Take a peek inside Graceland with me in this post!
Elvis Presley would have turned 90 in 2025, and Graceland today is more than just a pilgrimage for the screaming teens of the 60s – and all of us since, it’s in the middle of its most exciting chapter in decades.
With the 50th anniversary of Elvis’s death arriving in August 2027, the estate is rolling out new tours, experiences and exhibits between now and then, making right now genuinely one of the best times to visit.
I’m about to make my fourth visit since 2013, and I can tell you exactly how it’s changed. This post covers the best time to visit Graceland, how long to allow, which ticket to buy, what you’ll see inside the mansion — and all the new things that have been added since you last looked.
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Visit the Meditation Garden for free
Did you kow that each morning, from 7.30am to 8.30am, fans can enter the famous Graceland gates, walk to the right-hand side of the mansion and pay their respects to Elvis, Lisa-Marie and their family who lie in the Meditation Garden? Just walk up to the gates and security will let you in before the main tours start.
Graceland is now owned by Elvis’ granddaughter Riley Keough, and while not much has changed inside the house – well nothing actually, they have moved some of the archives, lots has changed in the ticket/attraction area across the road.
Why 2026–2027 is the best time ever to visit Graceland
Graceland is midway through its “Road to 50” — a three-year programme of new announcements, experiences, expansions and events culminating in Elvis Week 2027, when the largest gathering of Elvis fans in history is expected to descend on Memphis to mark the 50th anniversary of the King’s passing on 16 August 1977.
The estate has already launched the exclusive “Presley for a Day” tour for up to 8 people, a new ongoing video series called “Elvis: Up Close” (which gives fans close-up looks at individual costumes and artefacts from the archives), and of course we have the two Baz Luhrmann Elvis films. If you’ve been putting off a visit, 2026 is the year to stop waiting.
Best time to go year round
Every year January and August, during Elvis’ birthday celebrations (8 January) and Elvis Week (he died August 16), are the best times to come if you want to immerse yourself into the whole Elvis scene and events, with hundreds of other fans.
But if you don’t want to be there when all the fans are, pick a mid-week date outside the vacation season.
Last time I visited Memphis, we also added a night in Tupelo, the birthplace of Elvis Presley, and I wrote about whether I think it’s worth staying overnight or just adding on as a day trip in this post.
When I was last here, I couldn’t help but think Riley could be making a ton of money, which is literally growing on trees! So I made this suggestion. I think it’s a genius idea!
While we were waiting for the group in front of us to go inside, I noticed lots of baby oak tree saplings springing up in the garden in front of the mansion. The rest will have been mowed in the lawn.
What a great business opportunity this would be, selling Graceland saplings to fans. Riley needs to get someone on to this. I reckon there’d be a million dollars sprouting up around these trees! I suggested it to the staffer out the front with us and she said she’d pass the idea on. I hope she gets a bonus!
Elvis Presley’s house, Graceland, in Memphis Tennessee, is the second most visited house in the entire US after the White House.
Of course the difference is you can go inside Elvis’ house on a mansion tour and take as many photos as you like without a horde of bodyguards or a throng of reporters waiting for a press conference. Rooms are roped off, but zoom away!
Elvis Week is held every August which sees Graceland hosting Elvis fans in real life and though live streaming exclusive content.
Hilariously you might also see dressed-up Elvis lookalikes roaming through Elvis Presley’s home any day of the week, eating a burger in their onesie at the burger bar across the road or browsing through Elvis’ collection of classic cars and planes.
Stay like the King!
True Elvis fans love the Guest House at Graceland, just next door where some rooms are Elvis and Graceland themed. It’s about a 15-minute drive into downtown Memphis from Graceland.
I prefer the Peabody back in downtown Memphis, where Lansky Bros store is located and Mr Lansky snr would take his son (the current owner) to visit Elvis with a selection of shirts, jackets, pants and shoes for him to try on. The store is still located in the hotel, and yes, you can snap up a pair of blue suede shoes. More on that fun fact below.
