Transportation in Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee, is a very important place for transportation in the middle of America. This is because it is located on the Mississippi River and many roads and railroads meet there. There are four big bridges that cross the Mississippi River at Memphis.

Memphis International Airport is the biggest place in the world for moving goods by plane. Two major highways, I-40 and I-55, cross at Memphis, helping people and goods travel easily. Another highway, I-240, helps traffic move around the city. Many trains also pass through Memphis because it is where trains going east-west and north-south meet.

The city is also a busy place for moving things by boat, being the second busiest place for cargo on the Mississippi River. Local buses and other public transportation are provided by the Memphis Area Transit Authority.

Roads and highways

See also: Roads in Memphis, Tennessee

Interstates

Memphis has important highways like Interstate 40 (I-40), I-240, and I-55. I-40 and I-55 cross the Mississippi River to Arkansas. Other highways such as I-22 and I-269 also help people travel. Future plans include I-69.

U.S. Highways

Memphis has seven main U.S. highways. This is more than any other city in the Southeastern United States. These highways connect Memphis to nearby places and other cities.

Walking and bicycling

Memphis is a large city. It needs more sidewalks for people who like to walk. Biking for fun is popular, but the city has not built many bike paths. Some favorite bike routes are the Wolf River Greenway and Shelby Farms Greenline.

Railroad

Memphis is a busy place for trains because many rail lines meet there, including two places to cross the Mississippi River.

The city once had two big train stations. One was torn down, and the other was fixed up. This station is used for the City of New Orleans train trip between Chicago and New Orleans.

Five big railroad companies work in Memphis: Union Pacific (UP), Norfolk Southern (NS), BNSF Railway (BNSF), CSX Transportation (CSXT), and Canadian National (CN). There are also smaller railroads, like RJ Corman, that help move goods around the city. Memphis has many places where trains stop and load things, including special spots for big boxes called containers.

Public transportation

Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) runs 23 bus routes, on-demand vans, and special transportation for people with disabilities. MATA also had a heritage trolley system in Downtown Memphis, but it stopped in August 2024 for repairs.

There is a monorail called the Memphis Suspension Railway that once went to Mud Island, but it stopped in 2018 because of problems. Intercity buses from companies like Flixbus, Greyhound Lines, and Jefferson Lines stop at Airways Transit Center, which is next to Memphis International Airport and owned by MATA.

Airports

Memphis International Airport is the main airport in Memphis. It is very busy with cargo and is the main place for FedEx to load and unload packages. Many airlines fly there, such as Delta Air Lines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.

The Tennessee Air National Guard has a base at the airport. Memphis also has smaller airports for private planes. General Dewitt Spain Airport is closest to downtown, and others like West Memphis Municipal Airport, Charles W. Baker Airport, Millington-Mphis Airport, and Olive Branch Airport are a little farther away.

Mississippi River port

Main article: Port of Memphis

The International Port of Memphis is a key place for moving goods on the Mississippi River. It is the second largest cargo port on the river and the fourth largest inland port in the United States. The port runs along the river for about 15 miles (24 kilometers) and has many spots where ships can load and unload items. It is located between Tennessee and Arkansas, about 400 miles (644 kilometers) from St. Louis, Missouri and 600 miles (966 kilometers) from New Orleans.

Mississippi River bridges

Four bridges cross the Mississippi River at Memphis. They are the Frisco Bridge, the Harahan Bridge, the Memphis & Arkansas Bridge and the Hernando de Soto Bridge.

The Frisco Bridge opened in 1892. It was the longest bridge in North America at that time.

The Harahan Bridge opened in 1916. It was first built for trains, with narrow roads for cars. Today, only trains use the bridge. In 2016, a path for walking and biking was added.

The Memphis & Arkansas Bridge opened in 1949. It carries Interstate 55 and has a path for walking. It is the longest Warren truss-style bridge in the United States.

The Hernando de Soto Bridge opened in 1973. It carries Interstate 40. In 2021, the bridge closed for a few months to fix something, and then it reopened.