Discover what you can do in Memphis in a day following my itinerary! Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, this city is intimately linked to two very different American icons: Elvis Presley and Martin Luther King. From eating first-class ribs to enjoying nightlife in Beale Street, there is plenty to do in Memphis!
Music for the road trip
Despite the long 6 hour- trip driving across the endless state of Mississippi after leaving New Orleans, the radio kept us company and we listened to a lot of country music. I admit I’m becoming a fan of this musical genre and here’s my personal selection of the tracks I loved the most.
- Marc Cohn, Walking in Memphis
- Kenny Chesney, Pirate flag
- Florida Georgia Line, Cruise
- Randy Houser, Runnin’ Outta Moonlight
- Dustin Lynch, She Cranks My Tractor
- Darius Rucker, Wagon wheel
What to do in Memphis in a day
From eating first-class ribs to learning about Martin Luther King’s assassination at the Lorraine Motel or visiting Elvis Presley’s mansion in Graceland, there are quite a few activities you can do in Memphis in a day.
Taste first-class ribs at Charlie Vergo’s Rendezvous basement
After a long drive from New Orleans, we finally reached Memphis at night. Before going out, we stopped at the famous Charlie Vergo’s Rendezvous, where we tasted the house specialty: pork ribs and shoulder. The food was delicious and I’m not surprised this place has become a favorite for Memphis locals.
In 1948, Charlie Vergo cleaned out a basement below his diner, discovered a coal chute and started a legend, which allowed him to expand from ham-and-cheese sandwiches to charcoal ribs. Today, several thousand people on an average Saturday night pour into his basement.
Enjoy nightlife in Beale Street
This legendary strip is revered around the world as the birthplace of blues. After dinner, we came here to check out this bustling street filled with live music bars and clubs. Beale St is usually closed to traffic at night and the truth is we were surprised to find so many people partying on a weekday.
Experience the unique ‘Peabody ducks’
This is a truly unique experience you will only see in Memphis and nowhere else.
The Peabody Hotel, opened in 1869 and legendary for its charm and elegance, is world-famous for its five resident ducks, who march daily through the lobby at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. In the morning they are led by the Duckmaster to the lobby fountain in the midst of a crowd of admiring spectators, while in the evening the ceremony is reversed. These ducks march on a red carpet and are housed in the “Duck Palace” on the hotel roof.
Stroll around downtown Memphis
When we visited, the weather was rainy and moody. We walked around town nonetheless. We approached the Mississippi River, although the dock area was deserted. In case you’re interested, you can cruise on a riverboat.
And if you’re a Memphis Grizzlies fan, you can buy a ticket for a match at the FedExForum stadium and see Spanish player Marc Gasol in action.
A streetcar in downtown Memphis 
FedExForum is the Memphis Grizzlies stadium 
The Orpheum Theatre is a venue listed on the National Register of Historic Places 
We walked in the rain during our one-day visit to Memphis
Discover the legendary Sun Studio
After our walk in the rain, we drove to Sun Studio (706 Union Ave), known worldwide as “The Birthplace of Rock’n’roll”. This is the discovery location of musical legends and genres of the 50’s from B.B. King and Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis; from Blues and Gospel to Country and Rock’n’roll. Tours are available but, unfortunately, we were late so we had to resign ourselves with visiting the souvenir shop only.
Learn about American history at the Lorraine Motel
The Lorraine Motel is infamously known for being the place where civil rights leader Martin Luther King was murdered on April 4, 1968. Following the deadly event in room 306, it was converted into the National Civil Rights Museum. Its exhibits trace the history of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States from the 17th century to the present. If you want to learn more about Luther King, you can do so by reading about my visit to MLK’s historic site in the Sweet Auburn district in Atlanta.
Visit the home of Elvis Presley in Graceland
Graceland is the place that Elvis called home. He bought this estate when he was a 22-year-old superstar and lived there until his death in 1977. Located a 10-minute drive from downtown Memphis, a visit to his mansion includes 100+ acres dedicated to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll! While it receives more than 700,000 visitors a year, the admission tickets cost 30$ each. Hence, we didn’t go in and just saw Graceland from the outside.
Elvis is ubiquitous in Memphis and there are some notable commemorative dates, such as his birthday on January 8 or the Elvis Tribute Week around August 16.
Walking in front of Graceland 
An Elvis fan stands at the entrance of Graceland
It is now time to say goodbye to Memphis and head to our next stop known for the country music: Nashville!
In case you’d like to read all the road trip posts in this adventure, here’s the full list:
I hope you found this post useful. Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
