The distance from Memphis to Birmingham AL by car is 238 miles, with a 3h34m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Memphis to Birmingham AL drive are the Holly Springs National Forest, Elvis Presley Birthplace and Alabama Mining Museum.
Planning a Memphis to Birmingham AL road trip itinerary
The drive from Memphis to Birmingham, Alabama, connects two key cities in the American South.
Five great things to do in Memphis
- 🎸 Enjoy a private luxury tour of Memphis – with Graceland tickets included.
- 🍖 Get a taste of Tennessee – on a Downtown Memphis food tour.
- 🛥️ Take a Memphis discovery tour – with Mississippi cruise and Sun Studio add-on options.
- 🏙️ Discover Memphis beyond Beale Street – on a historic walking tour.
- 🚗 Hop on a day tour to Tupelo – and see Elvis’ childhood home.
Memphis, Tennessee, is a pilgrimage site for Elvis fans. The King’s Graceland mansion is one of the top tourist sites in the US. But the cultural heritage extends beyond music, as you’ll discover on an African-American history tour.
Music fans should also try the Try the Rock and Soul Museum, plus the Memphis Music Hall of Fame and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
Ways of seeing the city include ghost walks, Downtown food tours and musical bus tours. There are also guided walks down music central, Beale Street, and city tours that take you inside the legendary Sun Studio.
Outdoors, Shelby Farms Park is one of America’s great urban parks and the Memphis Botanic Garden is expansive.
Birmingham, Alabama, has a rich civil rights heritage. This is best explored on a civil rights tour which links the key sites and, crucially, puts them into context. Other Birmingham experiences include ghost walks and multi-brewery beer tours.
For museums, you’ve got the McWane Science Center, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark.
Memphis to Birmingham AL distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Memphis to Birmingham AL is 238 miles. That makes for a driving time of around three hours and 34 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-22.
The best road trip stops on the Memphis to Birmingham Al drive are the Holly Springs National Forest, the Elvis Presley Birthplace and the Alabama Mining Museum.
Memphis to Birmingham AL drive: Holly Springs National Forest
In northern Mississippi, the Holly Springs National Forest is a happy mix of small lakes and pine forests. It’s a great spot for camping and fishing, while three of the lakes are open for boating.
If all you want is a beach on a hot day, however, head to Chewalla Lake, which has a swimming area with a picnic area and playground behind it.
Memphis to Birmingham AL road trip attractions: Elvis Presley Birthplace
Elvis lived in Tupelo, Mississippi, until he was 13 years old. The house where he was born, and lived his first few years, is now a museum.
The simple two room house was built by Presley’s father, Vernon. Attractions at the Elvis Presley Birthplace site include a statue of Elvis as a 13-year-old and the church the family attended.
Best things to do between Memphis and Birmingham AL: Alabama Mining Museum
The Alabama Mining Museum in Dora AL looks at all things coal mining. It looks at the coal industry in Alabama, as well as life down the mines. Entry to the museum is free, and there’s a bit of local history outside the coal industry thrown in.
It’s a low budget museum, but one that punches above its weight.
More Tennessee and Alabama travel
Other Tennessee and Alabama travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What to expect at Moccasin Bend National Archaeological District in Chattanooga.
- Getting to Chattanooga: The best stops on the Atlanta to Chattanooga drive, Clarksville to Chattanooga drive, Memphis to Chattanooga drive and Nashville to Chattanooga drive.
- Gettting to Memphis: Guides to the Dallas to Memphis drive, Nashville to Memphis road trip and Little Rock to Memphis drive.
- Discover the birthplace of American Carnival at the Mobile Carnival Museum.
- Visitor guide to DeSoto Falls near Mentone, Alabama.
