View source for U.S. Route 72

{{Short description|Highway in the United States}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2013}}

{{Infobox road
|country=USA
|type=US
|route=72
|alternate_name=[[Corridor V (Appalachian Development Highway System)|Corridor V]]
|map={{maplink-road|from=U.S. Route 72.map}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=US&nbsp;72 highlighted in red
|length_mi=317.811
|length_ref=<ref name="WTNMileage"/><ref name="MSMileage"/><ref name="ALMileage"/><ref name="ETNMileage"/>
|established=1926{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}
|direction_a=West
|terminus_a={{Jct|state=TN|US|51|US|64|US|70|US|79}} in [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis, TN]]
|junction=
*{{Jct|state=TN|I|240}} at Memphis, TN
*{{Jct|state=TN|I|269}} at [[Collierville, Tennessee|Collierville, TN]]
*{{Jct|state=MS|US|45}} at [[Corinth, Mississippi|Corinth, MS]]
*{{Jct|state=AL|US|43|US-Alt|72|SR|17|SR|20}} in [[Muscle Shoals, Alabama|Muscle Shoals, AL]]
*{{Jct|state=AL|I|65}} in [[Athens, Alabama|Athens, AL]]
*{{Jct|state=AL|US|231|US|431}} in [[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville, AL]]
*{{Jct|state=AL|I|565}} in Huntsville, AL
*{{Jct|state=TN|I|24|US|64}} in [[Kimball, Tennessee|Kimball, TN]]
*{{Jct|state=TN|US|41|SR|28}} in [[Jasper, Tennessee|Jasper, TN]]
*{{Jct|state=TN|I|24}} in [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga, TN]]

|direction_b=East
|terminus_b={{Jct|state=TN|US|41|US|76}} in Chattanooga, TN
|states=[[Tennessee]], [[Mississippi]], [[Alabama]]
|counties='''TN:''' [[Shelby County, Tennessee|Shelby]], [[Fayette County, Tennessee|Fayette]]<br>'''MS:''' [[Marshall County, Mississippi|Marshall]], [[Benton County, Mississippi|Benton]], [[Tippah County, Mississippi|Tippah]], [[Alcorn County, Mississippi|Alcorn]], [[Tishomingo County, Mississippi|Tishomingo]]<br>'''AL:''' [[Colbert County, Alabama|Colbert]], [[Lauderdale County, Alabama|Lauderdale]], [[Limestone County, Alabama|Limestone]], [[Madison County, Alabama|Madison]], [[Jackson County, Alabama|Jackson]]<br>'''TN:''' [[Marion County, Tennessee|Marion]], [[Hamilton County, Tennessee|Hamilton]]
|browse={{tn browse|previous_type=TN|previous_route=71|route=TN|next_type=TN|next_route=72}}{{ms browse|previous_type=MS|previous_route=69|route=MS|next_type=MS|next_route=76}}{{al browse|previous_type=AL|previous_route=71|route=AL|next_type=AL|next_route=73}}{{al browse|previous_type=SR|previous_route=1|route=AL SR&nbsp;2|next_type=SR|next_route=3}}
|system1={{infobox road/browselinks/USA|state=TN}}
|system2={{infobox road/browselinks/USA|state=MS}}
|system3={{infobox road/browselinks/USA|state=AL}}
|previous_type=US
|previous_route=71
|next_type=US
|next_route=73
}}
'''U.S. Route 72''' ('''US&nbsp;72''') is an east–west [[United States highway]] that travels for {{convert|317.811|mi|km}} from southwestern [[Tennessee]], throughout [[North Mississippi]], [[North Alabama]], and southeastern Tennessee. The highway's western terminus is in [[Memphis, Tennessee]] and its eastern terminus is in [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga]]. It is the only U.S. Highway to begin and end in the same state, yet pass through other states in between. Prior to the U.S. Highway system signage being posted in 1926, the section eastward from [[Corinth, Mississippi]] (covering nearly three quarters of the route) was part of the [[Lee Highway]].

==Route description==
The highway passes through [[Tennessee]], [[Alabama]], and [[Mississippi]]. Most of the original eastern and western portions of the route through roughly follows the path of the [[Memphis and Charleston Railroad]], a railroad that predated the [[American Civil War]] and now operated by [[Norfolk Southern Railway]] as their [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]]-[[Chattanooga, Tennessee]] mainline. [[U.S. Route 72 Alternate|US&nbsp;72 Alt.]] follows the Memphis and Charleston route through [[North Alabama]].

===West Tennessee===
US&nbsp;72 begins at Bellevue Boulevard ([[U.S. Route 51 in Tennessee|US&nbsp;51]]) in [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]]. From Memphis, the route follows Union Avenue and Poplar Avenue into [[Collierville, Tennessee|Collierville]]. Just south of Collierville, US&nbsp;72 junctions [[Tennessee State Route 385|State Route 385]] (the Bill Morris Parkway), a [[freeway]] which links Collierville with [[Interstate 240 (Tennessee)|I-240]]. The route enters [[Mississippi]] {{convert|3|mi|km}} southeast of SR&nbsp;385. This segment of the highway is [[concurrency (road)|concurrently]] designated '''State Route 86''' ('''SR&nbsp;86''') south of its concurrency with SR&nbsp;57 between Union Avenue in Memphis and Collierville.

