Hand-picked by our editors — only the best 5 music experiences from 47 reviewed.
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3 hr
Three-hour musical journey through Memphis led by live Beale Street musicians with Sun Studio access
Reserve
3 hr 30 min
Explore the legendary studio where soul music was born, from gospel roots to Isaac Hayes' gold Cadillac
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2 hr
Explore Memphis landmarks, civil rights history, and iconic Beale Street with hotel pickup included
ReservePrices from verified partners. Availability updates in real time at checkout. Free cancellation policies apply where shown.
The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on this tour remember — all visible on a single visit.
The birthplace of rock and roll where legends like Elvis Presley recorded their first tracks. Over 20 famous artists launched their careers here.
Sun Studio
This legendary district is known globally for its deep connection to blues history. It spans several blocks filled with historic clubs.
Beale Street
An architectural masterpiece that has stood in the city for nearly a century. It hosts a variety of major touring performances.
Orpheum Theatre
This facility explores the history of musical innovation in the region. It features many artifacts from the golden age of music.
Rock n Soul Museum
Dedicated to the father of the blues, this public space is a hub for live performances. It serves as a central gathering point for local musicians.
Handy Park
They complement each other; most visitors who do both call the guided memphis music bus tour the more thrilling way to grasp the city's rhythmic landscape. Choosing between these options depends on whether you prefer curated storytelling or the freedom to study local rock and soul history at your own speed.
| Feature | Top pick Music Bus Tour | Independent Exploration |
|---|---|---|
Guided narration |
Professional storytelling included | Self-directed audio/visuals |
Pacing |
Fixed schedule | Fully visitor-controlled |
Accessibility to multiple sites |
Covers widespread city landmarks | Limited to single venue transit |
Transportation |
Climate-controlled bus provided | Requires personal transport or rideshare |
Cost structure |
40 USD standard ticket | Varies per individual site entry |
Time commitment |
90 minutes | Variable 1–3 hours |
| See tickets → |
Verdict: Securing your memphis music bus tour tickets offers a comprehensive orientation for newcomers, while independent museum tours allow enthusiasts to linger longer at specific recording studios.
Choose your ticket, select your date, and reserve in under two minutes. Secure checkout handled by our verified partner.
Instant confirmation by email, with a mobile voucher you can save offline. No printing, no queuing at a collection desk.
Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.
Practical details for your visit straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
Beale St. and BB King Blvd, Memphis, TN
Look for the branded signage near the corner
Paid parking garages are available within a 5-minute walk of Beale St. and BB King Blvd.
Ride-share services frequently drop off passengers at the Beale St. intersection.
Casual and comfortable clothing is recommended for the memphis music bus tour. Wear layers as air conditioning on the vehicle can be chilly.
Small bags are permitted on the memphis music bus tour but must remain on your lap or at your feet. Large luggage or bulky items are not allowed due to limited floor space.
Photography is encouraged throughout the memphis music bus tour journey. Avoid using flash inside the bus to prevent glare against the windows.
The memphis music bus tour provides accessible seating options. Please contact the office at +1-901-527-9415 at least 48 hours before your booking to coordinate lift access.
Mobile phones must be silenced during the narrative portions of the memphis music bus tour. Feel free to use devices to capture photos between stops.
Children are welcome on the memphis music bus tour. While infants are permitted, a standard ticket is required for all passengers regardless of age.
No food is allowed on the memphis music bus tour vehicles. Bottled water with a secure lid is permitted for hydration during the trip.
Only service animals specifically trained to assist individuals with disabilities are allowed on the memphis music bus tour. Pets are strictly prohibited.
The memphis music bus tour departs promptly at the scheduled time. Late arrivals may forfeit their seats without refund.
Beale St. and BB King Blvd, Memphis, TN
Look for the branded signage near the corner
Get directionsBest time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
How crowds, weather, and events shift across the year.
March to May offers mild temperatures perfect for city exploration. Wildflowers bloom near local Memphis landmarks.
June to August brings high temperatures and peak tourist crowds. Morning tours are recommended for comfort.
September to November features crisp air and vibrant colors. It is an ideal time for a memphis music bus tour.
December to February is the quietest season. Expect lower visitor numbers and cooler weather.
Small details that turn a good visit into a great one.
Secure your memphis music bus tour tickets online to guarantee your preferred time slot.
Carry a bottle of water as Memphis can be humid during afternoon tours.
Wear light clothing to stay cool during the 90-minute excursion.
Monitor local reports as the memphis music bus tour operates rain or shine.
The guides are knowledgeable professionals happy to discuss Memphis music history.