Visiting Memphis
Of course, there’s more to Memphis than Elvis. It is a wonderful city to visit any time of year for music lovers and more.
In fact I wrote this post about the many things to do in Memphis apart from visiting Graceland, that you could stay a week and not see it all. Check it out for music museums, the Civil Rights Museum, where to eat good BBQ and on my last trip I found a fabulous restaurant on Beale Street which is a must visit.
Taking care of Business – TCB
Elvis Week draws fans and Elvis Presley tribute artists to a huge convention right here in Memphis. So diary August if you want to join in.
I just created a fun Elvis Presley crossword to test your knowledge.
When did Elvis buy Graceland?
Elvis Presley was 22 years old when he bought Graceland in March 1957 for just over $102,500.
Elvis bought the house and 13.8 acres of land. It was actually his parents (Gladys and Vernon) who put down the $1,000 deposit and they and his grandmother moved in first, in the May of 1957 while Elvis was away filming Jailhouse Rock. He didn’t get to spend his first night here until the next month.
He married Priscilla Presley in May 1967 and they had their daughter Lisa Marie here at Graceland.
Why is it named Graceland?
The 17,552 square feet house used to be part of a 500-acre farm and was named after original owner Dr Thomas Moore’s aunt Grace.
The Graceland mansion sits on a small hill behind trees on the front lawn that slopes down to the iconic gates. Some people are actually quite surprised by how small the house looks – maybe because it’s been hyped up for so many years!
Elvis, the movie, recreated Graceland!
Have you seen the first Baz Luhrmann Elvis movie? I loved it so much! I thought scenes were filmed here at Graceland, but in fact the mansion and every other venue in the movie were recreated in Australia by award-winning designer Catherine Martin.
How much time should I allow at Graceland?
Allow two to three hours to tour through Graceland and to spend time across the road from the Presley mansion where there is a veritable shopping and dining mecca.
This is where you buy/pick up your tickets and hop on the buses that take you across the road into the grounds.
Scroll to the bottom to buy fun Elvis memorabilia and shop at Lansky’s where Elvis shopped!
The only way to get through the famous gates of Graceland is to buy tickets (online or in person) for a self-guided audio headset tour and take the shuttle bus from what I call “Elvis-ville”, aka the Entertainment Complex, across the road. It really is for crazy, hard-core Elvis Presley fans over there!
This is a 200,000 sq ft entertainment complex where you buy your tickets, tour the planes (if you added that onto your ticket), tour the automobile museum, see his many stage costumes and tour through the life and times of the king.
There are some interactive exhibits where you can get a pic taken looking like you’re sitting next to Elvis. They’re a bit naff to be honest, but in time I’m sure the technology will get better!
Save room to eat at Graceland
When you come to Graceland, you should also allow time after or before your tour to eat in the Entertainment Complex. You’ll find pizza, burgers, milkshakes – nothing spectacular. Typical diner food.
You’ll find Gladys’s Diner. This 1960s inspired diner serves Gladys’s repertoire of his favorite food like burgers, hog dogs and grilled sandwiches.
Or try Vernon’s Smokehouse to fill up on smoked meats like ribs, brisket and chicken. Try the classic southern cuisine that Elvis’ loved. His favorite home cooking, included meatloaf, catfish, BBQ spaghetti – and Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches.
How much are Graceland tickets?
There are four ticket types. All tours start across the road from the house at the ticketing office. Book online and choose your time. I wouldn’t rely on walk-ups as it can be really busy and groups are limited in size.
The standard adult ‘Elvis Experience’ ticket is $85 ($49 for kids) and includes a self-guided tour of the mansion, access to the jet planes and as long aas you like in the entertainment complex.
The ‘Entourage VIP’ ticket ($148) gives you skip the line access to the mansion, the above standard ticket as well as acess to a VIP exhibit.
