Take a ride down one of Memphis’s most storied thoroughfares as we travel west along U.S. Route 70 (Summer Avenue) from Bartlett into the heart of Memphis. This 10-mile segment weaves together fragments of past and present, with its roots in the early U.S. highway system and its modern role as a major surface artery shared with US-64, US-79, and TN-1.
We begin on the eastern edge of Bartlett, west of where US-64 splits from the freeway, and transition onto Summer Avenue—an old alignment that once carried travelers all the way from Nashville to the Mississippi River. The road here is wide, with grassy medians and a mix of auto shops, local eateries, and low-slung retail. As we roll past intersections with Elmore Road, LaGrange Road, and Sycamore View Road, signs of urban density increase while the suburban fringe slowly fades into the sprawl of Memphis.
Crossing under Interstate 40, we leave Bartlett behind and enter Memphis proper. The landscape here becomes more commercial and industrial, peppered with aging storefronts, neon signage, and warehouses from a bygone era. The pavement has its share of wear—Summer Avenue is a working road, not a polished boulevard—and its eclectic mix of taquerias, pawn shops, and vintage antique stores reflects the grit and character of the corridor. At times, the road feels like a living museum of mid-century roadside America.
Our drive concludes at the intersection with North Parkway (TN-1), a key junction that marks our transition into central Memphis. From here, Summer Avenue continues west, but the designation of US-70 and US-79 diverges, and TN-1 takes over the routing more clearly. The road behind us tells a story of transition—of suburb into city, of old into new, and of the enduring pulse of Memphis carried on four lanes of asphalt.
0 Comments