This 147.8-mile drive from Paris, TN to New South Memphis, TN will take approximately 2 hours and 27 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $22, it's an economical option for exploring the Southeast region. You'll navigate through local roads for the entirety of the journey, so expect a more hands-on driving experience. This route is ideal if you're looking for a straightforward connection between two points within Tennessee without the need for an overnight stay.
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
71.6 miles from Paris, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
69.2 mi
1h 15m
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
Avron B Fogelman Expressway
4.5 mi
6m
W B Fowler Senior Expressway
3.7 mi
5m
Atwood Highway
2.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 69.2 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paris, TN and New South 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
Continue on Sam Cooper Boulevard
1.6 mi·2 min·Sam Cooper Boulevard
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 9Toward Perkins RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto North Perkins Road
1.1 mi·1 min·North Perkins Road
18
Continue on Perkins Extended
1.3 mi·2 min·Perkins Extended
19
Continue on South Perkins Road
2.3 mi·3 min·South Perkins Road
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 240 West
21
Merge onto I 240
4.5 mi·6 min·Avron B Fogelman Expressway
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on I 240
3.7 mi·5 min·W B Fowler Senior Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Exit 7Toward US 61: Vicksburg, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 61 North: Third StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
25
Turn straight onto US 61
0.4 mi·36 sec·South Third Street
26
Arrive at destination
US 61
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 27-minute duration, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Consider departing in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you approach New South Memphis. Since there are no designated stops and the drive is relatively short, you have the flexibility to make impromptu breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads can sometimes have fewer service stations than major highways. A good tip for this route is to familiarize yourself with the main roads like South Market Street and Veterans Drive beforehand, as they form the backbone of your journey.
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 71.6 miles from Paris, TN, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.2 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 32 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.6 miles or 1h 36m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New South 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 143.2 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 69.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 142.6 — 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
5
58 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
7
129 mi into trip|~2h 39m in
Take the exit toward Perkins Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9
Toward Perkins Road
8
142.5 mi into trip|~2h 59m in
Take the exit toward US 61: Vicksburg, 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 7
Toward US 61: Vicksburg, Third Street
8
142.6 mi into trip|~2h 59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 61 North: Third Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 61 North: Third Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.39 one way
$44.78 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.58
$49.16
premium
$4.89
$27.56
$55.12
diesel
$5.61
$31.62
$63.23
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: 50.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43
0
$15.04
$6.87
Efficient EV
35.8
0
$12.53
$5.73
EV Truck/SUV
57.3
0
$20.05
$9.16
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Paris, TN
Afternoon
in Paris on Sunday
Local time
4:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New South Memphis, TN
Afternoon
in New South Memphis on Sunday
Local time
4:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°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
5 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
3h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by its turn-heavy local drive, with a 0% highway share. You'll primarily be on South Market Street, Veterans Drive, and Tyson Avenue, which means you'll be interacting with local traffic and intersections frequently. There isn't a 'longest stretch' noted, suggesting a consistent pattern of turns and road changes. Be prepared for a driving experience that requires your full attention, as you won't have long stretches of highway to relax into.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.2 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 early in the drive near US 641 / South Market Street.
Driving Effort8/10
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 143.2 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 58 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 129 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 143.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.2 miles on I 40. 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 South 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 58 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 129 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at New South Memphis, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
