Memphis Travel Guide

By Plane

Memphis is served by the following airlines: American Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300); Delta (tel. 800/221-1212); KLM (tel. 800/374-7747); Northwest (tel. 800/225-2525); Southwest (tel. 800/435-9792); United Airlines (tel. 800/241-6522); and US Airways (tel. 800/428-4322).

Northwest has a hub in Memphis and is the city's largest carrier. It's also your best bet for package deals. For details, visit Northwest Airlines online at www.nwavacations.com, or call tel. 800/225-2525.

Immigration & Customs -- Foreign visitors arriving by air, no matter what the port of entry, should cultivate patience and resignation before setting foot on U.S. soil. U.S. airports have considerably beefed up security clearances in the years since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and clearing Customs and Immigration can take as long as 2 hours.

People traveling by air from Canada, Bermuda, and certain Caribbean countries can sometimes clear Customs and Immigration at the point of departure, which is much faster.

Getting into Memphis from the Airport -- The Memphis International Airport (tel. 901/922-8000) is located approximately 11 miles south of downtown Memphis off I-240. From the airport to East Memphis, it's about 9 miles. The route into either downtown or East Memphis is on I-240 all the way. Generally, allow about 20 minutes for the trip between the airport and downtown, and 15 minutes between the airport and East Memphis -- up to an hour more during rush hour.

Although there is no direct bus service from the airport to downtown Memphis, it is possible (though impractical), with a change of bus en route, to get downtown on Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) buses (tel. 901/274-6282). These buses, however, do not run very often and are not very convenient for visitors. The buses run every 1 to 2 hours until about 5:30pm Monday through Saturday, and until 5:15pm on Sunday, and the fare is $1.25. From the lower level at the airport, take no. 32, the East Parkway/Hollywood bus, and transfer to no. 10, the Lamar bus (which runs about every hour on weekdays, fewer times on Sat), or the no. 56, the Union/Kimball bus (running about every half-hour on weekdays), which will take you downtown. If you want to take the bus, the best bet is to call MATA or ask a bus driver for the latest schedule information.

A taxi from the airport to downtown Memphis will cost about $25; to East Memphis it will cost about $20. There are usually plenty of taxis around, but if you can't find one, call Yellow/Checker Cab (tel. 901/577-7777) or City Wide Cab Company (tel. 901/324-4202). The first mile is $3.20; after that, it's $1.50 per mile. Each additional passenger is 50¢ extra.

By Car

Memphis lies at the southwestern tip of Tennessee, bordering Mississippi and Arkansas. Interstate 40 connects Memphis with Nashville to the east and Little Rock, Ark., to the west. Interstate 55 connects Memphis with Mississippi to the south and St. Louis, Mo., to the north. Both interstates intersect with I-240, which loops around the city's north, east and southern suburbs. The western edge of downtown Memphis is the Mississippi River.

For Memphis, here are some driving distances from other cities: Atlanta, 390 miles; Chicago, 534 miles; Little Rock 135 miles; New Orleans, 395 miles; St. Louis, 284 miles.

If you are a member of the American Automobile Association (AAA) and your car breaks down, call tel. 800/222-4357 for 24-hour emergency road service. The local AAA office in Nashville is at 2501 21st Ave. S., Suite 1 (tel. 615/297-7700), and is open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm.

By Bus

Greyhound Lines (tel. 800/231-2222) offers service to Nashville from around the country. These buses operate along interstate corridors or local routes. The fare between New York and Nashville is about $117 one-way and $206 round-trip; the fare between Chicago and Nashville is about $77 one-way and $152 round-trip. The Greyhound bus station is on the south side of downtown Nashville at 200 Eighth Ave. S.

Greyhound service between New York and Memphis costs about $63 one-way and $136 round-trip; the fare between Chicago and Memphis is $82 one-way and $154 round-trip. The Greyhound bus station is in downtown Memphis, at 203 Union Ave.

From Atlanta, Georgia, round-trip fares are $139 to Memphis and $99 to Nashville.

By Train

Amtrak (tel. 800/872-7245) serves Memphis (but not Nashville) with a route that goes from Chicago through Memphis to New Orleans on the City of New Orleans. If you arrive in Memphis on an Amtrak train, you'll find yourself at Central Station, 545 S. Main St. (tel. 901/526-0052), near Calhoun Street. This historic railway station has been completely renovated into a combination transportation center with public bus and Main Street Trolley connections and retail complex. However, the neighborhood around the station remains quite run-down. The area is not safe on foot, especially after dark. If arriving by train, you should take a cab or the Main Street Trolley to your hotel.