It was music that drew us to a weekend in Memphis. And in fact, that is what draws most people here. And how can’t it? Elvis. Johnny Cash. BB King. Isaac Hayes. These musical legends have all called Memphis home at some time or another.
And for us, it was listening to songs like Marc Cohn’s Walking in Memphis and Paul Simon’s Graceland. Ballads of a storied place that we simply had to visit on our cross-country US road trip.
Throw in some more modern day history like the events of the Lorraine Motel, and some hearty Tennessee food and you soon realise there might even be a bit more to Memphis than great tunes.
As time goes on, memories often fade of places visited. But there is something iconic about Memphis. Maybe it is the music. Perhaps it roots itself in your memory, connecting you to Memphis better than most places. Whatever it is, it’s a fascinating city that needs to be on more people’s radars.
We had the pleasure of spending a weekend in Memphis, taking in the best of what this city has to offer. Read on for our weekend in Memphis itinerary to help you make the most of your visit.
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Getting to Memphis
Memphis Airport
Memphis airport is serviced by several low cost carriers. It’s certainly not one of the busiest passenger airports in the US. But there are enough flights to arrange a weekend in Memphis.
Interestingly, Memphis is home to Fedex’s international hub. So as far as cargo goes, it’s the busiest airport in the US, even if it might not feel like it to the average passenger.
When we fly, we use Skyscanner to search for the best flights and times.
Driving from Nashville
On our visit to Memphis, we drove from Nashville. From speaking with many others, this seems to be a popular duo destination. And being just over 3 hours drive apart, it’s easy to see why.
We were on a cross-country US road trip, so hiring a car made the most sense. If you’re on a longer trip, or perhaps simply taking in the highlights of Tennessee, we’d definitely recommend hiring a car. We use Skyscanner’s car hire search to ensure we get the best deal. It’s also incredibly helpful for plotting courses where you pick up the car in one destination and leave it in another. Very handy on a long distance trip!
Do you love a good US road trip? Check out our Monument Valley itinerary – one of the most epic road trips you’ll find in the US.
Getting around Memphis
As we’ve mentioned, we had a car during our time in in Memphis. Memphis is serviced by good public transport. However on a weekend and with some of the destinations we’ve suggested, having a car has to be the optimal means of getting around.
Free parking is readily available around the city and at major attractions.
If you’re planning on a night out, Uber is readily available. We used Uber to sneak in a few drinks over dinner along with some live music.
Looking for a detailed guide to driving around Memphis? This article about driving in Memphis is incredibly helpful, providing a breakdown of some the key arterials, roads and what to expect when driving.
Where to stay in Memphis?
Memphis is well serviced by a lot of good value accommodation. On our cross-country US road trip, we chose to stay at a lot of good quality, low cost properties. For our weekend in Memphis, we chose to stay at La Quinta downtown. We stayed at La Quinta properties a couple of times on our trip. We found the La Quinta brand to be reliable with good rooms, free parking and well located.
The La Quinta downtown was quite spacious, and put on an excellent breakfast spread.
For those who want to stay at an iconic Memphis property, the Peabody Hotel is hard to go past. In full disclosure, we did try to book here however it was booked out for the duration of our stay. It’s a popular and well known hotel. Not least of all for the ‘Peabody ducks’. Each day at 11am, the ducks that live in the hotel fountain, go on a walk down a red carpet. Hard to believe I know, but Youtube suggests its true. We didn’t get a chance to see this first hand, but if this is your kind of thing, the Peabody may be the right hotel for you!
Day 1 weekend in Memphis itinerary
At a glance | Get to grips with America’s recent history| Gorge on some fried chicken | Stroll Memphis’s gardens| Stroll on Beale street | Bop the night away at BB King’s
Your morning at the National Civil Rights Museum
America’s history on civil rights is known the world over. And not for all the right reasons. The National Civil Rights museum serves to shed some light on the civil rights movement over the centuries, and in particular in the most recent decades.
Through a series of interactive exhibits, you’ll come to learn of some of the harsh truths, biases and discrimination that have taken place in the US. The struggles of many. The deaths of those standing up for what is right. The stories of those just trying to get by without prejudice. The National Civil Rights museum is a sad, fascinating and inspirational place all at the same time.
