Origin
New South Memphis, TN
Morning in New South Memphis on Tuesday
Local time
6:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New South Memphis, TN to Thompson's Station, TN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 57m
Distance
210.6 mi
339 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 45m
★
6 AM
3h 58m
8 AM
4h 24m
10 AM
4h 7m
12 PM
4h 4m
3 PM
4h 8m
5 PM
4h 22m
8 PM
3h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New South Memphis, TN
Dee Hunna
Thompson's Station, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
New South Memphis, TN to Thompson's Station, TN is 210.6 miles and takes about 3h 57m via Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads, meaning you'll be navigating local traffic and intersections for much of the way. It's a straightforward, same-day option if you're looking for a direct connection without extensive highway time.
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
105.3 miles from New South Memphis, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway | 165.2 mi | 2h 58m |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 27.5 mi | 29m |
| Sam Cooper Boulevard | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| South Parkway East | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| East Parkway South | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Columbia Pike | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| South Third Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Thompsons Station Road West | 0.6 mi | 1m |
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 Thompson's Station, 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
28 mi
·
29 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 28
Toward US 31: Columbia, Franklin
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward US 31 South: Columbia, Thompson's Station, Spring Hill
Use the left / right lanes.
12
Turn slight right onto US 31
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Columbia Pike
13
Turn right onto Thompsons Station Road West
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Thompsons Station Road West
14
Continue on Thompsons Station Road West
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Thompsons Station Road West
15
Arrive at destination
Thompsons Station Road West
Trip Plan
Given the roughly 4-hour drive time, starting your trip in the morning is advisable to allow for a relaxed pace. While there's only one recommended stop, you'll want to be mindful of the predominantly surface road profile, which can mean slower travel and more frequent interactions with local traffic. Budget around $33 for fuel, and keep an eye on your gas gauge, especially before leaving more populated areas. The 165.2-mile stretch on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway offers a good opportunity for steady progress before you encounter more varied road conditions.
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 105.3 miles from New South Memphis, TN, or about 2h 1m 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 46 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.3 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thompson's Station, 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 210.6 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 105.3 miles from New South Memphis, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 165.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 208 — 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.
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
8
207.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 52m in
Take the exit toward US 31: Columbia, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28
Toward US 31: Columbia, Franklin
9
208 mi into trip
|
~3h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 31 South: Columbia, Thompson's Station, Spring Hill
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward US 31 South: Columbia, Thompson's Statio...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.92 one way
$65.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $36.15 | $72.30 |
| premium | $4.89 | $40.53 | $81.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.50 | $93.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.2 | 0 | $22.11 | $10.11 |
| Efficient EV | 52.7 | 0 | $18.43 | $8.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.2 | 1 | $29.48 | $13.48 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Destination
Thompson's Station, TN
Morning in Thompson's Station on Tuesday
Local time
6:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
4 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 57m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only 16% of the drive on highways. You'll experience a long stretch of 165.2 miles on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway before transitioning to more local streets. Be prepared for frequent changes in speed limits and potential traffic signals as you leave the highway system.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 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?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near South Parkway East.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 210.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.4 miles (South Parkway East): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles (Sam Cooper Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 179.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Thompson's Station, 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 3h 57m. Total distance: 210.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (16%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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.
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 179.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Thompson's Station, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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