🎟️ How to Visit Graceland (Air-Holiday Style)

Planning to visit Graceland is refreshingly straightforward — but getting a few things right early on makes the whole experience smoother.

✈️ Flights

Most UK travellers will reach Memphis with one stop, or build it into a wider multi-city itinerary. We actually did it as part of a bigger USA trip, flying into Orlando first and then connecting on to Memphis on a separate ticket. It added a bit of extra effort with baggage and re-checking, but it helped keep the overall cost down and made the trip feel bigger.

💡 Our Tip: Multi-city trips can work out better value than you’d expect — especially if you’re already heading to the USA.

🚖 Getting Around Memphis

Once you arrive, getting around is easy. We used Lyft throughout our stay and it worked perfectly — really simple, clear pricing, and no need to worry about cash. We even had a discount on our first few rides which made it even better value. One thing we did learn the hard way though… make sure you have mobile data. We got caught out one evening with no signal and no Wi-Fi trying to book a ride, which turned into a bit of a stressful moment. Having a reliable data plan for the USA is a must — something like DrimSim just takes that stress away completely.

If you’re happy using apps like Lyft, this is by far the easiest way to get around. But if you prefer everything sorted before you arrive — especially after a long flight — having transport pre-booked can make things feel much smoother.

• Pre-book a transfer with Holiday Extras
• Or hire a car — just note parking at Graceland is paid. Staying nearby with free parking and walking (like we did) can be a much easier option.

🏨Where to Stay

Where you stay makes more of a difference than you might expect. We chose to stay near Graceland — at The Days Inn right opposite — which made things incredibly easy, being able to walk there added to the whole experience. That said, the trade-off is that accommodation in that area can be a bit mixed. Ours was fine for what we needed — comfortable bed, Elvis music playing around the pool — but definitely more convenience than quality. There was a small shock when the driver asked us if we were sure we were at the right place… it was an experience.

We’ve also stayed at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Memphis Arpt Elvis Presley Blvd, which sits slightly further out but offers a much more settled and comfortable stay. The free shuttle to Graceland made getting there really easy, and having a to-go breakfast included helped start the day. It felt more like a standard, dependable hotel stay — a good middle ground if you want convenience without the gamble.

But if you want to turn the visit into more of an experience, the The Guest House at Graceland is on another level. It’s right by the mansion, fully themed with subtle Elvis-inspired design, and feels like part of the whole Graceland story rather than just somewhere to stay. With two full-service restaurants, nightly films in the theatre followed by complimentary PB&J sandwiches and milk, and a relaxed pool area with music, it adds something extra to the trip. There’s even a shuttle over to Graceland, so everything feels easy and connected.

If you want more atmosphere, restaurants, and somewhere to wander in the evening, downtown Memphis is the better option — we love the feel around Beale Street and the riverfront. For somewhere to stay, The Peabody Memphis is the iconic choice right in the heart of it all, or for something more relaxed and modern, Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis is a great option right by the river.

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🎫Tickets & Experiences

Tickets are best booked ahead — especially at busier times. When you book, you’ll choose a timed entry slot. This isn’t a guided tour time as such — it’s your arrival window for starting the experience. From there, everything flows at your own pace, including the shuttle up to the mansion and the self-guided tour inside. If you can, go for one of the upgraded ticket options. The extra exhibits — particularly the planes and cars — add a lot more depth to the visit and ended up being some of our favourite parts.

We booked a 10am slot in advance and were really glad we did. It made the whole day feel much more relaxed and less rushed, and it was noticeably quieter earlier on. You can book directly through Graceland’s official website, or look at options through GetYourGuide — these often include added experiences or combine Graceland with wider Memphis tours, which can be a good option if you don’t want to plan everything separately.

💡 Our Tip: If you’ve come all this way, do the full experience — it’s worth it.

🏡What It’s Like

Everything begins at the visitor centre, just across the road from the house itself. This is also where you’ll park if you’re driving — the main car park is located here. From there, the experience is self-guided without ever feeling rigid. You check in, watch a short introduction, and are given an iPad and headphones before boarding a shuttle up to the mansion. You don’t access the house directly yourself — everyone is taken across together, which actually adds to the sense of build-up.

We’ll be honest — it wasn’t immediately obvious where to go at first, and we did have to ask, but once you’re inside it all flows really smoothly. One of the first things we did before even going in was sign the wall along the grounds, which is a bit of a tradition and a really nice way to start.

Some rooms stand out immediately — the Jungle Room in particular — but what stays with you is how lived-in everything feels. It hasn’t been overly polished or turned into something it never was. There’s a sense that this was a home first, long before it became an attraction. We found ourselves slowing down more than expected, just taking in the details — the TV room, the kitchen, his parents’ bedroom, even Vernon Presley’s office. It all adds to that feeling that you’re walking through somewhere real, not staged.

That balance is what makes visiting Graceland feel so different. It’s not trying too hard — and because of that, it works.

If there’s one small thing we’d recommend, going earlier in the day really helps — our 10am slot felt noticeably quieter and more relaxed.

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🌿The Part You Don’t Expect

The Meditation Garden is where everything slows down. Up until this point, you’re taking things in, learning, observing. Then suddenly, the atmosphere shifts. It becomes quieter, more reflective, and for a lot of people, quite emotional.

This is where Elvis is laid to rest, alongside members of his family, with the eternal flame burning nearby. It’s simple, but powerful.

For us, this was the moment it really hit. Seeing the memorial to his twin brother, his parents, and then Elvis himself — it was a lot more emotional than we expected, and definitely the part that stayed with us the most.

Even if you arrive as a casual visitor, this is the moment that tends to stay with you.