Memphis to New Orleans distance
Memphis and New Orleans are 358 miles (576 km) apart in a straight line and 394 miles (633 km) apart by road: about 7 hr 15 min of driving without stops, mostly on I-55 and I-10. Below you’ll find the route map, both halfway points, the bearing, the approximate flight time and where every figure comes from.
By the All Map Tools Team
- By road
- 394 mi (633 km)
- Driving time
- 7 hr 15 min
- Straight line
- 358 mi (576 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 November 1, 2026; simplified line.
The figures
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| Straight line | 358 mi (576 km) geodesic on the WGS84 ellipsoid |
| By road | 394 mi (633 km) fastest driving route (OSRM) |
| Driving time | 7 hr 15 min no stops, no traffic |
| Road detour | +10% 1.10 times the straight line |
| Average speed | 54 mph (87 km/h) along the route, without stops |
| Bearing | 180° (south) leaving Memphis toward New Orleans |
| Midpoint | 32.5526° N, 90.0624° W near Gluckstadt (Mississippi) |
| Halfway by road | Near Gluckstadt (Mississippi) 197 mi from each city by road |
| Time difference | None both share the same time |
| Approximate flight | 1 hr 15 min estimate: 30 min + the straight line at 800 km/h |
| Elevation | Memphis: 259 ft (79 m) · New Orleans: 0 ft (0 m) USGS 3DEP |
| Population | Memphis: 609,647 · New Orleans: 362,154 Census Bureau estimate for 2025 |
Memphis to New Orleans by road
The fastest driving route is 394 miles (633 km) long and takes about 7 hr 15 min without stops or traffic. It runs mostly on I-55 (361 mi) and I-10 (24.1 mi).
It goes through 3 states: Tennessee (12.3 mi), Mississippi (290 mi), and Louisiana (91.2 mi). That’s an average of 54 mph (87 km/h). AAA recommends a break every two hours or 100 miles: with 3 stops of 20 minutes, the trip takes about 8 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, Memphis and New Orleans are 358 miles (576 km) apart. That’s the geodesic on the WGS84 ellipsoid, the distance “as the crow flies”.
The road is 10% longer: for every 100 miles in a straight line you drive 110. The route runs almost straight. Of the 110 US driving pairs in this series, it ranks 83rd for detour (the average is 16%).
From Memphis, New Orleans lies to the south (bearing 180°), and from New Orleans, Memphis lies to the north.
Halfway between Memphis and New Orleans
Halfway along the straight line, 179 miles (288 km) from each city, is the point 32.5526° N, 90.0624° W. It falls near Gluckstadt (Mississippi, pop. 3,500), 2.7 mi away.
By road, the halfway point is 197 miles (317 km) from each city, near Gluckstadt (Mississippi, pop. 3,500), 6.3 mi away. The two midpoints are 8.8 mi apart: if you want to meet halfway, the one on the road is the useful one.
Time zone and flight
Memphis and New Orleans share the same time all year: both are on Central Time.
A direct flight would take about 1 hr 15 min. That’s an estimate: 30 minutes for takeoff, climb, descent and landing, plus the 576 km straight line at 800 km/h (about 497 mph), a typical airliner cruising speed. Real schedules depend on wind, routing and airports, and not every pair has a direct flight.
The two cities
Memphis sits at 259 ft (79 m) and New Orleans at 0 ft (0 m), 259 ft (79 m) lower.
Memphis has 609,647 people and New Orleans 362,154 people (Census Bureau estimate for 2025).
Frequently asked questions
How many miles is it from Memphis to New Orleans?
358 miles (576 km) in a straight line and 394 miles (633 km) by road on the fastest route (mostly on I-55 and I-10).
How long is the drive from Memphis to New Orleans?
About 7 hr 15 min without stops or traffic, according to OSRM with OpenStreetMap data; with 3 stops of 20 minutes, about 8 hr 15 min.
Where is the halfway point between Memphis and New Orleans?
In a straight line, near Gluckstadt (Mississippi). By road, 197 mi from each city, near Gluckstadt (Mississippi).
How long is the flight from Memphis to New Orleans?
About 1 hr 15 min, estimated from the straight-line distance (576 km): 30 minutes for takeoff and landing plus the trip at 800 km/h. Real flight times vary with wind and routing.
Are Memphis and New Orleans in the same time zone?
Yes: both are on Central Time all year.
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 Memphis
All distancesMore distances from New Orleans
Sources
- Driving route: FOSSGIS OSRM, car profile (calculated on November 1, 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: All Map Tools gazetteer (GeoNames, INE, IGN and Census) · All Map Tools
- 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