Nashville to Memphis distance
Nashville and Memphis are 197 miles (316 km) apart in a straight line and 212 miles (342 km) apart by road: about 3 hr 55 min of driving without stops, mostly on I-40. Below you’ll find the route map, both halfway points, the bearing and where every figure comes from.
By the Mapsfera Team
- By road
- 212 mi (342 km)
- Driving time
- 3 hr 55 min
- Straight line
- 197 mi (316 km)
- Driving route
- Straight line
- Straight-line midpoint
- Halfway by road
Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection centered on the midpoint. Route: FOSSGIS OSRM with data © OpenStreetMap contributors, calculated on October 31, 2026; simplified line.
The figures
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| Straight line | 197 mi (316 km) geodesic on the WGS84 ellipsoid |
| By road | 212 mi (342 km) fastest driving route (OSRM) |
| Driving time | 3 hr 55 min no stops, no traffic |
| Road detour | +8% 1.08 times the straight line |
| Average speed | 54 mph (87 km/h) along the route, without stops |
| Bearing | 250° (west) leaving Nashville toward Memphis |
| Midpoint | 35.6688° N, 88.4271° W near Huron (Tennessee) |
| Halfway by road | Near Parker's Crossroads (Tennessee) 106 mi from each city by road |
| Time difference | None both share the same time |
| Elevation | Nashville: 555 ft (169 m) · Memphis: 259 ft (79 m) USGS 3DEP |
| Population | Nashville: 721,074 · Memphis: 609,647 Census Bureau estimate for 2025 |
Nashville to Memphis by road
The fastest driving route is 212 miles (342 km) long and takes about 3 hr 55 min without stops or traffic. Almost all of it is on I-40: 211 mi of 212 mi.
The whole route stays in Tennessee. That’s an average of 54 mph (87 km/h). AAA recommends a break every two hours or 100 miles: with 1 stop of 20 minutes, the trip takes about 4 hr 15 min. The time is OSRM’s estimate with OpenStreetMap data: no traffic and speeds somewhat below the limits, so real trips can differ.
Straight-line distance and bearing
In a straight line, the shortest distance over the Earth’s surface, Nashville and Memphis are 197 miles (316 km) apart. That’s the geodesic on the WGS84 ellipsoid, the distance “as the crow flies”.
The road is 8% longer: for every 100 miles in a straight line you drive 108. The route runs almost straight. Of the 40 US pairs in this series, it ranks 34th for detour (the average is 14%).
From Nashville, Memphis lies to the west (bearing 250°), and from Memphis, Nashville lies to the east.
Halfway between Nashville and Memphis
Halfway along the straight line, 98.3 miles (158 km) from each city, is the point 35.6688° N, 88.4271° W. It falls near Huron (Tennessee), 8.0 mi away.
By road, the halfway point is 106 miles (171 km) from each city, near Parker's Crossroads (Tennessee, pop. 287), 4.8 mi away. The two midpoints are 7.1 mi apart: if you want to meet halfway, the one on the road is the useful one.
Time zone and flight
Nashville and Memphis share the same time all year: both are on Central Time.
No flight time is given: under 500 km (311 miles) in a straight line, time at the airport outweighs time in the air.
The two cities
Nashville sits at 555 ft (169 m) and Memphis at 259 ft (79 m), 296 ft (90 m) lower.
Nashville has 721,074 people and Memphis 609,647 people (Census Bureau estimate for 2025).
Frequently asked questions
How many miles is it from Nashville to Memphis?
197 miles (316 km) in a straight line and 212 miles (342 km) by road on the fastest route (mostly on I-40).
How long is the drive from Nashville to Memphis?
About 3 hr 55 min without stops or traffic, according to OSRM with OpenStreetMap data; with 1 stop of 20 minutes, about 4 hr 15 min.
Where is the halfway point between Nashville and Memphis?
In a straight line, near Huron (Tennessee). By road, 106 mi from each city, near Parker's Crossroads (Tennessee).
Are Nashville and Memphis in the same time zone?
Yes: both are on Central Time all year.
Which city is higher, Nashville or Memphis?
Nashville, at 555 ft (169 m); Memphis sits at 259 ft (79 m).
Measure it yourself on the map
The same two cities, already set up in the tools: move the points, get the route by bike or on foot and download the map.
- Distance between two points Measure the distance between any two places or points on the map, in miles or kilometers.
- Straight line vs driving distance Compare the as-the-crow-flies distance with the real driving distance and see how much the road adds.
- Halfway point Find the exact halfway point between two places and see it on the map, ready to share.
More distances from Nashville
All distancesSources
- Driving route: FOSSGIS OSRM, car profile (calculated on October 31, 2026) · FOSSGIS e.V.
- Roads, streets and places · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Straight line, bearings and midpoint (geodesics on the WGS84 ellipsoid) · GeographicLib (C. F. F. Karney)
- US city centers (GNIS) and their elevation (3DEP) · USGS (public domain)
- Population estimates, Vintage 2025 · US Census Bureau (public domain)
- Places near the midpoints: Mapsfera gazetteer (GeoNames, INE, IGN and Census) · Mapsfera
- Time zones (timezone-boundary-builder outlines and the IANA database) · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Map: provinces (IGN), states (US Census Bureau) and countries (Natural Earth) · IGN, Census and Natural Earth
- Methodology