Memphis Travel Guide

By Plane

There is no plane service between Nashville and Memphis. You will have to rent a car and drive the three-hour distance between the two cities. Interstate 40, also known as "The Music Highway," has several interesting diversions along the way.

By Car

As mentioned earlier, driving between Nashville and Memphis is the only practical way to see both cities. Interstate 40 connects the two. The speed limit is 70 mph for much of this stretch, which also offers access to clean rest stops and dozens of service stations and restaurants. For travel information at any time, dial 511 on your cell phone. While visiting each city, you'll need a car to get around. Public transportation in both cities is poor, and because attractions are spread out, you'll need a car to get beyond the downtown core in both Nashville and Memphis.

To limit frustration, try to avoid hitting the interstates around either city at morning or afternoon rush hour. Traffic tie-ups and lengthy delays are becoming increasingly common, especially in Nashville. Ongoing freeway construction and renovation projects further congest the roadways. To find out about lane closures and other headaches, call the Tennessee Department of Transportation's construction hotline at tel. 800/858-6349. Snow and ice storms may also make road conditions hazardous. For updates, call the state's inclement weather/road closure hotline (tel. 800/342-3258; www.tdot.state.tn.us/tdotsmartway).

If you're visiting from abroad and plan to rent a car in the United States, keep in mind that foreign driver's licenses are usually recognized in the U.S., but you should get an international one if your home license is not in English.

Check out Breezenet.com, which offers domestic car-rental discounts with some of the most competitive rates around.

By Train

International visitors planning to visit several U.S. cities can buy a USA Rail Pass, good for 5, 15, or 30 days of unlimited travel on Amtrak (tel. 800/USA-RAIL; www.amtrak.com). The pass is available online or through many overseas travel agents. See Amtrak's website for the cost of travel within the western, eastern, or northwestern United States. Reservations are generally required and should be made as early as possible. Regional rail passes are also available.

By Bus

Bus travel is often the most economical form of public transit for short hops between U.S. cities, but it's certainly not an option for everyone (particularly when Amtrak, which is far more luxurious, offers similar rates). Greyhound (tel. 800/231-2222; www.greyhound.com) is the sole nationwide bus line. International visitors can obtain information about the Greyhound North American Discovery Pass. The pass can be obtained from foreign travel agents or through (www.discoverypass.com) for unlimited travel and stopovers in the U.S. and Canada.