 110
Toward TN 53: Manchester, Woodbury
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.32 one way
$84.64 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$46.47
$92.93
premium
$4.89
$52.09
$104.19
diesel
$5.61
$59.77
$119.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.2
1
$28.42
$12.99
Efficient EV
67.7
0
$23.69
$10.83
EV Truck/SUV
108.3
1
$37.90
$17.32
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
New South Memphis, TN
Morning
in New South Memphis on Sunday
Local time
9:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph58% chanceLive forecast
Destination
New Union, TN
Morning
in New Union on Sunday
Local time
9:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
32 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 3m 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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 233.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as a mixed experience, with 35% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, including one uninterrupted segment of 165.2 miles, which suggests a good portion of the drive will be at higher speeds. The inclusion of I 24 indicates a typical interstate experience for part of the trip, likely offering consistent travel conditions. As you progress, the road character will likely shift between these faster highway sections and potentially more local or varied driving.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 165.2 mi on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 179.5 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 270.7 miles you will encounter 10 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 179.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 180.2 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 232.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 New Union, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Franklin along the way.
Franklin
179.5 mi in|~3h 21m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 3m. Total distance: 270.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 165.2 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.
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 New Union, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 179.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 180.2 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 232.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New Union, TN before the return drive.
