6 Days in Memphis and the Delta
Six days is where this itinerary stops rushing the Delta: it takes the 5-day plan (Memphis core, Tunica, Clarksdale, Oxford) and turns the Clarksdale day into an overnight at the Shack Up Inn, a former sharecropper-shack lodging on an old cotton plantation, rather than a rushed round trip. Our 7-day itinerary adds a Shiloh battlefield day on top of this same spine.
Book these before you go
- Graceland’s timed-entry ticket at graceland.com
- A room at the Shack Up Inn in Clarksdale, book ahead, it’s a small, distinctive property
- A rental car, essential from Day 3 onward
| 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 arrival, Delta Blues Museum, overnight | $50-90 plus lodging |
| Day 5 | Clarksdale morning, return to Memphis | $30-50 |
| Day 6 | 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 Alfred’s on Beale.
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 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.
Afternoon
The Gateway to the Blues Museum and Tunica RiverPark.
Evening
Dinner in Tunica, or back in Memphis at Payne’s Bar-B-Q.
Day 4: Clarksdale arrival and overnight
Morning
Drive on to Clarksdale, 75-95 minutes south of Memphis on Highway 61, the standout Delta blues town.
Afternoon
The Delta Blues Museum and the fabled Crossroads at Highways 61 and 49.
Evening
Dinner and live music at the Ground Zero Blues Club, part-owned by actor Morgan Freeman, then overnight at the Shack Up Inn, a genuinely different way to experience the Delta.
Day 5: Clarksdale morning, back to Memphis
Morning
Walk Red’s Juke Joint and the rest of Clarksdale’s compact blues district before checking out.
Afternoon
Drive back to Memphis, arriving mid-afternoon with the evening free.
Evening
A relaxed dinner back in the city, ahead of tomorrow’s final day trip.
Day 6: 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.
Afternoon
Browse Square Books on the town square.
Evening
Drive back to Memphis for a farewell dinner at Cozy Corner.
Is 6 days enough for Memphis and the Delta with an overnight?
Yes, and the overnight is the meaningful upgrade over the 5-day version: an evening and morning in Clarksdale, rather than one rushed afternoon, gives the Delta blues trail the time it deserves. Add Shiloh National Military Park with our 7-day itinerary if you have one more day.
Do you need a car for this itinerary?
Yes, for Days 2 through 6. 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).