New South Memphis, TN to Sale Creek, TN is 338.9 miles and takes about 6h 38m via Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a mix of driving conditions, with a significant portion on major roadways. This route is a solid option for a single-day drive, offering a straightforward path through the state. Consider this if you're looking for a direct connection without extensive detours.
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
169.4 miles from New South Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 10m 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
John Bragg Highway
15.6 mi
18m
TN 8
12.6 mi
17m
Harrison Ferry Road
12.3 mi
17m
SR 111
11.5 mi
13m
Nashville Highway
10.1 mi
11m
McMinnville Highway
8.2 mi
10m
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 Sale Creek, 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
6.2 mi·6 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 81BToward US 231 North: MurfreesboroUse the right lane.
13
Merge onto US 231
0.6 mi·43 sec·South Church Street
14
Turn right onto South Rutherford Boulevard
3.8 mi·5 min·South Rutherford Boulevard
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto US 70S
16 mi·18 min·John Bragg Highway
16
Continue on US 70S
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
17
Continue on US 70S; SR 53
8.2 mi·10 min·McMinnville Highway
18
Continue on US 70S
10 mi·11 min·Nashville Highway
19
Continue on US 70S
2.1 mi·3 min·West Main Street
20
Continue on SR 380
308 ft·11 sec·West Main Street
21
Continue on SR 380
0.4 mi·41 sec·West Main Street
22
Continue on SR 380
0.4 mi·43 sec·East Main Street
23
At end of road, turn left onto SR 56
1.3 mi·1 min·Beersheba Highway
24
Turn slight left onto TN 8
12 mi·17 min·Harrison Ferry Road
25
Continue on TN 8
7.3 mi·10 min·State Highway 8
26
At end of road, turn right onto TN 8; TN 111
13 mi·17 min·TN 8; TN 111
27
Continue on SR 111
11 mi·13 min·SR 111
28
Continue on TN 111
5.3 mi·6 min·TN 111
29
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
30
Merge onto US 27
5.9 mi·6 min·US 27
31
Turn right onto Patterson Road
24 ft·1 sec·Patterson Road
32
Arrive at destination
Patterson Road
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 38m estimated drive time, starting your day after breakfast should allow you to reach Sale Creek, TN with plenty of daylight to spare. The route is manageable in one day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. With a fuel cost estimated around $52, it's wise to ensure you have a full tank before leaving New South Memphis, TN, as there's only one recommended stop. Pay attention to the shift from highway to surface roads around mile 165.2 on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, as this indicates a change in the driving environment and potential for more local traffic.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 169.4 miles from New South Memphis, TN, or about 3h 10m 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 75 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 169.4 miles or 3h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sale Creek, 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 338.9 miles and 6h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 179.5 and 239.5 — 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.
7
239.5 mi into trip|~4h 27m in
Take the exit toward US 231 North: Murfreesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 81B
Toward US 231 North: Murfreesboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.44 one way
$102.87 round trip
$3.86/gal25.4 MPG avg119 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$57.47
$114.93
premium
$4.73
$63.07
$126.14
diesel
$5.99
$79.95
$159.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 118.6 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
101.7
1
$35.58
$16.27
Efficient EV
84.7
0
$29.65
$13.56
EV Truck/SUV
135.6
1
$47.45
$21.69
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
New South Memphis, TN
Night
in New South Memphis on Sunday
Local time
11:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Clear
ENE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Sale Creek, TN
Late night
in Sale Creek on Monday
Local time
12:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
N 5 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
1 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
6h 38m 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.
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 233.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 32% of this 338.9-mile trip is on highways. You'll encounter the longest stretch of continuous highway at 165.2 miles on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway. After that, the profile shifts to mixed highway and surface roads. Be prepared for a change in driving pace as you transition from higher-speed highway cruising to areas with more frequent exits and potentially slower speeds on surface sections.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 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?
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 179.5 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 17 significant decision points across 338.9 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,903 ft260 ft
Total Climb
2,125 ft
Total Descent
1,655 ft
Highest Point
1,903 ft
~290.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,643 ft
Notable High Points
1,903 ft at ~290.5 miles+750 ft prominence
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 Sale Creek, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Franklin along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 38m. Total distance: 338.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 38m 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 165.2 miles on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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 Sale Creek, 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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sale Creek, TN before the return drive.
