Connecting Paris to Memphis, this 141.3-mile journey takes you across Tennessee in approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes. Because the drive is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Highland Drive, Austin Peay Memorial Highway, and I-40 to complete the trek. Budgeting around $21 for fuel should comfortably cover your transit between these two Southeast cities. Whether you are heading to Memphis for business or leisure, this route offers a straightforward, efficient path across the state.
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
70.6 miles from Paris, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
82.5 mi
1h 32m
Highland Drive
18.1 mi
26m
Austin Peay Memorial Highway
13.2 mi
15m
Medina Highway
11 mi
14m
US 45E
7.6 mi
11m
Atwood Highway
2.8 mi
4m
South 1st Street
2 mi
4m
East Van Hook Street
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 82.5 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paris, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on SR 54; SR 69
96 ft·5 sec·West Wood Street
2
Turn right onto US 641
0.2 mi·20 sec·South Market Street
3
Continue on SR 77
0.7 mi·1 min·Veterans Drive
4
Turn right onto US 79
0.4 mi·41 sec·Tyson Avenue
5
Continue on US 79
13 mi·15 min·Austin Peay Memorial Highway
6
Continue on US 79
18 mi·26 min·Highland Drive
7
Continue on US 70A; US 79
0.7 mi·1 min·Atwood Highway
8
Continue on US 70A; US 79
2.1 mi·3 min·Atwood Highway
9
Continue on US 70A; US 79
2.0 mi·3 min·East Van Hook Street
10
Turn left onto US 45E
2.0 mi·4 min·South 1st Street
11
Continue on US 45E
11 mi·14 min·Medina Highway
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 45E
7.6 mi·11 min·US 45E
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
14
Merge onto I 40; US 412
69 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 40; US 412
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto I 40
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 40
Exit 10A-BToward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
11 mi·13 min·I 40
Exit 10BToward I 40 West: Little RockUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·2 min·I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 1AToward Second Street, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
19
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft·4 sec·Poplar Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
Planning for this trip is simple, as you only need to account for one planned stop over the course of the three-hour drive. Leaving early in the day is always a smart move to avoid congestion as you approach the Memphis metropolitan area. Since the fuel cost is a modest $21, you won't need to worry about complex refueling logistics along the way. Use the flexibility of this short duration to time your departure around your personal schedule rather than worrying about mid-trip lodging. As a specific tip, keep a close watch on your navigation when transitioning from the Austin Peay Memorial Highway to the I-40 interchange to ensure a smooth transition onto the interstate.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.6 miles from Paris, TN, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.5 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 31 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.6 miles or 1h 35m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Memphis, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Paris, 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 Paris, TN
This is one driving day of about 141.3 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Paris, 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 I 40 for about 82.5 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 0 and 140.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 641 / South Market Street
Turn right onto US 641 / South Market Street
Navigation decision point
6
127.5 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|I 40
Take the exit onto I 40 toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 10A-B
Toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississip...
8
127.6 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10B
Toward I 40 West: Little Rock
6
138.7 mi into trip|~2h 51m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8
140.8 mi into trip|~2h 54m in
Take the exit toward Second Street, Third Street
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 1A
Toward Second Street, Third Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.09 one way
$44.18 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.25
$48.51
premium
$4.89
$27.19
$54.38
diesel
$5.61
$31.20
$62.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.4
0
$14.84
$6.78
Efficient EV
35.3
0
$12.36
$5.65
EV Truck/SUV
56.5
0
$19.78
$9.04
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (65% 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Paris, TN
Late night
in Paris on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Memphis, TN
Late night
in Memphis on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 55m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 64% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on major thoroughfares. The journey features a significant 82.5-mile stretch on I-40, which serves as the backbone of your travel and allows for steady, uninterrupted progress. While the initial segments involve local roads like Highland Drive and Austin Peay Memorial Highway, the character of the drive shifts once you merge onto the interstate. You can anticipate a consistent, fast-paced rhythm that defines most of the trip, making it a functional rather than technical drive.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Highland Drive. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 641 / South Market Street.
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 141.3 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: near the start (US 641 / South Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 127.5 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Paris, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Paris is a city of 10,000 people (2019) in Western Tennessee. Visitors come to see the 70-foot (21 m) replica of the Eiffel Tower and for the "World's Biggest Fish Fry."
Memphis is the second largest city in the state of Tennessee, after Nashville. The state rests in the southeastern portion of the United States. Memphis, with a population of more than 651,000 (2019), is also the county seat for Shelby County. The city's claims to fame include Graceland, the mansion Elvis Presley lived in during his later years. Perhaps more importantly, Memphis is considered by many to be the home of blues music.
Top landmarks
•Graceland — mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, United States; former residence of Elvis Presley
•Blues Hall of Fame — award by Blues Foundation, since 2015 also a music museum in Memphis, Tennessee
•National Civil Rights Museum — hotel that was site of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., now a museum
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 141.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.5 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Memphis, 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: near the start (US 641 / South Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 127.5 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Donelson National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Memphis, TN before heading back.
