Memphis Driving Guide

The beautiful city of Memphis is the birthplace of Elvis and a popular tourist destination, making its roads busy. This guide will provide you with a breakdown of all the major roads, including interstates, highways, and state roads, traveled in the Tennessee-based vacation spot, so you can effectively navigate the town.

This guide will also highlight public transportation available in Memphis and the most dangerous roads and intersections to avoid. Lastly, we’ll cover driving laws governing common sightseeing destinations, parking in the city, and other important information about journeying on Memphis roads.

MAJOR MEMPHIS HIGHWAYS AND ROADS

Below is a breakdown of the major roads and highways around Memphis and where they enter and exit the city:

I-40

I-55

I-69

I-240 (airport access)

I-269

State Road 385

US-51

US-79

Beale Street

I-40

I-55

I-69

I-240 (airport access)

I-269

State Road 385

US-51

US-79

Beale Street

PLACES TO VISIT IN MEMPHIS

When in Memphis, these are the places to go for the complete tourist experience:

Bass Pro Shops

This building is an architectural marvel fashioned in the shape of a pyramid. It has an observation deck, allowing you to see the city and the river. Get off I-40 after crossing over the Hernando de Soto Bridge to check out this tourist site located in the center of downtown and adjacent to the Wolf River Harbor.

Graceland

No visit to Memphis is complete without visiting the home of Elvis Presley. You can find the legendary Graceland situated in the southern part of the city in Whitehaven, directly to the west of Memphis International Airport. You can take Highway 51 to get there. Its actual address is on Elvis Presley Blvd.

Sun Studio

This is the famous recording studio where Sam Phillips gave Elvis Presley his first shot at stardom. Its location is in the middle of downtown Memphis on Union Avenue, right off Highway 51 and next to where Beale Street ends in the Memphis Medical District.

National Civil Rights Museum

Located on Mulberry St., this landmark is closer to the Mississippi River. The best way to access it is to get on S 3rd St. and follow it north into the city, or if you’re coming from the south, find your way to S 2nd St. and follow it until you reach the museum. If you’re traveling on the interstate from the east, take Dr. MLK Jr Avenue to the west until you get to S 2nd St.

Stax Museum of American Soul Music

You can get to this musical landmark on E McLemore Ave. in the southern part of the city by taking the exit off I-69, located directly south of Elmwood Cemetery.

Memphis Zoo

For some child- and adult-friendly entertainment, you can go to the zoo located in Overton Park in the east part of the city. It’s right off Highway 79 to the east and North Parkway to the north. The park is also home to the Memphis Zoo Aquarium and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum

Situated on Beale Street in the heart of downtown, you can take Dr. MLK Jr Ave or Highway 79 to get to this museum.

FedEx Forum

Visit this location if you’re looking to catch a Grizzlies game or see the University of Memphis play. If you’re coming from Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, then you’re already at the FedEx Forum because the Forum is home to the museum.

The Peabody

Known as the “South’s Grand Hotel,” this is an excellent spot for relaxation. You can get to it on Union Avenue in the heart of downtown Memphis.

Liberty Bowl

The Memphis Tigers football team is in the southeast part of the city in the Beltline neighborhood on S Hollywood St. Take Highway 78 or 79, heading out of the city to get there.

University of Memphis

Located further east than Bethel University, you can take Highway 72 and get off at S Highland St. to see the home of the Tigers.

GETTING AROUND MEMPHIS USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Memphis has several public transportation options if you want to avoid driving around the city on your own, including:

Buses

Memphis offers around 30 different bus routes that can take you all around the city. Also, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, bus fare is currently reduced to only $1.00 per ride. The William Hudson Transit Center, located just north of I-40 on Shadyac Avenue in downtown Memphis, has access to around 20 public transportation buses.

Trolleys

Memphis has several trolley lines as an alternative, more environmentally friendly transportation option to buses. Three different lines serve the downtown area: The Riverfront Line, Main Street Rail Line, and the Madison Avenue Line. Madison Avenue runs from Memphis Park east through the Medical District. Main Street starts just north of I-40 on Shadyac Avenue, right by the William Hudson Transit Center, and runs south, ending with the National Civil Rights Museum and Central Station at the location of the Amtrak. The Riverfront line begins in the north at the iconic Bass Pro Shops pyramid. It proceeds south, wrapping around W Georgia Avenue and looping back around downtown, including a stop on Beale Street. The fare is $1.00, and day passes are $2.00.

