Graceland
4.5(25K)google
4.1(1.4K)yelp
Senior-FriendlyIndoorOutdoorPhoto SpotCity LandmarkMust-SeeWorld RecordLocal FavoriteGuided TourEducationalHistoric BuildingRock Music
Overview
Graceland is the legendary, 13-acre estate of Elvis Presley located in Memphis, serving as the ultimate pilgrimage site for rock-and-roll fans from around the world. Visitors can take an immersive iPad-guided tour of the grand mansion, exploring iconic rooms like the famously kitschy Jungle Room, the pool room, and the trophy building filled with gold records and stage jumpsuits. The moving climax of the tour is the Meditation Garden, where Elvis and his family members are laid to rest, complemented by an expansive entertainment complex across the street.
Practical Info
Mon9:00 AM –4:00 PM
Tue9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wed9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thu9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Fri9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sat9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sun9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Suggested Duration3-5 hours
Best TimeThe historic estate of the King of Rock 'n' Roll is best visited at the 9:00 AM opening on a weekday from May to September. Entering early allows you to tour the mansion interiors, including the famous Jungle Room and planes pavilion, before massive international tour buses deadlock the gates.
Getting ThereCommanding a massive block at 3765 Elvis Presley Blvd in southern Memphis. Drive south from downtown via I-55 South to Exit 5B, and proceed south for 1 mile. The complex features a vast municipal paid covered parking deck directly across from the mansion gates. MATA Bus Route 42 offers service.
Travel Tips
- Upon entering the Graceland Mansion, security distributes a proprietary interactive iPad audio guide. The system utilizes older hardware chassis supporting only standard 3.5mm wired auxiliary headphone jacks; pack your own wired earbuds to bypass the uncomfortable, low-fidelity single-ear hooks provided for free.
- The entry-tier Mansion Tour ticket permits physical access exclusively to the residential house. Elvis's private custom jets (The Lisa Marie) and the auto museum occupy a massive venue complex across the highway; they require an upgraded Elvis Experience Tour ticket tier to clear the individual turnstiles.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- To protect fragile textiles and vintage wallpapers, historical preservation regulations strictly prohibit flash photography inside the mansion. Furthermore, detachable camera lenses with a barrel length exceeding 6 inches are barred at the security screening gates; keep devices on silent and ambient capture only.
Reviews
Positive
- Entering Elvis's mansion to see the famous Jungle Room and walls of gold records delivers massive visual impact and pop history value, living up to the hype.
- The provided iPad audio guide system with multilingual narration is outstanding, blending Elvis's voice and music for a deeply sentimental, fun self-guided tour.
- The massive modern museum complex across the street houses Elvis's antique cars and private jets, featuring flawless accessible ramps and wide elevators.
- Crowd order and security management are extremely strict and standardized; despite endless global fans, the shuttle buses run with excellent, reassuring order.
Heads up
- The comprehensive admission ticket is exceptionally expensive compared to other historic homes, and parking requires a costly mandatory fee, denting its value.
- The auto and plane exhibits across the street are overly commercialized, pushing high-priced photos and souvenirs that put pressure on guests.
- The neighborhood surrounding this Memphis attraction has safety concerns after dark, offering low travel convenience and safety for guests without a car.
- The mansion's second floor is closed to the public, and since it is a historic 1950s house, accessing basement rooms requires narrow stairs with zero wheelchair access.