Tennessee Route 385: Millington – Arlington

Take a ride through the gently rolling landscape of southwest Tennessee as we follow Tennessee Route 385 from Millington to Arlington. This 17-mile stretch of divided highway skirts the northeastern edge of the Memphis metro, offering both a practical bypass and a window into the outer suburbs of Shelby County—where farmland, forest, and residential sprawl meet in a changing patchwork of land use.

We begin our journey just south of Millington, where TN-385 begins its loop southeastward from the interchange with US-51. Almost immediately, we’re greeted by the vast open space surrounding the Naval Support Activity Mid-South—a major presence in Millington and one of the region’s largest employers. Here, TN-385 serves as both commuter corridor and strategic artery, reflecting its dual identity as a suburban expressway and a vital piece of the Memphis outer loop. With wide shoulders and limited access, the route quickly settles into its rhythm: a high-speed glide over low rises and shallow valleys, where the remnants of forested groves and scattered farm plots break up the flow of development.

Heading east, we pass interchanges with local roads like Navy Road and Paul Barret Parkway, each one serving as a gateway to small communities, subdivisions, and occasional industrial parks. This part of the drive feels transitional—part rural, part suburban—where barns share sightlines with new subdivisions and transmission lines trace the horizon. As we approach the interchange with US-70/US-79, the road begins to turn southward, marking a subtle but important shift: we’re no longer skirting the outer ring of Millington—we’re angling toward Arlington and the larger Memphis exurbs beyond. This is where traffic begins to increase and development creeps closer to the road’s edges, hinting at the growth that has transformed this corridor over the past two decades.

In the final leg of our journey, we descend gently into the junction with Interstate 40, a major crossroads of commerce and travel in the Mid-South. The western suburbs of Memphis sprawl out just to the south, while the small town of Arlington lies to the east—quiet but growing, shaped in part by the accessibility TN-385 provides. We end our video taking the ramp onto I-40 westbound toward Memphis, closing out a segment that bridges Tennessee’s rural past with its suburban present. TN-385 might not have the fame of other scenic drives, but it serves a vital role in connecting communities while offering a glimpse into the rhythms of life along the edges of a major Southern city.