Sit away from the glass reflection to get better shots during the memphis music bus tour journey.
Non-bookable sights within a short walk — free to visit, easy to pair.
The former home of the father of the blues offers a look into early 20th-century life.
This area is the heart of local blues music and home to numerous music clubs.
A historic venue hosting Broadway shows and concerts since 1928.
The primary arena for Memphis professional basketball games and major events.
Flexible, no hidden fees.
Cancellations made at least 24 hours in advance receive a full refund. Guests who miss their scheduled memphis music bus tour are not eligible for a refund of the 40 USD standard adult admission.
Hand-picked options within walking distance — pick a district for vibe, or a specific hotel for convenience.
General district options for visitors
Sam Phillips recorded his first session at 706 Union Avenue in January 1950 with a $35 Presto disc cutter and a single microphone suspended from the ceiling. Within four years, that converted radiator shop would yield Rocket 88, widely considered the first rock and roll record, and by 1954 Phillips had captured Elvis Presley's voice on acetate for $3.98. Sun Studio became the birthplace of a sound that married Delta blues to Appalachian country, a tonal alchemy that reshaped American music. Memphis sits at the confluence of three musical rivers: the Mississippi Delta blues tradition carried north by sharecroppers, the sanctified gospel of Pentecostal congregations, and the honky-tonk twang of white rural migrants. By the mid-twentieth century, Beale Street hummed with neon-lit clubs where B.B. King earned his stage name and Rufus Thomas spun records between sets. The city's recording studios became laboratories for genre fusion. Stax Records, founded in 1957 in a former movie theater at 926 East McLemore Avenue, gave the world Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, and the raw, horn-driven Memphis soul sound that rivaled Motown's polish with Southern grit. Today, a Memphis music bus tour threads these landmarks into a narrative arc that spans seven decades. The 90-minute Mojo Tour departs daily from the corner of Beale Street and B.B. King Boulevard, rolling past the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated in 1968, the Stax Museum's replica of the original Capitol Theatre marquee, and the still-operational Sun Studio control room where Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins once recorded. Visitors hear the slap-back echo Phillips engineered by bouncing sound off tile walls, see the checkerboard linoleum floor Howlin' Wolf stood on, and touch the microphone that captured Ike Turner's distorted guitar riff. The city preserved these sites not as static monuments but as working studios and museums. Sun Studio still records artists at night; Stax houses 2,000 artifacts including Isaac Hayes' gold-plated Cadillac. The Memphis music bus tour tours connect these physical spaces to the sonic archive they produced, offering a geography lesson in how place shapes sound.
"Sam Phillips engineered slap-back echo by bouncing sound off tile walls — the accidental invention that defined rockabilly's urgency."
A step-by-step walkthrough of the visit — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You board the climate-controlled coach at the intersection of Beale Street and B.B. King Boulevard, settling into a seat as your guide cues up a playlist that begins with Furry Lewis' 1920s field recordings. The bus rolls east on Beale, past the brass notes embedded in the sidewalk and the neon guitar of B.B. King's Blues Club, then turns south toward McLemore Avenue. At Stax Museum, you step into the replica of the original Capitol Theatre lobby, where a 1959 Wurlitzer jukebox plays Carla Thomas. The checkerboard control room sits behind glass, and you study the Ampex four-track tape machine that recorded Green Onions in a single take. Upstairs, Isaac Hayes' peacock-blue Superfly Cadillac occupies an entire gallery, its gold trim catching the museum lights. Back on the coach, the route loops north to Sun Studio. You descend into the compact 18-by-30-foot recording room, its acoustic tiles still absorbing sound as they did in 1954. Your guide points to the exact floor tile where Elvis stood for That's All Right, then invites you to hum a note into the vintage microphone to hear Phillips' echo chamber at work. The tour concludes with a pass along the Mississippi riverfront, the Hernando de Soto Bridge framing the skyline as the bus returns to Beale Street.
The office and tour operations are available from 09:00–18:00 daily.
Yes, children are welcome, though they require their own ticket for the memphis music bus tour.
Small bags are permitted, but no large luggage or prohibited items can be brought aboard.
The standard adult admission for the 90-minute Mojo Tour is 40 USD.
The best arrival window is 09:00–16:00 to ensure check-in before afternoon departures.
Yes, photography is welcome during the memphis music bus tour, provided no flash is used.
The tour meets at the corner of Beale St. and BB King Blvd in Memphis.
No, only trained service animals are permitted on the bus.
Cancellations made 24 hours in advance are eligible for a full refund of your purchase.