Route description

The route starts at the Intersection of Stratford Road and Macon Road in Memphis, about a mile south of Interstate 40

Interstate 40

Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...

 (I-40). The road (locally known as Covington Pike), passes over the Wolf River

Wolf River (Tennessee)

The Wolf River is a alluvial stream in western Tennessee and northern Mississippi, whose confluence with the Mississippi River was the site of various Chickasaw, French, Spanish and American communities and forts that eventually became Memphis, Tennessee....

 after its interchange with I-40. Between here and Raleigh–Lagrange Road are numerous car dealerships; Covington Pike is best known regionally for this. SR-204 continues north into the Memphis neighborhood of Raleigh, crossing SR-15 (Stage Road) and SR-14

Tennessee State Route 14

State Route 14 is a south–north route from the Mississippi border in Memphis, Tennessee to intersect with State Route 54 in Tipton County.- Route description :...

 (Austin Peay Highway). At this intersection, SR-204 changes into Singleton Parkway, a four-lane divided highway with a 55 miles per hour (24.6 m/s) speed limit. This route was named for Walter K. Singleton

Walter K. Singleton

-External links:...

, a Memphis native, who was posthumosly awarded the Medal of Honor as a result of the Vietnam War. This is one of the main routes for residents who commute from Millington to Memphis. After passing over the Loosahatchie River

Loosahatchie River

The Loosahatchie River is a stream in southwestern Tennessee. Except for a few miles near its head, its mouth, and near the middle of its length, it has been entirely channelized, as have its major tributaries, for agriculture purposes...

, SR-204 ends at I-269

Interstate 269

Interstate 269 is a partially built outer beltline around the city of Memphis, Tennessee, and its adjacent suburban areas in northern Mississippi. The sections of the route which are currently open are designated as State Route 385 and Mississippi Highway 304...

/SR-385. Singleton Parkway continues north into Naval Support Activity Mid-South

Naval Support Activity Mid-South

Naval Support Activity Mid-South , in Millington, Tennessee, is a base of the United States Navy. A part of the Navy Region Midwest and the Navy Installations Command, NSA Mid-South serves as the Navy’s Human Resources Center of Excellence...

 and continues until SR-205

Tennessee State Route 205

-Route description:SR 205 begins in Collierville at SR-57 and is known by the name Collierville-Arlington Road, as this is the main route between the two towns. It continues north through Collierville as four lanes until it reaches the Wolf River, where it becomes a two-lane road...

 (Navy Road) in Millington. However, the base is closed to through traffic, so through traffic must go onto SR-385 in order to go to Millington.

History

Up until the 1970s, Covington Pike ran from Raleigh–Lagrange Road to just south of its current junction with Austin Peay Highway. However, instead of taking a turn towards the west along the current route, Covington Pike continued north and crossed Austin Peay Highway north of where it does today. Covington Pike crossed over SR-14 several times in somewhat discontinuous sections, over the Loosahatchie River, and past the community of Rosemark. In theory, one could get to Covington, Tennessee

Covington, Tennessee

Covington is a city in central Tipton County in the State of Tennessee. Covington is the largest city and county seat of, Tipton County. Covington is located in one of just five counties of West Tennessee that are located along the Mississippi River, thus it is in extreme western Tennessee.This...

(about 40 miles (64.4 km) north of Memphis) by having traveled this route as its name suggests. Once in Tipton County, the route is known as Old Memphis Road, which is more continuous and still goes from the Tipton County line to Covington. Today, segments of the old Covington Pike still exist, but are mainly dead ends.

Singleton Parkway was built in the 1970s from Austin Peay to Egypt Central Road, and was extended north to Millington in the 1980s.