Best Hotels in Memphis

Memphis’s hotel market is anchored by a few genuinely distinctive properties — the Peabody (a city institution), the Guest House at Graceland (for Elvis immersion), and the Central Station Hotel (in the South Main Arts District). The convention hotel cluster near the FedExForum fills out the mid-range tier.

Landmark Hotels

The Peabody Memphis (149 Union Ave) is Memphis’s most storied hotel, opened in 1925 and home to the Peabody Ducks — a family of mallard ducks that is escorted daily by the Duckmaster from a rooftop penthouse via elevator to the lobby fountain at 11am, where they remain until the 5pm reverse march. The tradition has run since 1933. The hotel has 464 rooms across two connected buildings; the Capriccio Grill restaurant and Alchemy Bar anchor the ground floor. Rooftop pool in summer. From approximately $250-$450 per night as of 2026.

Guest House at Graceland (3600 Elvis Presley Blvd, south Memphis) is a 450-room hotel built on the Graceland campus with a 464-seat theater showing Elvis films, themed suite options (Burning Love Suite, TCB Suite), and the full Graceland experience on the doorstep. The most immersive Elvis accommodation in the world. From approximately $200-$350 per night.

Central Station Hotel (545 S Main St, South Main Arts District) occupies the 1914 Beaux-Arts Memphis Central Station — restored with the Amtrak ticket counter still operating on the ground floor. 123 rooms across multiple building configurations; High Cotton restaurant on site; within walking distance of the South Main gallery and restaurant cluster. From approximately $160-$270 per night.

Convention Hotels

Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis (300 N Second St) — a 198-room Hyatt in a central downtown location near Beale Street and the FedExForum. From approximately $150-$240 per night.

Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel (250 N Main St) — a 370-room convention hotel with conference facilities; convenient for Beale Street but a standard chain experience. From approximately $130-$200 per night.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Memphis Downtown (185 Union Ave) — across from the Peabody; 282 rooms at competitive mid-range rates. From approximately $120-$190 per night.

South Main Arts District

Hu. Hotel (79 Madison Ave) — a 108-room boutique hotel at the edge of the South Main Arts District. One of the more design-considered properties in Memphis with a rooftop bar. From approximately $150-$250 per night.

Budget Options

Sleep Inn at Court Square (300 N Second St) — the most affordable well-located downtown option; standard chain rooms from approximately $80-$120 per night as of 2026.

La Quinta Inn & Suites Memphis East (various east Memphis locations) — mid-range chain from approximately $80-$110 per night; requires a car for downtown access.

Choosing Where to Stay

Stay downtown (Peabody area) for walkable access to Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, and South Main. The most convenient base for a Beale Street-focused visit.

Stay at Graceland (Guest House) for maximum Elvis immersion; a car is needed for everything else, as Graceland is 6 miles from downtown.

Stay in South Main (Central Station, Hu. Hotel) for the arts district atmosphere and Amtrak access; quieter than the Peabody area, still walkable to main attractions.

Midtown and East Memphis Options

The Cooper-Young neighborhood (Midtown, approximately 3 miles east of downtown) is Memphis’s independent restaurant and arts district — a secondary visitor center with its own accommodation options.

Holiday Inn Memphis Downtown (160 Union Ave) — a 192-room centrally-located option adjacent to the Peabody on Union Avenue; from approximately $100-$160 per night as of 2026. More affordable than the Peabody next door with the same general location advantage.

Talbot Heirs Guesthouse (99 S 2nd St) is a 9-room boutique guesthouse in the South Main Arts District, individually furnished rooms in a 19th-century building. From approximately $130-$190 per night. A small-scale option suitable for visitors who prefer a non-chain experience and prioritize the arts district location.

Understanding Memphis’s Districts for Hotel Choice

Memphis’s main visitor areas are more spread out than they appear on a map, and the right hotel depends heavily on what you plan to do:

• Downtown (Beale Street / Peabody area): The most concentrated visitor infrastructure. Walk to Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum (Lorraine Motel), AutoZone Park (Memphis Redbirds), and the FedExForum. The Peabody, DoubleTree, and Sheraton all position you here.
• South Main Arts District: Quieter than the Beale Street area; better independent restaurants and galleries. Central Station and Hu. Hotel serve this district.
• Graceland (South Memphis): 6 miles from downtown; requires a car for everything else. The Guest House is the only reason to stay this far south unless you have a specific reason.
• Midtown (Cooper-Young): Memphis’s bohemian neighborhood; closest to Overton Park and the Memphis Zoo. Short rideshare from downtown.

Booking Notes

Memphis in May (three consecutive weekends) drives the highest hotel demand of the year — the Beale Street Music Festival (first weekend), the Great American River Run, and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (second full weekend) collectively fill the city. Book 2-3 months ahead for those weekends. Summer (June-August) is moderately busy with domestic leisure travel. The NBA Grizzlies playoffs create sudden demand spikes that compress booking windows to days rather than weeks. The rest of the year offers good availability and competitive rates — Memphis is one of the most affordable hotel markets among Southern US cities of comparable visitor volume.