Month guide · Memphis · United States
Memphis in January
What January is really like in Memphis: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 10°C (50°F), lows of 0°C (32°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 10 hours of daylight. Cool and damp with occasional ice; Elvis fans gather for his birthday and the blues competition fills Beale Street.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 10°C (50°F) / 0°C (32°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 10 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Memphis: days average 10°C (50°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 0°C (32°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with December (11°C (52°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs climb to around 13°C (55°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:08
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:11
- Daylight
- About 10 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, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is May at 4) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in May). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Elvis Presley birthday celebration at Graceland (around 8 January)
- International Blues Challenge on Beale Street (usually late January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · South Main Arts District
National Civil Rights Museum
Allow at least three hours, and leave time for the exhibits across the street in the Legacy Building, which many visitors rush.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
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
What to pack
For highs near 10°C, lows near 0°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 January 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 January a good time to visit Memphis?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cool and damp with occasional ice; Elvis fans gather for his birthday and the blues competition fills Beale Street.
+How warm is Memphis in January?
Average highs are around 10°C (50°F) and lows around 0°C (32°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Memphis in January?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.