Memphis Hop

If you’re looking for a more directed, tourist-focused ride around town, then the Memphis Hop is for you. This bus stops at different attractions, including Graceland, Sun Studio, the Bass Pro Shops pyramid, and the National Civil Rights Museum. The way it works is that the bus will take you to a location where you’ll “hop off” for whatever time you need to explore the attraction before hopping back on another bus to visit the next site. The buses run every hour and twenty minutes. If you’re dedicated and follow the schedule, you can make it to six attractions in one day. Tickets are $30, and it’s currently only running from Thursday to Saturday, so you should plan accordingly.

THE MOST DANGEROUS ROADS AND INTERSECTIONS IN MEMPHIS

Below are traffic and crash data and information concerning hotspots in Memphis:

Driving and Accident Statistics
Shelby County has the most licensed drivers (575,000) of any county in Tennessee, leading to an increased risk for traffic congestion and accidents. Between 2010 and 2019, motor vehicle crashes increased more than 44% in Shelby County, including Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, and other surrounding cities. Thirty-eight thousand car crashes occurred in Shelby County in 2019. Police listed distracted driving as a contributing factor in 7,901 of those crashes.

Congested and Dangerous Intersections

Based on the car accident data, some of the most dangerous intersections in Memphis are Poplar Avenue and Ridgeway Road, Shelby Drive and Lamar Avenue, and Winchester Road and Kirby Parkway. A recent study based on the number of 18-wheelers and commercial truck drivers operating their trucks while on cell phones showed that two Memphis intersections, Compress Drive and S Lauderdale Street and E Holmes Road and Lamar Avenue, ranked among the nation’s most dangerous.

Avoid those roads and intersections if you’re hesitant about a possible collision with an 18-wheeler. Generally, most accidents and congestion occur along I-240, typical for a major city’s beltway. You can see these traffic hotspots in the red images below:

Here’s a closer look at I-240, I-55, and I-69:

Here’s a closer look at I-240, State Road 385 and I-240, and US Highway 78:

Traffic congestion and accidents get especially bad where I-240 meets I-69 and I-55, a little bit north of Graceland, and where I-240 meets State Route 385 in the city’s southeast region. Also, I-240 has more backed-up traffic and collisions where it merges back into I-40 in the east part of the city. Heading east on I-240 is probably the worst highway to travel in Memphis due to traffic and accidents, so consider hopping off the interstate and taking some local streets (i.e., the scenic route) instead.

Overall Traffic and City Safety

Memphis doesn’t have the worst reputation for traffic and accidents, even though I-240 can get bad sometimes. You generally only encounter rough traffic situations on the interstate, especially where interstates merge with other roads, which isn’t abnormal for a city. Just be on guard when traveling through Memphis during rush hour on workdays.

Traffic statistics might be off a bit because Shelby County includes a large swath of area and other cities that are not within the limits of Memphis. If you have experience driving through the south, Memphis will probably rank slightly behind or close to Nashville on related traffic and danger risks. Still, the congestion is nowhere near Atlanta’s traffic.

You should still use caution as you travel Memphis roads and watch for drivers who aren’t paying attention as they try to get somewhere quickly and unaware. Also, Memphis is a hazardous city in general; it constantly ranks close to the top of many different lists in national crime statistics. Do some research on other high-crime areas in Memphis before visiting, so you don’t wind up stumbling into these risky regions by mistake.

Other Memphis Driving Quirks

Mostly one-way streets make up downtown Memphis, so be careful not to get caught driving the wrong way. Also, be warned that there is a significant difference between North Parkway East, East Parkway, East Parkway South, South Parkway, and South Parkway West. These streets often intersect each other, making your journey a bit challenging. Finally, when it snows or drops below freezing, watch for ice and other slippery or fretful weather conditions. No matter where you’re traveling from, bad weather situations can increase your risk for accidents.

Airport Information

You can locate Memphis International Airport in the southeast portion of the city, close to the Tennessee-Mississippi border. There are two different routes to the interstate depending on where you’re trying to go within the city. You can take Airways Blvd. to Winchester or Raines, taking you to I-55, and continue that route to get downtown via S 3rd Street, or you can go across the bridge into Arkansas if you’re feeling adventurous. Alternatively, you can take Airways Blvd. north until you get to I-240 if you want to head east towards the suburbs. You can find Graceland located only a couple of miles from the airport. Get on Winchester Rd. to get to Highway 51, then head south to see Elvis’ former dwelling place.

