We left Nashville in very good spirits having had such a good time there. The next day we started our journey to Memphis. *Plays Graceland – Paul Simon*. It was approximately a 3 hour drive, so not too bad of a van day. You start getting used to the long journeys, makes a couple of hours drive seem short.
*On May 29th 2019, I travelled with Trek America on their Grand Trek tour for six weeks around the USA. We began in New York, travelling south to the West Coast, then North back to the East Coast. I am not affiliated with Trek America. Read all my Trek America posts here. *
Graceland Campground
Our priority was to get to the campground and set everything up before we headed back out to Graceland. Not everyone wanted to visit Graceland, those stayed at the campsite. This site had laundry facilities so we all took advantage of that. Your leader will provide you with a list of the accommodations and the services at each one. it’s really important that you plan ahead to avoid running out of clothes in an area where there are no facilities. Get in there quick because not all sites have lots of machines. This campground was good, our group had lots of space.
Elvis Presley’s Graceland
Graceland was an optional activity so not everyone from our group visited. We ended up splitting into several smaller groups. There was four of us in mine, which was nice because we could take a look around at our own pace.
On arrival you purchase your ticket and then you watch a short film, after which you are taken to queue up to get on a bus which takes you out to Graceland itself. You are also given a headset for the audio tour.
There are a couple of options for different tours that you can choose to do, I wouldn’t worry too much you can decide when you are there. We chose the Elvis Experience Tour including Airplanes.
2019 Elvis Experience Tour Including Airplanes
- Graceland Mansion Audio-Guided Tour with New Orientation Film
- NEW – Full Access to all-new Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex, which includes:
- Self guided tours:
- Presley Motors Automobile Museum
- Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum
- Elvis Discovery Exhibits
Read more about Graceland tours here.
The total cost for entry was $66 each. You could argue that this is probably quite pricey, however, for me this was a one time thing. I don’t think I will be back there. I kind of felt that if I was in Memphis, I couldn’t be there and not visit Graceland. Each to their own.
The tour is self-guided which is great because you can move around at your own pace. You use the handset to control whereabouts you are and when you want each part of the audio tour to start.
My thoughts on Graceland…
I am really glad that I visited Graceland. It’s weird to think I have walked around Elvis Presley’s house. However, there was something odd about it. There was a very eerie feel about walking around his house, intrusive perhaps? Additionally, the area with the exhibits and shops were extremely commercialised, it kind of looked like universal studios. As a whole, I enjoyed the experience, if you are interested in visiting I would say it’s worth going, just bear the above in mind.
Chilled evening at Graceland Campground
We spent a good few hours in Graceland. Afterwards we went back to the campsite and relaxed. I went and did my laundry (its also a good chance to plug in your phone). Some of the group went to check out Beale Street, It was just to have a look they didnt head out for the night, so I stayed at the campsite with some others in our group. Knowing we just had a night out in Nashville and were heading to New Orleans for the next two days it was good to get some rest.
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Let me know if you have any questions regarding Trek America or the places we visited ?
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