Memphis

Most travelers come to Memphis for Graceland, live blues on Beale Street, the early rock and roll recorded at Sun Studio and slow-smoked barbecue. Two or three days cover the main sites.

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Memphis is a city in Tennessee on the Mississippi River, and most visitors come for its music. Beale Street has blues bars and live music at night. Sun Studio on Union Avenue is where Elvis Presley and other early rock and roll artists recorded. Graceland, Presley's home, is south of downtown in Whitehaven, and he is buried there. Many visitors also eat barbecue, usually slow-smoked pork.

Civil rights history is the other main thread. The National Civil Rights Museum is built around the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King Jr. was shot in 1968. Downtown and Beale Street are walkable, but Graceland needs a car, taxi or rideshare. Plan two or three days for the main music and history sites. Spring and fall have the mildest weather, and summer is hot and humid.

Memphis in five

Book Graceland as its own half dayGraceland is in south Memphis, about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown. Book timed tickets on the official site, and do not try to squeeze it between downtown stops.Nashville, the other music city
Base downtown or in MidtownDowntown puts Beale Street, the river and the National Civil Rights Museum on foot. Midtown is quieter, with cafés and bars and a short ride to the center.
Visit the National Civil Rights MuseumIt sits at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed. Allow 2 to 3 hours and check the official site for current hours and tickets.
Pair Memphis with Nashville or New OrleansMemphis is about 3 hours from Nashville by road and a long day from New Orleans. It works as a stop on a southern music road trip.New Orleans
Plan for heat from June to AugustSummers are hot and humid. Do outdoor walks in the morning and use the afternoons for museums and studios.

Things to do in Memphis

See all attractions in Memphis

silhouette of grass near body of water during sunset

Sight · MemphisMud IslandGo early for a quieter walk.

Museum · MemphisMemphis Music Hall of FameWeekdays tend to be quieter than weekends.

a sunset view of a large pyramid with a ferris wheel in the background

Sight · MemphisMemphis Pyramid

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to MemphisPut the places you like in Memphis on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Memphis International (MEM), about 15 to 20 min from downtown
Getting there: Fly to MEM; drive Interstate 40 from Nashville in about 3 hours
Getting around: Car or rideshare; downtown and Beale Street are walkable
Best base: Downtown for first-timers; Midtown for a quieter stay
Time needed: 2 days for the main sites; 3 with Graceland and the Delta

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low1°Cold, quiet
FebruaryRain11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh13°Low4°Cool, quiet
MarchRain12 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Mild, spring
AprilRain11 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Mild, spring
MayRain14 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Memphis in May
JuneRain12 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low21°Hot, humid
JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh33°Low24°Very hot
AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low22°Hot, humid
SeptemberPartly cloudy7 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low20°Warm, fewer
OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Fall, mild
NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh17°Low7°Cool, mild
DecemberRain10 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Cold, holiday

Average daily high and low in Memphis, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Memphis

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 18°
Humidity: 79%
Wind: 17 km/h
Chance of rain: 19%

Memphis

02:36 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-6

Today21°17°19%Monday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 19%.
Tue23°17°78%Tuesday: Rain. High 23°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 78%.
Wed22°16°30%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 30%.
Thu23°16°3%Thursday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 3%.
Fri21°14°4%Friday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 4%.
Sat18°11°3%Saturday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 3%.
Sun19°10°6%Sunday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 6%.

Updated 10:42 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Nashvilleabout 3 hours by roadA longer day, or the next stop on a music route.Read the guide
Mississippi Deltaabout 1.5 to 2 hours southBlues crossroads and small museums. Better with a car and an early start.
New Orleansabout 6 to 7 hours by roadToo far for a day trip. Plan it as the next base.Read the guide

Before you go to Memphis

Graceland and music toursTimed tickets and guided city toursBook timed entry

Hotels downtown and MidtownWalk to Beale Street or ride inCheck availability

eSIM for the USAData on landing, no SIM swapRead the guide

Travel insurance for the USMedical cover for visitorsRead the guide

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Rules for Memphis, checked

Travelers from visa-waiver countries need an approved ESTA before flying to the US. Apply only on the official CBP site (esta.cbp.dhs.gov).Source
Visitors who need a visa must apply through the US Department of State before travel. Check current requirements at travel.state.gov.
Liquids in carry-on bags at Memphis International Airport follow TSA security rules. Check the current limits on tsa.gov before you pack.Source
Hotel rooms in Memphis carry state and local taxes on top of the room rate. Check the current rates with the Tennessee Department of Revenue.Source
Dial 911 for police, fire or an ambulance. The number works from any phone in the US, including mobile phones.

Plan around Memphis

Nashville

Country music and honky-tonks, 3 hours east

Read the guide Missouri

St. Louis and Kansas City on the river route

Read the guide New Orleans

The southern end of the Mississippi route

Read the guide All of the USA

States, parks and cities in one planning hub

Read the guide ESTA, explained

Who needs it, the fee and how to apply

Read the guide Travel insurance

Medical cover for a US trip

Read the guide

Memphis FAQ

How many days do you need in Memphis?

Two days covers Beale Street, Sun Studio, the Civil Rights Museum and barbecue. Add a half day for Graceland. Three days leaves room for the river and the Delta.

Is Memphis worth visiting?

Yes for music and history. It is cheaper and easier than Nashville and has the National Civil Rights Museum, Sun Studio and some of the country's best barbecue.

Where should I stay in Memphis?

Downtown for Beale Street, the river and the museum on foot. Midtown for a calmer base with bars and cafés. Avoid staying near Graceland unless it is the only reason you came.

Do I need a car in Memphis?

Not for downtown, but you will want rideshares or a car for Graceland and Midtown. A rental helps if you add the Delta or a long road trip.

Memphis or Nashville: which is better?

Nashville for modern country music, honky-tonks and a bigger hotel scene; Memphis for blues, soul, civil rights history and barbecue. Visit both if you can, three hours apart.