4 Days in Memphis and the Delta
Four days lets the Mid-South side of this trip really open up: it takes the 3-day plan (Memphis core plus Clarksdale) and adds a Tunica casino day on the way south. This is where the base concept starts to feel different from a straight city trip, more of the schedule is now outside Tennessee than in it.
Book these before you go
- Graceland’s timed-entry ticket at graceland.com
- A rental car, essential for Days 3 and 4
- 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 | Tunica, Mississippi day trip | $40-100 |
| Day 4 | 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.
Evening
Dinner at Central BBQ, then live music at a verified venue like Rum Boogie Cafe. Weekend nights after 9pm carry a $5 security fee and ID checks.
Day 2: Graceland and Sun Studio
Morning
Graceland, book the timed Elvis Experience tour ahead, roughly $85 adult, confirmed at graceland.com .
Afternoon
Sun Studio (706 Union Ave, about $15 adult).
Evening
Dinner at Gus’s Fried Chicken.
Day 3: day trip to Tunica, Mississippi
Morning
Drive 30-45 minutes south to Tunica, a casino corridor along the river.
Afternoon
The Gateway to the Blues Museum, connecting the Delta blues story north to Memphis, and the Tunica RiverPark.
Evening
Dinner in Tunica, or drive back to Memphis for Payne’s Bar-B-Q if you’d rather eat in the city.
Day 4: day trip to Clarksdale, Mississippi
Morning
Drive south on Highway 61, 75-95 minutes from Memphis, to Clarksdale, the standout 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 Clarksdale’s other blues landmarks.
Evening
Dinner and live music at the Ground Zero Blues Club, part-owned by actor Morgan Freeman, before the drive back to Memphis.
Is 4 days enough for Memphis, Tunica, and Clarksdale?
Yes, comfortably. Two days cover the Memphis core, and the remaining two give Tunica and Clarksdale each their own full day rather than cramming both into one long drive. Add Oxford with our 5-day itinerary if you have one more day.
Do you need a car for this itinerary?
Yes, for Days 2 through 4. None of Graceland, Tunica, or Clarksdale are reachable 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).