Three Way, TN to Memphis, TN is 91.4 miles and takes about 1h 45m via I 40, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive entirely within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Given its relatively short distance and highway focus, this route is ideal for a single-day trip. You'll find it to be a practical and efficient way to get from point A to point B, with minimal fuss. Consider this an easy transit day, perfect for when you want to reach your destination without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.7 miles from Three Way, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
82.5 mi
1h 32m
US 45W
7.8 mi
10m
Sanders Road
0.4 mi
1m
North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Poplar Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 82.5 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Three Way, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on Sanders Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Sanders Road
2
Turn right onto US 45W
7.8 mi·10 min·US 45W
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
4
Merge onto I 40; US 412
69 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 40; US 412
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
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
6
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.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·2 min·I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 1AToward Second Street, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
9
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft·4 sec·Poplar Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just under two hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility for when you choose to depart. Leaving Three Way, TN any time in the morning or early afternoon will get you to Memphis with plenty of daylight to spare. Since the longest stretch on I 40 is 82.5 miles, plan for your fuel stop before you begin this segment if you're running low, as services can be spread out on interstates. There are no specific stops recommended, so you can easily push through to Memphis if you prefer. This short drive means you can easily adjust your plans on the fly if needed.
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 45.7 miles from Three Way, TN, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.5 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 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.7 miles or 53m 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 25m
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 Three Way, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Three Way, TN
This is one driving day of about 91.4 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Three Way, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 82.5 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.1 and 90.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.1 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
77.6 mi into trip|~1h 28m 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
77.7 mi into trip|~1h 28m 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
88.8 mi into trip|~1h 41m 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
90.9 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
$14.29 one way
$28.58 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.69
$31.38
premium
$4.89
$17.59
$35.18
diesel
$5.61
$20.18
$40.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.4
0
$9.60
$4.39
Efficient EV
22.9
0
$8.00
$3.66
EV Truck/SUV
36.6
0
$12.80
$5.85
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Three Way, TN
Late night
in Three Way on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Memphis, TN
Late night
in Memphis on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Arlington, TN
46 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
21 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
1h 45m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 99% of the journey taking place on major roadways like I 40 and US 45W. You'll experience a consistent pace for the majority of the trip, with your longest uninterrupted stretch being 82.5 miles on I 40. The route is designed for efficient travel, meaning you'll encounter fewer turns and more consistent speed limits. Sanders Road is a brief segment that might offer a slight change of scenery before rejoining the main highways. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding country roads.
99% 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: 82.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 45W. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8.1 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 8.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 77.6 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.7 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 Three Way, 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 1h 45m. Total distance: 91.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.5 miles on I 40. 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 8.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 77.6 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.7 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.
