Interstate 240: Eastbound in Memphis – Tennessee

Take a ride through the rhythm and grit of the Mid-South as we navigate a crucial 12-mile loop of Interstate 240 eastbound in Memphis, Tennessee. This urban connector wraps around the southern and eastern edge of the Bluff City, weaving together neighborhoods, bypassing bottlenecks, and threading past landmarks both iconic and overlooked in the city’s ever-evolving landscape.

Our journey kicks off at the sprawling interchange where I-55, I-69, and I-240 converge just south of downtown Memphis. As we join I-240 eastbound, the road curves sharply southeast, threading us between industrial corridors and residential zones shadowed by FedEx’s massive distribution footprint. The exit for U.S. 51 / Elvis Presley Boulevard isn’t far—marking the gateway to Graceland, the late king’s estate and one of the most visited private homes in the country. This stretch of I-240 serves as a vital relief valve for downtown-bound traffic, funneling cars toward suburban arteries and Memphis International Airport.

Just a few miles in, we skirt past Exit 23B, which leads toward the airport—a key economic engine for the region, especially with FedEx’s World Hub sitting just to the south. The area surrounding the airport is a maze of logistics centers, warehouses, and hotels catering to the constant churn of freight and flyers. We soon cross over U.S. Highway 78, better known locally as Lamar Avenue, a busy corridor that connects Memphis with Mississippi to the southeast and serves both as a commuter route and a heavy truck corridor.

East of Lamar, the highway gradually pivots northeast and begins to open up. By the time we reach State Route 385 (Bill Morris Parkway), the urban density starts to thin as the interstate transitions into a more suburban setting. We’re now skimming the edges of neighborhoods like Hickory Hill and Fox Meadows, where strip malls give way to business parks and well-spaced subdivisions. The interchange with U.S. 72 / Poplar Avenue is next, a major east-west arterial linking Germantown to Midtown Memphis. This whole segment is one of the busiest in the metro, often jammed during rush hour as Memphians shuttle between work, home, and errands.

Continuing northward, I-240 gives us a brief reprieve from congestion as the road cuts past Shelby Farms Park, one of the largest urban parks in the United States. If you’re driving with the windows cracked or sunroof open, you might even catch a breeze scented with pine and grass from the expansive green space. With over 4,500 acres of trails, lakes, and open land, Shelby Farms is a beloved escape for joggers, cyclists, and picnickers. It also marks a symbolic transition from the older, inner-city Memphis into its more recently developed eastern half.

Our ride concludes as we reach the I-40 / Sam Cooper Boulevard / U.S. 79 interchange, a massive, multi-layered stack that channels traffic toward Nashville, Jackson, and beyond. Formerly a tight and often hazardous junction, recent reconstruction has transformed this interchange into a much more modern and efficient node. As we swing eastbound onto I-40, the traffic shifts again—from local commutes to long-haul transit. The metro is behind us now, and the open highway stretches toward Tennessee’s central plateau.

This drive across I-240 isn’t particularly scenic or slow-paced—but it is essential. It’s the connective tissue that keeps Memphis moving: industrial zones to airport terminals, bedroom communities to corporate hubs, and neighborhoods rich in blues history to the future-leaning suburbs. In the story of Memphis, I-240 plays the quiet supporting role—but one that keeps every act moving forward.