3 Days in Memphis and the Delta
Three days is the pattern this whole base itinerary series follows: two days for the Memphis music-and-history core, then a full day south into the Mississippi Delta. It’s the baseline version of Memphis, Tennessee: A First-Timer’s Base ; our 4-day itinerary adds Tunica’s casinos on top of this same spine.
Book these before you go
- Graceland’s timed-entry ticket at graceland.com
- A rental car, essential for Day 3
- 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 | Clarksdale, Mississippi Delta blues day trip | $40-70 |
Day 1: the Memphis core
Morning
National Civil Rights Museum (450 Mulberry St, about $25 adult, closed Tuesdays), built around the Lorraine Motel, site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968.
Afternoon
Walk Beale Street by day, free. Verified venues include B.B. King’s Blues Club and King’s Palace Café.
Evening
Dinner at Central BBQ, then live music on Beale. Weekend nights after 9pm carry a $5 security fee and ID checks.
Day 2: Graceland and Sun Studio
Morning
Graceland in Whitehaven, 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).
Evening
Dinner at Gus’s Fried Chicken.
Day 3: day trip to Clarksdale, Mississippi
Morning
Drive south on Highway 61, 75-95 minutes, to Clarksdale, the true Delta blues pilgrimage. Visit the Delta Blues Museum and the fabled Crossroads at Highways 61 and 49.
Afternoon
Walk through Red’s Juke Joint and the town’s other blues landmarks.
Evening
Dinner and live music at the Ground Zero Blues Club, part-owned by actor Morgan Freeman, before driving back to Memphis.
Is 3 days enough for Memphis and the Delta?
Yes, for a satisfying first taste of both. Two days covers the Memphis essentials, Graceland and Sun Studio included, and the third gives Clarksdale a genuine full day rather than a rushed afternoon. Add Tunica with our 4-day itinerary if you have a spare day.
Do you need a car for this itinerary?
Yes, for Days 2 and 3. Graceland and Clarksdale are both unreachable by public transit from downtown Memphis.
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).