The best-connected small city in Arkansas
Two of the country’s main interstates, I-40 and I-55, come together in West Memphis and share the same pavement for a few miles before splitting toward their own bridges over the Mississippi. Almost every truck moving between the Southeast and the Southwest, or between the Gulf and the Midwest, rolls through.
The city grew up serving them. The truck stops along the interstate here form one of the largest clusters in the region, and car haulers pull in to fuel and rest on nearly every trip.
For you, that means choice. A carrier with an open spot is rarely more than a day away, a pickup in West Memphis adds no detour at all, and prices tend to be as competitive as anywhere in the state.
Two bridges and how they affect timing
Everything headed east from here crosses the river on the I-40 Hernando de Soto Bridge or the older I-55 bridge. When either one is restricted, traffic backs up for miles on both sides. Locals remember 2021, when the I-40 bridge was shut for months for repairs.
Day to day, the issue is lane closures and rush hour. A driver coming from Tennessee may slip an hour or two at the river and will call to say so. If you have a choice, ask for late morning or early afternoon, after the commuters and before the evening freight wave.
Living on the Arkansas side of Memphis
Plenty of people in West Memphis and Marion work across the river, at the air cargo hub, the hospitals, and the warehouses. When you ship a car, though, the quote should be for where you live. Use an Arkansas ZIP code, 72301 for West Memphis or 72364 for Marion. A quote for “Memphis” sends the truck to Tennessee.
If you are flying in, Memphis International Airport is about 25 minutes away. Carriers do not deliver to the terminal, so have the car brought to your home a day after you land.
West Memphis, Marion, and the county
- Broadway and Missouri Street. The main commercial streets have wide lanes and large lots, a few minutes from either interstate.
- Residential West Memphis. The Delta is flat and the streets are straight, with no steep driveways or switchbacks. A truck can often stop on the block if cars are not parked on both sides.
- Marion. The fast-growing town just north on I-55 has newer subdivisions with cul-de-sacs, where the truck waits at the entrance.
- The casino district. Ingram Boulevard near Southland is busy on weekend nights. Daytime handoffs there are simple.
- Horseshoe Lake and the farm roads. Out in the county the driver will ask to meet on the highway.
Truck drivers, rail crews, and people who are rarely home
A lot of people in Crittenden County work in trucking, on the railroad, or on the river, and they can be gone for weeks. If that is you, shipping a personal vehicle does not have to wait for your next days off.
Put a family member or friend on the order as the release contact, leave them the key, and let us know how to reach them. The carrier can also collect from a company yard or terminal lot if your employer agrees and someone is there to sign.
Meeting at a truck stop: how it works
Because drivers already stop here, the simplest handoff is often at one of the truck stops beside the interstate. The driver tells you which one and roughly when. Park in the car lot, not in the truck lanes or at the fuel islands, and wait for the call. The inspection and loading take 20 to 30 minutes. Daylight is better for checking the paint, so ask for a daytime slot if the car is new or valuable.
How fast can a pickup happen?
Faster here than almost anywhere else in Arkansas. With so many trucks passing, a pickup within a day or two is realistic, though it cannot be promised. To give yourself the best chance, choose “As soon as possible” in the quote form, have the car and key ready, and agree to meet at a lot near the interstate if the driver asks.
Routes from West Memphis
Nearly every direction from here is a straight shot on an interstate. These are estimated miles and usual days in transit.
| Destination | Distance | Typical time on the truck |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | About 130 miles | 1 to 2 days |
| Nashville, TN | About 220 miles | 1 to 2 days |
| Birmingham, AL | About 250 miles | 1 to 2 days |
| St. Louis, MO | About 280 miles | 2 to 4 days |
| Atlanta, GA | About 390 miles | 2 to 4 days |
| New Orleans, LA | About 400 miles | 2 to 4 days |
| Dallas, TX | About 445 miles | 2 to 4 days |
| Chicago, IL | About 530 miles | 2 to 4 days |
| Detroit, MI | About 750 miles | 3 to 5 days |
| New York, NY | About 1,100 miles | 4 to 6 days |
| Los Angeles, CA | About 1,800 miles | 5 to 8 days |
Mileage is approximate. Transit times are typical ranges once the vehicle is loaded, not guarantees. Weather, traffic, and other stops on the truck can shift them.
West Memphis car shipping questions
Should I enter Memphis or West Memphis in the quote form?
West Memphis, using ZIP code 72301, or 72364 if you are in Marion. The form prices by ZIP, and a Memphis one would route the driver to the Tennessee side of the river.
Can I leave my car at a truck stop for the driver?
Not unattended. Someone has to be there to go over the car with the driver and sign. Meeting the driver at a truck stop lot is fine, and it is often the quickest handoff of all.
Is car shipping cheaper from West Memphis than from other Arkansas cities?
On long routes it often is, because the truck does not have to leave the interstate to reach you. The destination matters just as much, so check the price for your exact trip.
I work nights at the hub. Can pickup be in the afternoon?
Tell us the hours that suit you and we pass them to the driver, who calls to settle a time. If your schedule and the truck’s do not match, another adult can handle it.
Do you pick up in Marion and Earle?
Yes. Marion is on I-55 and as easy as West Memphis. Earle and the towns farther west along Highway 64 take a little more planning.