Is Nonconnah safe?
Memphis, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Not recommended for casual walking around, especially after dark.
VibeLoco rates Nonconnah as “No-go after dark”.
Gogo's take on Nonconnah
“Go with care. Nonconnah is primarily an industrial and logistics corridor bordering the airport, with pockets of retail and dining along major arterials. While violent crime directly targeting casual visitors during the day is relatively rare, property crime, commercial burglaries, and vehicle break-ins are elevated, making situational awareness and vehicle security essential.”
Memphis police have maintained regular targeted patrols along the I-240 and Nonconnah logistics corridors to combat widespread motor vehicle thefts and commercial lot break-ins.
About the area
Nonconnah is a sprawling commercial and industrial district in southern Memphis centered along Nonconnah Creek, the Nonconnah Parkway (Bill Morris Parkway / I-240 corridor), and the freight hubs near Memphis International Airport. It features distribution centers, corporate parks, and strip malls rather than a traditional walkable neighborhood. Visitors generally pass through for specialized dining, business logistics, or airport-adjacent lodging.
- Industrial / Freight
- Car-Dependent
- Airport Corridor
- Commercial Strip
Walking and biking in Nonconnah
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 32/100
There is no dedicated bike-share infrastructure, and major thoroughfares lack protected bike lanes, making cycling hazardous amidst heavy freight truck traffic.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient direct highway access to I-240, I-55, and Memphis International Airport
- Home to iconic, long-standing Memphis soul food and barbecue destinations
- Heavy commercial and commuter activity during standard daytime business hours
- Abundant and universally free surface parking at commercial centers
Cons
- High rates of vehicle break-ins, auto theft, and catalytic converter theft in hotel and business lots
- Low residential population with adjacent census tracts facing poverty rates exceeding 25%
- Poor pedestrian infrastructure with multi-lane commercial roadways and limited sidewalk coverage
- Becomes desolate and isolated after standard business and warehouse operating hours
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately present, primarily concentrated near highway underpasses along I-240, bus stops, and neglected commercial corridors, though large formal encampments are uncommon.
What Nonconnah is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active with logistics trucks, delivery vehicles, and commuters, feeling generally functional and secure at business plazas.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Remains busy with commercial traffic and lunch patrons at roadside eateries, requiring standard vigilance for traffic and vehicle security.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Traffic thins considerably as warehouses close, creating an isolated atmosphere with elevated risk in unlit lots.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet and sparsely populated outside 24-hour distribution centers; pedestrian activity is strongly discouraged due to isolation and property crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) operates bus routes such as Route 22 and Route 30 connecting the airport and South Memphis industrial corridor, though service frequency is limited and there is no direct rail or BRT connection.
Parking is exceptionally easy and free across spacious surface lots at retail centers, corporate parks, and restaurants, though vehicles should be locked and cleared of valuables to prevent break-ins.
Things to do in Nonconnah
- Sample famous Memphis-style fried chicken and sweet-spicy dipping sauces at local institution Uncle Lou's
- Explore the nearby Graceland estate and museum complex located just minutes west along Elvis Presley Boulevard
- Tour or utilize the corporate freight logistics hub infrastructure surrounding Memphis International Airport
Local favorites
- Uncle Lou's Fried Chicken · Southern Restaurant · 4.5★ (2300)Celebrated roadside institution serving homestyle fried chicken drenched in signature sweet-spicy sauce.
- Tops Bar-B-Q · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.2★ (850)Long-running Memphis chain outlet serving slow-smoked pulled pork sandwiches and griddled burgers.
- Catfish Cabin · Seafood Restaurant · 4.3★ (1100)Rustic, casual southern staple offering cornmeal-crusted fried catfish, hushpuppies, and classic sides.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.
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