Outdoors · Memphis · United States
6 best outdoor things to do in Memphis
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Big River Crossing, Tom Lee Park and Memphis Zoo. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 11–15 hours across 3 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 11–15 hours
- Areas
- Riverfront, Midtown and Overton Square and East Memphis
Outdoors in Memphis
Landmark · Riverfront
1.Big River Crossing
Walk over at sunset, then stay for the light show; bring water in summer, as there is little shade.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- After dark
- Active
Park · Riverfront
2.Tom Lee Park
Visit in the early evening, when the heat breaks and families gather on the lawns to watch the sunset over the river.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Views
Zoo · Midtown and Overton Square
3.Memphis Zoo
Arrive at opening in summer to see the animals before the midday heat, and pack water.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Park · Midtown and Overton Square
4.Overton Park and the Levitt Shell
Bring a picnic blanket to a free Levitt Shell concert on a warm evening, and walk the Old Forest trails beforehand.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- After dark
- History
- Kids
Park · East Memphis
5.Shelby Farms Park
Rent a bike or a paddleboat at Patriot Lake, and look for the bison in the pasture near the main road.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Active
- Nature
Garden · East Memphis
6.Memphis Botanic Garden
Visit in April, when the iris and azalea gardens are at their best, and let children explore My Big Backyard.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Riverfront | Big River Crossing and Tom Lee Park | 1–1.5 hours + 1 hour |
| Midtown and Overton Square | Memphis Zoo and Overton Park and the Levitt Shell | 3–4 hours + 2 hours |
| East Memphis | Shelby Farms Park and Memphis Botanic Garden | 2–4 hours + 2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 4 free, 1 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Memphis Zoo; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 5 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Riverfront): Big River Crossing → Tom Lee Park, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Midtown and Overton Square): Memphis Zoo, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Midtown and Overton Square): Overton Park and the Levitt Shell, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 4 (East Memphis): Shelby Farms Park, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 5 (East Memphis): Memphis Botanic Garden, at least 2 hours.
The best months to be outside
- October: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 7 rainy days, moderate crowds. One of the best months, with warm, dry days and comfortable evenings.
- April: highs of 23°C (73°F), about 10 rainy days, moderate crowds. Warm and green, with gardens in bloom; a good month for walking and barbecue.
- September: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 7 rainy days, moderate crowds. Still warm, with humidity easing late in the month and neighbourhood festivals.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Downtown and Beale Street — Blues clubs, the Peabody's ducks and the riverfront bluff
- Midtown and Overton Square — Theatres, restaurants and the green space of Overton Park
- East Memphis — Leafy suburbs with museums, gardens and the city's largest park
More of Memphis
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Memphis?
Big River Crossing. A walking and cycling path along the Harahan Bridge, Big River Crossing stretches about 1.6 km across the Mississippi to Arkansas, with views of the river, the downtown skyline and passing barges.
+Which of these are free in Memphis?
Big River Crossing, Tom Lee Park, Overton Park and the Levitt Shell and Shelby Farms Park.