MEMPHIS TRAFFIC UPDATES

Calling 511 is one of the best ways to get traffic updates via the Tennessee Department of Transportation when traveling the Memphis roads. The 511 phone system uses voice-activated and touch-tone technology. You will discover a greeting with a menu of options, including traffic conditions, weather forecasts, rest areas, public transportation, airports, and tourism, when you dial in. You can also check out TNSmartWay for real-time traffic information on highway incidents, or follow TDOT on Twitter for updates.

MEMPHIS DRIVING LAWS

To avoid leaving the city with an expensive traffic ticket or worse, you should be aware of the following Memphis driving laws:

Motorcycle Laws

If you feel like site-seeing around Memphis on your motorcycle, be sure to follow the city’s laws related to your specific mode of transportation. You cannot allow another person to ride on your bike unless it has a seat designed to accommodate a passenger. The motorcycle driver and passenger must wear crash helmets approved by the state’s Commissioner of Safety. When operating your motorcycle, regardless of whether it’s day or night, your headlights and taillights must be on. Every bike must have a windshield or safety goggles approved by the Commissioner of Safety. If you fail to follow the windshield or goggle and helmet requirements, you will be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Speeding Cameras

Note that Memphis has a speed enforcement photographic system installed throughout the city, so watch out for any intersections or lights with cameras and heed traffic laws to avoid tickets and collisions.

Driving Age

In Tennessee, you can get your learner’s permit at 15. When you have your learner’s permit, you must have another licensed driver, preferably a parent, guardian, or relative, in the car when you’re driving. You must pass a standard vision screening and a computer knowledge exam to get your learner’s permit. You must be 16 years old to be eligible to receive a Tennessee Intermediate driver’s license once you have held a valid learner’s permit for a minimum of 180 days and have at least 50 hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience, including 10 hours of night driving. Also, passing a road skills test is required.

International Visitors

If you’re not from the US and plan to stay in Tennessee for more than 30 days, you’re considered a Tennessee resident for driving purposes and must apply for a Tennessee driver’s license within 30 days of arrival in the state. Conversely, if you’re visiting for a period of fewer than 30 days, you do not become a Tennessee resident and don’t need to apply for a Tennessee driver’s license.

International visitors are permitted to drive in Tennessee as long as they have a valid driver’s license from another country. Still, foreign drivers are strongly encouraged to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) before coming to the US. An IDP is not required, but it’s valuable to have when traffic violations or auto accidents happen because it provides an official translation of your foreign license.

Americans are typically not bilingual or multilingual speakers. The IDP by itself is not valid for driving in the US; it’s only an official translation of the foreign driver’s license and requires an actual valid, unexpired driver’s license from your home country to accompany it. The government issuing the foreign driver’s license also gives IDPs, typically via a national automobile club or association. You can find a list of IDP issuers by country. International individuals should also follow the instruction of their driver’s licensing agency in their home country.

Self-Driving Cars

If you’re planning to drive your Tesla through Memphis, you’re in luck. Tennessee has one of the most relaxed approaches to autonomous car legislation. The state passed a law prohibiting local governments from banning the use of cars with self-driving technology. Additionally, Tennessee passed a law explicitly allowing electronic display use when a vehicle is in autonomous mode. Auto manufacturers must pass a certification program through the Department of Safety before testing or operating their autonomous vehicles in the state.

Pedestrian Laws

Like most cities, when traffic signals are not in place or operating, drivers must yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if necessary, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk. You must also yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian on a sidewalk that extends across an alley, building entrance, road, or driveway.

Phone Laws

You cannot text while driving in Memphis. If you do, you’ll be subject to a $50 fine. Memphis doesn’t have any laws prohibiting using a cell phone, though, for calls while driving.

Open Container Laws

No driver or passenger can drink alcoholic beverages or possess an open container of an alcoholic beverage while driving or riding in a vehicle. Violating this law is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a $50 fine. This law varies state-by-state, which is vital to know because Mississippi doesn’t have any open container laws. So be sure to finish or throw away all of your open containers before passing into Tennessee.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE IN AN ACCIDENT IN MEMPHIS

If you are in an accident while driving in Memphis, it’s crucial to follow these steps:

Check the Situation: The first thing to do is check if you or any of your passengers sustained injuries. Call 911 immediately and wait for emergency personnel if anyone is seriously injured. Next, get to safety. If your car is safe to drive and potentially causing a problem where it’s currently parked, pull it to the side of the road or several feet off the road if the accident occurred on the interstate to prevent additional accidents. Turn your engine off, turn on your hazard lights, and wait for police or emergency personnel.

