Memphis to Montgomery drive: Distance, time & best stops

The distance from Memphis to Montgomery by car is 327 miles, with a 4h54m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Memphis to Montgomery drive are Tupelo MS, Birmingham AL and Oak Mountain State Park.

Planning a Memphis to Montgomery road trip itinerary

The drive from Memphis to Montgomery, Alabama, connects two of the most historic cities in the American South.

Five great things to do in Memphis

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.

The main reason to visit Montgomery is the Civil Rights heritage. There are several ways to explore this, with the cheapest being a self-guided audio tour and the most in-depth being a three hour private tour.

Other fun Montgomery experiences include a party pedal boat cruise along the Alabama River,

If planning to blitz several attractions, a city pass might save you money.

Memphis to Montgomery AL distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Memphis to Montgomery is 327 miles. That makes for a driving time of around four hours and 54 minutes. The quickest route is down the I-22 and I-65.

The best stops to add to a Memphis to Montgomery road trip itinerary are the Elvis Presley Birthplace, Birmingham AL and Oak Mountain State Park.

Memphis to Montgomery 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 stops between Memphis and Montgomery AL: Birmingham AL

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 Montgomery drive: Oak Mountain State Park

Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama’s largest state park, covering 11,632 acres. There are more than 100 miles of trails for hikers and mountain bikers.

Other attractions include an aquapark obstacle course, a cable skiing zone, and 18 hole golf course, three fishing lakes and an elevated bird-watching boardwalk.

Come in summer, and it’s likely the picnic areas, playground and two beaches with swimming areas will get the most use.

Montgomery, Alabama.
Montgomery, Alabama. Photo by Jeremiah Lawrence on Unsplash

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