Best walking routes in Memphis

11 routes ranked on sights, efficiency, hills & length — real foot distance and elevation.

3.4 scoreHills 1/108.5 kmBest Apr, May, Sep, Oct
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Ranked routes

Same score for every walk. Click a card to expand details on the map.

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#1
Viewpoint

One Hour in Memphis: A Short Walk

1 hour

5 stops1.7 km45 min

1.7 kmdistance45 minwith stops5stops+22 mgain
3.2 sights9.1 efficiency0.4 hills8.4 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 20 min+ up to 1 h 20 min insides+22 m climb along route
  1. Memphis Suspension Railway
  2. Orpheum Theatre
  3. Memphis Music Hall of Fame
  4. Memphis Rock N' Soul Museum
  5. Beale Street
59–81 m

Photo: ViewpointNightryder84 on the English WikipediaCC BY-SA 3.0

5.2/10
#2
Viewpoint

Memphis in One Day: Walking Itinerary

One day

11 stops16.1 km4 h 35 min

Inside visits push a full day to ~5 h 35 min.

Inside: Metal Museum (~40 min) + Mason Temple (~20 min). Estimates only.

16.1 kmdistance4 h 35 minwith stops11stops~5 h 35 minfull day+122 mgain
2.9 sights7.5 efficiency2.0 hills3.9 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 3 h 35 min+ up to 1 h 40 min insides+122 m climb along route
  1. Frisco Bridge
  2. Metal Museum (inside ~40 min)
  3. Harahan Bridge
  4. Tom Lee Park
  5. Memphis Suspension Railway
  6. Sun Studio
  7. Memphis Music Hall of Fame
  8. Orpheum Theatre
  9. Beale Street
  10. Mason Temple (inside ~20 min)
  11. Elmwood Cemetery
59–94 m

Photo: ViewpointClayton B. Fraser, August 1985Public domain

4.1/10
#3
Viewpoint

Memphis Museum Walk

Museums

7 stops2.7 km1 h 10 min

2.7 kmdistance1 h 10 minwith stops7stops+10 mgain
1.4 sights7.8 efficiency0.2 hills7.7 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 35 min+ up to 4 h 40 min insides+10 m climb along route
  1. Fire Museum of Memphis
  2. The Cotton Museum
  3. Belz Museum of Asian & Judaic Art
  4. Memphis Music Hall of Fame
  5. Memphis Rock N' Soul Museum
  6. Blues Hall of Fame Museum
  7. National Civil Rights Museum
74–91 m

Photo: ViewpointThomas R MachnitzkiCC BY-SA 3.0

3.8/10
#4
Viewpoint

Memphis in 2 Hours on Foot

2 hours

8 stops6.5 km2 h 15 min

6.5 kmdistance2 h 15 minwith stops8stops+26 mgain
2.7 sights8.4 efficiency0.4 hills1.5 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h 25 min+ up to 1 h 40 min insides+26 m climb along route
  1. Mallory–Neely House
  2. Memphis Suspension Railway
  3. Orpheum Theatre
  4. Memphis Music Hall of Fame
  5. Beale Street
  6. Memphis Rock N' Soul Museum
  7. Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ
  8. Tom Lee Park
59–84 m

Photo: ViewpointClaire H. from New York City, USACC BY-SA 2.0

3.7/10
#5
Viewpoint

Best Viewpoints in Memphis: Walking Route

Viewpoints

5 stops6.9 km1 h 55 min

6.9 kmdistance1 h 55 minwith stops5stops+51 mgain
2.2 sights8.7 efficiency0.8 hills0.3 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h 30 min+51 m climb along route
  1. Sky High Ride & Observation Deck
  2. Beale Street Landing
  3. Memphis Flyway
  4. Beale Street
  5. Sun Studio
59–84 m

Photo: ViewpointAndreas FaesslerCC BY-SA 3.0

3.4/10
#6
Viewpoint

Memphis Photo Walk: Most Instagrammable Spots

Photo spots

9 stops13.2 km3 h 45 min

13.2 kmdistance3 h 45 minwith stops9stops+55 mgain
2.2 sights8.5 efficiency0.9 hills0.0 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 2 h 55 min+ up to 1 h insides+55 m climb along route
  1. Sky High Ride & Observation Deck
  2. Memphis Suspension Railway
  3. Beale Street Landing
  4. Memphis Flyway
  5. Orpheum Theatre
  6. Sun Studio
  7. Memphis Rock N' Soul Museum
  8. Mason Temple
  9. Elmwood Cemetery
59–94 m

Photo: ViewpointElmwood Cemetery at English WikipediaPublic domain

3.3/10
#7
Viewpoint

Easy Flat Walk in Memphis (Kids & Stroller Friendly)

Easy walk

11 stops6.7 km2 h 40 min

6.7 kmdistance2 h 40 minwith stops11stops+26 mgain
2.2 sights7.4 efficiency0.4 hills0.8 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h 30 min+ up to 3 h 20 min insides+26 m climb along route
  1. Sun Studio
  2. Magevney House
  3. The Cotton Museum
  4. Orpheum Theatre
  5. Memphis Music Hall of Fame
  6. Beale Street
  7. Second Presbyterian Church
  8. Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ
  9. National Civil Rights Museum
  10. Blues Hall of Fame Museum
  11. Tom Lee Park
70–91 m