===Mississippi===
US&nbsp;72 enters Mississippi in western [[Marshall County, Mississippi|Marshall County]]. The route follows rolling hills across the extreme northern part of the state, passing through [[Walnut, Mississippi|Walnut]] and [[Corinth, Mississippi|Corinth]] as it heads east. Near [[Burnsville, Mississippi|Burnsville]], US&nbsp;72 crosses the Divide Cut of the [[Tennessee–Tombigbee Waterway]]. Farther east, the route enters the [[Tennessee Valley]] and heads through [[Iuka, Mississippi|Iuka]] before crossing into [[Alabama]].

All of US&nbsp;72 in Mississippi has been widened to four-lane highway, with the last two lane section between MS 302 and the Tennessee state line being completed in 2019. Legally, the Mississippi section of US&nbsp;72 is defined in the Mississippi Code §65-3-3.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110610213240/http://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/65/003/0003.htm Mississippi Code § 65-3-3]</ref>

[[Image:Corridor V US 72.JPG|thumb|upright|left|US&nbsp;72/[[Corridor V (Appalachian Development Highway System)|Corridor&nbsp;V]] [[reassurance shield]]]]
===Alabama===
{{see also|University Drive}}

US&nbsp;72 enters Alabama just west of [[Cherokee, Alabama|Cherokee]]. The route parallels the [[Tennessee River]] east to [[Muscle Shoals, Alabama|Muscle Shoals]], where [[U.S. Route 72 Alternate|US&nbsp;72 Alternate]] splits from US&nbsp;72. The mainline turns north, passing through Muscle Shoals and crossing the Tennessee River, entering [[Florence, Alabama|Florence]] on the opposite bank. From Florence to [[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville]], the route heads through areas dominated by farmland. Between the two locales, however, US&nbsp;72 enters [[Athens, Alabama|Athens]].

After passing through Athens and an overpass with [[Interstate 65 in Alabama|Interstate 65]] (I-65), US&nbsp;72 approaches Huntsville from the west.  Part of this section has the local name [[University Drive (Huntsville)|University Drive]]. At an interchange with [[Memorial Parkway (Huntsville)|Memorial Parkway]], the route turns northward briefly, joining the routes of [[U.S. Route 231 in Alabama|US&nbsp;231]] and [[U.S. Route 431 in Alabama|US&nbsp;431]], until it breaks off from the Parkway and heads eastward again.  (This part is known to locals as "72 East" because it is east of the Parkway; it has no other name.)  Northeast of downtown Huntsville, US&nbsp;72 interchanges with [[Interstate 565|I-565]]. I-565/US&nbsp;72 Alt., part of [[Corridor V (Appalachian Development Highway System)|Corridor V]] of the [[Appalachian Development Highway System]], terminates at the interchange while US&nbsp;72 takes over the freeway alignment, joining Corridor V.

I-565 is mentioned as the eastbound route and [[Alabama State Route 20|SR&nbsp;20]] is mentioned as the westbound route. Signs for I-565 east at this interchange recently were changed to remove any mention of SR&nbsp;20 east. Most of the US&nbsp;72 portion of Corridor V is a four-lane divided [[Limited-access road|expressway]] with at-grade intersections. Past Huntsville, US&nbsp;72 follows several mountain valleys to [[Scottsboro, Alabama|Scottsboro]]. From Scottsboro, the route follows a northeasterly routing similar to that of the Tennessee River as it enters [[Tennessee]] for the second time.

All of US&nbsp;72 within Alabama is four lanes in width. Additionally, much of US&nbsp;72 has been built through northeast Alabama with interchanges at the major state highways. Just west of Moores Mill Road in Huntsville, US&nbsp;72 becomes limited access over Chapman Mountain.  Throughout Alabama, US&nbsp;72 is paired with unsigned '''State Route 2''' ('''SR&nbsp;2''').

The stretch of US&nbsp;72 paralleling [[Interstate 59 in Alabama|I-59]] to the far northeast in between Scottsboro and [[South Pittsburg, Tennessee|South Pittsburg]] contains multiple freeway-style [[Interchange (road)|Interchanges]].

===East Tennessee===
US&nbsp;72 enters Tennessee for the second time just south of [[South Pittsburg, Tennessee|South Pittsburg]]. At South Pittsburg, Corridor V ends at an interchange with [[Interstate 24]]. [[U.S. Route 64 in Tennessee|US&nbsp;64]], concurrent with I-24 west of the exit, departs the expressway and forms an overlap with US&nbsp;72 through [[Kimball, Tennessee|Kimball]] to [[Jasper, Tennessee|Jasper]], where [[U.S. Route 41 in Tennessee|US&nbsp;41]] joins the concurrency. Just east of Jasper, the highways cross the Tennessee River on [[Nickajack Lake]]. The route then follows a cut in the [[Cumberland Plateau]] made by the Tennessee River to the western outskirts of [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga]], where it interchanges with I-24 once more. Just east of the interchange, [[U.S. Route 11 in Tennessee|US&nbsp;11]] joins the overlap.

