The Best Route From Nashville to Memphis, Plus Scenic Alternatives

The Interstate Option: I-40 West

Interstate 40 is the route most drivers choose, and for good reason. It runs almost directly between Nashville and Memphis, with minimal backtracking and consistent speed limits that make the drive predictable from start to finish.

Drive Time and Distance

The distance works out to about 210 miles, and under normal conditions the drive takes around 3 hours and 15 minutes. That said, actual drive time can shift depending on construction, traffic near either city, or weather. If you want a closer breakdown of mileage and timing, How Far Is Nashville to Memphis? Distance, Drive Time and Best Stops covers the specifics in more detail.

What You’ll Pass Along the Way

I-40 West takes you through or near several mid-size Tennessee towns, including Jackson, which sits roughly at the halfway point and makes a sensible place to stop for gas, food, or a quick break. The route is largely flat and open, which makes for easy driving even on longer stretches.

The Scenic Alternative: US-70

For travelers who aren’t in a hurry, US-70 runs a similar east-west path but dips into smaller towns and rural stretches that I-40 bypasses entirely.

When It’s Worth the Detour

This route makes sense if your goal is the drive itself rather than just the destination. Expect slower speeds, more stoplights, and a noticeably longer trip, but also a chance to see parts of rural Tennessee that most interstate travelers never encounter. It’s not the route to pick if you’re short on time, but for a relaxed day of driving, it’s a worthwhile detour from the usual interstate option.

Planning Stops Along the Way

Whichever route you choose, a drive of this length benefits from at least one planned stop, both to break up the driving and to see something besides highway scenery.

Good Places to Break Up the Drive

Jackson, Tennessee is the most natural stopping point on I-40, sitting close to the midpoint of the drive. If you’re on US-70, smaller towns along the way offer local restaurants and a slower pace that fits the scenic route’s purpose. For a closer look at where to stop and how to time them, Road Trip From Nashville to Memphis: Route, Stops, and Timing walks through the options in more depth.

Timing Your Trip Right

The best route from Nashville to Memphis can change depending on when you’re driving. Rush hour near either city, seasonal weather, or road construction can all add time to an otherwise simple drive.

Traffic and Weather Considerations

Leaving outside of peak commute hours in both Nashville and Memphis generally keeps the drive close to its expected time. If you’re trying to figure out the best time of year or day to make this trip, The Best Time to Drive from Nashville to Memphis breaks down what to expect across different seasons.

This kind of planning isn’t unique to Tennessee drives, either. Plenty of shorter, well-traveled routes come with their own timing quirks worth knowing in advance, as we covered in Drive From Philly to Boston: Route, Time, and Best Stops.

Where Journey Builder Fits In

A drive this straightforward doesn’t necessarily need a full day-by-day itinerary, but if you’re folding it into a longer road trip with multiple stops, overnight stays, or activities planned along the way, Journey Builder can take over the logistics. If your Nashville-to-Memphis drive is just one leg of a bigger trip, Be among the first to plan with Journey Builder and see how it handles the rest of the planning.

Whether you stick to I-40 for speed or take US-70 for the scenery, the drive between Nashville and Memphis is manageable in a single day either way. The right choice just depends on how much time you have and what kind of trip you’re after.