The ‘Ultimate VIP’ ticket ($240) gets you a private guide, the above, plus more VIP exhibits.
And finally, you could splash all the way out and buy the ‘Archives UVIP’ ticket ($260) which give you all the Ulimate, plus Q&A with the archivists.
Presley for a Day ($6,000 for up to 4 people) The ultra-exclusive option launched in 2024. A seven-hour private experience including golf cart tours of the grounds, a horse experience in the front pasture, after-hours mansion access with white-glove artefact viewing, and dinner at Moriah’s House, a restored space in the back pasture named after Lisa Marie’s pony, with views across the Graceland property. A portion of proceeds goes to the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation.
You can only buy these tickets direct from Graceland, so jump in here to choose your ticket.
Peek inside Graceland
Can you go upstairs? The upstairs rooms at Graceland are locked and alarmed and no one is allowed up there except members of his family. Even staff are not allowed up here, out of respect for the family as it includes Elvis’ bedroom (and the bathroom where he died) as well as little Lisa Marie’s room.
Here are my photos inside Graceland
Imagine the parties that would have been held in these rooms…
Vernon and Gladys Presley had this downstairs room at the end of the hall in the main house, just before the kitchen.
You’ll pass through the kitchen where someone told me Elvis had the first microwave in the United States (?) Anyway, it cost $1000 back in the 70s. You can also spot a television set in the back.
Are you ready for the Jungle Room?
Turn left and go down the hallway from the kitchen where you’ll go down a set of stairs to find some of the wackiest rooms in the whole house – or maybe not. Check out the pool room and the yellow bar too with its mirrored ceiling!
The floor and walls of the famous Jungle Room are covered in green shag carpet and wooden furniture is carved into animals, with stuffed animals sitting on the oversized furniture. Oh if walls could talk!
But wait! Here’s the billiards room, so you can decide which room would have been more fun.
Check out the fabric wall and ceiling coverings.
Once we finished walking through the house with our headsets on telling us about each room we came outside around the back of the property.
It’s really quite spacious out here, kind of farmland. He kept horses here.
You’ll walk into Vernon’s office, then past Elvis’s private shooting range and an indoor racquetball court.
He played this piano (below) on the morning of his death in his music room before he went upstairs to his bathroom.
This room used to house his massive platinum records and gold records which have since been moved into their own gallery.
His gold and platinum albums, plus some stage costumes used to be on display here, but they’ve now taken them across the road and they have their own exhibit.
The Presley graves
At the end of the tour you come to the Meditation Garden where Elvis’s grave, alongside his parents and grandmother, also lie.
Each day gifts still arrive by mail from fans around the world and staff make sure they all get placed here for a turn with the king.
An eternal flame burns and a statue of Jesus, given to Elvis by his friends and that used to stand in the garden, now stands at his feet.
Elvis Presley was a twin, but his brother Jessie died at birth on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo Mississippi. He had a plaque made for his big brother (by a few minutes) that he never met, placed beside his parents here in the memorial garden at Graceland.
Do some Elvis Presley shopping!
Of course, it wouldn’t be a tourist attraction without the shopping!
Back across the road where you got your tickets are several stores selling Elvis Presley merchandise, including the king of rock ‘n’ roll’s onesies that go for upwards of $3000!
Where did Elvis shop for clothes?
Elvis himself shopped at Lansky Bros, a clothing store inside the Peabody Hotel. We’ve twice visited the Peabody store and it’s great to get chatting with Hal Lansky.
The Beale Street store was opened by his father Bernard Lansky in 1946 and his son Hal, now runs them. He remembers as a boy going with his dad in the delivery truck to take a selection of their classic shirts to Graceland for Elvis to choose from.
The classic Elvis-style cotton shirts are still sold here, along with jackets (see the gold ones below) and blue suede shoes (!), as well as men’s and women’s fashion.
