Axel's take on Graceland & Whitehaven: #6 of 7 in Memphis, 3.3/10
Stay for an Elvis pilgrimage, not an all-purpose Memphis base. Graceland offers Elvis-focused character and lower rates, but limited hotel strength and weak access to wider Memphis keep it a specialist choice.
Graceland makes sense when Elvis is the reason for your trip. The mansion, exhibition complex and related attractions can fill a full day or more, and staying along Elvis Presley Boulevard keeps that experience straightforward. Whitehaven also has its own barbecue and soul-food businesses; it is a neighborhood beyond the famous gates, not merely an attraction compound.
The trade-off is a road-oriented stay with separate journeys for Downtown nightlife and the wider museum circuit. Lodging ranges from an upscale Elvis-focused retreat to RV and camping options, making this a specialist choice for very different travel styles. Skip it if Elvis occupies one afternoon rather than most of your itinerary.
- Best for: travelers on a budget, luxury travelers
- Skip it if: Graceland is only a brief stop; You want varied sightseeing and nightlife on foot
- Getting around: Bus 42 serves Graceland on Elvis Presley Boulevard; from MEM, use a taxi or bus 28 to Airways Transit Center and transfer to 42; use a car or rideshare for a broader city itinerary.
- After dark: Plan an Elvis-focused evening or a specific restaurant outing rather than a walkable bar crawl; the boulevard's visitor attractions do not form a Beale-style nightlife district.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $102 a night
Where to stay in Memphis: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in Graceland & Whitehaven
- Elvis Presley Boulevard at Graceland. Stay along the attraction’s stretch when Elvis dominates your itinerary; other Memphis outings remain separate journeys. Hotels here: Days Inn by Wyndham Memphis at Graceland.
- Elvis Presley Boulevard toward Brooks Road. The northern approach suits drivers combining Graceland with airport access, rather than travelers seeking a walkable evening district. Hotels here: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Memphis Arpt Elvis Presley Blv by IHG, Red Roof Inn Memphis - Graceland/ Airport.
How to choose
- Choose Holiday Inn Express & Suites Memphis Arpt Elvis Presley Blv by IHG if you want welcoming service, included breakfast and parking without accepting the cheaper motels’ recurring room problems.
- Choose Days Inn by Wyndham Memphis at Graceland if walking to Graceland outweighs uneven cleaning, maintenance and uncertain pool access.
What paying more buys
The much pricier Holiday Inn Express & Suites Memphis Arpt Elvis Presley Blv offers more consistent comfort, welcoming service and included breakfast and parking. Days Inn at Graceland costs less and offers walkable attraction access, but upkeep is uneven; cheaper Red Roof has repeated pest and bedding complaints. Skip the premium only if you accept those substantial compromises. Typical rates with Axel here run from $75 a night at Red Roof Inn Memphis - Graceland/ Airport to $254 at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Memphis Arpt Elvis Presley Blv by IHG (last 30 days).
The best hotels in Graceland & Whitehaven, ranked by Axel's take
Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Memphis Arpt Elvis Presley Blv by IHG 8.2/10, limited-service budget hotel near Graceland and Memphis airport. A strong Graceland base, with welcoming staff and useful extras rather than frills. Why it's here: welcoming service and practical Graceland comfort with breakfast and parking included. Accept: a high neighborhood rate; housekeeping and shuttle availability need checking. $192 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Days Inn by Wyndham Memphis at Graceland 5.7/10, budget 2-star motel within walking distance of Graceland. Graceland convenience is the draw; uneven upkeep is the catch. Why it's here: walkable Graceland access for Elvis fans with modest room expectations. Accept: uneven cleaning, damp odors and uncertain pool availability. $78 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Red Roof Inn Memphis - Graceland/ Airport 4.9/10, basic 2-star motel near Graceland and Memphis airport. Convenient for Graceland, but recurring room problems make this a risky budget choice. Why it's here: a cheaper Graceland-area driving stop with microwaves, fridges and free parking. Accept: repeated pest and bedding complaints, noise and poor complaint handling. $73 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
