Driving from Kingsport to Memphis (Knoxville, Bristol: good hotels, construction, casinos)

[Bk2TN]

It's been ages since I've driving that route so I'm looking for some realistic information. How many hours will it take me driving from Kingsport to Memphis.

Every map I've checked tells me that it's roughly 6-7 hours, and yet my husband thinks it's closer to 9. Are all the maps I've checked that far off? Or is he a really slow driver??

I'm trying to plan our stops between here and OKC, and if we leave around 10 we'll be doing good to stop before we get to Memphis and then we can make the rest of the trip fairly easily the next day.

However if it's only a 6 hour drive there's still driving time that could be had and I should push on to the border. But as I've said it's been ages since I've driving it so could be sadly mistaken.

Has anyone driven this route, if so what's some things I should be on the look out for? Any good hotels to stop at that will allow dogs, and where should I avoid like the plague?

And one final question, are there any places we might not wanna miss as on the way back we won't be looking to drive as far as possible in one day.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Bk2TN

It's been ages since I've driving that route so I'm looking for some realistic information. How many hours will it take me driving from Kingsport to Memphis.

Every map I've checked tells me that it's roughly 6-7 hours, and yet my husband thinks it's closer to 9. Are all the maps I've checked that far off? Or is he a really slow driver??

I'm trying to plan our stops between here and OKC, and if we leave around 10 we'll be doing good to stop before we get to Memphis and then we can make the rest of the trip fairly easily the next day.

However if it's only a 6 hour drive there's still driving time that could be had and I should push on to the border. But as I've said it's been ages since I've driving it so could be sadly mistaken.

Has anyone driven this route, if so what's some things I should be on the look out for? Any good hotels to stop at that will allow dogs, and where should I avoid like the plague?

And one final question, are there any places we might not wanna miss as on the way back we won't be looking to drive as far as possible in one day.

My students here at U.T. who are from Memphis tell me that they plan on 6 hours to get from Knoxville to Memphis. Tack on the time it takes to get from Kingsport to Knoxville which is about 1.5 hours. So I think 7.5 hours is probably a good guesstimate to drive from Kingsport to Memphis.

When it comes to staying in Memphis, there are a gazillion motels in West Memphis, Arkansas. You'll probably want to get through Memphis so you won't have to battle rush hour traffic in Memphis when you leave the next morning.

[DubbleT]

We do this trip fairly often from Bristol. It's going to depend on a couple of things, but six hours is kind of tight unless you plan on pushing it pretty hard, with no stops other than a quick gas fill up.
We generally plan our trip overnight or in the afternoon/evening to avoid going through Knoxville or Nashville during rush hour. Typical trip takes 7 - 7.5 hours with a stop or two for fast food and potty breaks.
I hate actually driving thru Nashville because of the interstate, I try to stay towards the middle lanes because you need switch back and forth between taking the right and left forks when the highway splits. I don't have quick reflexes and don't like having to suddenly veer over three lanes in order to get onto the proper exit.
There is also a speed trap that has caught both my kids jut past Nashville, in Dickson I think.

Oh, and stop and have some barbeque in Memphis on the way back!
Tons of threads in the Memphis forum arguing about which is the best place to go to.

[Memphis1979]

Time your drive through Nashville to avoid rush hours at all cost. A ill timed major city hit could easily add an hour onto your trip.

[Bones]

Roughly 500 miles...I would plan on 8 hours with a couple of short breaks.

Then another 450 miles to OKC another 7 hours....

DoubleT is correct...several "speed enforcement" areas between Nashville and just beyond the Dickson exits....

Tunica casinos in MS are a nice place to stop on the way back....

[Bk2TN]

Thank you guys for the info. What time is rush hour through Nashville? And how long will it last? Then the same can be asked for Memphis.

I don't want to stop too late in the evening, although I guess a lot of that will depend on how ready we are to get out of the car!

[DubbleT]

Personally I would avoid either city between about 3pm and 6pm on a weekday if at all possible.

[Bones]

Originally Posted by Bk2TN

Thank you guys for the info. What time is rush hour through Nashville? And how long will it last? Then the same can be asked for Memphis.

I don't want to stop too late in the evening, although I guess a lot of that will depend on how ready we are to get out of the car!

When I go through Nashville after 9am is pretty easy, and 4-6pm is usually terrible...

[md21722]

Don't forget that the time zone changes at the Roane-Cumberland County line west of Knoxville, pushing you back an hour. There are several rest stops along the way including two between Knoxville and Nashville. Personally I would spend the night on the East side of Memphis, or in downtown Memphis, rather than in West Memphis. I think I would get a better nights rest staying in TN and waking up early to avoid rush hour than I would if I tried to find a nice hotel in West Memphis. If you find you want to keep driving, once you're through Memphis its about 2 hours to Little Rock.

[Bk2TN]

That's what I was thinking as well md, stop on the east side and then deal with Memphis in the morning. Course that means either hitting the road by 7 or waiting til after 9. Which the kids would be happy about if it meant they could sleep in, or stay and watch cartoons all morning.

I was looking at the route again and 2 things come to mind. Why in the world do all of the maps I'm using (AAA, Rand McNally, Yahoo) all say it doesn't take as long as you guys are telling me. Course they don't factor in stops either.

But my main question is, looking at roads around Nashville, I see 3 possible ways through town. Take 40 straight through. Hit 24N to 65 then back to 40 (this is the direction AAA sends me) or going South to 440, but that shows construction. Seems like 440 is the simplest and possibly easiest route, but I've dealt with construction on highways and it could be awful. Does anyone have a recommendation for which route is the best to take, and which to avoid at all costs?