Memphis International Airport (MEM) is the primary commercial airport for the Memphis metropolitan area. It is the second-busiest airport in Tennessee after Nashville International Airport (BNA).
The airport is situated roughly 7 miles (~11 km) southeast of downtown Memphis and just north of the city of Southaven.
Memphis Airport is a major cargo hub, the busiest in the USA and usually among the top 3 worldwide, owing to its designation as FedEx’s Superhub. It is a much more modest airport commercially, with around 80 flights per day.
Major Airlines - Delta Air Lines, American Airlines
MEM is served by most of the major U.S. airlines.
Delta Air Lines and American Airlines lead the way with the most passengers served, together flying nearly half of all services at MEM.
Southwest Airlines flies to the most destinations, 10, and ranks third in market share.
United Airlines also has a strong presence at MEM, serving flights to 4 of its hubs in the USA.
The low-cost segment also sees strong competition with Allegiant Air, Breeze Airways, Frontier, and Spirit Airlines, all flying at least 1 flight per day to various destinations in the US, notably holiday and tourism hotspots in the southern US, and smaller airports throughout the continent.
The only foreign airline at MEM is Viva, which operates a seasonal flight to Cancún.
Click here to see all destinations reachable by a direct flight from Memphis.
Terminal Layout and Gates
Memphis International has a single large terminal building that handles check-in, security, baggage claim, and gates.
Currently, only 1 concourse is operational - Concourse B. It has 22 active gates. The southwestern leg of the concourse handles all international flights.
There is a single TSA Security Checkpoint which opens at 3 AM and closes around 8:30 PM after the last flights.
Walking distances are short, and queues are normally manageable. Still, the airport authorities recommend that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before a flight.
Domestic-to-domestic connections are smooth - just follow the signs to your next gate. You won’t have to go through Security again, unless traveling with different airlines, or have luggage to check in.
WiFi and other services
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout Memphis International Airport, including airside and landside areas, the rental car center, and all parking areas, including the Cell Phone Waiting Lot.
The network is provided and managed by Boingo Wireless. To use the basic wifi for free, you may need to watch an ad. You can also purchase premium Wi-Fi options if you need more bandwidth or higher speeds.
Additional services include:
ATMs of 3 different banks (Truist, Regions Bank, and First Tennessee Bank) in the Baggage area near the Welcome Booth and in the Ticketing Area.
Banking Services, including currency exchange provided by Regions Bank between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM on weekdays.
Business Center: A small, free-access conference room with charging points and a desk is available inside the Concourse.
Meditation room
Lost and Found: There is no office, but you can contact the Airport at (901) 922-8298 or [email protected].
Pet relief areas: Two inside the terminal (next to the TSA Checkpoint and one between the rotunda and Gate 9) and two outside, near the exits of Terminal A and Terminal C.
Family restrooms: Two restrooms equipped with diaper-changing facilities are available near the TSA Checkpoint, and 3 additional ones are located between Gates 4 and 6, Gates 10 and 12, and Gates 13 and 15.
Children’s play area: Located near Gate 7.
Check out the best things to do in Memphis.
Lounges at MEM
Memphis International Airport has one lounge: a Delta Sky Club next to the TSA Security Checkpoint just east of the entrance into Concourse B. It is open daily from 5 AM to 7 PM (closes at 5:30 PM on Saturdays).
This lounge offers standard amenities like refreshments, premium Wi-Fi, and reading materials.
Dining Options at Memphis Airport
Places to eat and drink at MEM include fast-casual outlets, cafés, snack bars, and sit-down dining.
Most establishments are located after the Security checkpoint and thus available only to ticketed passengers.
The Memphis Made Brewing Co., an independently owned local brewery, is a highlight at MEM. It’s located between Gates 3 and 5 and, among various beers, also offers signature BBQ, often rated as the best in the city.
Most other places are smaller in size and in menu length. Options include:
Ramblin’ Joe’s Coffee: Voted the best coffee shop in Memphis several years in a row. Located just past TSA Security.
Starbucks: A famous national brand located in the Rotunda.
