Take a ride along the banks of the mighty Mississippi as we cruise south on Interstate 55 through West Memphis, Arkansas. This short but pivotal 7-mile segment serves as a key connector between Interstates 40 and 55, threading together two major cross-country corridors just before leaping into Tennessee. Our journey begins at the bustling interchange of I-40 and I-55—an intricate weave of ramps and overpasses nestled on the western edge of the Memphis metro. Here, we merge onto a brief concurrency with I-40, heading southeast through the heart of West Memphis.
Almost immediately, we encounter the interchange with Arkansas Highway 77. This exit provides local access to West Memphis and nearby Marion, two cities shaped over decades by their proximity to the Mississippi River and the national freight networks it supports. On the surface, this stretch may seem like just another concrete corridor, but it’s a logistical artery pulsing with the lifeblood of interstate commerce—truck stops, rail lines, and warehouses all punctuate the landscape. The landscape is urban-industrial, punctuated by glimpses of railroad yards and low-rise commercial strips, a reminder that West Memphis is as much a transportation hub as it is a city.
As I-40 veers east across the river into downtown Memphis, we remain on I-55 as it continues its southern march toward Jackson, Mississippi. The traffic often thins a bit here as we leave behind the combined flow of both Interstates, but this stretch is no less significant. It carries a quieter energy, almost like the deep breath before the bridge. At this point, the highway skirts the southern edge of West Memphis, passing through a mix of light industry and neighborhoods tucked away behind sound walls and service roads. The Mississippi River looms ahead, unseen but undeniably present.
Just before crossing the state line, we ascend the approach to the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge. This steel through-arch span has carried travelers over the Mississippi since 1949, long before the modern Interstate System was formalized. As we rise above the river, we’re treated to a sweeping view of the Memphis skyline to the east and the river’s wide channel below—barges drifting along like slow-moving shadows. Once across, we enter Tennessee and the south Memphis junction complex, where the next chapter of I-55 begins.
In many ways, this short drive is a microcosm of West Memphis itself: gritty and functional, deeply tied to the rhythms of the road, and quietly vital to the movement of people and goods across the country. It’s not a scenic byway or a forested parkway—but it doesn’t try to be. This is the roadwork of America, where steel, rubber, and river meet.
🗺️ Route Map
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