The museum itself is built into the Lorraine Motel. This motel was the site of Martin Luther King’s assassination in 1968. His room is left as it was on the evening he was killed. The museum also flows over to across the road where the sniper took his shot.
Whilst this breakdown of the museum may feel far from an uplifting experience, I can promise you it is. And it is also important. Particularly in a world where prejudice continues to exist. This museum is a place anyone with the means should attempt to visit to better understand the civil rights movement in the US. You’ll be better informed and have a much better understanding of some of the history behind many events you may have heard about only in passing.
The National Civil Rights museum will take you somewhere between 2-3 hours to complete. Of all the things to do in Memphis, this feels like the most important. The exhibits are excellent, and you’ll find yourself taken down a spiral of stories to follow. Don’t rush this one.
Lunch at Gus’ Fried Chicken
You might need something a little uplifting after your museum visit, and for that lunch at Gus’ Fried chicken. Now you might be lucky and have eaten at one of Gus’ Fried Chicken outlets somewhere across the US. There aren’t a huge number of outlets, but Tennessee is home to Gus’.
Founded over 60 years ago, the recipe for this chicken is a family secret. And in a part of the world where fried chicken is fawned over, Gus’ is often seen as the best.
We’d highly recommend grabbing a ‘plate’. You get 2-3 pieces of chicken along with some bread, slaw and baked beans. The mac and cheese goes well too. Go hungry and leave full. And don’t worry about your waistline, the calories don’t count in Memphis, although my belt would disagree!
Stroll Memphis’ botanic gardens
Gus’ Fried chicken will leave you needing to get some steps in. And there’s not many better places to do that than a stroll around Memphis’ botanic gardens. It is one of the best things to do in Memphis if you’re looking to get moving!
The gardens are set over an enormous 96 acre property with 28 different gardens within the property. Just the right size for you to walk off that fried chicken and take in some of the local flora.
Take a wander on Beale Street
If you’ve found yourself reading this article with Marc Cohn singing about being ‘ten feet off of Beale’, this part of the itinerary is for you. The official home of the blues, Beale Street packs a load of great music and eateries into its strip.
Decked with colourful signs, you’ll hear the thumping of drums, horns and guitar stings as you wander along. You may be accosted by the odd person asking you to enter their property for a show in the evening. They’re all very friendly and happy to tell you who is playing that evening.
You’ll find Club Handy, Wet Willie’s and of course BB King’s Blues Club along this strip. With their buzzing neon lights and unforgettable soundtrack, it is difficult to suggest there is anywhere ‘bad’ to go along here.
If you’d prefer not to stroll alone, why not organise a one hour guided walking tour?
Dinner and some music at BB King’s Blues Club
After dropping our car back at our hotel to freshen up, we took an Uber into Beale Street. We chose BB King’s Blues Club to eat at and listen to some live tunes. We had an awesome evening, with some great soulful blues that everyone gets into. I wasn’t much into blues beforehand, but within 24 hours I had a Spotify playlist as long as my arm.
Since you’re coming on the weekend, it’s important to make a reservation. These can made on the website or in person, but avoid disappointment!
Grab some great BBQ (the ribs are the bomb), some drinks and sit back and take in those blues!
Day 2 weekend in Memphis itinerary
At a glance | Rocking out at Sun Studios | Brunch at the oldest restaurant in Memphis | An afternoon at Graceland| Back to Beale Street
Rocking out at Sun Studios
Now depending on just how hard you sung and danced at BB King’s last night, you might want an extra lay in. No matter how you feel though, you need to make sure you don’t miss the next destination on your weekend in Memphis.
Sun Studios is well known as the home of rock and roll. If you were in musical heaven last night at BB King’s, you’re about to power up into another level. Sun Studios offers regular 45 minute tours of the studios that have played host to Elvis, Johnny Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison amongst others. The story of Sun Studios and the discovery of some of the world’s best known musical artists is fascinating. And created a story unto itself that constantly churned out hit after hit.
