Driving from Union City to Memphis covers 110.6 miles through the heart of West Tennessee. You can expect a travel time of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, making this a straightforward day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your journey will take you primarily along US 51, North Main Avenue, and West Reelfoot Boulevard. Budget about $17 for fuel to complete the trip. Because the drive is relatively short and stays entirely within the Southeast region, it offers a manageable pace for travelers looking to move between these two Tennessee hubs without the exhaustion of a cross-country trek.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
55.3 miles from Union City, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 51
40.3 mi
58m
North Main Avenue
37.1 mi
48m
West Reelfoot Boulevard
28.3 mi
33m
West Reelfoot Avenue
2.3 mi
3m
South 1st 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
Longest stretch:
US 51
— 40.3 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on East Church Street
74 ft·10 sec·East Church Street
2
Turn left onto TN 5; TN 21
0.7 mi·1 min·South 1st Street
3
Turn right onto TN 431
2.3 mi·3 min·West Reelfoot Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 51
28 mi·33 min·West Reelfoot Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto US 51
1.0 mi·1 min·US 51
Toward US 51 South, US 412 East: Dyersburg, Jackson
6
Take the exit onto US 51
2.5 mi·4 min·US 51
Toward US 51 South: DyersburgUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto US 51 Bus
0.4 mi·42 sec·North Sampson Avenue
8
Turn right onto US 51 Bus
0.2 mi·25 sec·Gordon Street
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 51 Bus
0.4 mi·47 sec·Troy Avenue
10
Turn left onto US 51 Bus; SR 104
178 ft·5 sec·McGaughey Street
11
Turn right onto US 51 Bus; SR 104
37 mi·48 min·North Main Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 51; TN 59
37 mi·52 min·US 51; TN 59
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 51
0.6 mi·1 min·North Danny Thomas Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto Poplar Avenue
0.3 mi·35 sec·Poplar Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 2.5-hour journey, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to depart whenever suits you best. Plan for at least one stop along the way to break up the 110.6-mile trip and stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as setting aside $17 should comfortably cover your gas needs for the duration. Given the reliance on US 51, monitor traffic patterns as you near Memphis to ensure your arrival goes smoothly. Taking advantage of the single recommended stop early in the drive will help keep you alert for the final transition into the city.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 55.3 miles from Union City, TN, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.3 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 24 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.3 miles or 1h 12m 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 1m
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 Union City, 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 Union City, TN
This is one driving day of about 110.6 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Union City, 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 US 51 for about 40.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
3.6 mi from route
~9 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 55.3
Ripley, Tennessee
Hours: 12–7 pm
+17314602592
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 0 and 35.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|TN 5; TN 21 / South 1st Street
Turn left onto TN 5; TN 21 / South 1st Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|TN 431 / West Reelfoot Avenue
Turn right onto TN 431 / West Reelfoot Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
31.2 mi into trip|~39m 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
32.2 mi into trip|~40m 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
5
35.7 mi into trip|~47m 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
$17.29 one way
$34.58 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.98
$37.97
premium
$4.89
$21.28
$42.57
diesel
$5.61
$24.42
$48.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.2
0
$11.61
$5.31
Efficient EV
27.7
0
$9.68
$4.42
EV Truck/SUV
44.2
0
$15.48
$7.08
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 18, 2026
Origin
Union City, TN
Night
in Union City on Saturday
Local time
11:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Memphis, TN
Night
in Memphis on Saturday
Local time
11:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Cloudy
SSW 10 to 15 mph10% chanceLive forecast
78°F
Covington, TN
55 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
10 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 30m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 trip features a mixed driving profile, balancing local navigation with regional highway travel. You will spend roughly 36% of your time on highways, providing a blend of steady cruising and slower-paced town driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 40.3 miles on US 51, which serves as the backbone of your route. Expect the character of the road to shift as you transition from the smaller streets of Union City onto the more consistent highway segments before eventually navigating the approach into Memphis.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.3 mi on US 51.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TN 5; TN 21 / South 1st Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 30m 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: near the start (TN 5; TN 21 / South 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (TN 431 / West Reelfoot Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.2 miles (US 51): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Union City, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson 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.
The longest stretch is about 40.3 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: near the start (TN 5; TN 21 / South 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (TN 431 / West Reelfoot Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.2 miles (US 51): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Memphis, TN before heading back.
