Take a drive across the northern outskirts of the Memphis metro as we follow Tennessee State Route 385 westbound from Arlington to Millington. This 17-mile stretch of four-lane divided highway offers a smooth, elevated cruise across Shelby County’s northeastern hills and serves as a modern connector between I-40 and US-51—functioning as both a strategic bypass and a growing commuter corridor.
We begin our journey just outside of Arlington, merging onto TN-385 from eastbound I-40. This interchange marks the eastern end of the Paul W. Barret Parkway, the northern arc of Memphis’s outer beltway system. As we settle into the westbound lanes, the landscape opens up into a patchwork of gently rolling hills and scattered stands of trees—a quiet reminder that we’re still well outside the city core. In the early miles, the highway maintains a relatively rural character, with few structures visible from the road. Before long, we approach the junction with US-79, where TN-385 bends gently to the west, firmly committing to its path toward Millington.
As we continue westward, the road feels both deliberate and serene. Wide shoulders and smooth pavement hint at its relatively recent construction—built to modern freeway standards. The terrain begins to shift beneath us, rolling subtly as the route rises and falls in rhythm with the northern Tennessee countryside. At one point, we pass an interchange that serves the Naval Support Activity Mid-South, a major administrative center for the U.S. Navy. Its presence here in Millington is a major anchor for the local economy, and a silent but commanding feature along this highway. Not long after, we intersect with TN-204 (Singleton Parkway), another important feeder road that connects rural suburbs to both Millington and Memphis.
The final few miles offer more of the same—spacious lanes, light traffic, and scenery that shifts between forest groves and pastureland. A final local interchange offers access to side roads before the highway gradually begins its descent toward its western terminus. We end our drive just south of Millington at US-51, a major north-south arterial that serves as the backbone of Millington proper and links travelers to Memphis to the south or Tipton County to the north. From here, TN-385 transitions from a rural bypass to a key node in Memphis’s expanding suburban network.
This drive is a brief but telling snapshot of how modern infrastructure connects communities both large and small in Tennessee. What begins as a quiet arc through the countryside ends at the doorstep of a military town, threading the balance between rural tranquility and strategic importance. Whether you’re heading to work at the base, commuting home to Arlington, or simply exploring the backroads of West Tennessee, TN-385 is a polished and pleasant route worth experiencing.
🗺️ Route Map
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