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    Home » Travel » The South

    Nashville & Memphis Travel Itinerary for Music Lovers

    June 16, 2017 • Updated: February 9, 2022 • by Renée B. • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Nashville & Memphis for Music Lovers {Tips & Itinerary}

    This is our real-life trip itinerary. Follow along as we recap our adventures in Memphis & Nashville over the next few months, or use it to plan your own musical Tennessee vacation. Either way, we've got you covered.

    Music Lovers Guide to Nashville & Memphis | The Good Hearted Woman
    ^^^ Bucket List 😉

    One of the biggest challenges of taking a "whirlwind" trip is designing an itinerary that allows you to experience everything you want while still leaving room for some relaxation and a little serendipity. Mr B and I have no interest in relentless nightmare itineraries that keep us running every single moment of the day: we always like to keep a little wiggle room in our plans, because you just never know.

    What follows is our real-life trip itinerary. 

    This vacation plan - with all the scheduling details already mapped out for you - is designed to take four complete days: a total of two days each in Nashville and Memphis. (Obviously, if you need to travel very far to get to Tennessee, as we did, it will take six days including travel.)

    If you think you want to plug more action into your days and nights, go for it. As it was, we stayed pretty darn busy!

    Day 1: Nashville

    Note: "Day 1" is the most tightly scheduled day on this four-day itinerary.

    Book in advance: 

    • Nashville hotel (2 nights)
    • The Sound Nashville Music (11 am tour)
    • Studio B (1:30 pm Tour)
    • Hatch Print Museum (3:30 pm tour)
    1. Enjoy a delicious breakfast (and maybe a pitcher of mimosas!) at Another Broken Egg Café. (It’s half a block from where The Sound tour begins.)
    2. Get an introduction to Music City on The Sound Nashville Music Tour. [Guided Tour Bus]
    3. Grab a quick lunch at Bajo Sexto Taco at the Country Music Hall of Fame. (We ate here mostly because it is located right in the Hall of Fame and the timing between our bus tour and our Studio B Tour was a bit tight.)
    4. Start your self-guided walking tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame. [1:00 pm]
    5. Take the Studio B Tour. [Bus leaves/returns directly from the Country Music Hall of Fame.]
    6. Continue touring the Hall of Fame.
    7. Take the Hatch Show Print Tour. [Located at the Hall of Fame]
    8. Continue touring the Hall of Fame until closing time. [5:00pm]
    9. Walk on down the Honky Tonk Highway on Lower Broadway. Be sure to swing by Legend's Corner, Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, and the Ernest Tubb Record Shop.
    10. Have a late-night, lip-smacking, finger-licking Nashville Hot Chicken for dinner at Hattie B’s. (The lines will be significantly shorter after 8pm.)
    11. Wrap up the evening listening to some talented up-and-coming singer-songwriters at The Listening Room Café.

    Day 2: Nashville to Memphis

    Book in Advance:

    • The Guest House at Graceland (2 nights. Inquire about available packages)
    • Ryman Auditorium Tour (11 am or earlier)
    1. Check out of your Nashville hotel. Enjoy a relaxing breakfast at one of many delicious Nashville breakfast spots.
    2. Take the Ryman Auditorium Backstage Tour 
    3. Eat a fast lunch at White Castle (Oh, yes we did.)
    4. Drive to Memphis (3 hours)
    5. Take the Sun Studio Tour (Tours start on the half-hour. You should easily get into Memphis in time to catch the 4:30 tour. Last tour is at 5:30.)
    6. Check into The Guest House at Graceland.
    7. Drive on out to Beale Street and take a walk to enjoy the sights, sounds, and all the feels.
    8. Stop in for dinner & blues at BB King’s Blues Club on the corner of Beale & 2nd Avenue.
    9. Return to The Guest House and get a good night's sleep!
    Music Lovers Guide to Nashville & Memphis | The Good Hearted Woman

    Day 3: Memphis

    Book in advance: 

    • Elvis Presley's Memphis VIP passes
    • Gibson Guitar Factory Tour (4 pm or 5 pm tour)
    1. Eat breakfast at Delta’s Kitchen at the The Guest House at Graceland.
    2. Ride the hotel shuttle to Elvis Presley’s Memphis.
    3. Take the early tour of Graceland Mansion.
    4. Return to Elvis Presley’s Memphis, and grab some lunch at Gladys’ Diner.
    5. Explore Elvis Presley’s Memphis until mid-afternoon. Be sure to stop at the VIP room to relax and get some great pictures.
    6. About Drive back down to Beale Street.
    7. Tour the Gibson Memphis Guitar Factory.
    8. Tour the Rock & Soul Museum. (Literally right across the street from Gibson. Open until 7 pm most days.)
    9. Enjoy an amazing dinner at Marlowe’s BBQ, just a mile down the road from The Guest House. (Try the BBQ Spaghetti!)
    10. Stop by and sign the Graceland Wall on your way back to The Guest House.

