Memphis, Tennessee — Travel Tips
Getting There By Air
MemphisInternationalAirport(MIA)
Tel: (901) 922 8000.
Website: www.mscaa.com
Memphis airport is the world’s busiest cargo airport and a bustling passenger terminal handling around 11 million passengers per year. Located approximately 16km (10 miles) southeast of Downtown Memphis, the airport handles flights from eight passenger airlines.
ApproximateflighttimestoMemphis: From London is 10 hours 50 minutes; from New York is 2 hours 35 minutes; from Los Angeles is 4 hours; from Toronto is 3 hours 10 minutes and from Sydney is 18 hours.
Airport facilities: Facilities include bureau de change, bank, ATMs, travel agency, restaurants and duty-free shops. There is also a hairdresser and a hotel. New restaurants and concessions add a uniquely Memphis dining experience for travelers. Car hire is available from Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty.
Transport to the city: It takes approximately 20 minutes to reach Downtown Memphis from the airport. For cab service, call Yellow/Checker Cab (tel: (901) 577 7777), City Wide Cab Company (tel: (901) 324 4202), Metro Cab Company (tel: (901) 323 3333) or Arrow Transportation (tel: (901) 523 2002). The local airport shuttle service will drop you at your rental car location. Hotels or motels may offer shuttle service to downtown/midtown, or will call a cab for you.
Getting There By Road
The interstate highways are the fastest, most direct routes to Memphis. Some of these routes are tolled. The speed limit on interstate highways is 112kph (70mph) for cars, unless stated otherwise. There is also an extensive network of federal, state and local roads and highways. The minimum driving age is 16 years old. Driving is on the right throughout the USA. In Tennessee, the driver and all passengers must wear seat belts. Drivers must carry their national driving license with them when driving, as well as proof of their third-party liability insurance. The American Automobile Association - AAA (tel: 1 800 222 1333 or (901) 761 5371; www.aaasouth.com) has reciprocal agreements with many foreign motoring associations.
Emergency breakdown services
AAA (tel: 1 800 222 4357/AAA HELP).
Routes to the city
From the airport, I-240 goes into central Memphis. Memphis is a major crossroads of the south. The main routes into Memphis include interstates I-40 and I-55. I-40 comes from Dallas in the west through Little Rock, Arkansas, and from Nashville in the east; while I-55 runs from St Louis in the north and Jackson, Mississippi, in the south. I-55 has links to New Orleans in the south and Chicago in the north.
Driving times to the city
From Nashville - 3 hours 30 minutes; St Louis - 4 hours 30 minutes; New Orleans - 6 hours; Dallas - 7 hours; Chicago - 8 hours 30 minutes.
Coach services
Greyhound (tel: 1 800 231 2222; www.greyhound.com) operates coach services to and from Memphis and around the country. Coaches depart from the coach station, 203 Union Avenue (tel: (901) 523 9253), for destinations such as Nashville, New York and Chicago.
Getting There By Rail
Rail Services
Trains run to Memphis Central Station, 545 South Main Street. The station serves as a major passenger terminal.
Rail Operators
Amtrak (tel: 1 800 872 7245; website: www.amtrak.com) is the country's official passenger train company. Amtrak's services are limited, although the City of New Orleans train does connect Memphis with Chicago and New Orleans. Reservations are necessary for priority seating and sleeping accommodation.
Connections
From Chicago - 10 hours 20 minutes; New Orleans - 8 hours 40 minutes.
Getting Around in Memphis, Tennessee
Public Transport
The Memphis Area Transit Authority - MATA (tel: (901) 274 6282; www.matatransit.com) operates buses and a streetcar service - the Main Street Trolley. Vintage trolley cars run along Main Street, Madison Avenue and on a Riverfront Loop. The service is inexpensive and runs every 10 to 15 minutes. Sunday service stops early.
Taxis
Taxis must be booked by telephone. Recommended taxi firms include Yellow Cab Company (tel: (901) 577 7777) or City Wide Cab Company (tel: (901) 324 4202).
Driving in the City
Traffic can be heavy during rush hour, from 0730 to 0900 and 1700 to 1830. The city is mainly laid out on a grid, with avenues running east-west and streets running north-south. Driving is on the right. Right turns on red lights are permitted unless otherwise stated. Metered street-parking or parking lots are available Downtown. There is a free car park between Front Street and the river.
Car Hire
Some companies require International Drivers Permits as well as a national license, so check. Drivers must be over 25 years old. All major companies have offices, including Alamo (tel: (901) 332 8412 or 1 800 327 9633; www.alamo.com), Avis (tel: (901) 346 6129 or 1 800 331 1212; www.avis.com), Budget (tel: (901) 398 8888 or 1 800 527 0700; www.budget.com), Hertz (tel: (901) 345 5680 or 1 800 654 3131; www.hertz.com) and Thrifty (tel: (901) 999 1111 or 1 800 367 2277; www.thrifty.com).
Bicycle Hire
Hire bikes at the Peddler Bicycle Shop (tel: (901) 327 4833; www.peddlerbikeshop.com). Outdoors Inc. (www.outdoorsinc.com) has two locations, at 5245 Poplar Avenue (tel: (901) 767 6790), and 1710 Union Avenue (tel: (901) 722 8988).
