Tennessee's Best Roadtrip: Self-Guided Driving Tour from Memphis to Nashville
Places: 23 POIs
Distance: 211.05 mi
Duration: 4h:36m
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Tour #2897
About this English self-guided 4h:36m driving tour in Memphis
Welcome to our Memphis-to-Nashville road trip!
Now, there are probably a billion ways to get from Memphis to Nashville. Okay, maybe not literally a billion — but there are certainly enough that choosing just one wasn't easy.
The simplest option is obvious: get on Interstate 40, point the car east, and stay there until Nashville. It's fast, efficient... and that's exactly what we're not going to do.
Because this road trip isn't about getting to Nashville as quickly as possible. It's about making the most of the journey between two of America's great music cities.
So when we designed this route, we had a few rules.
We wanted to keep the trip reasonably efficient, while getting you off the interstate whenever the alternative was worth it. We looked for roads that would take us through small Tennessee towns, beautiful countryside, forests and historic communities rather than simply around them.
We wanted stories too — music, barbecue, Civil War history, old railroads, forgotten highways, unusual characters, and the people and places that shaped Tennessee.
And every once in a while, when the interstate really is the best option, we'll use it. We're adventurous, not unreasonable.
Along the way we'll travel portions of old highways that carried people across Tennessee long before I-40 existed, wind through the countryside of West Tennessee, cross the Tennessee River, discover communities like Lexington, Waverly, McEwen and Dickson, and gradually watch rural Tennessee give way to Nashville.
Some places will be worth stopping. Others we'll simply enjoy from the road. And occasionally we'll take you somewhere you probably never would have discovered if you'd just asked your navigation app for the fastest route.
That's really the idea behind this tour.
Memphis and Nashville are the bookends. But today, the space between them is the story.
So get comfortable, enjoy the drive, and don't worry — we'll handle the storytelling.
Let's take the long way to Nashville.
- 1For the best experience, begin at the tour's recommended starting point and follow the stops in order.
- 2Want to start somewhere else? Simply use Start At on the tour screen, before tapping Start Tour, to begin from any stop.
- 3Need to detour or skip a stop along the way? Tap Tour Assistant (
![UCPlaces AI Bot Icon]()
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
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Places (POIs) visited during this tour
Place #1
![Map Pin]()
Recommended Starting Point
Distance: 0.00mi
2876 Aspen Glade Cove, Cordova, TN 38016, USA
Memphis to Nashville: A Journey Through Music
Here we go! Our road trip from Memphis to Nashville has officially started.
Now, there are about a billion ways to get from Memphis to Nashville. The simplest is obvious: get on Interstate 40, point the car east, and stay there for about three hours.
But that's not what this road trip is about.
Between Memphis and Nashville is a huge patchwork of highways, country roads, small towns, forests, rivers, and places most travelers simply pass by. With almost endless possibilities, we've tried to create a route that makes the most of the journey without turning a three-hour drive into an all-day expedition.
And there's no better way to begin than with music, because we're traveling between two cities that helped change the sound of America.
Behind us is Memphis — home of the blues, rock and roll, soul, Beale Street, Stax Records, and Sun Studio, where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins all got their start.
Ahead is Nashville — a city synonymous with country music, songwriting, legendary recording studios, and generations of great performers.
And those musical worlds aren't as separate as they might seem. Johnny Cash began his recording career in Memphis before becoming a Nashville legend. Elvis started at Sun before recording some of his biggest hits in Nashville. For generations, musicians and sounds have traveled back and forth across Tennessee.
Today, we'll make that journey ourselves — sometimes on the highway, sometimes far away from it.
So Memphis is behind us, Nashville is ahead, and the road in between is ours to explore. Let's go!
Now, there are about a billion ways to get from Memphis to Nashville. The simplest is obvious: get on Interstate 40, point the car east, and stay there for about three hours.
But that's not what this road trip is about.
Between Memphis and Nashville is a huge patchwork of highways, country roads, small towns, forests, rivers, and places most travelers simply pass by. With almost endless possibilities, we've tried to create a route that makes the most of the journey without turning a three-hour drive into an all-day expedition.
And there's no better way to begin than with music, because we're traveling between two cities that helped change the sound of America.
Behind us is Memphis — home of the blues, rock and roll, soul, Beale Street, Stax Records, and Sun Studio, where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins all got their start.
Ahead is Nashville — a city synonymous with country music, songwriting, legendary recording studios, and generations of great performers.
And those musical worlds aren't as separate as they might seem. Johnny Cash began his recording career in Memphis before becoming a Nashville legend. Elvis started at Sun before recording some of his biggest hits in Nashville. For generations, musicians and sounds have traveled back and forth across Tennessee.
Today, we'll make that journey ourselves — sometimes on the highway, sometimes far away from it.
So Memphis is behind us, Nashville is ahead, and the road in between is ours to explore. Let's go!
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Place #2
![Map Pin]()
Distance: 11.04mi
7QXM+73 Whiteville, TN, USA
Oakland: The Old Road East
As we pass through Oakland, here's a little connection to the journey we're making today.
Oakland was established in 1830 along an old stage road connecting Memphis with Somerville — essentially the same direction we're traveling now. Back then, of course, this journey meant horses, wagons, rough roads, and considerably more time.
