4 Days in Memphis: First-Timer Plan
Four days lets you finish the entire Memphis city core without rushing: it takes the 3-day plan (Beale Street, the Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, Sun Studio, Stax) and adds a Midtown and green-space day. Beyond four days, the city’s own sights are essentially done, our 5-day itinerary honestly pivots to a Mid-South day trip instead of inventing more in-city stops.
Book these before you go
- Graceland’s timed-entry ticket at graceland.com
- A rental car, needed most days on this itinerary
- A place to stay downtown or in Midtown, check rates on Booking.com
| Day | Focus | Rough daily cost (per person, no lodging) |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Beale Street, National Civil Rights Museum, BBQ | $45-70 |
| Day 2 | Graceland, Sun Studio | $110-150 |
| Day 3 | Stax Museum, Overton Park, Big River Crossing | $35-55 |
| Day 4 | Midtown, Shelby Farms Park | $30-50 |
Day 1: downtown and the Civil Rights Museum
Morning
National Civil Rights Museum (450 Mulberry St, about $25 adult, closed Tuesdays), built around the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. Give it the morning, it’s the most important stop of the trip.
Afternoon
Walk Beale Street by day, free, then catch the Peabody Duck March at 149 Union Ave (free, 11am or 5pm daily) if the timing lines up.
Evening
Dinner at Central BBQ, then back to Beale for live music at B.B. King’s Blues Club or King’s Palace Café. Weekend nights after 9pm carry a $5 security fee and ID checks.
Day 2: Graceland and Sun Studio
Morning
Graceland in Whitehaven, about 9 miles south, book the timed Elvis Experience tour ahead, roughly $85 adult, confirmed at graceland.com .
Afternoon
Sun Studio (706 Union Ave, about $15 adult, 40-50 minute tour), where Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis recorded.
Evening
Dinner at Gus’s Fried Chicken, originally from nearby Mason, Tennessee.
Day 3: soul music and the riverfront
Morning
Stax Museum of American Soul Music (about $20 adult, closed Mondays), on the original Stax Records site.
Afternoon
Overton Park, then a walk across Big River Crossing, a free roughly 1-mile pedestrian bridge into West Memphis, Arkansas.
Evening
Dinner at Cozy Corner for its tingly hot barbecue sauce.
Day 4: Midtown and Shelby Farms Park
Morning
Explore Cooper-Young and Overton Square in Midtown, both known for shops, murals, and a different pace than downtown.
Afternoon
Shelby Farms Park in East Memphis, 4,500 acres, roughly five times Central Park, with 40-plus miles of trails; rent a bike or just walk a loop.
Evening
A relaxed final dinner, and if you still have time before your flight, browse the Broad Avenue Arts District’s murals and galleries.
Is 4 days enough for Memphis?
Yes, and honestly more than enough for the city’s own sights. Four days covers the National Civil Rights Museum, Beale Street, Graceland, Sun Studio, Stax, Midtown, and Shelby Farms Park. If you have a fifth day, the smarter move is a Mid-South day trip rather than padding the city itself, see our 5-day itinerary .
Do you need a car for 4 days in Memphis?
Yes, most days. Downtown is walkable, but Graceland, Stax, and Shelby Farms Park are all spread out and need a car or rideshare.
One practical note: Memphis’s combined sales tax runs about 9.75% and applies to restaurant food. Book Graceland before you land, especially around Elvis Week (Aug 8-16, 2026).