5 Days in Memphis and the Delta
Five days is where this itinerary really becomes a Mid-South regional trip rather than a city stop with a day trip attached: it takes the 4-day plan (Memphis core, Tunica, Clarksdale) and adds Oxford’s literary-and-college scene as a third day trip. Our 6-day itinerary goes further still, adding an overnight in Clarksdale itself.
Book these before you go
- Graceland’s timed-entry ticket at graceland.com
- A rental car, essential from Day 3 onward
- 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, Stax Museum | $130-170 |
| Day 3 | Tunica, Mississippi day trip | $40-100 |
| Day 4 | Clarksdale, Mississippi Delta blues day trip | $40-70 |
| Day 5 | Oxford, Mississippi day trip | $35-60 |
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 King’s Palace Café.
Day 2: Elvis, Sun Records, and Stax
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), then, time permitting, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music (about $20 adult, closed Mondays).
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 and Tunica RiverPark.
Evening
Dinner in Tunica, or back in Memphis at Cozy Corner.
Day 4: day trip to Clarksdale, Mississippi
Morning
Drive south on Highway 61, 75-95 minutes, 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 driving back to Memphis.
Day 5: day trip to Oxford, Mississippi
Morning
Drive southeast, 80-90 minutes, to Oxford, Mississippi, home of Ole Miss. Visit Rowan Oak, William Faulkner’s home, now a preserved museum.
Afternoon
Browse Square Books on the town square, then wander the Ole Miss campus if it’s in session.
Evening
Drive back to Memphis for a final dinner at Payne’s Bar-B-Q.
Is 5 days enough for Memphis, Tunica, Clarksdale, and Oxford?
Yes, and it’s a genuinely well-rounded Mid-South trip: two days in Memphis, then three distinct day trips, each with its own character, casinos, blues pilgrimage, and college town. Add a Clarksdale overnight with our 6-day itinerary if you want to slow the middle of the trip down.
Do you need a car for this itinerary?
Yes, for Days 2 through 5. None of Graceland, Tunica, Clarksdale, or Oxford 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).