Amtrak Vacations
Nashville, Memphis, and New Orleans
Nine-day Nashville to New Orleans music trip by rail and car
9 daysfrom $1,379
11% rail
Amtrak Vacations · Independent Rail Vacation
Music Cities of America
Ten-day rail and self-drive music trip through Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans
Amtrak Vacations runs this 10-day, 9-night independent rail and self-drive vacation through Memphis, Nashville, and New Orleans. The first two days in Memphis include a guided city tour past Victorian Village and the Memphis Pyramid, plus a tour of Graceland. Day 3 picks up a rental car for the drive to Nashville, where a comprehensive tour takes in Honky Tonk Row, the Parthenon, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Country Music Hall of Fame, followed by an evening at the Grand Ole Opry. After driving back through Memphis, day 7 boards the Amtrak City of New Orleans for a ride past Lake Pontchartrain into New Orleans, where a guided walking tour and a choice of jazz brunch or creole dinner close out the trip. This suits independent travelers drawn to American music history who don't mind driving part of the route themselves, with hotel stays generally running two to three nights per city.
What to know before you look closer
- Only 1 meal is included across the whole trip, a choice of dinner or brunch on day 9 in New Orleans; all other meals are on your own.
- A 4-day intermediate car rental is included for the Memphis-Nashville portion; you drive yourself between the two cities rather than taking the train.
- Final hotel choice depends on the tier and city you pick; Amtrak Vacations lists 18 accommodation options across Memphis and Nashville.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Memphis
Memphis, TN
Welcome to Memphis! Your journey begins in the exciting "Blues City". Today check-in to your hotel and enjoy a day of sightseeing on your own. Perhaps you want to head down to Beale Street and check out the popular blues clubs to get into the music spirit.
- Day 2overnight: Memphis
Memphis, TN
This morning you will continue to explore Memphis on a sightseeing tour of the city. Your fully-guided tour will take you to visit some of Memphis's top attractions such as Victorian Village a neighborhood with many beautiful homes built in the 1800's, the famous Peabody Memphis Hotel, and the towering Memphis Pyramid. After your tour of the city, you will be transported out to Graceland where you will enjoy a tour of Elvis' mansion.
- Day 3overnight: Nashville
Memphis to Nashville
Today you will pick up your rental car for a quick drive out to Nashville. Upon arrival begin exploring. This evening you are free to enjoy the city on your own.
- Day 4overnight: Nashville
Nashville, TN
Today you will experience "Music City" on a comprehensive tour of Nashville. Your guided tour will bring you to such important Nashville spots as Honky Tonk Row, the Parthenon (a replica of the famous structure in Athens, Greece), and a tour of the classic Ryman Auditorium. You will also get to experience the Country Music Hall of Fame, an unforgettable journey through country music's history and its most legendary artists, writers, and performers.
- Day 5overnight: Nashville
Nashville, TN
Enjoy another day exploring the city, or relax back at your hotel. Tonight you will head over to the Grand Ole Opry for a live show and radio broadcast. With historic performances dating back to 1925, taking in a show at the Grand Old Opry is the perfect way to complete your Nashville experience.
- Day 6overnight: Memphis
Nashville to Memphis
This morning travel back to Memphis and prepare to journey on down to New Orleans. Upon arriving into the city, drop off your rental car and check-in to the hotel and have a relaxing evening in preparation of your trip.
- Day 7railovernight: New Orleans
Memphis to New Orleans
This morning board Amtrak's famous City of New Orleans route for your journey south to the "Big Easy"! Marvel as you travel through lush forests and marshland as the train skirts the shores of the incredible Lake Pontchartrain. As you arrive into the city, check-in to your hotel and settle in for the night.
- Day 8overnight: New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Today you will get to visit a popular attraction in New Orleans, the National WWII Museum. The National WWII Museum describes the story of the American experience throughout the war that changed the world. An entire day can be spent navigating through the exhibits, but you can decide how long you want to stay before continuing to stroll the streets of New Orleans at your leisure.
- Day 9overnight: New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Today you will continue to see the best of what New Orleans has to offer on a guided walking tour of the city. Your knowledgeable guide will escort you around the city, delighting you with fun facts, stories, and tales of the exciting "Crescent City". Also, today enjoy a fine brunch accompanied by some of the city's best live jazz music or an excellent dinner of creole classics.
Meals: B, D
- Day 10
Your Journey Ends in New Orleans
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 2A guided Memphis city tour visits Victorian Village and the Memphis Pyramid, followed by a tour of Graceland.
- Day 4A comprehensive Nashville tour stops at Honky Tonk Row, the Parthenon, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
- Day 5An evening at the Grand Ole Opry for a live show and radio broadcast dating back to 1925.
- Day 7The Amtrak City of New Orleans train passes lush forests and marshland along the shores of Lake Pontchartrain on the way south.
- Day 9A guided walking tour of New Orleans, paired with a choice of a jazz brunch or a creole dinner.
Included
- One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from Memphis to New Orleans onboard the City of New Orleans®
- 9 nights' hotel accommodations
- 4-day intermediate car rental
- 1 meal included (1 dinner or 1 brunch)
Also sold by
The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.
- Railbookersfrom $3,949
Questions travellers ask
- Is the whole trip by train?
- No. The Amtrak City of New Orleans covers Memphis to New Orleans; Memphis to Nashville and back is done by rental car, a 4-day intermediate car rental included in the package.
- Are meals included?
- Only 1 meal, a choice of dinner or brunch on day 9 in New Orleans.
- What's included in the Memphis tour?
- A guided city tour of Memphis (Victorian Village, the Memphis Pyramid) with admission to Graceland.
- What's included in the Nashville tour?
- A guided tour of Nashville (Honky Tonk Row, the Parthenon, Ryman Auditorium) with admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame, plus admission to a Grand Ole Opry performance.
- Is this trip guided or independent?
- It's an independent rail vacation with several guided city tours and admissions included; free time is built in around them.
- Where does the trip start and end?
- It starts in Memphis and ends in New Orleans, with a Nashville stop along the way.
