How To Take The Ultimate Vacation In Memphis, Tennessee (2023)

FAQs

What is the best month to visit Memphis? ›

The best times to visit Memphis are April and May or October and November. These short seasons are brief reliefs from the uncomfortable (and long) summer and winter seasons. Average summer highs often climb above 90 degrees with high humidity.

Memphis is a very nice city in the United States with great things to do. If you're going to the city for 3 days, you have enough time to see all highlights and do fun things. For example, you can spend a long weekend in Memphis, which is great! Have breakfast at some of the amazing cafes.

Known worldwide as the "Home of the Blues & Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll - not to mention gospel, jazz, R&B, rap and soul. Close to 20 percent of the earliest inductees (24 of the 97) in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame have come from within a 100-mile radius of Memphis.

Graceland is a fantastic place for adults and families alike. And, even though they may not know much about Elvis Presley, this immersive and interactive experience is something kids will love. So, if you're wondering, “Is Graceland worth visiting,” I answer with a resounding yes!

Low season is the best time for budget travelers (November to January) During Memphis' winter months both temperatures and hotel prices fall. Excluding Elvis' birthday celebrations, January (followed closely by November) is the month for rock bottom flights and great deals on hotel rooms.

While Nashville is mainly known for its country music, Memphis is known for its blues and soul music. As a music lover, it's safe to say that Memphis gives Nashville some stiff competition when it comes to music. In my opinion, Memphis has a leg up regarding history.

Memphis is absolutely worth visiting. In addition to being one of America's greatest music cities and the birthplace of rock 'n' roll, Memphis played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement and has a fascinating history related to trade and the river.

It is walkable, bikeable, and comes with a great combination of scenic views and city living. With the Mississippi River and many beautiful parks dotting the landscape, you'll be surprisingly close to nature, too.

Harbor Town is one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Memphis, and shops and restaurants are within walking distance. Some dining options include Tug's Casual Grill, Terrace at the River Inn, and Paulette's.

What is the most famous street in Memphis? ›

Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the most iconic streets in America. It is three blocks of nightclubs, restaurants and shops in the heart of downtown Memphis, and a melting pot of delta blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll, R&B and gospel.

In Downtown Memphis, walk world-famous Beale Street to soak up live music and the stories of our music legacy, told through a collection of music attractions and public art you'll love snapping photos with. Downtown also tells civil rights stories at national landmarks, museums and galleries.

Barbecue: what Memphis is known for. Since the city's conception, Barbecue has been the most famous dish in Memphis. If there's one thing that Memphis can teach us, it's that barbecue sauce is versatile.

Memphis was at the heart of the civil rights movement.

Memphis is also home to the National Civil Rights Museum and the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum.

The park quickly became a gathering center for blues musicians and featured a 2,000-seat auditorium. Beale Street was also home to many Black-owned businesses, clubs, restaurants, and shops and was the headquarters of Ida B. Wells' anti-segregationist newspaper, Free Speech.

When is the best time to go? To avoid the dead summer heat and cold winters, the preferred time to visit is between April and May or October and November.

A tour of the mansion takes about one to one and a half hours. The Elvis Experience tour, which includes the mansion, car museum and several other exhibits, takes anywhere from two and a half to three and a half hours.

The driest month in Memphis is August with 3.00 inches of precipitation, and with 5.79 inches April is the wettest month.

July is the hottest month in Memphis with an average temperature of 28.5°C (83°F) and the coldest is January at 6°C (43°F). The wettest month is November with an average of 160mm of rain..

Is Memphis a good weekend getaway? ›

Memphis is one of the most unique cities in the USA. It's weird and wonderful, historical and cultural, meaningful and impactful, and charmingly approachable. A weekend in Memphis is just enough to give you a taste of this incredible city – and leave you wanting to return for more!

How long is the drive from Memphis to Nashville? The direct drive from Memphis to Nashville is 209 mi (337 km), and should have a drive time of 3 hrs 13 mins in normal traffic.

Yes, the driving distance between Nashville to Graceland is 216 miles. It takes approximately 3h 35m to drive from Nashville to Graceland.

With a population of around 650,000, Memphis is larger than other cities in the South and MidSouth, including Atlanta and New Orleans, and twice the size of cities like Lexington, Kentucky.

It is safe to walk around downtown Memphis if you stick to well-lit areas and keep your valuables close. Although the crime rate in Memphis is higher than the national average, and pickpocketing is a common petty crime, there is a notable, yet friendly, police presence in popular Memphis tourist areas.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

The MATA citywide bus system can get you nearly anywhere in the city of Memphis. Covering over 300 square miles, the MATA bus has 33 routes and thousands of bus-stops throughout town.

Yes, it is generally safe to walk from the Peabody Hotel to Beale Street. The distance is about half a mile, and it should take 10 minutes on foot. However, being aware of your surroundings and exercising caution is essential.

One of the most iconic streets in America – Beale Street is the Home of the Blues and the true birthplace of Rock n Roll. Spanning three blocks in Downtown Memphis – our collective history is woven into the music, and still on display via the nightclubs, restaurants, and shops that operate today.

Even if you don't have time to stop in stores or to have a drink or a bite to eat you should at least take a walk down Beale street. It is just such an integral part of this Memphis! Take a photo under the “Home of the Blues” sign and let your feet step to beat of this amazing city.

Downtown Memphis is the best area to stay in Memphis, TN thanks to its proximity to the main city attractions. Some of the best hotels to stay here are The Westin Memphis and Hilton Garden Inn.