Photo: ViewpointDavid JonesCC BY 2.0

3.1/10
#8
Viewpoint

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Memphis

Walking tour

11 stops13.1 km4 h

13.1 kmdistance4 hwith stops11stops+132 mgain
2.0 sights6.6 efficiency2.2 hills0.0 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 2 h 55 min+ up to 1 h 20 min insides+132 m climb along route
  1. Frisco Bridge
  2. Memphis & Arkansas Bridge
  3. Harahan Bridge
  4. Tom Lee Park
  5. Beale Street Landing
  6. Belz Museum of Asian & Judaic Art
  7. Memphis Suspension Railway
  8. Mallory–Neely House
  9. Sun Studio
  10. Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ
  11. Mason Temple
59–90 m

Photo: ViewpointThomas R Machnitzki (thomas@machnitzki.com)CC BY 3.0

2.9/10
#9
Viewpoint

Memphis Loop Walk from Fire Museum of Memphis

Loop

10 stops10.3 km3 h 30 min

10.3 kmdistance3 h 30 minwith stops10stops+42 mgain
1.1 sights8.1 efficiency0.7 hills0.0 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 2 h 20 min+ up to 3 h 20 min insides+42 m climb along route
  1. Fire Museum of Memphis
  2. Magevney House
  3. Mallory–Neely House
  4. AutoZone Park
  5. Second Presbyterian Church
  6. Mason Temple
  7. Ghost River Brewing
  8. National Civil Rights Museum
  9. Belz Museum of Asian & Judaic Art
  10. The Cotton Museum
69–91 m

Photo: ViewpointJim RobertsCC BY-SA 4.0

2.7/10
#10
Viewpoint

Hidden Gems of Memphis: Off-the-Beaten-Path Walk

Hidden gems

11 stops8.9 km3 h 15 min

8.9 kmdistance3 h 15 minwith stops11stops+57 mgain
1.1 sights8.2 efficiency0.9 hills0.0 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 2 h+ up to 3 h 20 min insides+57 m climb along route
  1. Mallory–Neely House
  2. Magevney House
  3. AutoZone Park
  4. Belz Museum of Asian & Judaic Art
  5. Beale Street Landing
  6. Second Presbyterian Church
  7. Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ
  8. National Civil Rights Museum
  9. Blues Hall of Fame Museum
  10. Ghost River Brewing
  11. Metal Museum
59–93 m

Photo: ViewpointDclemens1971CC BY 4.0

2.7/10
#11
Viewpoint

Hidden Gems of Memphis in 2 Hours

Hidden gems

8 stops6.9 km2 h 30 min

6.9 kmdistance2 h 30 minwith stops8stops+28 mgain
1.0 sights7.5 efficiency0.5 hills0.2 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h 35 min+ up to 2 h 40 min insides+28 m climb along route
  1. Magevney House
  2. The Cotton Museum
  3. Second Presbyterian Church
  4. Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ
  5. National Civil Rights Museum
  6. Blues Hall of Fame Museum
  7. Ghost River Brewing
  8. Memphis Flyway
67–88 m

Photo: ViewpointUnknownPublic domain

2.4/10

Hills: higher = steeper along the walk. Stairs (when shown): metres of mapped stairways near the route — approximate, not a step countvisit times are estimates.

Memphis walking stats

From the 11 rated routes96 stops total27 unique places.

Most climbSelf-Guided Walking Tour of Memphis+132 m along route
Most stops / kmOne Hour in Memphis: A Short Walk3.0 stops per km
Least climbMemphis Museum Walk+10 m along route
Most stairsMemphis in 2 Hours on Foot~32 m mapped stairways (approx., not step count)
Longest / shortest16.1 km1.7 kmMemphis in One Day: Walking Itinerary / One Hour in Memphis: A Short Walk
Places on routes27unique stop ids
How we score. Same formula for every route: Sights 50% (how notable the stops are)Efficiency 25% (less backtracking between stops)Hills 10% (how steep the walk is)Length fit 15% (distance vs the kind of walk). Stairs stay a fact in metres, not a quality bar. Avg score in the hero is the mean across all ranked walks.

Memphis FAQ

Short answers from this city’s data.

Best first-visit walk?
One Hour in Memphis: A Short Walk (1.7 km, 45 min with stops) ranks #1 here.
Best months to walk Memphis?
Apr, May, Sep, Oct are usually the nicest months for walking.
Shortest walk?
One Hour in Memphis: A Short Walk1.7 km, walking 20 min.
One hour in Memphis?
One Hour in Memphis: A Short Walk: walking 20 min, with stops 45 min, 5 stops.
One-day plan?
Memphis in One Day: Walking Itinerary: 11 stops, ~4 h 35 min on-route; suggested insides on marked stops; full day ≈ 5 h 35 min. Visit times are estimates.
Stairs and hills?
Hills is 10% of the score (higher = steeper along the walk). Stairs are not scored — when shown, they are metres of mapped stairways near the route (approximate; not a step count). Example: stairways ≈ 0 m.
Can I change stops?
Yes — open in Maps, edit, then paste into Lineo for a cleaner order.