Season guide · Memphis · United States
Memphis in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AMartin 4532, CC0
Quick answer
Hot and humid with highs above 30°C and afternoon storms; Elvis Week fills Graceland and nearby hotels in August. Expect highs up to 33°C (91°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F), with about 25 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 21°C (70°F) to 33°C (91°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 25
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 32°C (90°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 9 | 14.5 h | 3/5 |
| July | 33°C (91°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 9 | 14.3 h | 3/5 |
| August | 33°C (91°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 7 | 13.5 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 33°C (91°F) against a yearly 23°C (73°F), and 25 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 summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- July: Fourth of July fireworks on the riverfront
- August: Elvis Week, ending with a candlelight vigil at Graceland (usually mid-August)
Good choices for summer
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
Gallery · East Memphis
Dixon Gallery and Gardens
Set in a former private estate, the Dixon displays French and American Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including works by Monet, Renoir and Degas, plus a large collection of decorative porcelain.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Couples
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · South Memphis bluff
Metal Museum
Visit late in the afternoon for the river view, and check whether metalworking demonstrations are scheduled.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Day trips in summer
- Tupelo (About 1 hour 45 minutes) — Elvis Presley was born in a two-room house in Tupelo in 1935.
- Oxford, Mississippi (About 1 hour 20 minutes) — Home of the University of Mississippi, Oxford has a lively town square with independent bookshops, restaurants and bars, and Rowan Oak, the home of novelist William Faulkner, set in woodland near campus.
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 summer a good time to visit Memphis?
It is a trade-off: Hot and humid with highs above 30°C and afternoon storms; Elvis Week fills Graceland and nearby hotels in August. The best months overall are April–May and October–November.
+What is the weather like in Memphis in summer?
Highs of up to 33°C (91°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F), with about 25 rainy days over the season.