If you are planning a trip from Waverly to Memphis, you can expect a journey covering 161.7 miles. This route typically takes about 2 hours and 33 minutes to complete, making it a manageable day trip rather than an overnight commitment. You will navigate through local roads like Highway 13, North Court Square, and South Church Street, keeping your fuel costs at approximately $24. Since both locations are firmly within the Southeast, you will remain in a familiar regional landscape throughout the drive. This trip is best suited for those who prefer a direct, local transit experience over a long-haul interstate haul.
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
80.8 miles from Waverly, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
145.1 mi
2h 39m
State Highway 13
15.3 mi
22m
South Church Street
0.3 mi
<1m
North 2nd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Court Square
<0.1 mi
<1m
Mill Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Poplar Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 145.1 mi, about 2h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waverly, TN and Memphis, TN.
1
Start on Mill Street
253 ft·16 sec·Mill Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto North Court Square
330 ft·11 sec·North Court Square
3
Turn right onto TN 13
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Church Street
4
Continue on TN 13
15 mi·22 min·State Highway 13
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
6
Merge onto I 40
132 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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
8
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.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·2 min·I 40
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 1AToward Second Street, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto Poplar Avenue
202 ft·4 sec·Poplar Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Poplar Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 33 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time to avoid local congestion. Since this is a relatively short trip, one well-timed stop is all you really need to reach Memphis comfortably. Keep in mind that your fuel budget is roughly $24, so it is wise to fuel up in Waverly before you get moving. Prioritize steady pacing to manage the turn-heavy nature of the route effectively. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep a close eye on your navigation through the local road segments, as the transition between North Court Square, South Church Street, and Highway 13 requires careful attention to signage.
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 80.8 miles from Waverly, TN, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.1 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 36 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.8 miles or 1h 34m 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 30m
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 Waverly, 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 Waverly, TN
This is one driving day of about 161.6 miles and 3h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Waverly, 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 145.1 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 161.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Court Square
At end of road, turn left onto North Court Square
Navigation decision point
6
147.8 mi into trip|~2h 47m 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
147.9 mi into trip|~2h 47m 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
159 mi into trip|~3h 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
161.1 mi into trip|~3h 3m 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
$25.26 one way
$50.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.74
$55.48
premium
$4.89
$31.10
$62.20
diesel
$5.61
$35.68
$71.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.5
0
$16.97
$7.76
Efficient EV
40.4
0
$14.14
$6.46
EV Truck/SUV
64.6
0
$22.62
$10.34
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Waverly, TN
Morning
in Waverly on Tuesday
Local time
7:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Memphis, TN
Morning
in Memphis on Tuesday
Local time
7:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Cloudy
SSW 10 to 15 mph10% chanceLive forecast
77°F
Jackson, TN
81 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
11 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
3h 4m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features 0% highway driving, meaning you will be navigating local connections for the entire 161.7-mile stretch. Because of the nature of these local roads, the longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on North Court Square. The character of the drive is defined by frequent turns and varied local road conditions rather than high-speed cruising. Stay alert, as the technical nature of these roads requires constant focus compared to a standard highway path.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and State Highway 13. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Court Square.
Driving Effort5/10
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 161.6 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (North Court Square): Navigation decision point; at 147.8 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.9 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 Waverly, TN to Memphis, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Waverly, the county seat of Humphreys County in Central Tennessee, is like the typical sleepy Southern town with charm. It has points of interest covering a large spectrum of time, from the prehistoric era to the Civil War to contemporary culture.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 4m. Total distance: 161.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 4m 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 145.1 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.
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 (North Court Square): Navigation decision point; at 147.8 miles (I 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Donelson National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Memphis, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
