Month guide · Memphis · United States
Memphis in December
What December is really like in Memphis: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bjoertvedt, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 11°C (52°F), lows of 2°C (36°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 9.8 hours of daylight. Cool and damp, with holiday lights and the city's marathon.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 11°C (52°F) / 2°C (36°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Memphis: days average 11°C (52°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 2°C (36°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with November (17°C (63°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 10°C (50°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:02
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:50
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
Winter (December–February). Cool and damp with occasional ice, Elvis's birthday celebration, the International Blues Challenge and low prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is May at 4) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in May). That makes December one of the better-value months to book.
Events in December
- St. Jude Memphis Marathon (usually early December)
- Christmas at Graceland (December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Historic site · Union Avenue
Sun Studio
In this small studio on Union Avenue, Sam Phillips recorded 'Rocket 88' in 1951, Elvis Presley's first single in 1954 and the famous 'Million Dollar Quartet' session with Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins in 1956.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Soulsville
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Drive or take a rideshare to Soulsville and combine the museum with a soul-food lunch nearby.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · Downtown and Beale Street
Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
Developed with the Smithsonian Institution, this museum tells how sharecroppers' music from the Delta became rock 'n' roll and soul, using audio guides that let you listen to more than a hundred songs along the way.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · South Main Arts District
Blues Hall of Fame Museum
Combine it with the National Civil Rights Museum across the street on South Main.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
What to pack
For highs near 11°C, lows near 2°C and 10 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Memphis?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Memphis in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Memphis?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cool and damp, with holiday lights and the city's marathon.
+How warm is Memphis in December?
Average highs are around 11°C (52°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Memphis in December?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.