Together, US&nbsp;11, US&nbsp;41, US&nbsp;64, and US&nbsp;72 follow the bluffs on [[Lookout Mountain]] above the [[Tennessee River]] to Chattanooga, where the routes follow Broad Street north into downtown. At the corner of Main Street and Broad Street, US&nbsp;72 comes to an end; [[U.S. Route 76 in Tennessee|US&nbsp;76]] begins at the intersection, making one highway in essence a continuation of the other.

==History==
===West Tennessee===
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2020}}
Originally, US&nbsp;72 followed [[U.S. Route 45 in Tennessee|US&nbsp;45]] to [[Selmer, Tennessee|Selmer]] and followed a route west to Memphis. In 1931, US&nbsp;64 replaced US&nbsp;72 between Memphis and Selmer. In 1935, US&nbsp;72 was routed to Memphis through Mississippi from Corinth removing the extension on US&nbsp;45 to Selmer.

As late as the early 1970s, US&nbsp;72 followed [[Tennessee State Route 57|State Route 57]] (Poplar Avenue) from Collierville to its western terminus at East Parkway N. (which carried US&nbsp;64, [[U.S. Route 70 in Tennessee|US&nbsp;70]], and [[U.S. Route 79 in Tennessee|US&nbsp;79]], as well as [[Tennessee State Route 1|State Route 1]]). During the mid-1980s until the early 2000s, U.S.&nbsp;72's westbound route in midtown Memphis was changed to switch from Poplar Avenue to a westbound off-ramp connection with Union Avenue (just as its name changed from Walnut Grove Road), instead of following Poplar west to East Parkway North. (In the same trend, eastbound US&nbsp;72 ignored East Parkway South and continued eastward on Union—joining SR&nbsp;57—until an exit ramp deposited the two highways onto eastbound Poplar.) Some signs still remain from this route change.

===Mississippi===
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2020}}
In [[Tishomingo County, Mississippi|Tishomingo County]], US&nbsp;72 originally followed the current Road 172 / Quitman Street through Iuka before being bypassed in the mid-1980s. Also, An Old US&nbsp;72 exists south of US&nbsp;72 between Burnsville and [[Glen, Mississippi|Glen]]. US&nbsp;72 also followed [[Alcorn County, Mississippi|Alcorn County]] Road 218 and entered Corinth on Proper Street. Until 1935, US&nbsp;72 followed US&nbsp;45, now Polk Street / [[Mississippi Highway 145]] north into Tennessee. Also, included in the original 1935 routing west of Corinth followed [[Mississippi Highway 2|Mississippi State Route 2]] / Kossuth Road to [[Kossuth, Mississippi|Kossuth]] before turning west. Continuing westward, yet another segment of Old US&nbsp;72 exists south of US&nbsp;72 in Benton County from just west of the [[Tippah County, Mississippi|Tippah County]] line to just east of the [[Wolf River (Tennessee)|Wolf River]] near Canaan. The bridge across the Wolf River collapsed due to flooding and is now closed; much of this segment is now on private property and little evidence of [[road surface|pavement]] remains due to [[Washout (erosion)|washout]] and [[ecological succession]]. The continuation of this segment west of Wolf River to [[Mississippi Highway 5]] is signed Wyatt Road. Finally, there is one more route that may have been a former US&nbsp;72 road [[alignment (road)|alignment]]. Boswell Road begins as a curve off of US&nbsp;72 between [[Slayden, Mississippi|Slayden]] and [[Mount Pleasant, Mississippi|Mount Pleasant]] as a gravel road, and heads generally parallel to US&nbsp;72 as a gravel road, before stopping in [[Mount Pleasant, Mississippi|Mount Pleasant]] at [[Mississippi Highway 311]]. The possible former alignment then continues from the [[staggered junction]] heading west as a partially paved road. This road is now broken by [[Mississippi Highway 302]], but continues to head west as a [[gravel road]] for a mile, for a total of approximately {{convert|3.5|mi|km}}.

===Alabama===
Most of the original US&nbsp;72 route in Alabama paralleled the [[Memphis and Charleston Railroad]], a critical route for the South during the [[American Civil War]].<ref name="civilwar">{{cite web |url=http://americancivilwar.com/statepic/tn/tn022.html |title=Collierville Tennessee, American Civil War, November 3, 1863 |access-date=November 28, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="shiloh">{{cite web |url=http://americancivilwar.com/statepic/tn/tn003.html |title=Shiloh, Pittsburg Landing, Civil War, Tennessee, American Civil War, April 6–7, 1862 |access-date=November 28, 2007 }}</ref> Some sections of the original road were named the Memphis Pike reflecting the idea of connecting Chattanooga to Memphis, Tennessee. The original route also belonged to the original route of the [[Lee Highway]]. Both of these designations can be found in western [[Colbert County, Alabama|Colbert County]] where sections of the original highway, including parts of Colbert County Route 20 still bear those names.<ref name="memphispike">{{google maps |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=34.717911,-87.809086&spn=0.025186,0.039911&z=15&om=1 |access-date=November 28, 2007}}</ref>

The original route once passed through [[Tuscumbia, Alabama|Tuscumbia]] on what is named today the Old Lee Highway and Main Street. This route was bypassed in the 1960s.

