Traveling from Ridgely to Memphis covers 114.9 miles across the southeastern corner of Tennessee. You should budget approximately 1 hour and 52 minutes for this transit, making it a perfectly manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. With a fuel cost estimate of $17, the journey is quite budget-friendly for a solo driver or a small group. You will navigate primarily through local roads, as this route avoids highway travel entirely. Because the drive is relatively short, it offers the flexibility to head out in the morning and arrive in the city by midday. Since both locations are situated within the Southeast region, you will remain in a familiar geographic context throughout the entire duration of the trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.6 miles from Ridgely, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
United States Route 51
76.1 mi
1h 44m
State Route 78
14.1 mi
19m
Lake Road
1.1 mi
2m
North Danny Thomas Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
Poplar Street
0.5 mi
1m
Poplar Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
South Headden Drive
0.3 mi
<1m
South Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
United States Route 51
— 76.1 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgely, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on this road
61 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Depot Street
155 ft·6 sec·Depot Street
3
Turn right onto South Main Street
211 ft·11 sec·South Main Street
4
Turn left onto Poplar Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Poplar Street
5
Turn right onto TN 78
0.3 mi·26 sec·South Headden Drive
6
Continue on TN 78
14 mi·19 min·State Route 78
7
Continue on TN 78
1.1 mi·2 min·Lake Road
8
Turn right onto US 51
76 mi·1 hr 44 min·United States Route 51
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 51
0.6 mi·1 min·North Danny Thomas Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto Poplar Avenue
0.3 mi·35 sec·Poplar Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 114.9-mile trek, you have plenty of scheduling freedom to depart whenever suits your itinerary best. You won't need to worry about complex stop planning since the route is designed to be completed in one go without mandatory breaks. Before you head out, ensure your vehicle is fueled up, as the $17 estimate assumes a direct trip without unnecessary detours. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, keep your GPS updated to navigate the transition between Depot, South Main, and Poplar Streets accurately. Embracing the lack of highway miles means you can enjoy a more grounded pace, so keep your eyes on the local signage as you make your way toward Memphis.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.6 miles from Ridgely, TN, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.1 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 20 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.6 miles or 1h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 46m
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 Ridgely, 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 Ridgely, TN
This is one driving day of about 93.1 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Ridgely, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on United States Route 51 for about 76.1 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 16.1 — 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|Depot Street
Turn right onto Depot Street
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Main Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Poplar Street
Turn left onto Poplar Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|TN 78 / South Headden Drive
Turn right onto TN 78 / South Headden Drive
Navigation decision point
4
16.1 mi into trip|~24m in|US 51 / United States Route 51
Turn right onto US 51 / United States Route 51
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.56 one way
$29.11 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.98
$31.96
premium
$4.89
$17.92
$35.83
diesel
$5.61
$20.56
$41.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.9
0
$9.78
$4.47
Efficient EV
23.3
0
$8.15
$3.72
EV Truck/SUV
37.2
0
$13.03
$5.96
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Ridgely, TN
Late night
in Ridgely on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Memphis, TN
Late night
in Memphis on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph60% chanceLive forecast
78°F
Covington, TN
47 mi in
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
26 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 10m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. You will navigate via Depot Street, South Main Street, and Poplar Street rather than cruising along high-speed interstates. With a 0% highway share, the experience is defined by constant maneuvering rather than long, monotonous stretches of pavement. In fact, your longest uninterrupted stretch on Depot Street is 0 miles, confirming that this is an active, hands-on driving experience. As you transition from the local streets of Ridgely into the urban environment of Memphis, the road surface and traffic density will require you to stay alert and ready for frequent adjustments.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.1 mi on United States Route 51.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on United States Route 51 and State Route 78. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Depot Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ridgely, TN to Memphis, TN is easy. At 2h 10m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Depot Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Poplar Street): Navigation decision point.
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.
The longest stretch is about 76.1 miles on United States Route 51. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (Depot Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Poplar Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Memphis, TN before heading back.
