Amtrak Vacations
Music Cities of America
Ten-day rail and self-drive music trip through Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans
10 daysfrom $1,749
10% rail
Amtrak Vacations · Independent Rail Vacation
Nashville, Memphis, and New Orleans
Nine-day Nashville to New Orleans music trip by rail and car
Amtrak Vacations runs this nine-day, eight-night Independent Rail Vacation from Nashville, Tennessee to New Orleans, Louisiana, with a stop in Memphis along the way. The first three days are based in Nashville, where a guided city tour covers Honky Tonk Row, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Ryman Auditorium, and day 3 ends with a live show at the Grand Ole Opry. On day 4, travellers pick up a rental car and drive to Memphis, crossing the Cumberland River, for two nights that include a Graceland tour. Day 6 shifts to rail travel, boarding Amtrak's City of New Orleans through farm country and marshland for three nights in New Orleans, where a multi-day attraction pass and a guided walking tour round out the trip. The mix of guided touring, free time, and a rental car leg alongside the train makes this a fit for travellers with an interest in American music history who do not need every leg to be by rail.
What to know before you look closer
- The package includes 18 accommodation options across Nashville, Memphis, and New Orleans in different tiers; the specific hotel depends on the tier and city chosen rather than a fixed list of named hotels.
- Only the Memphis to New Orleans leg (day 6) is by train, aboard Amtrak's City of New Orleans; the Nashville to Memphis leg (day 4) is driven by rental car.
- Only one meal is included across the whole trip, a brunch or dinner in New Orleans on day 8; other meals are on your own.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Nashville
Your Journey Begins in Nashville
Upon arrival in Nashville, begin exploring the city. Today you are free to enjoy the city on your own.
- Day 2overnight: 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 3overnight: Nashville
Nashville, TN
Enjoy another day exploring the city. 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 4overnight: Memphis
Nashville to Memphis
Enjoy the morning in Nashville before hitting the road for Memphis. Drive over the mighty Cumberland River and past Jackson, TN, made famous in a classic Johnny Cash song. Upon arriving into the city, drop off your rental car and check-in to your hotel for a relaxing evening or begin your sightseeing in Memphis.
- Day 5overnight: Memphis
Memphis, TN
Today, your exploration of Memphis continues with a sightseeing tour of the city. Your tour will take you past some of Memphis's top attractions such as Beale Street with its lively blues clubs, 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 6railovernight: New Orleans
Memphis to New Orleans
This morning board Amtrak's famous City of New Orleans train for your journey south to the "Big Easy"! Marvel as you travel past sprawling farm country and vibrant marshland as the train winds its way to Louisiana.
- Day 7overnight: New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Today you will get to explore the "Big Easy" with your multi-day attraction pass. Use the pass to gain admission to top attractions such as Mardi Gras World where you will get to see the floats and characters from the Mardi Gras parades as well as the artists working to create them, the Louisiana State Museum known as the Cabildo, or even take a course in Creole cuisine at a local cooking school.
- Day 8overnight: New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
This morning, enjoy a fine brunch accompanied by some of the city's best live jazz music or, if you prefer, an excellent dinner of creole classics later this evening. Today you will also continue to see that 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 surprising stories, and tales of the exciting "Crescent City".
Meals: BR, D
- Day 9
Your Journey Ends in New Orleans
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 2A guided city tour of Nashville stops at the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Ryman Auditorium.
- Day 3The evening includes a live show and radio broadcast at the Grand Ole Opry, which has staged performances since 1925.
- Day 5A guided tour takes travellers to Graceland for a tour of Elvis Presley's mansion.
- Day 6Travellers board Amtrak's City of New Orleans train in Memphis, passing farm country and marshland on the way south.
- Day 7A multi-day attraction pass gives access to Mardi Gras World, where the floats and characters from the Mardi Gras parades are displayed.
Included
- Amtrak rail travel in standard (coach) class throughout
- 8 nights' hotel stay
- 1 meal included (1 dinner or brunch)
- Intermediate car rental for 4 days in Nashville
- Sightseeing city tour of Nashville with admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame
- Admission to the Johnny Cash Museum
- Admission to a Grand Ole Opry performance
- Sightseeing city tour of Memphis with admission to Graceland
- Multi-day New Orleans Pass
- Sightseeing walking tour or battlefield cruise of New Orleans (French Quarter Walking Tour, Cemetery and Gris Gris Walking Tour, Original Cocktail Walking Tour, or Chalmette Battlefield Cruise)
Also sold by
The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.
- Railbookersfrom $2,249
Questions travellers ask
- Is the whole trip by train?
- No. Amtrak Vacations includes a rental car for the Nashville to Memphis leg (day 4); only the Memphis to New Orleans leg (day 6) is by train, aboard Amtrak's City of New Orleans.
- Is this trip escorted or independent?
- It is listed as an Independent Rail Vacation. Day 1 in Nashville is free time to explore on your own, though the package also includes guided city tours in Nashville and Memphis and a guided walking tour, or battlefield cruise, in New Orleans.
- What hotels are included?
- Amtrak Vacations offers 18 accommodation options across Nashville, Memphis, and New Orleans, including the Conrad Nashville, the Gaylord Opryland Resort, and The Peabody Memphis; the exact hotel depends on the tier and city selected.
- How many meals are included?
- One meal is included for the whole trip, a brunch or dinner in New Orleans on day 8.
- What is the starting price?
- Prices start from $1,379 per person, about $153 per day for the 9-day trip.
