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Trip from Troy, TN to Memphis, TN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 15m

Distance

101.7 mi

164 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 7m ★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 24m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 10m

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

town in Tennessee, United States

Troy, TN

Wikimedia Commons

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

Memphis, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Troy to Memphis is 101.7 miles and takes about 2h 15m via US 51, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region toward the major city of Memphis. It's a relatively short trip, mostly on highways, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. You'll likely find it a practical way to get from point A to point B without significant detours.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

50.9 miles from Troy, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 51 61.8 mi 1h 21m
North Main Avenue 37.1 mi 48m
Main Street 0.7 mi 1m
North Danny Thomas Boulevard 0.6 mi 1m
Troy Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
North Sampson Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
Poplar Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Gordon Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 51 — 61.8 mi, about 1h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on SR 184

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
2

Take the ramp

219 ft · 6 sec
Toward US 51 South: Dyersburg
3

Merge onto US 51

22 mi · 23 min · US 51
4

Take the exit onto US 51

1.0 mi · 1 min · US 51
Toward US 51 South, US 412 East: Dyersburg, Jackson
5

Take the exit onto US 51

2.5 mi · 4 min · US 51
Toward US 51 South: Dyersburg Use the slight right lane.
6

Turn right onto US 51 Bus

0.4 mi · 42 sec · North Sampson Avenue
7

Turn right onto US 51 Bus

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Gordon Street
8

At end of road, turn left onto US 51 Bus

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Troy Avenue
9

Turn left onto US 51 Bus; SR 104

178 ft · 5 sec · McGaughey Street
10

Turn right onto US 51 Bus; SR 104

37 mi · 48 min · North Main Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Continue on US 51; TN 59

37 mi · 52 min · US 51; TN 59
Use the straight lane.
12

Continue on US 51

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Danny Thomas Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13

Turn right onto Poplar Avenue

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Poplar Avenue
14

Arrive at destination

Poplar Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the 2h 15m duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive in Memphis with plenty of time to settle in or begin exploring. The fuel cost is estimated at $16, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing Troy. While there are no specific stops noted, a drive of this length means you can easily pull over for a quick break if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 61.8-mile stretch on US 51 where services might be less frequent.

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 50.9 miles from Troy, TN, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.8 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 22 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 50.9 miles or 1h 4m 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 49m

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 Troy, 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 Troy, TN

This is one driving day of about 101.7 miles and 2h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Troy, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 51 for about 61.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Tipton County, Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Covington, TN

51 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

Dyersburg, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ripley, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 50.9 miles from Troy, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 51 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.8 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 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 22.4 and 26.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
22.4 mi into trip | ~24m in | US 51

Take the exit onto US 51 toward US 51 South, US 412 East: Dyersburg, Jackson

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 51 South, US 412 East: Dyersburg, Jac...
6
23.4 mi into trip | ~26m in | US 51

Take the exit onto US 51 toward US 51 South: Dyersburg

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 51 South: Dyersburg
4
26.4 mi into trip | ~31m in | US 51 Bus / Troy Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto US 51 Bus / Troy Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
26.8 mi into trip | ~32m in | US 51 Bus; SR 104 / McGaughey Street

Turn left onto US 51 Bus; SR 104 / McGaughey Street

Navigation decision point

5
26.9 mi into trip | ~32m in | US 51 Bus; SR 104 / North Main Avenue

Turn right onto US 51 Bus; SR 104 / North Main Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.90 one way

$31.80 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $17.46 $34.91
premium $4.89 $19.57 $39.14
diesel $5.61 $22.45 $44.91

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.5 0 $10.68 $4.88
Efficient EV 25.4 0 $8.90 $4.07
EV Truck/SUV 40.7 0 $14.24 $6.51

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 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 20, 2026

Origin

Troy, TN

Morning in Troy on Tuesday

Local time

7:13 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Memphis, TN

Morning in Memphis on Tuesday

Local time

7:13 AM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

57°F

Covington, TN

51 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 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 15m 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?

This route is 61% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. The longest stretch on US 51 covers 61.8 miles. As you approach Memphis, expect the highway to transition into more urban surface streets like North Main Avenue and Main Street, likely with more frequent intersections and traffic signals. The profile is mostly highway, suggesting a generally smooth and consistent driving experience for most of the trip.

61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.8 mi on US 51.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 51 and North Main Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 22.4 miles in near US 51.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 15m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 22.4 miles (US 51): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.4 miles (US 51): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles (US 51 Bus / Troy Avenue): Navigation decision point.

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 Troy, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.

Jackson

22.4 mi in | ~24m | via US 51

About the Cities

Starting in Troy, TN

Full guide →

Founded 1825

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.

Top landmarks

  • Graceland — mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, United States; former residence of Elvis Presley
  • Blues Hall of Fame — award by Blues Foundation, since 2015 also a music museum in Memphis, Tennessee
  • National Civil Rights Museum — hotel that was site of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., now a museum

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 2h 15m. Total distance: 101.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (61%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 61.8 miles on US 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: at 22.4 miles (US 51): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.4 miles (US 51): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles (US 51 Bus / Troy Avenue): Navigation decision point.

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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