    Day 4: Memphis to Nashville 

    Book in advance: 

    • Elvis Presley's Memphis passes
    • Nashville hotel (1 night)
    • Grand Ole Opry Concert
    1. Eat an early breakfast at Delta’s Kitchen at the The Guest House.
    2. Check out of The Guest House. (Be sure to get a pass for the parking lot so that you can pick up your car later. You can take your car with you, but it will cost you an extra $10 to park at Graceland.)
    3. Ride The Guest House shuttle to Elvis Presley’s Memphis. Revisit your favorite exhibits from the previous day, check any you might have missed, and be sure to pick up a little something in one of the many gift shops for the folks back home.
    4. Ride The Guest House shuttle back to The Guest House parking lot and pick up your car.
    5. Grab a quick lunch at Krystal. (We did this so that we could compare the two sliders and report back to you. See how we are? 😉 )
    6. Drive back to Nashville. (3 hours)
    7. Visit Carter Vintage Guitar Shop. (Do not skip this. It's a quick stop, but totally worth it.)
    8. Check into your Nashville hotel.
    9. Ice your vacation cake by attending an iconic Grand Ole Opry Concert.
    10. Catch some late-night live music on the Honky Tonk Highway.

    FAQs

    Why didn't you just fly into Nashville, stay two days, and then drive over to Memphis for two days and fly out?

    Sigh. Sadly, Mr B and I don't have a trust fund or unlimited disposable income. We are what is known as "budget travelers," and one of the ways we keep costs down is by flying in and out of the same airport. (Car rental fees skyrocket when you drop off at a different location from your pick-up.)

    This itinerary is offered simply as a guide: if you are planning a trip to Tennessee, you can do anything you want - it's your trip! 

    More Memphis & Nashville Travel

    • Why You Will Love "The Guest House at Graceland"
    • The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum: Why You Need to Visit
    • The Sound Nashville Music Tour ♫ ♪ Songwriters Welcome
    • A New Era at Graceland: Elvis Presley's Memphis
    • Home of 1000 Hits: RCA Studio B (Nashville)
    Legends Corner Mural, Nashville TN | The Good Hearted Woman

    Disclosure: As always, all opinions are our own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won't cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up and running - and (relatively) ad-free!! Please check out our disclosure policy for more details.

    More Southern Travel

    • Top 8 Nashville Things to Do for Music Lovers {+ Tips for Travelers} | The Good Hearted Woman
      Top 8 Things to Do in Nashville for Music Lovers
    • Day Trip from Memphis {Part 2: Exploring the Natchez Trace Parkway} | The Good Hearted Woman
      50 Miles on the Natchez Trace Parkway (Tupelo to US-72)
    • Kermit's Outlaw Kitchen Elvis Mural - Day Trip from Memphis: Tupelo, Mississippi {Birthplace of Elvis} | The Good Hearted Woman
      One Day in Tupelo, Mississippi
    • Elvis the Entertainer Career Museum at Elvis Presley's Memphis Entertainment Complex | The Good Hearted Woman
      A New Era at Graceland: Elvis Presley's Memphis
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    About Renée B.

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

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    1. Jeanine says

      June 18, 2017 at 8:36 am

      Wow you really did a lot! My mom was a HUGE Elvis fan so I grew up my whole life hearing about him I think it would be fun to check out Graceland!

      Reply
    2. Rachel says

      June 18, 2017 at 8:25 am

      Wow you have been busy visiting one place to another. I would love to visit Nashville!!

      Reply
    3. Louise says

      June 18, 2017 at 6:15 am

      As a big Elvis fan, I've always wanted to visit Memphis. Bookmarking this post for future reference!

      Louise x

      Reply
    4. Cindy Ingalls says

      June 18, 2017 at 1:20 am

      Looks like you had an action packed few days. I would love to see Graceland and see how Elvis lived. One of these days I will make it there.

      Reply
    5. Kristina says

      June 17, 2017 at 6:13 pm

      I would love to go to Memphis! My husband has family there and I heard it's so beautiful in Tennessee. Plus I love music. Really want to see Nashville to.

      Reply
    6. Carolyn says

      June 17, 2017 at 2:43 pm

      I love that you gave your exact itinerary. I would love to get to Nashville soon. Seems like everyone is traveling there lately.

      Reply
    7. Sona Sethi says

      June 17, 2017 at 2:07 am

      This is so cool. I have never been to such a local place place. US trip is always busy due to work but I will make time for things like these next time.

      Reply
    8. Tereza says

      June 16, 2017 at 10:58 pm

      What a brilliant trip itinerary! I'd love to come with you, can I?:) I've never been to the us but if I went I'd definitely do something like this as opposed to the touristy hot spots! x

      Reply
    9. Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

      June 16, 2017 at 4:07 pm

      What an amazing itinerary! SO much fun packed into a short trip - I love it! Gotta love those "Elvis Entourage" VIP passes too 🙂

      Reply
    10. Pam says

      June 16, 2017 at 3:01 pm

      I love this! It takes all the guesswork out of planning a getaway. (And I love the morning mimosas!!)

      Reply
    11. Amber Nelson says

      June 16, 2017 at 12:20 pm

      This trip is on my bucket list. Wow, it looks amazing! Nashville, let's go!

      Reply
    12. Catherine @ Ten Thousand Hour Mama says

      June 16, 2017 at 12:18 pm

      Wow, you really packed it in! And do I see that you printed the itinerary on the back of postcards? OMG too cute!!!!

      Reply
    13. Angela Tolsma says

      June 16, 2017 at 11:11 am

      I am not a fan of running from one thing to the next. It's vacation gotta get some time to relax. Sounds like you had a good balance. One day I'll do something like this! Thanks for the airport trip, I didn't know that!

      Reply
    14. Karen Morse says

      June 16, 2017 at 9:18 am

      I love travel guides like this. I don't like the idea of filling up my day especially on vacation. It will feel tiring! As if you're always chasing after your schedule and have no time to relax.

      Reply
    15. Pech says

      June 16, 2017 at 8:53 am

      Um, I love White Castle I totally would have made that a stop too!!

      Reply
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