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Trip from Somerville, 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

1h

Distance

45.4 mi

73 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 55m ★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Tennessee, United States

Somerville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Shelby County, Tennessee, United States

Memphis, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick transition from the quiet of Somerville to the city energy of Memphis, this 45.4-mile trip is an ideal day outing. You can expect to reach your destination in about 50 minutes, making it a very manageable drive for a morning or afternoon excursion. With a fuel budget of just $7, it is an incredibly cost-effective way to move between these two Tennessee towns. Because the entire journey takes less than an hour, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay; you can easily head out and return on your own schedule. The route keeps you firmly within the Southeast region, offering a straightforward connection that requires zero stops along the way. It is a practical, no-fuss trip that gets you from point A to point B with maximum efficiency.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 64 24.3 mi 34m
I 40 13.3 mi 16m
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway 7 mi 8m
North 2nd Street 0.2 mi <1m
Poplar Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 64 — 24.3 mi, about 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Somerville, TN and Memphis, TN.

1

Start on US 64

24 mi · 34 min · US 64
2

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 31 sec
Toward Memphis
3

Merge onto I 40

7.0 mi · 8 min · Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

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
5

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.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 1A Toward Second Street, Third Street Use the slight right lane.
8

Continue on North 2nd Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Turn left onto Poplar Avenue

202 ft · 4 sec · Poplar Avenue
10

Arrive at destination

Poplar Avenue

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lakeland, TN

23 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.

Popular next leg

Lakeland, TN to Memphis, TN

23.7 mi · 29m

Pacing Suggestions

Oakland, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lakeland, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 22.7 miles from Somerville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 24.6 and 44.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
24.6 mi into trip | ~34m in | I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway

Merge onto I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
31.6 mi into trip | ~42m 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
31.7 mi into trip | ~42m 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
42.8 mi into trip | ~56m 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
44.9 mi into trip | ~59m 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

$7.10 one way

$14.20 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $7.79 $15.59
premium $4.89 $8.74 $17.47
diesel $5.61 $10.02 $20.05

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.6 0 $4.77 $2.18
Efficient EV 11.4 0 $3.97 $1.82
EV Truck/SUV 18.2 0 $6.36 $2.91

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (69% 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

Somerville, TN

Night in Somerville on Saturday

Local time

9:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°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

56°F

Lakeland, TN

23 mi in

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

1h 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate your way toward Memphis. You will traverse a combination of surface streets and segments of the Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway before merging onto I-240 West. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route keeps you engaged with its winding local character and varied road types. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a driving experience defined by intersections and local traffic rather than high-speed cruising. Since the longest uninterrupted stretch on Memphis is 0 miles, you will find that the road conditions change frequently, requiring you to remain alert and ready for turns throughout the entire 50-minute duration.

83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.3 mi on US 64.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.6 miles in near I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.4 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 24.6 miles (I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.6 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.7 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 Somerville, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.

Little Rock

31.6 mi in | ~42m | 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 1h. Total distance: 45.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 24.3 miles on US 64. 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.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 24.6 miles (I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.6 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.7 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.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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