Chick-fil-A: An easy option for a quick meal, including fried chicken, sandwiches, waffles, and more. Located in the Rotunda.
Chili’s Grill & Bar: One of MEM’s newest food&drink options, located in the Rotunda. Choose between dozens of cocktails or go for a burger, fajita, or a healthy breakfast.
Lenny’s Grill and Subs: Located near Gate 10. Famously sells Philly Cheesesteaks among other types of sandwiches, grilled meats, subs, salads, and more.
Stage Left Pizza, Bar, & Grille: Located between the Rotunda and Gate 10. Go for the pizza, stay for the burgers, wings, or grill.
Grizz Grill: Located between Gates 14 and 16, this is the place to go to experience the spirit of the NBA Memphis Grizzlies. And have Angus burgers and BBQ ribs too, of course.
The Wise Omega Bodega: Located between Gates 21 and 23, this full bar offers most of Memphis’ most popular beers plus quick bar fare.
Transport to and from the airport
Memphis Airport is easily reachable from Memphis and the surrounding area, as well as farther destinations in Tennessee (like Jackson and Nashville) and in neighboring states (like Little Rock, Jackson, and Birmingham). The driving distance between the airport and downtown Memphis is around 12 miles, taking 20-25 minutes.
I-240, I-55, US 78, and US 51 pass close to the airport. Depending on where you come from, you will likely take one of them to reach MEM.
The most convenient way to travel to/from Memphis Airport is by taxi. They wait at the center commercial drive in front of the Baggage Reclaim and are available from 6 AM until 1 hour after the last arrival. Licensed taxi companies at MEM include Bluff City Taxi and City Wide Taxi. The approximate fare to downtown Memphis is around 30 USD.
Similarly, rideshare providers Uber and Lyft have their designated pick-up locations downstairs on the new Interim Commercial Curb (ICC) on the Arrivals Level.
On the other hand, the cheapest transport option is the Route 28 bus of the Memphis Area Transit Authority. It links Memphis Airport with the Hudson Transit Center in Downtown Memphis at a single ticket price of just 1 USD.
Yet another option is to take a shared shuttle van whose fares start at 20 USD for a trip to downtown. For private shuttles to Memphis or Ole Miss, click here.
The airport has on-site car rental facilities by nine national rental car companies, all located inside the Ground Transportation Center. To get there, proceed to the lower level (below baggage claim) of Terminal B (Concourse B). Follow the signs to “Rental Cars”. The companies with kiosks at MEM are Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, and Thrifty. See rental car deals here.
Parking at Memphis Airport
Memphis International provides on-site parking near the terminal.
At a glance, the parking options are:
Short-term Parking: On the ground level of the 3-storey parking facility opposite the terminal. The first 30 minutes are free, after which a charge of $4/hour applies. The daily maximum is $24.
Long-term Parking: Located near the Ground Transportation Center (GTC). It is also free for the first 30 minutes and charges $4 per hour, but the daily maximum is just $15.
Economy Parking: For an even cheaper option, park at levels 3-7 of the GTC. Free for the first 30 minutes and $9 per day thereafter (no hourly rate). Connected to the terminal via a pedestrian moving walkway.
Blue Lot and Yellow Lot (Overflow Parking): Respectively east and west of the airport, these overflow lots only open when the other parking garages/lots fill up. They cost 9$ per day, payable by card only. A free shuttle connects these lots to the Terminal.
Ten electric vehicle charging stations are available next to the elevators on level 5.
Hotels near Memphis Airport
Although there are no hotels within the airport premises, several hotels and lodging options are located within a short driving distance of the Terminal.
Some good accommodation options nearby include:
Courtyard by Marriott Memphis Airport: A 3-star hotel with a 24/7 shuttle and simple on-site breakfast facilities.
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Memphis Airport Graceland: A 2-star hotel that also offers a complimentary shuttle to/from the airport.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Memphis Arpt Elvis Presley Blvd by IHG: A standard Holiday Inn property with cafeteria-style breakfast and exceptional service.
Downtown Memphis and the suburbs also offer a wide range of accommodations. Given the short driving distance, you could also consider hotels in that area.
Memphis, TN, USA
