Train Transfers To and From Memphis International Airport

Passengers arriving at Memphis International Airport can explore the city or continue their onward journey via Memphis Central Station.

Since there is no direct railway line from Memphis International Airport to downtown Memphis, passengers and tourists can get a short 14-minute taxi ride from MEM to Memphis Central Railway Station at 545 South Main Street, Memphis.

Memphis Central Station connects to Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) Main Street Trolley and MATA Riverfront Loop.

The Central Station also serves the Amtrak line from New Orleans to Chicago.

Main Street Line (MATA Trolley)

Fare: $1 each way

The MATA trolley system opened in 1993. It is the first streetcar line in Memphis since 1947.

It runs along Main Street in the 3.2-kilometer route, with 13 stops in Downtown Memphis, including Butler, Huling, Dr. ML King Jr., FedEx Forum, Beale Street, Peabody Place, Union, Court, Jefferson, Civic Center Plaza, Convention Center, Overton, and North End.

Some of the popular attractions around this line include Blues Hall of Fame, National Civil Rights Museum, Elvis Presley Plaza, Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum and many more.

The Main Street Rail Line operates from 6:45 a.m.-12:00 a.m. Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (operating every 12 minutes).

MATA Riverfront Loop

Fare: $1 each way

The Riverfront Loop is a line of the Memphis Area Transit Authority trolley system that began operation in 1997 as the second line in the system. It is almost 7 kilometers long and runs through downtown Memphis and along the Mississippi riverfront.

It has 18 stops, including Pyramid, Jefferson Street, Union Avenue, Beale Street Landing, Tom Lee Park, Central Station, Butler, Huling, Dr. ML King Jr., Beale Street, Peabody Place, Union, Madison, Court, Civic Center Plaza, Convention Center, Overton, and North End.

Some of the best tourist attractions in the city can be found here, including Memphis Pyramid, Mud Island River Park and Amphitheater, Mississippi River Park and many more.

The Riverfront Line operates from 10:20am until 6pm Monday-Sunday (every 40 minutes). Route information is available on their website.

Amtrak New Orleans – Chicago – New Orleans

The City of New Orleans is an Amtrak passenger train that operates an overnight schedule between Chicago, (Illinois), and New Orleans, (Louisiana). This line crosses four states, including Tennessee and Kentucky.

Passengers can catch a train from the Memphis Central Station. Amtrak has 17 destinations along this route:

• New Orleans, Louisiana (End)
• Hammond, Louisiana
• McComb, Louisiana
• Brookhaven, Mississippi
• Jackson, Mississippi
• Yazoo City, Mississippi
• Greenwood, Mississippi
• Memphis, Tennessee (You are here)
• Newbern, Tennessee
• Fulton, Kentucky
• Carbondale, Illinois
• Centralia, Illinois
• Effingham, Illinois
• Mattoon, Illinois
• Champaign-Urbana, Illinois
• Kankakee, Illinois
• Homewood, Illinois
• Chicago, Illinois (End)

For further information about Amtrak trains and routes from Memphis Central Station.