Season guide · Memphis · United States
Memphis in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Thomas R Machnitzki, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Mild, blooming and festive, with Memphis in May and the barbecue contest, though spring storms can be strong. Expect highs up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F), with about 31 rainy days across March–May. April–May are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 7°C (45°F) to 28°C (82°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 31
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 18°C (64°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 11 | 11.9 h | 2/5 |
| April | 23°C (73°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 10 | 13 h | 3/5 |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 | 14 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 23°C (73°F) against a yearly 23°C (73°F), and 31 of the year's roughly 109 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- May: Memphis in May International Festival (throughout May)
- May: World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (usually mid-May)
Good choices for spring
Museum · South Main Arts District
National Civil Rights Museum
Built around the Lorraine Motel, where Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
Historic site · Union Avenue
Sun Studio
Stand on the marked spot where Elvis recorded and hold the microphone; the guides tell stories that bring the room to life.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Soulsville
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
On the site of Stax Records, home of Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · Downtown and Beale Street
Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
Use the audio guide to listen to the full tracks; it is a good primer before Sun Studio and Stax.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · South Main Arts District
Blues Hall of Fame Museum
Run by the Blues Foundation, this museum honours inductees of the Blues Hall of Fame with galleries of instruments, records, stage clothing and interactive displays, a block from the National Civil Rights Museum.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Day trips in spring
- Clarksdale and the Mississippi Delta (About 1.5 hours) — Down Highway 61 through the flat cotton country of the Delta, Clarksdale has the Delta Blues Museum, juke joints with live blues on weekends and the legendary crossroads of Highways 61 and 49.
- Tupelo (About 1 hour 45 minutes) — Elvis Presley was born in a two-room house in Tupelo in 1935.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Memphis?
Yes: April–May are among the best months. Mild, blooming and festive, with Memphis in May and the barbecue contest, though spring storms can be strong.
+What is the weather like in Memphis in spring?
Highs of up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F), with about 31 rainy days over the season.