On the tour, you’ll sit at the same piano and handle the microphone in the very same studios as all time musical royalty. Be sure to turn up just before the hour to secure your spot on the tour.
For those who want to go really deep, you can pair your Sun Studios visit with a 3 hour music tour as well.
Brunch at the Arcade restaurant
If you didn’t eat the Arcade restaurant during your weekend in Memphis, did you even go? The Arcade restaurant is the oldest restaurant in Memphis. And also lays claim to some Hollywood fame, being featured in a number of movies including Elizabethtown and Walk the Line. It’s also said to be one of Elvis’ favourite haunts.
You don’t last as long as the Arcade has without serving up some great fare. Not overly healthy fare. More the type of options that are spectacularly calorific. We’re talking one of Elvis’ favourite Peanut Butter and banana sandwiches. A grilled cheese. Or a double bacon cheeseburger. You know, the good stuff.
For what these dishes might lack in nutrition, they make up with your tastebuds. And while you’re at it, why not wash it down with a milkshake? You only live once after all.
If you’re a movie buff, be sure to check out the photos in the booths. They’ve kept snaps of all the key scenes filmed in and around the Arcade.
If you like travel movies like Elizabethtown, you might like our list of our favourite travel movies like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
A visit to Elvis Presley’s Graceland
For many who come to this part of the world, Graceland is not just one of the things to do in Memphis but a pilgrimage. It is a huge drawcard for travellers all across the world. It really does show the power of music and how it transcends cultures and distance. People even turned up dressed as Elvis to visit!
We didn’t go that far. But we may have had Graceland cranked up to full volume on repeat as we drove into this fabled destination. As lovers of good music, and being very familiar with Elvis’ tunes growing up, a trip to Graceland had to be done.
A visit to Graceland is a rather odd experience. It’s part a step back in time. Part museum. Part entertainment. Graceland itself is a beautiful property with a décor stuck right in the peak of the 1970s. Gaudy carpet, old electronics that would have been modern at the time, and strange lighting. You can see it would have been a great place to live back in the day.
Your tour of Graceland gets you in the front door and completing a circuit right through bedrooms, living areas and the kitchen. There’s a stroll outside where there’s a yard and stables. By all reports, most of the items in the home are as they were when Elvis passed. A bus will drop you off at Graceland and return you to the broader museum area.
Here you’ll find a series of museum exhibits. Aside from being a fantastic musician, Elvis had a keen eye for vehicles. The car exhibition in itself is an impressive collection of cars, trucks, bikes and boats. It really needs to be seen to be believed. If Elvis liked a vehicle, he grabbed it. And now it’s on view in his Graceland exhibition.
Next, you’ll find yourself amongst some of Elvis’ amazing outfits. This was a man who knew how to build an identity through fashion. Those big collars, jewels and flairs so synonymous with the Elvis name are on display in all manner of designs. The exhibition here is quite amazing. Not to mention the high ceilinged wall with Elvis’ umpteen Gold records. Throughout you’ll also have clips played of Elvis performing or clips from his movies. He really was a man with so many talents. And so ahead of his own era.
For the really avid Elvis fan, an additional fee will get you into Elvis’ plane exhibition. We spotted a number of his planes on the way in – it’s hard to hide them – so gave this part a miss.
Our review on Graceland goes nowhere near the justice required of what this place is like. But needless to say if you’re reading this and have any interest in Memphis – go to Graceland! Sure it’s kitsch and a bit touristy, but he’s a musical enigma and well worth learning more about. Tickets available at the gate or via this site.
Beale Street for your last evening
Where else did you think you’d be going for your last evening in Memphis? Dinner and some music in Beale Street is one of the most popular things to do in Memphis. So much so, it probably deserves two nights of your attention.
Find yourself another spot along this iconic street. Maybe somewhere that caught your eye last night? Take in some more music and tunes. I can still hear the music in my ears as I type this and have no doubt you’ll be the same.
A weekend in Memphis is a weekend well spent. It’s a genuinely fun place built for a great time. We loved our time in Memphis, and I’ve no doubt you will too.
Have you been to Memphis? Is there anything else you’d add to this itinerary? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
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