In [[Florence, Alabama|Florence]] US&nbsp;72 originally followed Huntsville Road to Royal Avenue, then north to Tennessee Street, and finally west to Court Street. Its route was later moved two blocks south through downtown Florence, from Tennessee Street to Dr. Hicks Boulevard.

East of Florence the original route is now County Highway 66 through downtown [[Rogersville, Alabama|Rogersville]] and [[Killen, Alabama|Killen]].

[[Athens, Alabama|Athens']] Clinton and Washington Streets hosted a Business 72 route in earlier years. This route was decommissioned in the 1980s.

US&nbsp;72 has seen several route changes in [[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville]] that included a temporary route down Sparkman Drive in the 1960s. Other original routes include Andrew Jackson Way to Holmes Avenue and down Holmes Avenue to reconnect to the original route.

Prior to 1931, US&nbsp;72 passed through Big Cove between Huntsville and [[Paint Rock, Alabama|Paint Rock]] via Little Cove Rd/Old "US&nbsp;431". That route was abandoned for the one used today over Chapman Mountain.

Other original routes include [[Alabama State Route 35|State Route 35]] from [[Woodville, Alabama|Woodville]] to the west side of [[Scottsboro, Alabama|Scottsboro]], [[Alabama State Route 279|State Route 279]] east of Scottsboro, and [[Alabama State Route 277|State Route 277]] from [[Stevenson, Alabama|Stevenson]] to [[Bridgeport, Alabama|Bridgeport]]. State Route 277 carries the distinction of being the last two-lane section of US&nbsp;72 in Alabama. Today, the entire route through Alabama has a minimum of four lanes.

