Three days is enough to see the big names in Memphis without rushing, provided you group them by neighborhood instead of zigzagging across the city. Downtown, South Main and the riverfront are walkable from each other. Sun Studio and the Edge district sit just east of downtown, Graceland is in Whitehaven to the south, and Midtown holds Overton Park, the zoo and the Pink Palace. This plan takes them in that order, with notes on days that attractions are closed.
Before you go
Book Graceland and any guided tour you want ahead of time. Sun Studio works differently, with tours first come, first served on arrival, so plan to be there well before the time you want. Two weekly closings matter: the National Civil Rights Museum closes on Tuesdays on its regular schedule, and the Blues Hall of Fame Museum closes on Mondays, so build your days around them. Graceland and Sun Studio both close on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Day one: Elvis and the birth of rock and roll
Start at Graceland as early as you can, take the audio-guided mansion tour first, then the car museum and the airplanes across the boulevard; allow at least half a day. If you are a devoted fan with energy to spare, TigerMan Karate Dojo and Museum covers Elvis’s karate years and is on the same side of the city, though it keeps a limited weekend-style schedule, so check first. In the afternoon, head to Sun Studio for the tour of the tiny storefront where Elvis, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis recorded. The Edge Motor Museum is close by if you want a short break from music. Finish downtown for the evening march of the ducks at The Peabody and a first walk down Beale Street.
Day two: history, blues and soul
Spend the morning at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, giving it at least two to three hours. It is a heavy but essential visit, and it is better done fresh. Walk up South Main to the Blues Hall of Fame Museum, a compact museum honoring B.B. King, Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson, then have lunch in the South Main district. In the afternoon, take the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Soulsville, or if you prefer a single overview of everything, the Rock ’n’ Soul Museum on the FedExForum plaza. That evening, treat yourself to live blues on Beale Street, where walking in is free and a small security fee applies on select weekend and holiday nights.
Day three: river and green space
Begin with the Historic Memphis walking tour if you want the whole story told in two to three hours, including the duck march, or skip it and wander on your own. Spend the middle of the day at Tom Lee Park at the foot of Beale Street, then walk or ride onto Big River Crossing, the free path over the Mississippi on the old Harahan Bridge. In warmer months a narrated paddlewheel cruise on the river is a relaxed way to end the afternoon. If you prefer Midtown, swap the river for Overton Park and the Old Forest trail, the Pink Palace Museum or the Memphis Zoo, which are all within a short distance of each other.
Swaps for different travelers
Families can replace a museum with the zoo, the Pink Palace or Shelby Farms Park, which has trails, lakes and a bison herd. Couples might add the Taste of Downtown Memphis food tour or a craft brewery tour, and history lovers can swap in Elmwood Cemetery, the Woodruff-Fontaine House or the Orpheum Theatre tour. Anyone with a fourth day should consider the day trip to Tupelo to see Elvis’s birthplace.
Where to stay
Staying downtown puts Beale Street, The Peabody and the Rock ’n’ Soul Museum within walking distance, which suits this plan best. The Central Station on South Main is the closest of our hotel picks to the Civil Rights Museum, and the Guest House at Graceland is ideal if day one is the highlight of your trip, though evenings downtown then need a shuttle or rideshare.
Getting around
Downtown can be done on foot, with the Main Street trolley helping toward South Main. Graceland, Sun Studio, Stax and Midtown are easiest by car or rideshare. If you would rather not drive, a guided music tour by bus with hotel pickup covers several of the music sites in one outing.
Pacing tip
Memphis summers are hot and humid, so schedule outdoor stops for the morning or early evening and use museums for the middle of the day. In winter, check seasonal hours at the gardens and at outdoor attractions, because many shorten their schedule when daylight does.
