Sight guide · Memphis · United States
Visiting Tom Lee Park
Reopened in 2023 after a major redesign, this long riverside park below the downtown bluff has playgrounds, shaded pavilions, sports courts and lawns facing the Mississippi.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AMartin 4532, CC0
Quick answer
Tom Lee Park is a park in Riverfront, Memphis. Allow 1 hour; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Park
- Area
- Riverfront
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- free, kids, outdoors and views
- Best months
- April and September–October
About Tom Lee Park
Reopened in 2023 after a major redesign, this long riverside park below the downtown bluff has playgrounds, shaded pavilions, sports courts and lawns facing the Mississippi. It is named after Tom Lee, who rescued 32 people from a sinking steamboat in 1925.
Tip: Visit in the early evening, when the heat breaks and families gather on the lawns to watch the sunset over the river.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1 hour.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Riverfront, blues clubs, the Peabody's ducks and the riverfront bluff.
Best time to visit Tom Lee Park
Tom Lee Park is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- October: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- April: 23°C (73°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- September: 30°C (86°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, moderate crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-October the sun sets at about 18:25 local time (calculated for Memphis).
When to visit Memphis has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Memphis itinerary visits Tom Lee Park on day 3, together with Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, Blues Hall of Fame Museum and Beale Street.
- No. 10 of the 18 sights in our Memphis things-to-do list.
- Listed in free things to do in Memphis.
- One of the picks in outdoors in Memphis.
- A family favourite in Memphis with kids.
Near Tom Lee Park
Also in Riverfront, so you can walk between them:
- Big River Crossing — 1–1.5 hours, free
If you like Tom Lee Park
- The Peabody Ducks — Downtown and Beale Street, 30–45 minutes
- Memphis Zoo — Midtown and Overton Square, 3–4 hours
- Overton Park and the Levitt Shell — Midtown and Overton Square, 2 hours
- Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid — Pinch District, 1–2 hours
Staying near Tom Lee Park
Stay in Downtown and Beale Street ($$$) to walk here: blues clubs, the Peabody's ducks and the riverfront bluff. All areas to stay in Memphis.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Tom Lee Park?
Plan 1 hour. With Big River Crossing nearby, it fits a half-day in Riverfront.
+Is Tom Lee Park free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Tom Lee Park?
April and September–October for the most comfortable weather. Visit in the early evening, when the heat breaks and families gather on the lawns to watch the sunset over the river.
+Do I need to book Tom Lee Park in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Tom Lee Park good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Memphis. Memphis is good for families who like music and the outdoors, with the zoo, the Peabody Ducks, Tom Lee Park's playgrounds, Shelby Farms and the Children's Museum.