==Major intersections==
{{Jcttop|state_col=state|length_ref={{efn|Mileage resets at state lines<ref name="WTNMileage">{{google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/35.1372397,-90.0206441/34.9958826,-89.6182302/@35.0259876,-89.6595865,13z/data=!4m11!4m10!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-89.9713645!2d35.1337575!3s0x887f80d1c29a1d8f:0xfe0fb6518ad84a09!1m0!2m1!1b1!3e0|title=Western Tennessee section|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref><ref name="MSMileage">{{google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/34.9952629,-89.6180302/34.7657492,-88.1136493/@34.7632887,-88.1133127,15z/data=!4m4!4m3!2m1!1b1!3e0|title=Mississippi section|access-date=July 6, 2020}}</ref><ref name="ALMileage">{{cite web|url=https://aldotgis.dot.state.al.us/milepostmaps/default.htm|title=Alabama Department of Transportation Milepost/General Highway Maps|publisher=[[Alabama Department of Transportation]]|access-date=July 2, 2020}}</ref><ref name="ETNMileage">{{google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/34.9866898,-85.7195604/35.0376012,-85.3112518/@35.0347075,-85.3094783,15z/data=!4m16!4m15!1m10!3m4!1m2!1d-85.5989472!2d35.0598373!3s0x886054b2f96ce0af:0x73bda8dbb5698990!3m4!1m2!1d-85.4251109!2d35.0351203!3s0x88605a0564a35b83:0x4336fbb8351900fd!1m0!2m1!1b1!3e0|title=Eastern Tennessee section|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref>}}}}
{{TNint
|type=concur
|sspan=12
|county=Shelby
|cspan=10
|location=Memphis
|lspan=5
|mile=0.00
|road={{Jct|state=TN|US|51|dir1=south|name1=S. Bellevue Boulevard}}<br>{{Jct|state=TN|US|51|dir1=north|US|64|dir2=west|US|70|dir3=west|US|79|dir4=south|name4=Union Avenue}}
|notes=Western terminus; western end of US&nbsp;64/US&nbsp;70/US&nbsp;79/SR&nbsp;23 overlaps; western terminus of SR&nbsp;23
}}
{{TNint
|type=concur
|mile=2.1
|road={{Jct|state=TN|Sec|277|name1=East Parkway|US|64|dir2=east|US|70|dir3=east|US|79|dir4=north|noshield2=y|noshield3=y|noshield4=y}}
|notes=Eastern end of US&nbsp;64/US&nbsp;70/US&nbsp;79 overlaps
}}
{{TNint
|type=concur
|mile=3.1
|road={{Jctname|state=TN|Sec|23|dir1=east|name1=Walnut Grove Road|Sec|57|dir2=west|name2=Poplar Avenue|noshield=y}}
|notes=Eastern end of SR&nbsp;23 overlap; western end of SR&nbsp;57 overlap; no direct access from US&nbsp;72 east to SR&nbsp;57 west or from US&nbsp;72 west to SR&nbsp;23 east
}}
{{TNint
|mile=8.7
|mile2=9.1
|road={{Jct|state=TN|I|240|location1=[[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson Miss]]|city2=Nashville}}
|notes=I-240 exits 15A-B
}}
{{TNint
|mile=
|mile2=
|road=Ridgeway Center Parkway / Sweetbriar Road
|notes=Partial interchange, westbound only; intersection eastbound
}}
{{TNint
|type=concur
|location=Germantown
|lspan=2
|mile=12.4
|road={{Jct|state=TN|Sec|177|dir1=south|name1=West Street}}
|notes=Western end of SR&nbsp;177 overlap; route signed westbound only
}}
{{TNint
|type=concur
|mile=12.6
|road={{Jct|state=TN|Sec|177|dir1=north|name1=Germantown Road}}
|notes=Eastern end of SR&nbsp;177 overlap
}}
{{TNint
|location=Collierville
|lspan=3
|mile=20.3
|road={{Jct|state=TN|Sec|175|dir1=west|name1=Byhalia Road}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of SR&nbsp;175
}}
{{TNint
|type=concur
|mile=20.6
|road={{Jct|state=TN|SR|57|dir1=east|name1=Tennessee Scenic Parkway east|SR|86|dir2=begins|noshield2=yes|city1=Moscow|location2=[[Pickwick Landing State Park|Pickwick]]}}
|notes=Eastern end of SR&nbsp;57 overlap; western end of SR&nbsp;86 overlap
}}
{{TNint
|mile=22.7
|road={{Jct|state=TN|SR|385|I|240|I|269|to2=yes|name1=Bill Morris Parkway|city1=Memphis|city2=Arlington}}
|notes=Interchange on SR&nbsp;385; To I-269 signed eastbound only
}}
{{TNint
|county1=Shelby
|county2=Fayette
|location1=Collierville
|location2=Piperton
|mile=23.7
|mile2=24.0
|road={{Jct|state=TN|I|269|city1=Arlington|location2=[[Tunica, Mississippi|Tunica, Miss]]}}
|notes=I-269 exit 1
}}
{{TNint
|county=Fayette
|location=Piperton
|mile=25.5
|road={{Jct|state=TN|Sec|196|dir1=north}}
|notes=Southern terminus of SR&nbsp;196
}}
{{Jctplace
|river=[[Tennessee]]–[[Mississippi]] line
|river_wide=yes
|type=concur
|mile=25.7
|mile2=0.00
|line=yes
|place={{Jct|state=TN|SR|86|dir1=ends|noshield=yes}}
}}
{{MSint
|sspan=15
|county=Marshall
|cspan=3
|location=none
|mile=1.1
|mile2=1.3
|road=Industrial Road / Wingo Road
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{MSint
|location=none
|mile=4.4
|mile2=5.3
|road={{Jct|state=MS|MS|302|dir1=west|city1=Southaven|city2=Olive Branch}}
|notes=Interchange; eastern terminus of MS 302
}}
{{MSint
|location=Mount Pleasant
|mile=6.4
|road={{Jct|state=MS|MS|311|dir1=south|city1=Holly Springs|location2=[[Strawberry Plains Audubon Center]]}}
|notes=Northern terminus of MS 311
}}
{{MSint
|county=Benton
|cspan=2
|location=none
|mile=18.8
|road={{Jct|state=MS|MS|7|city1=Holly Springs|city2=Michigan City}}
|notes=[[Roundabout]]
}}
{{MSint
|location=none
|mile=23.7
|road={{Jct|state=MS|MS|5|dir1=south|city1=Ashland}}
}}
{{MSint
|county=Tippah
|location=Walnut
|mile=41.3
|road={{Jct|state=MS|MS|15|city1=Ripley|location2=[[Bolivar, Tennessee|Bolivar]]}}
|notes=
}}
{{MSint
|type=concur
|county=Alcorn
|cspan=5
|location=Corinth
|mile=60.6
|road={{Jct|state=MS|MS|2|dir1=west|name1=Kossuth Road|city1=Kossuth|city2=Ripley|extra=airport}}
|notes=Western end of MS 2 overlap
}}
{{MSint
|type=concur
|location=Corinth
