I-40 Through Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis & Little Rock?

[reubenray]

I will be taking this route next month. Are there any tips to getting through these cities with the least amount of hassle and having to do some quick lane changing?

I have driven Little Rock several times before coming up from the South, but not from the East. It seems like every time I have to change lanes real quick which is hard to do in a 40' motorhome and toad. When I came though Nashville last year from the North heading South I had to change lanes and Interstates several times.

[Papa Foxtrot]

Signage in Nashville is confusing - a GPS is very helpful. We went thru twice last month on our trip to Yellowstone and back(altho' we were on I24). Roads are in pretty bad shape in Nashville and traffic can be bad around rush hour. Memphis is pretty simple. All I remember about Little Rock is all the road construction we went thru late at night.

Safe travels!

[RVThere]

Just did that route in February. Some bridge construction/traffic in Memphis.

Like the previous poster said, a GPS (with lane assist) is an affordable necessity for RV travel. If you have a smartphone, you can download and use Google Maps for free with live traffic. That way you won't have to guess about which lane to be in.

[reubenray]

Would it be better to take the loop (I-840) around Nashville or go straight through on I-40?

[336muffin]

Stay in center lanes, you won't have a problem.

[RockyHill]

Originally Posted by reubenray

Would it be better to take the loop (I-840) around Nashville or go straight through on I-40?

I-840 is a good road; we use it to avoid Nashville

Shelia

[Kxbronco]

Unless you have a need to go into Nashville, I840 is the way to go. I take it all the time to bypass Nashville. I live in Knoxville and you can go straight thru on I40 or you can use I640 most anytime of the day. Only exception would be around afternoon rush hour and I would suggest using I640, especially if headed west.

[Big Dude]

Went thru there recently and stayed on I-40 in Memphis, went 440 around Nashville as the 40/24/65 intersection are often parking lots. Go thru Knoxville on 40 (no advantage to 640)

[MorganT69]

I live outside of Memphis, the bridge construction on the overpass is finished last I was thru there, if you plan to stay on 40 thru Memphis, stay in the right 2 lanes when it opens up at Sycamore View just before the new Overpass, the right two lanes will take you on I 40, the middle two lanes will take you on I 240, and the left 2 lanes will take you into the heart of Memphis and it dead ends. Hope that helps

[reubenray]

Originally Posted by MorganT69

I live outside of Memphis, the bridge construction on the overpass is finished last I was thru there, if you plan to stay on 40 thru Memphis, stay in the right 2 lanes when it opens up at Sycamore View just before the new Overpass, the right two lanes will take you on I 40, the middle two lanes will take you on I 240, and the left 2 lanes will take you into the heart of Memphis and it dead ends. Hope that helps

This info helps a lot - thanks!!!!

[MorganT69]

Originally Posted by reubenray

This info helps a lot - thanks!!!!

When you get on the other end of Memphis to merge onto I40 section where I 240 meets it again, you need to be in the LEFT 2 lanes. That is the part that takes you to the Bridge to cross the MS River.

[reubenray]

Looking at the maps again it looks like 840 around Nashville goes way around Nashville and adds a lot of miles. I will be driving this tomorrow and should be in Nashville around 10 or 11 in the morning.

[nothermark]

Google map says 19 mile difference. I just picked a spot either side of Nashville and did a route.

[reubenray]

Originally Posted by nothermark

Google map says 19 mile difference. I just picked a spot either side of Nashville and did a route.

Thanks for doing the work for me. I will take the loop to stay out of Nashville. Hopefully the roads are still good.