Call the Police: Memphis law obligates the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or death of any person or property damage to the extent of $50 or more to notify the police of the crash immediately. Unless it’s a minor fender bender, you have to call the police directly after the collision occurs so they can file a police report concerning the incident. The report will be a crucial piece of evidence for insurance purposes, as your insurers will likely request a copy to help move along the claim process. This document is also helpful for any legal proceedings that might arise between you and the other driver.

Exchange Information: Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver. The most important information to exchange includes your full name; telephone number or email; insurance company information and policy number; driver’s license information and license plate number; type, color, and model of your vehicle; and the location of the accident. Avoid discussing fault when recalling any facts or giving your information to the other driver. With the guidance of the police report, the adjuster reviewing your claim will determine who’s at fault based on all the available evidence.

Document the Accident: Along with obtaining information from the other driver, you should also get the name and badge number of all responding officers in case their testimony related to the accident is needed later. Ask the police officers how you can obtain a copy of the accident report. Your insurer might ask for this when you file your claim. Take several pictures of the vehicles from different angles, showing the damage done to both cars to document the incident thoroughly. It might also be a good idea to take a picture of the other car’s license plate. You should be able to share these photos with your insurer during the claims process. Also, if there are witnesses to the accident, get their names and contact information. Their retelling of the accident events might be helpful in any subsequent court proceedings when trying to resolve the issue of fault.

Notify your Insurer and Start the Claims Process: You might even choose to call your insurer while you’re at the scene so they can tell you precisely what evidence or information you’ll need to process your claim.

Seek Legal Counsel: If you, a passenger, the other driver, or their passengers suffered serious injuries in the accident, you should consider seeking legal counsel regarding the matter. If your injuries keep you from working or are permanent or life-altering, you should seek compensation to help recover your lost wages and ongoing medical expenses. Conversely, if you might be at fault and the other driver is seriously injured, you might need legal counsel to defend yourself.

RENTING A CAR IN MEMPHIS

If you arrive in Memphis by plane, getting a rental car is relatively easy because the airport has several car rental companies to choose from, including Budget, Enterprise, Alamo, and Avis. If you’re staying downtown and planning on driving around the city a fair amount, a rental might be a good idea because an Uber from the airport downtown will usually cost you around $50, depending on the time of day.

Alternatively, you can take the 28 Bus to William Hudson Transit Center and take another bus at the center to get to your destination if you want to go the cost-efficient route. Memphis is a relatively compact city. With its extensive public transportation system, you can get around town quickly and affordably, without the added hassle of finding and paying for parking. Unless you’re planning on venturing outside the city, a rental car might not be worth it unless you seek the comfortability and flexibility it can offer.

Taking the Amtrak: Amtrak offers one of the best, most scenic train routes beginning in New Orleans, spanning from the South up to the Midwest, and ending in Chicago. Memphis is in the middle of this route, so if you live in southern Louisiana, central Mississippi, the St. Louis area, or southern Illinois, this can be an affordable, relaxing way to get to Memphis.

Ticket prices are generally between $50-100, with costs varying depending on where you’re starting your trip. To get a sense of how long it might take depending on your location, it takes 10 hours to get to Memphis from Chicago and 9 hours if you’re leaving from New Orleans. When arriving in Memphis, you’ll disembark conveniently in the heart of downtown Memphis at Memphis Central Station, which is about two streets south of the National Civil Rights Museum and approximately eight streets south of Beale Street.

This transportation mode is a great option if you have the time and want to take in the incredible views the train ride offers.

GETTING A DRIVER’S LICENSE IN MEMPHIS

If you already have a US driver’s license and you’re just visiting Memphis, it should be easy to rent a car so long as you meet the other car rental requirements, such as age and other restrictions.

If you want to get a driver’s license in Memphis, issued by Tennessee state, you’ll need to take a written and on-the-road driver’s test. To get a driver’s license, you also need to show proof of US citizenship or lawful permanent residence or that you’re authorized to stay in the US.

Various driving schools throughout Memphis can help you prepare for both the written and hands-on driver’s tests so that you can obtain a license with ease.

PARKING IN MEMPHIS

You’ll find parking meters located throughout the city, but it can sometimes be challenging to find parking. In that case, you can use various apps to help, including Parkopedia and Parkwhiz.

There’s a lot to see and do in Memphis and many different ways to get around the city. Drive safe and enjoy your stay!