|lspan=3
|mile=61.8
|mile2=62.0
|road={{Jct|state=MS|US|45|MS|2|dir2=east|city1=Tupelo|location2=[[Jackson, Tennessee|Jackson Tenn.]]}}
|notes=Eastern end of MS 2 overlap; interchange on US&nbsp;45
}}
{{MSint
|mile=63.0
|road={{Jctname|state=MS|MS|145|name1=Tate Street|noshield=yes|location1=[[Corinth, Mississippi|Downtown Corinth]]}}
|notes=Destination signed eastbound only
}}
{{MSint
|mile=63.9
|road={{Jct|state=MS|MS|785|dir1=north|name1=Cass Street|location1=[[Corinth, Mississippi|Downtown Corinth]]}}
|notes=Southern terminus of MS 785; destination signed westbound only
}}
{{MSint
|location=Glen
|mile=70.8
|road=[[Mississippi Highway 779|MS 779]] north
|notes=Route is unsigned
}}
{{MSint
|county=Tishomingo
|cspan=4
|location=Burnsville
|mile=76.4
|road={{Jct|state=MS|MS|365|city1=Cairo|location2=[[Savannah, Tennessee|Savannah Tenn.]]}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{MSint
|location=none
|mile=78.3
|road={{Jct|state=MS|MS|172|dir1=east}}
|notes=Western terminus of MS 172
}}
{{MSint
|location=Iuka
|mile=83.6
|mile2=84.1
|road={{Jct|state=MS|MS|25|city1=Iuka|city2=Fulton|extra=hospital}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{MSint
|location=none
|mile=89.6
|road={{Jct|state=MS|MS|172|dir1=west}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of MS 172
}}
{{Jctplace
|river=[[Mississippi]]–[[Alabama]] line
|river_wide=yes
|type=concur
|mile=89.8
|mile2=0.00
|line=yes
|place={{Jct|state=AL|SR|2|dir1=begins|noshield=yes}}
}}
{{ALint
|sspan=29
|county=Colbert
|cspan=5
|location=none
|mile=5.7
|mile_ref=<ref>{{google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/34.7656516,-88.1133397/34.7610095,-88.0150386/@34.7667237,-88.1206067,4784m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e0|access-date=July 6, 2020}}</ref>
|road={{Jct|state=AL|NTP|}}
|notes=Interchange via connector road
}}
{{ALint
|location=Barton
|mile=12.7
|mile_ref=<ref>{{google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/34.7656516,-88.1133397/34.7344292,-87.896652/@34.7338025,-87.8844098,13.01z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0|access-date=July 6, 2020}}</ref>
|road={{Jct|state=AL|CR|312|county1=Colbert|dir1=east|location1=Barton Riverfront Industrial Park|location2=Essity}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{ALint
|location=Pride
|mile=17.686
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|247|dir1=south|city1=Red Bay}}
|notes=Northern terminus of SR&nbsp;247
}}
{{ALint
|type=concur
|location1=Tuscumbia
|location2=Muscle Shoals
|mile=26.178
|road={{Jct|state=AL|US|43|SR|17|dir1=south|dir2=south|name2=[[Alabama State Route 13|SR&nbsp;13]] south|city1=Russellville}}<hr>{{Jct|state=AL|US-Alt|72|SR|20|dir1=east|dir2=east|city1=Decatur}}
|notes=Western end of US&nbsp;43/SR&nbsp;17/SR&nbsp;20 overlap; western terminus of US&nbsp;72 Alt.
}}
{{ALint
|location1=Muscle Shoals
|location2=Sheffield
|mile=29.506
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|184|dir1=east|name1=Second Street|extra=airport}}
|notes=Western terminus of SR 184; serves [[Northwest Alabama Regional Airport]]
}}
{{Jctbridge
|river=[[Tennessee River]]
|mile=31.186
|bridge=[[O'Neal Bridge]]
}}
{{ALint
|county=Lauderdale
|cspan=7
|location=Florence
|lspan=4
|type=concur
|mile=31.932
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|20|dir1=west|location1=[[Savannah, Tennessee|Savannah Tn]]}}
|notes=Interchange; no eastbound entrance; eastern end of SR 20 overlap
}}
{{ALint
|type=incomplete
|mile=33.1
|road=[[Braly Municipal Stadium|Stadium]]
|notes=Interchange; no westbound entrance
}}
{{ALint
|type=concur
|mile=33.770
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|157|SR|17|dir2=north|name1=Helton Drive|city1=Muscle Shoals|location2=[[Waynesboro, Tennessee|Waynesboro Tn]]|location3=[[Braly Municipal Stadium|Braly Stadium]]}}
|notes=Interchange; eastern end of SR&nbsp;17 overlap
}}
{{ALint
|mile=36.093
|road={{jct|state=AL|extra=airport}}{{jct|state=AL|extra=hospital|SR|133|name1=Cox Creek Parkway}}
|notes=Serves [[Northwest Alabama Regional Airport]] and [[List of hospitals in Alabama|North Alabama Medical Center]]
}}
{{ALint
|type=concur
|location=none
|mile=40.489
|road={{Jct|state=AL|US|43|SR|13|dir1=north|dir2=north}}
|notes=Eastern end of US&nbsp;43/SR&nbsp;13 overlap
}}
{{ALint
|location=Elgin
|mile=50.176
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|101|city1=Town Creek|city2=Lexington|location3=[[Wheeler Dam]]}}
|notes=
}}
{{ALint
|location=Rogersville
|mile=55.966
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|207|CR|91|dir1=north|name1=Wheeler Street|name2=Lambs Ferry Road|location1=[[Pulaski, Tennessee|Pulaski]]|city2=Anderson}}
|notes=Southern terminus of SR&nbsp;207
}}
{{ALint
|county=Limestone
|cspan=2
|location=Athens
|lspan=2
|mile=75.766
|road={{Jct|state=AL|US|31|name1=Bee Line Highway|city1=Decatur|location2=[[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]}}
|notes=Decatur signed westbound only; interchange on US&nbsp;31
}}
{{ALint
|mile=76.756
|road={{Jct|state=AL|I|65|city1=Birmingham|location2=[[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]}}
|notes=I-65 exit 351
}}
{{ALint
|county=Madison
|cspan=5
|location=Huntsville
|lspan=5
|mile=92.902
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|255|I|565|SR|53|to2=yes|name1=Research Park Boulevard}}
|notes=Interchange on SR&nbsp;255
