With kids · Memphis · United States
Memphis with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Thomas R Machnitzki, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
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. The civil rights museum suits older children who can engage with its themes. Top picks: The Peabody Ducks, Memphis Zoo and Tom Lee Park. Families usually base themselves in Downtown and Beale Street.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 6
- Best area for families
- Downtown and Beale Street
- Rainy-day options
- 2
Best things to do with kids
Experience · Downtown and Beale Street
1.The Peabody Ducks
Twice a day at the historic Peabody hotel, a small flock of mallards marches along a red carpet to a John Philip Sousa tune, from their rooftop palace to the lobby's marble fountain and back again, led by the Duckmaster. The tradition dates back to the 1930s.
Arrive at least 30 minutes early to get a good spot around the fountain or on the mezzanine; the morning march is usually less crowded.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Iconic
Zoo · Midtown and Overton Square
2.Memphis Zoo
Behind an Egyptian-style gateway in Overton Park, the zoo has themed areas such as Teton Trek with grizzly bears and the Zambezi River Hippo Camp, along with big cats and an aquarium. It is one of the city's main family attractions.
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 · Riverfront
3.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.
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
Park · East Memphis
4.Shelby Farms Park
One of the largest urban parks in the United States, Shelby Farms covers about 1,800 hectares of lakes, forest and meadows, with a small bison herd, kayak and paddleboat rentals, playgrounds and many kilometres of trails. The Shelby Farms Greenline connects it to Midtown by bike.
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
Museum · Midtown
5.Children's Museum of Memphis
Hands-on exhibits for younger children include a pretend city, a cockpit and play areas, and the museum also houses a restored 1909 Dentzel carousel. A splash park operates outside in summer.
Ride the historic carousel and, in summer, bring swimwear for the splash park.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
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Landmark · Pinch District
6.Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid
The 32-storey Memphis Pyramid, built as an arena in 1991, now houses a huge outdoor-gear store with an indoor cypress swamp, aquariums, a hotel and bowling. A glass lift rises through the centre to The Lookout, an observation deck at the top with views over the river and downtown.
Take the lift to The Lookout at sunset for the best river view in the city.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Kids
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Rainy-day ideas
- Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid — Take the lift to The Lookout at sunset for the best river view in the city.
- Children's Museum of Memphis — Ride the historic carousel and, in summer, bring swimwear for the splash park.
Where families should stay
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and solo travellers
Downtown and Beale Street
Downtown is the main visitor base, with the historic Peabody hotel, Beale Street's clubs, the FedExForum arena, the Rock 'n' Soul Museum and the riverfront parks. Vintage trolleys run along Main Street, and most hotels are within walking distance of Beale Street and Tom Lee Park.
- Good
- Walk to Beale Street and the riverfront; Wide choice of hotels; Trolley along Main Street
- Watch out
- Some streets feel empty after dark away from Beale Street; Busy and loud on weekend nights
- Nearby
- Beale Street, The Peabody, Tom Lee Park, FedExForum
Family travel tips
- Watch the Peabody Ducks' morning march, which is usually less crowded than the afternoon one.
- Plan outdoor activities for mornings in summer, and spend hot afternoons in museums.
- The National Civil Rights Museum is best for children aged about 10 and over; talk about it beforehand.
- The Pyramid's indoor swamp, aquariums and observation deck are a good rainy-day stop.
- Shelby Farms has playgrounds, paddleboats and bike rentals for a full outdoor day.
Day trips for families
- Little Rock (About 2 hours) — Arkansas's capital has the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, where nine Black students integrated the school in 1957, and the William J.
When to go with children
The best months overall are April–May and October–November. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Memphis good for kids?
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. The civil rights museum suits older children who can engage with its themes.
+What can kids do in Memphis?
The Peabody Ducks, Memphis Zoo, Tom Lee Park, Shelby Farms Park and Children's Museum of Memphis.
+Where should families stay in Memphis?
Downtown and Beale Street: Blues clubs, the Peabody's ducks and the riverfront bluff.