Getting around · Memphis · United States
Getting around Memphis
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jeremy Atherton, CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
Downtown, Beale Street, South Main and the riverfront are walkable and served by vintage trolleys, but Graceland, Stax, Sun Studio and the parks are spread out, so most visitors use a car or rideshares. Helpful but not essential.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Tram
- Airports
- MEM
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Tram
MATA's vintage-style trolleys run along Main Street downtown and connect South Main, Beale Street, the Peabody area and the Pinch District.
Bus
MATA buses cover the city, but service can be infrequent; check timetables before relying on them for Graceland or Stax.
Car
A car is the easiest way to reach Graceland, Stax, Shelby Farms and day trips into the Delta, and parking is easy outside downtown.
Ride-hailing
Uber and Lyft are widely used to reach Sun Studio, Stax, Graceland and Midtown restaurants without a car.
Walking
Downtown, South Main and the riverfront parks are close together and easy to explore on foot.
Cycling
Explore Bike Share has stations downtown and in Midtown, and the Big River Crossing and Shelby Farms Greenline are good for cycling.
From the airport
Memphis International Airport (MEM) is about 16 km southeast of downtown, around 20 minutes by car or rideshare. Graceland is about 10 minutes from the airport.
Do you need a car?
Helpful but not essential. Downtown is walkable, and rideshares cover Graceland, Sun Studio and Stax; a car is best for Shelby Farms and Delta day trips.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Clarksdale and the Mississippi Delta | About 1.5 hours | Car via Highway 61 |
| Tupelo | About 1 hour 45 minutes | Car |
| Oxford, Mississippi | About 1 hour 20 minutes | Car |
| Shiloh National Military Park | About 2 hours | Car |
| B.B. King Museum, Indianola | About 2 hours 15 minutes | Car |
| Little Rock | About 2 hours | Car via Interstate 40 |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Memphis?
Helpful but not essential. Downtown is walkable, and rideshares cover Graceland, Sun Studio and Stax; a car is best for Shelby Farms and Delta day trips.
+How do you get from the airport to Memphis?
Memphis International Airport (MEM) is about 16 km southeast of downtown, around 20 minutes by car or rideshare. Graceland is about 10 minutes from the airport.
+What is the best way to get around Memphis?
Tram: MATA's vintage-style trolleys run along Main Street downtown and connect South Main, Beale Street, the Peabody area and the Pinch District.