}}
{{ALint
|mile=95.412
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|53|name1=Jordan Lane}}
|notes=
}}
{{ALint
|type=concur
|mile=97.034
|road={{Jct|state=AL|US|231|US|431|I|565|dir1=south|dir2=south|to3=yes|name2=Memorial Parkway|road|University Drive}}
|notes=Western end of US&nbsp;231 / US&nbsp;431 overlap
}}
{{ALint
|type=concur
|mile=98.711
|road={{Jct|state=AL|US|231|US|431|dir1=north|dir2=north|name2=Memorial Parkway|road|Sparkman Drive}}
|notes=Eastern end of US&nbsp;231 / US&nbsp;431 overlap
}}
{{ALint
|mile=100.203
|road={{Jct|state=AL|I|565|dir1=west|name1=[[U.S. Route 72 Alternate|US&nbsp;72 Alt.]] west|city1=Decatur}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of I-565 / US&nbsp;72 Alt.; Decatur signed westbound only; I-565 exit 21
}}
{{ALint
|county=Jackson
|cspan=9
|location=none
|mile=116.046
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|65|dir1=north}}
|notes=Southern terminus of SR&nbsp;65
}}
{{ALint
|location=Woodville
|mile=120.973
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|35|dir1=south|name1=Willow Street|city1=Woodville}}
|notes=Northern terminus of SR&nbsp;35
}}
{{ALint
|location=Scottsboro
|lspan=3
|mile=132.879
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|79}}
|notes=
}}
{{ALint
|type=concur
|mile=136.725
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|279|dir1=south|name1=South Broad Street|road|South Broad Street|extra=hospital}}
|notes=Western end of SR&nbsp;279 overlap; interchange
}}
{{ALint
|type=concur
|mile=138.554
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|35|SR|279|dir2=north|name2=Veterans Drive}}
|notes=Eastern end of SR&nbsp;279 overlap; interchange
}}
{{ALint
|location=none
|mile=142.004
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|279|dir1=south|name1=East Willow Street|city1=Scottsboro}}
|notes=Northern terminus of SR&nbsp;279
}}
{{ALint
|location=Stevenson
|lspan=2
|mile=155.848
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|117|city1=Stevenson}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{ALint
|mile=158.320
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|277|dir1=north|city1=Stevenson}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{ALint
|location=Bridgeport
|mile=165.983
|road={{Jct|state=AL|SR|277|dir1=south|city1=Bridgeport}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{Jctplace
|river=[[Alabama]]–[[Tennessee]] line
|river_wide=yes
|type=concur
|mile=167.211
|mile2=0.00
|line=yes
|place={{Jct|state=AL|SR|2|dir1=ends|noshield=yes}}
}}
{{TNint
|sspan=14
|county=Marion
|cspan=6
|location=South Pittsburg
|mile=2.2
|mile2=2.9
|road={{Jct|state=TN|Sec|156|city1=South Pittsburg|city2=New Hope}}
|notes=Interchange; westbound exit and eastbound entrance provide access to Jaycee Drive
}}
{{TNint
|type=concur
|location=Kimball
|lspan=2
|mile=4.2
|mile2=4.5
|road={{Jct|state=TN|I|24|US|64|dir1=west|city1=Chattanooga|city2=Nashville}}
|notes=Western end of US&nbsp;64 overlap; I-24 exits 152A-B
}}
{{TNint
|type=concur
|mile=4.5
|road={{Jct|state=TN|Sec|2|dir1=north|name1=Battle Creek Road}}
|notes=Western end of SR&nbsp;2 overlap
}}
{{TNint
|type=concur
|location=Jasper
|mile=9.4
|mile2=9.5
|road={{Jct|state=TN|US|41|SR|28|I|24|dir1=north|to3=yes|city1=Dunlap}}
|notes=Western end of US&nbsp;41 overlap; interchange on SR&nbsp;28
}}
{{TNint
|location=none
|mile=12.6
|road={{Jct|state=TN|Sec|27|I|24|to2=yes|location1=[[Nickajack Dam|Nickajack]]|city2=Dunlap}}
|notes=
}}
{{TNint
|location=Haletown
|mile=15.2
|road={{Jct|state=TN|Sec|134|name1=J.E. Clouse Highway|I|24|Sec|156|dir1=east|to2=yes|city1=Whiteside}}
|notes=Western terminus of SR&nbsp;134
}}
{{TNint
|county=Hamilton
|cspan=8
|location=Chattanooga
|lspan=8
|mile=29.5
|mile2=29.6
|road={{Jct|state=TN|I|24|city1=Nashville|location2=[[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]]|city3=Chattanooga}}
|notes=I-24 exit 174
}}
{{TNint
|type=concur
|mile=29.7
|road={{Jct|state=TN|US|11|dir1=south|Sec|38|dir2=south|noshield2=yes|name2=Birmingham Highway}}
|notes=Western end of US&nbsp;11 overlap
}}
{{TNint
|mile=31.3
|road={{Jct|state=TN|Sec|318|dir1=south|name1=Old Wauhatchie Pike}}
|notes=Northern terminus of SR&nbsp;318
}}
{{TNint
|type=incomplete
|mile=32.3
|road={{Jct|state=TN|Sec|148|dir1=south|location1=[[Ruby Falls]]|location2=[[Lookout Mountain]]}}
|notes=No direct access from US&nbsp;72 east to SR&nbsp;148 south and from SR&nbsp;148 north to US&nbsp;72 west; northern terminus of SR&nbsp;148
}}
{{TNint
|type=concur
|mile=33.3
|road={{Jct|state=TN|Sec|17|dir1=south|name1=Tennessee Avenue|to2=yes|Sec|58|location1=[[Lookout Mountain Incline Railway|Incline]]|location2=[[Rock City (roadside attraction)|Rock City]]}}
|notes=Western end of SR&nbsp;17 overlap
}}
{{TNint
|type=incomplete
|mile=34.6
|road={{Jct|state=TN|US|27|dir1=north|name1={{Jct|state=TN|I|124|dir1=north|Sec|29|dir2=north|noshield=yes}}|location1=[[Downtown Chattanooga|Downtown]]|city2=Red Bank}}
|notes=No westbound exit; entrance ramp includes direct entrance from eastbound I-24 (exit 178A)
}}
{{TNint
|type=concur
|mile=34.8
|road={{Jct|state=TN|US|11|US|64|dir1=north|dir2=east|Sec|2|dir3=east|noshield3=yes|name3=20th Street|to4=to|I|24}}
|notes=Eastern end of US&nbsp;11/US&nbsp;64 overlap
}}
{{TNint
|type=concur
|mile=35.1
|road={{Jct|state=TN|US|41|dir1=south|US|76|dir2=east|Sec|8|noshield3=yes|Sec|17|noshield4=yes}}

