Memphis is one of the better cities in the country for travelers who watch their spending, because many of its signature experiences cost nothing. The headline attractions like Graceland are priced accordingly, but around them sits a thick layer of free walks, parks and music. This guide separates what is free, what is cheap and where a ticket is worth the money.
Free in the middle of downtown
Walking Beale Street costs nothing, and the live music spills into the street, with a small security fee only on select weekend and holiday nights. The Peabody duck march happens at 11:00 and 17:00 every day and is free to watch from the lobby of the hotel. Tom Lee Park, at the foot of Beale Street, is a 31-acre riverfront park with a playground, lawns and public art, open daily from early morning until about half an hour after sunset.
Free green space and the river
Big River Crossing is a free pedestrian and bike path over the Mississippi on the old Harahan Bridge to West Memphis, Arkansas, with free parking at both ends. Overton Park is free to enter, with the Old Forest and its 1.4-mile limestone loop, and the Shelby Farms Park in East Memphis has more than 40 miles of trails, a 10.65-mile Greenline and a bison herd. Bring your own bike or rent one on site if you want a longer outing.
Free culture
The Dixon Gallery and Gardens is a free art museum with Impressionist paintings, decorative arts and landscaped gardens, with late opening on third Thursdays and tulips in spring. Elmwood Cemetery, founded in 1852, is a free, atmospheric Victorian cemetery with about 60 audio-tour sites, open daily with no charge for the grounds. Both are good ways to fill a day with something that is not a ticketed attraction.
Low-cost paid stops
Several of the smaller museums cost relatively little. The Memphis Music Hall of Fame and the Edge Motor Museum are modest add-ons, and the Blues Hall of Fame Museum has a reasonable adult admission with lower prices for students and free entry for children accompanied by an adult. The Memphis Botanic Garden charges a daily admission at the gate, with lower rates for seniors and children. Check each venue’s current prices before you go, since they change.
Where to spend
If you only pay for a few things, choose Graceland or Sun Studio for the Elvis story, the National Civil Rights Museum for its importance and the Stax Museum or Rock ’n’ Soul Museum for music. The Rock ’n’ Soul Museum gives the best overview for the price of a single ticket. A guided walking tour, like the two-to-three hour Beyond Beale tour, can also be better value than several separate museum entries because it ties the sights together.
Where to save
Skip the add-ons you will not use. A food tour is fun but not necessary if you eat in the neighborhoods you are visiting, and an evening ghost walk is entertainment rather than an essential. Sports and show tickets such as a Grizzlies game vary widely by date, so compare weekdays against weekends. Consider a mid-priced downtown hotel such as the Courtyard or the Residence Inn rather than the most famous addresses.
Free music beyond Beale
The Overton Park Shell has presented hundreds of free concerts over the years, and many of its shows have been free, so check its calendar for your dates. Combined with the free Dixon Gallery, a late-opening third Thursday can turn into a nearly free evening of art.
Spreading out the cost
Combine an expensive morning, like Graceland, with free afternoons in parks and on the riverfront. On days with a paid museum, plan the evening on Beale Street, where the cost is a drink. Remember that parking is charged at many hotels, so rideshare or walking can offset it.
Seasonal savings
Visit outside the peak of Elvis Week in August and around big events, when hotel rates rise. Late fall and early spring offer pleasant weather for the free outdoor attractions, and weekday visits tend to be quieter at the museums.
