Driving and Transit in Memphis
Commutes, congestion, transit, and parking: what getting around Memphis really takes.



Mike, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Michael is a Tennessee native who has lived, worked, or worn out tires in all three divisions of the state, from Memphis to Nashville to Johnson City, plus plenty of small towns that never make postcards. He once moved from the far northeast corner of Tennessee to the far southwest for college, stayed twenty years, then somehow boomeranged right back to Appalachia. He knows the difference between mountain quiet and river loud, will defend Memphis BBQ like its a birthright, and can point you to everything from out of the way eateries to where locals actually hunt. We are not all barefoot moonshiners, but yes, some of us know where the real stuff is. At Snappy Scout Michael uses that deep statewide mileage to refine Tennessee moving guides so they're as real as a proper BBQ smoke ring, not some oven baked liquid smoke waste of calories.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
How Do You Get Around Memphis?
Commutes, congestion, transit, and parking: the daily logistics nobody puts on the listing.
The time I spend getting to/from work every day is
20 blissful minutes if you avoid Poplar and take advantage of I-240 and I-269.
Traffic congestion areas to avoid
Poplar Avenue during rush hour, Lamar Avenue at Shelby, and Winchester & Riverdale roads, unless you enjoy podcasts or audiobooks.
Ability to get around without a car
Technically possible via MATA buses, but your coworkers will ask if you're okay.
Locals dream of driving around in a
pristine 1957 pink or white Cadillac blasting Elvis or W.C. Handy on Beale Street.
The reality is that most locals drive
a slightly dusty SUV with Gus's Fried Chicken napkins everywhere.
Quirky local driving habit
treating turn signals like optional luxury features and center lanes like a NASCAR speedway.
The likelihood of finding parking
shockingly easy, except during any event near Beale, like the Memphis in May International BBQ Competition.
#1 driving tip
learn the side street shortcuts or accept your fate.
Where I Go for a Quiet Escape
The Peabody Hotel is well-known for class, opulence, and the duck march, but it's lobby is a great escape. Wander in, pick a soft lounge chair, and soak in the ambiance and piano music. Sip a coctail and imagine you can actually afford to stay there.


— Mike Stover
Tennessee Local Expert


Ready to See If Memphis Fits You?
Compare neighborhoods, check the routes, or head back to the full Memphis guide for the bigger picture.