Idiot’s Guides: RV Vacations

Located on the Mississippi River, Memphis, Tennessee, is a thriving commercial city with world-class medical and educational centers. But most visitors arrive for two major reasons: to soak in the thriving music scene and to tour some of the most important historical sites in American history.

Highlights

Tour Sun Studio, a small place with a big history where Elvis Presley got his start.

Visit the Jungle Room at Graceland, decorated with animal print and shag carpeting.

Reflect on the civil rights struggle at the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

To avoid the heat and crowds, visit in either April and May or October and November, when it’s as temperate as Memphis gets.

The Graceland RV Park and Campground is all about location. Elvis’s colonial revival–style mansion is directly across the street, and you can walk there in about 2 minutes, even if you’re wearing blue suede shoes.

The park itself lacks the kitschy glamour of Graceland, but it earns solid reviews for being clean and affordable. The campground offers a swimming pool and a camp store that sells Elvis memorabilia, and Beale Street and downtown Memphis are also nearby.

Tom Sawyer’s RV Park is located directly on the Mississippi River in West Memphis, Arkansas. It’s just 15 minutes from downtown Memphis and 25 minutes from Graceland.

Three dozen concrete pull-thru sites are here; some are shaded, and others are located directly on the river. A special riverfront section is available just for motor homes, and another section is designed to allow fifth wheels to back in for spectacular rear-window views of the mighty Mississippi. After spending the day touring Memphis, you can kick back under your awning and watch the barges go by as you dine alfresco.

The park has friendly, hospitable managers and camp workers who can escort you to your site and make you feel at home.

This park is almost universally well reviewed and wins high marks for its cleanliness, immaculate landscaping, and warm Southern hospitality. If you’re traveling to Memphis with kids, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better campground. The action-packed schedule of events, such as pool bingo and water balloon games, allow you to relax while your kids have a blast. The park is full of kid-friendly amenities such as the inflatable waterslide, volleyball court, multiple pools, and playground. Mom and Dad will appreciate the exercise room, and those traveling with dogs will enjoy the enclosed bark park.

Book a big-rig friendly premium site with a large concrete patio, Adirondack chairs, and a wrought-iron fire table for an experience that borders on “glamping.” Major attractions are all a short drive away.

143 Beale Street, Memphis, TN 38103. bbkings.com/memphis; memphissales@bbkingclubs.com; 901-524-5464. Monday to Thursday and Sunday 11 A.M. to 12:30 A.M.; Friday and Saturday 11 A.M. to 2 A.M. $15 to $32. Southern barbecue.

The house band at BB King’s Blues Club is as good as it gets in a city full of amazing music. This is a restaurant where it all comes together for the first-time visitor, showcasing solid Southern cuisine against a backdrop of live jazz, blues, and rock ’n’ roll.

You can stick with the classics here and walk away pleased. The ribs are tender, the shrimp and grits are buttery, and the fried green tomatoes are crisp-tender.

4381 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, TN 38116. marlowesmemphis.com; 901-332-4159. 12 P.M. to 3 A.M. $11 to $30. Southern barbecue.

Featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Marlowe’s stands out for offering a fabulously kitschy experience along with fantastic food. Close to Graceland and a perfect follow-up to your visit, Marlowe’s offers much better fare than you’ll find at the mansion.

Huge portions of barbecue chicken, brisket, and ribs are served with cornbread, coleslaw, and fried okra. Call ahead to arrange for a free ride to the restaurant in a pink limo.

Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House

551 S. Mendenhall Road, Memphis, TN 38116. folksfolly.com; 901-762-8200. Monday to Thursday 5:30 P.M. to 10 P.M.; Friday and Saturday 5:30 P.M. to 11 P.M.; Sunday 5:30 P.M. to 9 P.M. $35 to $80. American.

An institution in Memphis, this restaurant offers everything you want in a classic steakhouse: perfect cuts of meat and lobster tails paired with creamed spinach, garlic mashed potatoes, and asparagus with hollandaise sauce.

The service is impeccable, and the atmosphere classy. For any special occasion, or just a special night on the town, this is a perfect choice.

ATTRACTIONS

National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel

450 Mulberry Street, Memphis, TN 38103. civilrightsmuseum.org; cdyson@civilrightsmuseum.org; 901-521-9699. Monday and Wednesday to Saturday 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.; Sunday 1 P.M. to 5 P.M.; closed Tuesday. Adults $15; seniors $14; children 4 to 17 $12; 3 and under free.

A visit to this museum is an educational and emotional experience you’re not likely to forget.

Located in the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, the exhibits take you through five centuries of history, beginning with periods of slave resistance and moving through the bus boycotts and sit-ins of the twentieth century.

Beale Street is the center of the Memphis food and music scene, so you’ll want to spend a good deal of time eating, drinking, shopping, and sightseeing your way down this road that was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966.

During the day, explore legendary attractions such as the WC Handy House and the Orpheum Theatre. Shop at the A. Schwab Dry Goods Store and other funky vendors that line the street.

At night, the place comes alive with a party atmosphere, and music and people spill out into the street. To truly appreciate the magic of this place, get off the rowdy street and dive into one of the long-established clubs, like Mr. Handy’s Blues Hall.

3734 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, TN 38116. graceland.com; graceland@graceland.com; 901-332-3322. Monday to Saturday 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.; Sunday 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. Standard ticket prices (upgrades available): adults $36; seniors $32.40; children 7 to 12 $16; 6 and under free.

It would be unthinkable to visit Memphis without stopping in to pay respects to the king of rock ’n’ roll. When you purchase the basic mansion tour ticket at Graceland, you get an interactive iPad that provides a narrated multimedia experience.

A few ticket upgrades are available, but the best deal is the Platinum Tour, which offers access to special exhibits and the airplanes for only a few more dollars. Skip the VIP Ticket, which is almost double the price without adding much value to the experience.

ITINERARIES

If you have 1 week …

Visit Graceland, touring the mansion and Memorial Gardens. Shop Beale Street during the day, and return at night for live music at BB King’s. Explore the National Civil Rights Museum, and tour Sun Studio.

If you have 2 weeks …

All the above, plus visit the exhibits at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Listen to a show at the Rum Boogie Cafe. Catch a Memphis Redbirds baseball game at AutoZone Park. Explore the Memphis Zoo and the Memphis Botanic Garden. Shop at the Memphis Pyramid.

If you have 3 weeks …

All the above, plus visit the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum. Catch a show at Earnestine and Hazel’s or the Blues Hall Juke Joint. Wander around the Elmwood Cemetery and Mud Island River Park. Shop on Peabody Place in downtown Memphis. Tour the Pink Palace Museum. Take a day trip to the Elvis Presley Birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi.