Route 28 gets you from MEM to downtown for standard bus fare
Memphis Area Transit Authority Route 28 runs between Memphis International Airport (MEM) and central Memphis on a regular local bus schedule. The stop sits in front of the terminal complex serving Concourses A, B, and C, so you walk out of baggage claim and follow signs for “Public Transit” to the curb. This is the only MATA route serving the airport directly as of 2024.
Standard MATA local fare typically runs a few dollars per ride, far cheaper than a $25–$40 rideshare from MEM to the downtown area. You pay onboard at the farebox, so have small bills or a MATA pass ready before you board. The bus is a regular city bus, not an airport coach, so don’t expect luggage racks or extra space beyond the usual seats and standing room.
Route 28 links the airport to key city corridors, including stops that connect with other MATA routes toward Midtown and downtown. Depending on traffic, the ride from MEM to central Memphis usually takes 25–45 minutes. Service frequency can drop outside rush hours and on weekends, so check the current Route 28 timetable before planning a tight schedule around it.
The Route 28 stop at MEM sits on the outer curb in front of the terminal roadway, a short walk of a few hundred feet from the baggage claim doors. Look for the blue MATA sign with the route number clearly marked. If you are arriving into Concourse B, expect about a 5–10 minute walk from the gate area, including the time to clear the lower level and reach the curb.
Route 28 runs on a fixed published schedule posted on the MATA website and at some major stops, including selected downtown transfer points. Memphis weekends and late evenings tend to see service intervals stretch to 30 minutes or more, so missing a bus can easily add half an hour to your arrival time. If your flight lands after 10 p.m., verify the last departure from the airport for that day.
Plan one backup: check the latest Route 28 schedule before you land at MEM, and screenshot it so you have it handy if cell service or data gets spotty curbside.