Road Trip: Ohio to Texas. Overnight Stop in Memphis?
 

We are moving from Ohio to San Antonio, TX and will be driving our two cars down to Texas in May. It will be me, my husband, and our 2 year old daughter.

Looking at the map, I think Memphis or Little Rock might be good points for an overnight stop. Any thoughts on which would be better? We're leaning towards Memphis. What could we do there in one evening and one morning with a toddler? Suggestions for hotels with easy access to the highway and in a safe part of town would be appreciated.

Thank you!

I agree that those are the logical stopovers.
In Memphis, favor the eastern burbs like Germantown.
Several of the freeway exits on 240 just east of the city are new areas with nearby restaurants. Avoid the airport area.

Little Rock gets you another couple hours closer to your destination. Little Rock is a much smaller town. I am not an expert on Little Rock, but I recently stayed at a Hampton near the intersection of 30 and 40 on the north side, and it was a mistake.

What route are you planning to take from Ohio ?? If the I-40 routing from Nashville thru Memphis I would suggest that you look at the Exit 16B which is Germantown Parkway. Wolfchase Mall is there for shopping, a number of chain hotels, and there are LOADS of good family restaurants in the mall area and up and down G'twn Parkway. Safe area and right at Interstate exit.

Thanks for your help! We're taking I-65 to I-40. I'll look into Germantown...it sounds ideal. I thought about trying to stay downtown, but I think that might take too much time in terms of getting on and off the highway, finding our way, etc. We won't be in town that long anyway; might as well do what's easy!

Has anyone stayed at a Germantown hotel that they can recommend?

Also, any suggestions of what we should do in the evening? (We'll have a little one with us.)

Any good breakfast places in Germantown?

Problem with staying in Germantown is that next morning you'll hit rush hour traffic into Memphis. Unless it's the weekend.

There are also hotels at exit 15, Poplar Ave.
If you go W on Poplar from 240, on the left is Corky's BBQ. Corky's is one of Memphis better BBQ's. Very casual. If you've got kids along or are in your travel clothes, no problem. Corky's has really fine ribs.
Further down Poplar, L on Winchester is the Half Shell, a casual but good seafood spot.
Nearby the Half Shell on Poplar is Houston's. A chain and a little more upscale, but always good.
Then, if you are looking for a fine meal on the trip, Folks Folly Steak House is on Mendenhall. Go past Houston's and Mendenhall is a right turn very close.



I know there is a Hampton Inn off exit 16.

Agreed with the above - Little Rock would be fine for an overnight, but if you're looking for a touristy activity in addition, Memphis has more to offer. And especially with a U-Haul or equivalent (if you're moving yourself), Germantown or somewhere near is the way to go. My brother lived there for a few years and the Germantown Commissary was one of his favorite barbecue spots there. It's a bit away from I-40, but not hard to get to - straight down Germantown Parkway, looks like.

Depending on when you get into town, you might see if the Redbirds are playing. They're Memphis's minor league baseball team, and the stadium (AutoZone Park) is right downtown. The Memphis Zoo is also supposed to be good, although I haven't been myself. And there's always Graceland. :)

Good point, Rkkwan. I hadn't thought about traffic...

Thank you stumpworks73 and jent103 for the restaurant suggestions. BBQ sounds good to me!

A baseball game or a trip to the zoo are both possibilities. Might be nice to get some fresh air after being in the car all day.

Just want to add one thing about routing. I have taken I-65/40 way too many times through Nashville while I was a trucker some years ago. Truck traffic was/is so heavy that I'd rather take West KY Pkwy/Purchase Pkwy to I-155 to I-55. It's only about 20 more miles, but you get to bypass BOTH Nashville AND Memphis, and on this route you basically get to set cruise and forget about it.

I highly recommend this route over I-65/40.

Take the Briley Parkway West around Nashville and stay out of the traffic.

It's not just traffic around Nashville and Memphis. It's the heavy truck traffic for much of I-65 and I-40. The West KY Parkway option starts from Elizabethtown, KY. Except for a small stretch of 4-lane divided highway in TN (and I think 2 to 3 traffic lights in Union City), it's all freeway.

Hmmm...hadn't thought about taking a different route. Let me look at a map...

So, in this case we would still be stopping near Memphis, right? But it looks like we'd go around Memphis to the west. Decisions, decisions.

The route I suggested will bypass Memphis, and rejoin I-40 in West Memphis, AR. You will have to backtrack 10 miles east on I-40 to Memphis downtown.

siena - our daughter goes to college in central Ohio and drives back and forth to our home in Texas up to 4 times a year (usually with my wife). They've gone a variety of routes and would agree with rkkwan on traffic in and around Memphis and Nashville and along I40; sometimes going through 1 of the cities, but not both.

They tend to prefer 2 routes: 1) the one rkkwan suggests [I155 to 55 then 40] or 2) I71 to I65, down to Birmingham, then I20 to I59 where they connect with I12 and I10 all the way to Texas. You could also stay on I20 through Jackson to Dallas, then I35 to SA.

Skip Graceland, it's the tackiest tourist trap I've been to. The Civil Rights Museum is far more interesting.

If you stay in Little Rock, the Clinton Presidential Libary is also very good and its within walking distance to shopping and restaurants downtown.