For most of its history, Oakland remained a small rural community surrounded by West Tennessee farmland. More recently, it has grown rapidly as the Memphis metropolitan area has expanded eastward.
And as we continue toward Somerville, you'll notice that suburban Memphis gradually begins to disappear. The landscape opens up, the towns get smaller, and our drive starts to feel a lot more like rural Tennessee.
Next up: Somerville.
Oakland was established in 1830 along an old stage road connecting Memphis with Somerville — essentially the same direction we're traveling now. Back then, of course, this journey meant horses, wagons, rough roads, and considerably more time.
For most of its history, Oakland remained a small rural community surrounded by West Tennessee farmland. More recently, it has grown rapidly as the Memphis metropolitan area has expanded eastward.
And as we continue toward Somerville, you'll notice that suburban Memphis gradually begins to disappear. The landscape opens up, the towns get smaller, and our drive starts to feel a lot more like rural Tennessee.
Next up: Somerville.
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1
Memphis to Nashville: A Journey Through Music
Place 2
Oakland: The Old Road East
Place 3
Somerville: A West Tennessee Town
Place 4
Whiteville: Small-Town West Tennessee
Place 5
Toone: A Tiny Railroad Town
Place 6
Chickasaw State Park
Place 7
Henderson: A College Town in Rural Tennessee
Place 8
Jacks Creek
Place 9
Memphis to Nashville Road Trip Fun Facts
Place 10
Welcome to Lexington
Place 11
West Tennessee Whole-Hog Barbecue
Place 12
The Natchez Trace
Place 13
Natchez Trace State Park
Place 14
Highway Time
Place 15
Crossing the Tennessee River
Place 16
Denver, Tennessee
Place 17
Welcome to Waverly
Place 18
Welcome to McEwen
Place 19
Welcome to Dickson
Place 20
Iron Country
Place 21
Welcome to Bellevue
Place 22
Belle Meade — Nashville's Horse Country
Place 23
Centennial Park: Nashville's Grand Finale
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Have any questions about this tour? Or a general travel / self-guided tours question? That's completely natural
+ How long does this tour take?
Most travelers complete this tour in approximately 4 to 5.5 hours, depending on pace, time spent at each stop, and optional detours. Having said that, please remember that self-guided tours are extremly flexible (you can start, pause, continue anytime) and everyone has their own pace.
+ What does this tour include?
This self-guided driving tour includes 23 stops, covering top attractions such as Memphis to Nashville: A Journey Through Music, Oakland: The Old Road East, Somerville: A West Tennessee Town, Whiteville: Small-Town West Tennessee, Toone: A Tiny Railroad Town.
+ Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at Memphis to Nashville: A Journey Through Music (Address: 2876 Aspen Glade Cove, Cordova, TN 38016, USA). You can begin the tour there or join from any stop along the route.
+ What type of tour is this?
This is a self-guided driving tour designed to be completed by car, covering scenic routes, city highlights and optional key stops.
+ Can I do this tour at my own pace?
Yes, this is a self-guided driving tour, so you can start anytime and explore at your own pace. You can pause, skip stops, or spend more time at places that interest you. You can even split it into multiple days. Explore however feels right for you. The only vaiables that might affect your pace are speed limits and traffic congestion.
+ Do I need a car for this tour?
Yes, this is a driving tour, designed to be completed by car, with stops spread across different locations connected by a driving route.
+ Do I need anything in order to take the tour?
There are two things that you need - 1. A mobile phone (with the UCPlaces app installed and active location services, and a cellular data plan with a decent signal for downloading the tour). 2. A car. Here are some recommendations for a great experience: 1. Make sure your phone is fully charged and bring a charging cable for your car. 2. Connect your phone to the car speaker system via bluetooth or use our CarPlay/Android Auto option for the best experience.
+ How will I navigate from point to point during the tour?
The tour uses GPS-based navigation through the UCPlaces app, with automatic audio playback and step-by-step directions between stops. This works great either directly from your phone, or while connected to your car's multimedia system and using our CarPlay or Android Auto options. Just follow the route and listen to the audio guide. Use the resume feature to continue from where you recently stopped (or closed the app). Easily skip or go back to stops.
+ Is this tour suitable for families or groups?
Yes, self-guided tours are ideal for families and small groups, allowing everyone to explore comfortably without being tied to a fixed schedule.
+ What makes a self-guided tour better than a guided tour?
Self-guided tours are more flexible, affordable, and personalized. You can avoid crowds, choose your pace, and focus on the stops that interest you most.
+ I installed the app and it's now asking for GPS and media access permissions, why?
The app is your tour-guide, it needs to know where you are located on the map to be able to trigger the points of interest. It also needs access to audio and media files to provide you with this experience.
+ What happens if there are unexpected roadblocks or navigation issues?
We have been working hard to deliver a great experience. Though you may run into unexpected obstacles (the world is constantly changing), our app has multiple features and mechanisms in place to help you overcome them, including: AI assistance, force play an audio if you can't reach the stop, skip or return to stops, automatic rerouting and more.
+ Can I take the tour in my language?
Though all of our tours are primarily in English, many tours are muyltilingual (including: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Arabic and more...). The tour language options depend on the specific tour - You can easily check which languages are available in the tour screen!