History has it that a young 17-year old Elvis would look in the shop window but never come in. When he finally did, the conversation that ensued saw a lifetime of custom with the Lansky’s dressing Elvis throughout his career, including his outfit for his first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show in 1956
The first exchange between Bernard Lansky and Elvis is painted on the windows of the Lansky Brothers Peabody store, showcasing the pride the family still has in dressing Elvis.
Tour Elvis’s planes at Graceland
The “Lisa Marie Presley” is named after his daughter who used to be taken on whimsical jaunts as a little girl. One time they flew just to see the snow and touched down for only an hour!
You can pay extra to take a tour through the planes.
Test your Elvis knowledge with my fun Elvis Presley crossword!
Graceland Events
All year round various events are held at Graceland, some are live on the Graceland sound stage with music icons, Elvis tribute artists and rising stars, some are live-streamed for members only.
Or become a Graceland Insider, for $23.95 per year. For that you join an online group of VIPs and get ticket pre-sales, join a private Facebook group which will give access to exclusive livestream tours and videos, get access to Member’s Only webcams, including one that looks out of Elvis’ bedroom window, plus discounts and a whole lot more.
Peek through the Graceland Guest House hotel!
This 450-room hotel with a pool, a ball room that can hold 1000, convention hall and theatre is just a few steps from Graceland and as you’ll see below, its rooms have been decorated with a nod to Elvis Presley’s quirky 1970s design aesthetic.
Pro tip: Check out latest prices for Graceland Guest House here on booking.com
If you fancy getting married by Elvis, read about the Elvis wedding in Las Vegas I gate-crashed!
For a bit of fun: Test your Elvis knowledge with my Elvis Presley crossword!
Staying on in Memphis? Here is my list of the best things to do and see while you’re here.
Elvis also came up with a few cool quotes and I put a great travel quote of his in this post.
Our Memphis trip was sandwiched between Nashville and New Orleans. Here is my post on all my favorite things to do in Nashville, including where to stay.
And I am about to make my 10th visit to New Orleans, so have lots of fun things and ideas here on where to find my favorite live music and my best tips for where to stay.
FAQs
For Elvis fans, it’s a pilgrimage you need to make at least once. You leave understanding Elvis the man in a way that no documentary quite achieves. For non-fans visiting Memphis: honestly, probably not worth the full ticket price — but the free morning access to the Meditation Garden is worth doing regardless. As one of my readers put it, “it’s a lot smaller than I expected” — so go in knowing the mansion itself is modest. The entertainment complex across the road is where the scale and spectacle lives.
For mild weather without the crowds: mid-May to mid-June or mid-September to mid-October. For the full Elvis fan experience: January (birthday) or August (Elvis Week). For something historic: August 2027, the 50th anniversary of his death.
Unfortunately not. Even staff are not allowed upstairs. This is for family only – which only makes it all the more curious, don’t you think! Lisa-Marie used to come here and just sit in her old room upstairs.
Allow two to three hours for the mansion and grounds, then another one to two hours across the road for the museums, dining, planes and shopping. If you’re doing the Ultimate VIP tour, allow a full day.
Yes — no flash photography inside the mansion, but otherwise photograph to your heart’s content. The Jungle Room and the staircase (with the locked door at the top) are the shots everyone takes.
Yes! The garden where Elvis and his family are buried is open most mornings before paid tours begin. Check the Graceland website for current free access hours before you visit.
Quick Resources:
- Booking.com for hotels
- Get Your Guide for tours
- Skyscanner for flights across multiple airlines
- Expedia for flights and hotels
- Discover Cars for car rentals across multiple companies
- RentalCars.com for more car rentals and to compare above
- Amazon for my curated list of best travel items (or anything else!)
- CityPass for discounts on attractions in several US cities
Pick up some fun Elvis memorabilia on Amazon!