Dfr4848--Thank you for those additional route ideas. It sounds like it might be best to find an alternate route. I was just following Mapquest's lead! ;)

RBCal--Yes, I've heard that Graceland isn't worth it. Thank you for reminding me about the Clinton Library!!! Maybe we DO want to try to make it all the way to Little Rock on Day 1!

Of the two, choose Memphis. Little Rock is pretty much flat scary @ night, w/little to do and even less reason to stay there...It is not a nice place.

Thanks SAnParis! Good to know.

I just looked at the Birmingham to Jackson route suggested by Drf. Looks like the logical place to stay the night would be Jackson, MS. What's that like??? I've never been to Mississippi.

Thanks to everyone for your help and patience! :)

If you are that close, I'd stay in Natchez, MS. It is a great little town.

Downtown Memphis is far scarier than Little Rock.

However Beale Street can be fun in Memphis. I was surprised how small it is in comparison to Bourbon Street in New Orleans though.

If you consider the Birmingham to Jackson route, my family usually stays in Birmingham, on the north side near the airport. Several good, decent chain motels in the area.

Check on freetrip.com, which will give you hotels and restaurants along any given route.

If you want to go further, Jackson is a nice town. But we haven't stayed there in years and I'd rather not give you old info. But I do like SAnParis' idea. In fact, if you've got time, the Natchez Trace would be a really enjoyable trip. You could take it the whole length from just outside Nashville all the way to Natchez. Several of the ante-bellum homes offer accommodations, but some do have age restrictions.

At least there are people in Memphis, not homeless people & other miscreants wandering about (& little else). I topped a useful Natchez post for you as well.

RBCal, please feel free to share all you know about Little Rock, I'm looking forward to hearing about all the cool places you have visited while there...

Little Rock Things to Do

Clinton William J Presidential Center and Park
111 Center St
Little Rock, AR 72201

Flying Saucer brewpub
323 President Clinton Ave
Little Rock, AR 72223
www.beerknurd.com

Doe's Eat Place
1023 W Markham St
Little Rock, AR 72201
www.doeseatplace.net
Lots of pictures of Bill and Hillary when they used to eat there.

Little Rock River Market
400 President Clinton Ave #200
Little Rock, AR 72201
www.rivermarket.info

All of the above are more fun than Graceland or watching the ducks at the Peabody in Memphis.

SAnParis--Thanks for topping that post.

Oh boy, so much to consider. Let me talk to the hubby...

Thanks again!

RE: Little Rock & RBCals expertise on the subject - Pres. Clintons' Library is, well, a library, The Flying Saucer is a brew pub chain that is everywhere (& also about the only place to eat in downtown Little Rock on a Sunday) & the River market is almost empty except for a few lunch places, as you'll notice there are no pics of the inside portion. Obviously RBCal you've not been there recently, if at all. Sorry your feeble attempt at a web search failed you. They do have a trolley which is a convenient way to get around & there are a couple of decent galleries. The best brew pub is actually Cregreens which is off the one trolley line. Since I'm not a huge fan of the Clintons' where they may have eaten at one time has little interest. The new(er) baseball park is also near downtown.

If you stay in Memphis (haven't read all the posts to figure out if a decision was made) I can recommend the Hampton Inn & Suites on S.Shady Grove Rd or the Embassey Suites on the same road. They are next door to each other, right off Poplar near Rt 240. No more than 2 to 3 minutes from the highway. The Embassey Suites is a little nicer. I've stayed at both dozens of times. There is a zoo in Memphis that has pandas so that might be a nice morning for your little one.

Ok SAnP please tell me about the great shopping in downtown Memphis. When I was there last August it was basically a ghost town (except Beale St.)

At least LR is gentrifying their downtown instead of letting it die.

and yes Peabody Place is included in being part of the ghost town.

Who said anything about shopping ?? LR may be attempting to gentrify, but they are failing, miserably.

Thank you Bennnie! Still trying to decide on the route at this point, but if we do stay in Memphis, I will keep your recommendations in mind.

siena, last month I moved from San Antonio to Maryland over a Saturday / Sunday--through Memphis we took Rt. 40. Honestly, the trucks didn't bother me and we hit no traffic anywhere along the route except outside Dallas. There were a lot of trucks but crazy drivers in cars, etc. bother me more than trucks so perhaps it's what you feel comfortable with. We have yet to move my husband (and our furniture!) but when we do plan to take the same route which AAA TripTik-ed for us. Gorgeous state that Tennesse. Good luck to you!

Thanks AnnMarie! I will keep that in mind. I guess I still have some time to think it over.

Finally decided on a route! After talking to my dad, who has travelled extensively throughout the South, we've decided to drive through Nashville, Birmingham, Jackson, etc. to San Antonio. Sounds like there will be less truck traffic. Plus, we've never been to Mississippi before, so it will be a fascinating drive.

Thank you so much to everyone for your suggestions! :)

siena - should be a nice route. Glad you decided. And thanks for getting back. Let us know how it works out.

Well, what little time I've spent on roads in Mississippi would not be classified as "fascinating," but hopefully you'll enjoy it. :) Do try not to hit Nashville during rush hour - if you're taking 65 south, it can get pretty crowded through the downtown area between 4-6 or so (on weekdays, of course). Just a fairly small area with a lot of interstates running through.

Hope you have a great move and enjoy your new home!