Through Memphis
I will be traveling from Springfield, MO to just past Memphis in a few weeks and was wondering about a couple of routes. Having never gone through this area I am unfamiliar with best routes to tak...
Forum Discussion
Just what is your destination? From Springfield to western Tennessee, I like to use US-60, to I-55 for destinations in eastern Arkansas or eastern Missouri, to US-51 for destinations in western Tennessee. US-60 is not limited access, but it is mostly four-lane divided. Shorter than dropping down to I-40, but not necessarily faster, still a lot faster than following US-412, which is even more direct but much slower traveling.
My route choices in that direction are all about avoiding the mess in West Memphis, but when really in a hurry, coming from Fort Smith (not Springfield) I will take I-40, do the extra miles, deal with the urban and suburban congestion, because the Interstate is faster, providing someone doesn't do something stupid to turn it into a parking lot.
From West Memphis, I've usually crossed into Tennessee on the I-40 bridge, as my destination would be Nashville or beyond. My time through, trying to connect to I-22, I used the I-55/US-61 bridge, found traffic at almost standstill on the Tennessee side, but if your destination is south side of Memphis, that is still the best way to go.
FWIW, I try to never get off the highway in West Memphis, the congestion on service roads is unbelievable. If I anticipate a fuel stop or rest stop along I-40, I will do that in Brinkley or Forrest City.
Unless the Memphis area stop is a necessity, from Springfield to Florida I would not go anywhere near Memphis. My Gulf Coast or Florida route involves taking I-40 to Little Rock, I-530 to Pine Bluff, US-65 to Lake Village, picking up US-82 to cross the Mississippi at Greenville. There are several routes off of 82 to the Gulf Coast, I like US-49 going from Indianola to Gulfport, but if actually headed toward Florida I would probably take US-98 from Hattiesburg to Mobile. Once again, these US numbered highways are mostly four-lane, mostly divided, but not limited access and you do have to slow down for some towns.
My route choices in that direction are all about avoiding the mess in West Memphis, but when really in a hurry, coming from Fort Smith (not Springfield) I will take I-40, do the extra miles, deal with the urban and suburban congestion, because the Interstate is faster, providing someone doesn't do something stupid to turn it into a parking lot.
From West Memphis, I've usually crossed into Tennessee on the I-40 bridge, as my destination would be Nashville or beyond. My time through, trying to connect to I-22, I used the I-55/US-61 bridge, found traffic at almost standstill on the Tennessee side, but if your destination is south side of Memphis, that is still the best way to go.
FWIW, I try to never get off the highway in West Memphis, the congestion on service roads is unbelievable. If I anticipate a fuel stop or rest stop along I-40, I will do that in Brinkley or Forrest City.
Unless the Memphis area stop is a necessity, from Springfield to Florida I would not go anywhere near Memphis. My Gulf Coast or Florida route involves taking I-40 to Little Rock, I-530 to Pine Bluff, US-65 to Lake Village, picking up US-82 to cross the Mississippi at Greenville. There are several routes off of 82 to the Gulf Coast, I like US-49 going from Indianola to Gulfport, but if actually headed toward Florida I would probably take US-98 from Hattiesburg to Mobile. Once again, these US numbered highways are mostly four-lane, mostly divided, but not limited access and you do have to slow down for some towns.
