Memphis itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Memphis, day by day: the National Civil Rights Museum, Beale Street, the Rock N' Soul Museum, Sun Studio and Graceland first, then Overton Park, the Brooks Museum, the Zoo, Mud Island, Tom Lee Park and the Stax Museum on day two. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Memphis in 1 day
Day 1
National Civil Rights Museum
Museum at the Lorraine Motel where Dr Martin Luther King Jr was killed in 1968, telling the history of the civil rights movement.
Beale Street Historic District
Street of blues clubs, bars and restaurants in downtown Memphis, the centre of the city's blues history and nightlife.
Memphis Rock N' Soul Museum
Smithsonian-affiliated museum beside FedExForum on how Memphis blues, soul and rock and roll came together.
Sun Studio
Recording studio where Sam Phillips recorded Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and others, visited on short guided tours.
Graceland
Elvis Presley's mansion on a 13.8-acre estate, shown on a timed tour with his car collection, planes and museum exhibits.
Memphis in 2 days
Day 1
Overton Park
Large historic park in Midtown with an old-growth forest, a greensward, trails and the zoo and art academy nearby.
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
Fine art museum with European and American paintings, sculpture and African art; check its current location and opening dates.
Memphis Zoo
Zoo in Overton Park with themed areas for animals from Africa, Asia and the Americas, and a well-regarded set of habitats.
Sun Studio
Recording studio where Sam Phillips recorded Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and others, visited on short guided tours.
Memphis Rock N' Soul Museum
Smithsonian-affiliated museum beside FedExForum on how Memphis blues, soul and rock and roll came together.
Beale Street Historic District
Street of blues clubs, bars and restaurants in downtown Memphis, the centre of the city's blues history and nightlife.
Mud Island
Peninsula park in the Mississippi, with the River Park, a walk through a scale model of the lower river and a museum.
Day 2
Dixon Gallery and Gardens
Art museum in east Memphis with impressionist paintings and European art, set in 17 acres of gardens.
Tom Lee Park
Riverfront park west of downtown beside the Mississippi, with walking paths, lawns and festivals such as Memphis in May.
Elmwood Cemetery
The oldest active cemetery in Memphis, founded in 1852, with Victorian monuments, an arboretum and self-guided walks.
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Museum on the site of the Stax record label, with exhibits on soul music, costumes and the original studio.
Watch: Memphis
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Memphis
Spring (April to May) and autumn (October to November) have the mildest weather. Summers are hot and humid, with thunderstorms, and winters are cool and short. Memphis in May festival fills the riverfront in May, with the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, and Elvis Week around August 16 draws Graceland crowds.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Memphis on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Memphis on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Memphis on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Memphis
- Graceland is about 12 km south of downtown, so allow a half day there; the mansion tour is by timed ticket and is best booked ahead.
- The National Civil Rights Museum is at the Lorraine Motel; allow several hours, and check which days it is closed.
- Beale Street is busiest and liveliest in the evening, when the clubs have live music; during the day it is mostly quiet.
- Downtown sights such as the Civil Rights Museum, Beale Street and the Rock N' Soul Museum can be walked or reached by the trolley.
- Memphis is hot and humid in summer, so plan outdoor stops for the morning and use museums in the afternoon.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Beale Street Historic District: Jeremy Atherton, CC BY-SA 2.5
- Dixon Gallery and Gardens: Thomas R Machnitzki, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Elmwood Cemetery: Andreas Faessler, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Graceland: PaddyBriggs, CC0
- Memphis Brooks Museum of Art: Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, PD
- Memphis Rock N' Soul Museum: Thomas R Machnitzki, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Memphis Zoo: Unicurse, CC BY 3.0
- Mud Island: Zereshk at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5
- National Civil Rights Museum: DavGreg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Overton Park: Pinethicket at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Stax Museum of American Soul Music: Victor Chapa from Denton, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Sun Studio: David Jones, CC BY 2.0
- Tom Lee Park: AMartin 4532, CC0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
