Memphis is heavier than Nashville. The Mississippi River is wide and brown and doesn't look like something you can cross. Beale Street still has the feeling of something real underneath the neon. The Civil Rights Museum will sit with you for days. The barbecue will too, but differently.
Sun Studio is where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, and Howlin' Wolf all recorded — the most important small room in American music history. The National Civil Rights Museum, built around the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated, is one of the most important museums in the United States. The combination of these two places in one day is an experience unlike anything else on this route.
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The moment
Walking through the National Civil Rights Museum and then stepping outside to stand beneath Room 306, where Dr. King stood on the balcony on April 4, 1968. The wreath is still there. It is very quiet.
The classic mistake
Going to Beale Street first and running out of time for Sun Studio and the Civil Rights Museum. Do the museums in the morning while you're fresh. Beale Street is for after.
The photograph
At Sun Studio, they let you stand at the original microphone in the exact recording position. That's your photo. At the Civil Rights Museum, photograph the view of the balcony from the parking lot across the street — the same angle the shooter had.
Skip it if
There is no good reason to skip Memphis.
Don’t skip it if
Everyone. This is a non-negotiable stop.
How long do you need?
2 hours: Sun Studio tour only (1 hour) or Civil Rights Museum only. Full day: Sun Studio + Civil Rights Museum + Beale Street for dinner. This stop deserves a full day.
What to ask
At Sun Studio, ask the guide to play the original acetate recording of Elvis's first session. They have it. The moment the guide drops the needle is something you won't forget.
☀️ This season · Summer / Fall
Heat in July and August is serious. Do outdoor things in the morning. The Civil Rights Museum is air-conditioned and worth the afternoon.
Entry fee
Sun Studio: ~$15. Civil Rights Museum: ~$18.
Gas
Abundant throughout Memphis.
Don't miss eating
Sweet potato pie at Four Way Restaurant on Mississippi Boulevard — open since 1946, a civil rights-era institution where Dr. King himself ate, and the sweet potato pie is extraordinary. The vegetable plate here is a genuine Southern meal.
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Average weather, all twelve months
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 50° | 55° | 64° | 74° | 82° | 90° | 93° | 91° | 85° | 74° | 62° | 52° |
| Low | 31° | 34° | 42° | 52° | 60° | 69° | 72° | 71° | 64° | 52° | 41° | 33° |
| Rain/Snow | 3.8" | 3.7" | 5.0" | 5.3" | 4.6" | 3.5" | 3.7" | 2.9" | 3.0" | 3.0" | 4.7" | 4.6" |