Transportation in Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee has become 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 very 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 several important highways, including Interstate 40 (I-40), I-240, and I-55. I-40 and I-55 cross the Mississippi River from Arkansas. Other highways like I-22 and I-269 also serve the area. Future plans include I-69.

U.S. Highways

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

Walking and bicycling

Memphis is a big city that still needs more sidewalks for walking. It can be dangerous for people on foot. Biking is more popular for fun, but the city has not built many bike paths. Some popular bike routes include 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 in 1969, and the other was fixed up and finished in November 1999. 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 used to run a heritage trolley system in Downtown Memphis, but it has been out of service since August 2024 because of needed repairs.

There is a monorail called the Memphis Suspension Railway that used to connect the city to Mud Island, but it stopped running in 2018 due to mechanical issues. 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. Until 2010, it handled more cargo than any other airport in the world, and it is still the busiest cargo airport in the United States as of 2025. It is the main cargo hub for FedEx and was a passenger hub for Delta Air Lines after they merged with Northwest Airlines in 2008. Other airlines that fly there include Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.

The Tennessee Air National Guard has its 164th Airlift Wing at the airport. Memphis also has several smaller airports for private planes. General Dewitt Spain Airport is the closest to downtown, while others are a bit farther away, like West Memphis Municipal Airport, Charles W. Baker Airport, Millington-Memphis Airport, and Olive Branch Airport.

Mississippi River port

Main article: Port of Memphis

The International Port of Memphis is an important place for moving goods on the Mississippi River. It is the second biggest cargo port on the river and the fourth biggest inland port in the United States. The port stretches along the river for about 15 miles (24 kilometers) and has many places where ships can load and unload things. 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 rail and highway 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 and was the longest bridge in North America at the time. It was built between 1888 and 1892.

The Harahan Bridge opened in 1916 and was originally built for trains, with narrow wooden roads for cars on the sides. Today, only trains use the bridge, but a pedestrian walkway and bike path was added in 2016.

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

The Hernando de Soto Bridge opened in 1973 and carries Interstate 40. In 2021, the bridge had to close for a few months to fix a crack, and then reopened.