Comparison · Kansas City vs Memphis · United States
Kansas City vs Memphis
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Stephen Edmonds, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
Choose Kansas City for Barbecue and burnt ends and Jazz heritage; choose Memphis for Graceland and Elvis, Blues on Beale Street and a milder winter. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 595 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 595 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Kansas City
- April–May and September–October
- Best time for Memphis
- April–May and October–November
Side by side
| Kansas City | Memphis | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Barbecue and burnt ends, Jazz heritage and Fountains | Graceland and Elvis, Blues on Beale Street and Soul music at Stax |
| Best time to visit | April–May and September–October | April–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $180–$300 | $180–$290 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 32°C (90°F) | July, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 3°C (37°F) | January, 10°C (50°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | MCI | MEM |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Kansas City for…
Barbecue and burnt ends and Jazz heritage. Kansas City straddles the Missouri–Kansas state line where the Kansas River meets the Missouri, and most visitors spend their time on the Missouri side between the River Market and the Country Club Plaza. A free streetcar runs along Main Street through…
Choose Memphis for…
Graceland and Elvis, Blues on Beale Street and a milder winter. Memphis sits on a bluff above the Mississippi in the far southwest corner of Tennessee, where the blues of the Delta met country, gospel and R&B and helped give birth to rock 'n' roll. Visitors come for Graceland, Sun Studio and the Stax Museum of American…
Top sights compared
| # | Kansas City | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National WWI Museum and Memorial | Graceland |
| 2 | Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art | National Civil Rights Museum |
| 3 | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum | Beale Street |
| 4 | American Jazz Museum and the Blue Room | Sun Studio |
| 5 | Union Station and Science City | Stax Museum of American Soul Music |
Food compared
| Kansas City | Memphis |
|---|---|
| Burnt ends | Dry-rub ribs |
| Kansas City ribs | Pulled pork sandwich |
| The Z-Man sandwich | Barbecue spaghetti |
| Cheesy corn | Barbecue nachos |
Which is cheaper?
Kansas City and Memphis cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $180–$300 in Kansas City and $180–$290 in Memphis (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Memphis on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Kansas City and Memphis are about 595 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Kansas City and 3 in Memphis.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Kansas City or Memphis cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $180–$300 in Kansas City and $180–$290 in Memphis (estimates).
+Is Kansas City or Memphis better for a first trip?
Pick Kansas City for Barbecue and burnt ends and Jazz heritage, or Memphis for Graceland and Elvis, Blues on Beale Street and a milder winter.
+How far is Kansas City from Memphis?
About 595 km in a straight line.