7 Days in Memphis and the Delta
Seven days is the full Mid-South version of this base itinerary: it takes the 6-day plan (Memphis core, Tunica, a Clarksdale overnight, Oxford) and closes with a full day at Shiloh National Military Park to the east. By this point, more of the week sits outside Tennessee than in it, which is the whole idea behind treating Memphis as a base rather than the destination itself. For the city-first version of a week, see the city-only 7-day itinerary instead.
Book these before you go
- Graceland’s timed-entry ticket at graceland.com
- A room at the Shack Up Inn in Clarksdale
- 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 7 | Shiloh National Military Park day trip | $20-40 |
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 B.B. King’s Blues Club.
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, 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.
Day 5: Clarksdale morning, back to Memphis
Morning
Walk Red’s Juke Joint and Clarksdale’s compact blues district before checking out.
Afternoon
Drive back to Memphis, arriving mid-afternoon.
Evening
A relaxed dinner back in the city.
Day 6: day trip to Oxford, Mississippi
Morning
Drive southeast, 80-90 minutes, to Oxford, Mississippi. Visit Rowan Oak, William Faulkner’s home.
Afternoon
Browse Square Books on the town square, then wander the Ole Miss campus.
Evening
Drive back to Memphis for dinner at Cozy Corner.
Day 7: day trip to Shiloh National Military Park
Morning
Drive east, 2-2.3 hours, to Shiloh National Military Park, the well-preserved site of the major 1862 Civil War battle. Start at the interpretive center.
Afternoon
Walk or drive the battlefield’s monuments and markers before heading back to Memphis.
Evening
A farewell dinner back in the city, closing out a week that spent more time in the Mid-South than in Memphis itself.
Is 7 days enough for Memphis and the full Mid-South?
Yes, this is the complete version of the region: Memphis’s own music and history core, a Clarksdale overnight for the Delta blues trail, Tunica, Oxford, and a full day at Shiloh. It’s a genuinely different trip from a week spent entirely in Memphis, see the city-only 7-day itinerary for that version.
Do you need a car for this itinerary?
Yes, for Days 2 through 7. None of these day trips 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).