Origin
Smithville, TN
Night in Smithville on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Smithville, TN to Memphis, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 19m
Distance
276.7 mi
445 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 6m
★
6 AM
5h 19m
8 AM
5h 46m
10 AM
5h 28m
12 PM
5h 26m
3 PM
5h 30m
5 PM
5h 45m
8 PM
5h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smithville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Memphis, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Smithville to Memphis covers a 276.7-mile cross-state journey that typically takes about 5 hours and 19 minutes. Because the route is primarily highway-focused, you can comfortably complete the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $41 for fuel for this one-way drive across Tennessee. Navigating through the Southeast, you will utilize Sparta Pike and Nashville Highway before transitioning onto the interstate system. This is a practical, straightforward trek that serves as an efficient connection between the eastern and western portions of the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
138.4 miles from Smithville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 239 mi | 4h 22m |
| Sparta Pike | 15.4 mi | 21m |
| Nashville Highway | 13.3 mi | 20m |
| Downtown Loop | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Old Nashville Highway | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| East Broad Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| South 3rd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North 2nd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 239 mi, about 4h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smithville, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on West Market Street
257 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Market Street
2
Turn right onto South 3rd Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
South 3rd Street
3
Turn right onto US 70
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East Broad Street
4
Continue on US 70
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Nashville Highway
5
Continue on US 70
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Nashville Highway
6
Continue on US 70
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Nashville Highway
7
Continue on US 70; SR 96
13 mi
·
19 min
·
Nashville Highway
8
Continue on US 70
15 mi
·
21 min
·
Sparta Pike
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 40 West: Nashville
10
Merge onto I 40
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
I 40
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 40
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
Use the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto I 40
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 40
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Downtown Loop
Exit 210A
Toward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, Louisville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
197 mi
·
3 hr 33 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 West: Memphis
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto I 40
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 40
Exit 10A-B
Toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
11 mi
·
13 min
·
I 40
Exit 10B
Toward I 40 West: Little Rock
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 1A
Toward Second Street, Third Street
Use the slight right lane.
20
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft
·
4 sec
·
Poplar Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 19-minute transit, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the long 239-mile interstate stretch. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential traffic bottlenecks as you traverse the state. Given the $41 fuel estimate, check your levels before hitting the interstate to ensure you don't have to stop in high-traffic areas. Because this is a single-day trip, keep your itinerary flexible so you can adjust your rest breaks based on your personal energy levels and traffic flow.
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 138.4 miles from Smithville, TN, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 239 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 61 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.4 miles or 2h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 22m
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 Smithville, 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 Smithville, TN
This is one driving day of about 276.7 miles and 5h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Smithville, 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 239 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
138 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 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 138.4 miles from Smithville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 239 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 60.6 and 276.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
60.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
8
62.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
7
66 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 West: Memphis
8
263 mi into trip
|
~5h 1m 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
8
276.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 17m 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
$43.26 one way
$86.52 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
97 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $47.50 | $94.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $53.25 | $106.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $61.09 | $122.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83 | 1 | $29.05 | $13.28 |
| Efficient EV | 69.2 | 0 | $24.21 | $11.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 110.7 | 1 | $38.74 | $17.71 |
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Memphis, TN
Night in Memphis on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
17 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
5h 19m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Stones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 47.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed experience, as 86% of your travel time will be spent on major highways. The defining feature of this journey is the 239-mile stretch on I-40, which serves as the primary artery for the majority of the drive. While the initial sections involve local roads like Sparta Pike, the character of the trip shifts quickly once you merge onto the interstate. You should prepare for a consistent, highway-focused pace that requires sustained focus throughout the long, uninterrupted segments of the route.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 239 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Sparta Pike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 60.6 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 276.7 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 60.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,028 ft
258 ft
Total Climb
454 ft
Total Descent
1,224 ft
Highest Point
1,028 ft
Elevation Range
770 ft
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 Smithville, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Louisville along the way.
Louisville
63.8 mi in
|
~1h 24m
|
via I 40
About the Cities
Arriving in Memphis, TN
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 19m. Total distance: 276.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 239 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 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: at 60.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Memphis, TN before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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