|notes=Eastern terminus; eastern end of US&nbsp;41/SR&nbsp;17 overlap; western terminus of US&nbsp;76; highway continues as SR 8 north (Broad Street north)
}}
{{jctbtm|col=7|keys=concur,incomplete}}

==Related routes==
===Muscle Shoals–Huntsville alternate route===
{{Infobox road small
|state=AL
|type=US-Alt
|route=72
|location=[[Muscle Shoals, Alabama|Muscle Shoals]] to [[Huntsville, Alabama]]
|length_mi=
|length_round=
|length_ref=
|established=
}}

{{main|U.S. Route 72 Alternate}}

'''[[U.S. Route 72 Alternate]]''' ('''US&nbsp;72 Alternate''') exists in [[Alabama]] on the south side of the [[Tennessee River]] between [[Muscle Shoals, Alabama|Muscle Shoals]] and [[Decatur, Alabama|Decatur]]. US&nbsp;72 alt. crosses the Tennessee River at Decatur along with [[U.S. Route 31 in Alabama|US&nbsp;31]] and follows the entire route of [[Interstate 565]]. However, signs on [[Interstate 65 in Alabama|I-65]] at the I-565 exit make no mention of US&nbsp;72 Alt. and only mention [[Alabama State Route 20|SR&nbsp;20]] westbound from the I-65/I-565 junction. SR&nbsp;20 was co-signed with US&nbsp;72 Alt. from Muscle Shoals to Huntsville. SR&nbsp;20 has since been truncated to the junction of I-65 just east of Decatur. Originally, US&nbsp;72 Alt. turned off of SR&nbsp;20 on to [[Alabama State Route 53|SR&nbsp;53]] (Jordan Lane) in Huntsville and followed it north {{convert|1|mi|km|adj=on}} to rejoin with US&nbsp;72. With the completion of I-565 in the early 1990s, US&nbsp;72 Alt. was routed along with I-565 to the termination of I-565 at US&nbsp;72.

US&nbsp;72 Alternate between [[Decatur, Alabama|Decatur]] and [[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville]] is part of [[Corridor V (Appalachian Development Highway System)|Corridor V]] of the [[Appalachian Development Highway System]].

==See also==
* {{Portal-inline|U.S. Roads}}
* ''[[Southern Rock Opera]]'', a [[Drive-By Truckers]] album prominently featuring US&nbsp;72
* [[List of United States Numbered Highways]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
The Drive By Truckers song “72 (This Highway’s Mean)” is written about highway 72.

===Sources===
* Rand McNally Road Atlases 1926 - 2006

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
{{Commons category-inline}}
* [http://usends.com/72.html Endpoints of U.S. Highway 72]

{{US Highways}}

[[Category:U.S. Route 72| ]]
[[Category:United States Numbered Highway System|072]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in Tennessee|072]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in Mississippi|072]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in Alabama|072]]
[[Category:Transportation in Chattanooga, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Transportation in Huntsville, Alabama]]
[[Category:Transportation in Memphis, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Transportation in Shelby County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Transportation in Fayette County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Transportation in Marshall County, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Transportation in Benton County, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Transportation in Tippah County, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Transportation in Alcorn County, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Transportation in Tishomingo County, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Transportation in Colbert County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Transportation in Lauderdale County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Transportation in Limestone County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Transportation in Madison County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Transportation in Jackson County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Transportation in Marion County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Transportation in Hamilton County, Tennessee]]