If you are planning to travel from Savannah to Memphis, you are looking at a 116.3-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 9 minutes. This trip stays entirely within Tennessee, moving you through the Southeast region. Because the duration is relatively short, it is easily manageable as a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $17 for fuel to complete the transit. Since there are no designated stops on this route, you have the freedom to decide your own pace throughout the drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.4 miles from Savannah, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East Market Street
49.1 mi
1h 2m
West Cherry Avenue
22.4 mi
26m
US 64
16.3 mi
23m
I 40
13.3 mi
16m
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
7 mi
8m
Bridge Avenue
4 mi
6m
Mulberry Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Water Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
East Market Street
— 49.1 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Savannah, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on Guinn Street
312 ft·16 sec·Guinn Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto Water Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·Water Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 64; SR 69
4.0 mi·6 min·Bridge Avenue
4
Continue on US 64; SR 22; SR 69
16 mi·23 min·US 64; SR 22; SR 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
334 ft·9 sec
6
Turn right onto US 64 Business
1.5 mi·2 min·Mulberry Avenue
7
Continue on US 64 Business
22 mi·26 min·West Cherry Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 64
49 mi·1 hr 2 min·East Market Street
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward Memphis
10
Merge onto I 40
7.0 mi·8 min·Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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
12
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.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·2 min·I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 1AToward Second Street, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
15
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft·4 sec·Poplar Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the local nature of these roads, try to plan your departure during daylight hours to better navigate the frequent turns. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as the 2-hour and 9-minute duration allows you to easily adjust your schedule based on traffic. Since the route lacks formal highway rest areas, make sure to fuel up before you leave Savannah to keep your $17 budget on track. Keep an eye on your GPS closely, as the lack of highway stretches means you will be relying on local signage and turn-by-turn navigation for the entire 116.3 miles.
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 57.4 miles from Savannah, TN, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.1 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 25 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.4 miles or 1h 15m 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 2m
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 Savannah, 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 Savannah, TN
This is one driving day of about 114.8 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Savannah, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East Market Street for about 49.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 114.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Water Street
At end of road, turn right onto Water Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
100.9 mi into trip|~2h 10m 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
101.1 mi into trip|~2h 10m 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
112.2 mi into trip|~2h 24m 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
114.3 mi into trip|~2h 26m 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
$17.95 one way
$35.90 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.71
$39.41
premium
$4.89
$22.09
$44.18
diesel
$5.61
$25.35
$50.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.4
0
$12.05
$5.51
Efficient EV
28.7
0
$10.05
$4.59
EV Truck/SUV
45.9
0
$16.07
$7.35
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
Savannah, TN
Night
in Savannah on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Memphis, TN
Night
in Memphis on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Whiteville, TN
57 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
22 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
2h 28m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that relies on surface streets rather than interstates. You will spend your time navigating roads like Water Street, Bridge Avenue, and Mulberry Avenue, as this route features a 0% highway share. Because there is no highway travel, the longest uninterrupted stretch on Water Street is 0 miles, meaning you will need to stay focused on frequent turns. This is not a high-speed interstate cruise, but rather a winding local trip that requires your full attention behind the wheel.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.1 mi on East Market Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Water 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 114.8 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 0.1 miles (Water Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 100.9 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 101.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
502 ft250 ft
Total Climb
224 ft
Total Descent
406 ft
Highest Point
502 ft
~8.2 mi in
Elevation Range
252 ft
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 Savannah, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 28m. Total distance: 114.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.1 miles on East Market Street. 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Water Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 100.9 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 101.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Memphis, TN before heading back.
