Destination: Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Travelled: May.
After soaking up the atmosphere of Memphis and easing into the rhythm of the city, there was one place we’d been especially looking forward to – Graceland. Whether you’re lifelong Elvis fans (like us) or just curious about American pop culture, a visit here is hard to forget. It’s not just a house – it’s a fully-fledged experience, part museum, part pilgrimage, and definitely one of the highlights of our music cities road trip.
First impressions and a word of advice
Graceland is located just a short drive from downtown Memphis, and while it may be a suburban neighbourhood today, you can still feel the buzz of what it once meant to live on Elvis Presley Boulevard. We’d booked ahead and timed our visit for a weekday morning – highly recommended as it gets busy. Everything runs like clockwork, from parking to check-in to shuttles.
Waxy Tip: Book early and go early. The crowds build throughout the day, especially in peak season. There are several ticket levels – we went for the Elvis Experience Tour + Airplanes, which gave us access to the mansion, museums, car collection, stagewear gallery and Elvis’s private jets. It’s a mid-priced experience for what you get, and worth every cent for fans.
The mansion: intimate, iconic, and surprisingly modest
A shuttle bus takes you across the street to the mansion gates, and as we passed through, it genuinely felt like we were stepping into music history. The house itself is surprisingly intimate – not a sprawling palace, but full of character and unmistakably Elvis.
From the Jungle Room with its shag-pile carpets and green waterfall wall, to the peacock-stained glass in the Music Room, every room felt personal, not overly curated. You really do get a sense of how Elvis lived, how he entertained, and where he retreated when he wasn’t in the spotlight. The Dining Room is elegant, the TV Room with its three TVs (so Elvis could watch multiple channels at once!) is kitschy fun, and the basement pool room – covered floor to ceiling in fabric – is unforgettable.
The mansion tour finishes in the Meditation Garden, where Elvis is buried alongside his parents and grandmother. It’s peaceful and surprisingly moving – even if you didn’t arrive a superfan, there’s something about standing there that stays with you.
Across the street: museums, memorabilia and motorbikes
After the mansion, we took the shuttle back to the Elvis Presley’s Memphis complex, which is vast and packed with exhibits. This is where the real scale of the experience kicks in. You can easily spend hours here, and we did.
Some highlights:
- Elvis’s car collection – everything from his pink Cadillac and sleek sports cars to motorbikes and golf carts. If it had wheels, he probably had it.
- The jumpsuits and stagewear – iconic rhinestone-studded outfits from his Vegas shows and TV specials, beautifully displayed.
- The archives and exhibits – letters, records, instruments, awards – so many pieces of personal history that trace his meteoric rise and enduring legacy.
- Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II – Elvis’s two private planes are parked out back, and you can walk through both. The smaller jet, Hound Dog II, is cool enough, but Lisa Marie is pure 1970s extravagance: think gold-plated seatbelt buckles, suede chairs and a bedroom with a full-size bed.
It’s a lot to take in – but it’s all well organised, clearly signposted and accessible. There’s a real respect for Elvis here, but also a good dose of fun.
Elvis on screen: the performer and the movie star
One of the most engaging parts of the Graceland experience was seeing Elvis in action. Several exhibits are dedicated to showcasing his incredible stage presence, especially his unforgettable 1968 “Comeback Special”, where he returned to live performance in spectacular form dressed in black leather, oozing charisma and confidence. Clips from this show play on large screens, and it’s impossible not to get caught up in the energy and swagger of the performance – it’s Elvis at his raw, magnetic best.
Elsewhere, we found a number of cinema-style viewing areas playing highlights from his many film appearances – everything from Jailhouse Rock to Blue Hawaii. While the films might feel dated now, they were wildly popular in their time and helped solidify Elvis as a global star. Watching these short sequences reminded us just how multi-talented he was – singer, actor, showman – and how his image was carefully crafted for the silver screen.d.
For the fans and the curious
We both came to Graceland with a decent knowledge of Elvis, but we left with a far deeper understanding of just how huge a figure he was – not just musically, but culturally. His influence reached into fashion, film, and even politics. And seeing his personal life laid out like this – from humble beginnings to global superstardom – adds layers of insight that you just can’t get from listening to the records.
That said, Graceland isn’t only for hardcore fans. There’s enough there for the casual visitor to enjoy – especially if you’re interested in American culture, music history, or 20th-century style.
Practical info and tips
- Best time to visit: Weekday mornings are quieter. We visited in May, and the weather was warm and pleasant.
- How long to spend: We spent nearly six hours in total. Budget at least half a day.
- Food options: There are a few on-site cafes – mid-priced and decent for a quick bite, but nothing fancy.
- Shops: There are several themed gift shops. T-shirts, vinyl, mugs, and more Elvis memorabilia than you ever thought existed. Resistance is futile.
- Accessibility: The whole complex is well designed for accessibility and includes lifts and ramps.
There’s a great energy to the place — it’s intimate, historic, and full of soul. The tour takes about an hour, and we highly recommend booking ahead.
Final thoughts
Graceland absolutely lived up to the hype – and then some. There’s something surreal about walking through a home you’ve seen on TV or in magazines your whole life, and then emerging hours later having been immersed in the world of Elvis from every angle. It was fun, fascinating, and surprisingly emotional.
We took loads of photos – from the Jungle Room to the pink Cadillac – and you’ll find many of them scattered through this post to help you get a real feel for the place.
If you’re ever in Memphis, make sure to carve out a day for Graceland. Whether you’re an Elvis devotee or just someone who appreciates music history, it’s an experience that stays with you long after the gates close behind you.
Learn more about our stay in Memphis