What is the luxury area of Memphis? ›

River Oaks-Kirby-Balmoral

Another one of the most affluent neighborhoods in Memphis, the River Oaks area is known for its large houses and tree-lined streets. It's located east of East Memphis and North of Germantown; the downtown commute is about 25 minutes.

The urban-style neighborhood of Harbor Town is situated on a 132-acre sandbar in the Mississippi River that is called Mud Island in Memphis. First developed in 1989 by developer Henry Turley, Harbor Town is now one of the trendiest and upscale neighborhoods in Memphis due to its location and beautiful architecture.

With more than 25 clubs and shops lining the street, it's no wonder that the world-famous Beale Street attracts both locals and visitors alike.

East Memphis offers the laid-back lifestyle of the suburbs with all the amenities of the metro, making it a popular place to live in Memphis for families. This large neighborhood is on the eastern edge of Memphis, just 20 minutes from downtown, where parents can easily commute for work or date night.

Graceland is a mansion on a 13.8-acre (5.6-hectare) estate in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, once owned by American singer Elvis Presley.

This long path bordering the Mississippi River is one of the gems of downtown Memphis. It covers a roughly 3 mile loop, starting from Martyrs Park in the south up to Union Ave (near downtown).

The original name of the city was the White Walls, and the term may have referred originally to the king's palace, which would have been built of whitewashed brick. The modern name of Memphis is a Greek version of the Egyptian Men-nefer, the name of the nearby pyramid of the 6th-dynasty (c. 2325–c.

Rates at all meters are $1.50 per hour. There is a minimum payment of 50 cents. The times of parking meter operation and enforcement cover Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm in the areas including the Central Business District (CBD), Medical District, Juvenile Court and North of Poplar.

The security fee is used to help reduce crowd sizes and create the best possible visitor experience on Beale. The charge begins at 9:00 pm each night and is $5 per person. Payment of the security fee can be made with cash or debit/credit cards.

For Memphis style BBQ, you're likely to see it in its most popular incarnations: pork ribs and pulled pork. Other than the predominant use of pork, the other element that makes this regional style so distinctive is the rub. Traditionally, the meat is rubbed down with a dry rub made up of up to 40 different spices!

What are 5 facts about Memphis? ›

Memphis is a very nice city in the United States with great things to do. If you're going to the city for 3 days, you have enough time to see all highlights and do fun things. For example, you can spend a long weekend in Memphis, which is great! Have breakfast at some of the amazing cafes.

TIBRS data shows 104 murders so far in 2023, but Gibbons said that number is based on initial reports from the Memphis Police Department. Since then, he said, 23 homicides were "reclassified by MPD as either negligent homicides or justifiable homicides," which left Memphis with 81 murders through March.

Known worldwide as the "Home of the Blues & Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll - not to mention gospel, jazz, R&B, rap and soul.

You'll be fine. Downtown has a high police presence. I will say Beale late, late at night, especially on the weekends, can be rough and I wouldn't recommend that. My mom and I felt perfectly safe in Memphis.

Downtown has a permanent resident population of 48,441. What is this? While people here enjoy a fair amount of security during the day, things turn for the worst at night. As a result, if you are a visitor, avoid walking alone in Downtown Memphis at night.

To avoid the dead summer heat and cold winters, the preferred time to visit is between April and May or October and November.

The wetter season lasts 5.1 months, from February 27 to July 30, with a greater than 30% chance of a given day being a wet day. The month with the most wet days in Memphis is May, with an average of 11.7 days with at least 0.04 inches of precipitation. The drier season lasts 7.0 months, from July 30 to February 27.

Is Memphis pretty in the fall? ›

Memphis is surrounded by some of the most beautiful places in the state to take in the changing of the fall leaves, and we would be remiss if we didnt share a few insider secrets as to the best places to experience this once a year event.

Summers are very warm and muggy due to the predominant south-southwesterly wind that brings moisture into the region from the Gulf of Mexico. Though extremely hot days occur, there are not too many days that Memphis reaches 100° during the summer.

The climate of Memphis is mostly hot and humid with winters lasting for only 2-3 months. Snowfall occurs in Memphis between December to February with 1 – 1.5 inches of snowfall. In the rest of the months, there's hardly any snowfall.

Memphis has some high humidity months, with other comfortably humid months. The least humid month is April (50.2% relative humidity), and the most humid month is December (60.1%). Wind in Memphis is usually calm.

Tips for a Graceland Tour

Tours of the mansion take about an hour to an hour and a half while the exhibits take at least two more hours. Many make it an entire day, stopping for lunch. There is a free activity book for children at Guest Services.

A tour of the mansion takes about one to one and a half hours. The Elvis Experience tour, which includes the mansion, car museum and several other exhibits, takes anywhere from two and a half to three and a half hours.

Best Time. The best time to visit the mansion is around 2 in the afternoon (the mansion typically closes at 4 p.m.). Two hours is ample time to cover Graceland, and you avoid the crowds that generally show up first thing in the morning (opening time is 10 a.m.) and noon.

Daily high temperatures decrease by 11°F, from 79°F to 68°F, rarely falling below 56°F or exceeding 88°F. Daily low temperatures decrease by 10°F, from 60°F to 49°F, rarely falling below 37°F or exceeding 70°F.

These records were observed at Memphis International Airport and go back to 1940. The highest temperature measured during that time was 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 Celsius) on July 13, 1980.

In Memphis, we experience every season. May and October bring the best of spring and fall with mild temperatures and natural scenery. Warm summers and winters with little snow make the city comfortable year-round, with mild temperatures and blue skies.