Blue suede shoes by Clarks
Elvis Christmas album with Royal Philharmonic orchestra
The RCA Elvis album collection
Elvis Presley ceramic mug
Neon lightning bolt
Elvis glasses with sideburns!
Other things to do in Memphis
Need a car while you’re in Memphis? Discover Cars is a car rental search site. You just put in your dates and city and it will come up with all the prices across several car rental companies.
If you’re looking for the best things to do in Memphis (now that you’ve put Graceland on your list!) you should read my The 12 Best things to do in Memphis post.
It covers Sun Studios, the Civil Rights Museum, seeing a Grizzlies game, Al Green’s Gospel Church and more, plus some great suggestions for where to eat like Central BBQ.
A visit to the Lorraine Motel and Civil Rights History Museum is another Memphis must-do. It is about so much more than the Martin Luther King era, but a sobering insight into the back story of the slave trade and Rosa Parks, right up to MLK’s murder.
Other posts I think you’ll love!
If you’re planning a Music road trip, check out my 10-day itinerary including Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans >
For another icon to visit, I loved Dollywood! So much so I’m going back 😀 Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Dollywood.
Listen to my new Blogger at Large Travel podcast as I talk you through some of my best travel tips and advice and interview fascinating people!
Read: my must-have travel accessories
See my fun (and practical) Gift Guide for Travelers
Jeff Oring
Thursday 1st of September 2022
This is a wonderful article! My wife, 25 year-old son and I visited Memphis and Graceland for the first time this year, during Elvis Week. We had a BALL!!! I share Elvis’s birthday, which has always linked me with him. We did “everything Elvis” while there, including visiting the Lanskey shop in the Peabody Hotel and buying several Elvis-inspired shirts! During Elvis Week, Graceland is extremely crowded, but that added to the fun. Your article is extremely thorough, and I’m sure will inspire many to visit the home of “The King”!!
Megan Singleton
Thursday 1st of September 2022
Thank you Jeff. Sounds like a trip you'll never forget!
john lewallen
Monday 21st of March 2022
There are a bunch of flaws in facts here… there is no angel at Elvis feet… and the angel was not given to Elvis he put the angel in the cemetery where his mother was buried and rested until after Elvis passed away and they were both moved to meditation gardens and the Angel is about fifty feet away from the graves to the east of the graves around there anyway. Elvis father had the plaque made for Jesse and placed with Elvis and Gladys. In the garden. Until Elvis died the gardens were literally a place where Elvis could go and be at one with himself and had anyone been looking for him and were told he was in the garden they immediately stopped looking for him and waited for him to come back up to the house… and also one very important bit of info for those of you that have not gone yet…(I’ve been over 12 times) they now have different tours. (Don’t hold me to the pricing I haven’t been since covid) the least expensive was only around $30 and allows you an all day pass to walk through every exhibit across from the mansion except the planes. And then there are all inclusive tours that include the mansion. And all exhibits. But, and this is the biggie… the ultimate VIP tour has everything! a private tour with a live tour guide which includes a meal at Vernon’s bbq restaurant and at the end of that tour they take you through the vip lounge (you have a lanyard and you can use the lounge all day for unlimited resting) and in the small room where only those on the vip tour get to go,,, and they let you hold and look at up close and personal Elvis owned and used clothes belts rings… various and it constantly changes! Well worth the price it ran $170 and was worth every cent! I held the very famous TCB ring and the gold belt we all saw in the press covfeeence at Madison square garden. The belt was a gift from the international hotel in Vegas for attendance records he set! Hope you enjoy your visits any questions I admin a great Elvis Facebook page called “All about Elvis”. I’ve also stayed at the guesthouse 2 times since it’s opening. That was just for the experience. I only live 3 hours from Memphis… lol
Sonya Gardner
Tuesday 13th of September 2022
@john lewallen, Right about the Meditation Garden facts. I’m so glad I got to visit Graceland when it all was in original state and not the pricie circus it is today. What Elvis fans started has changed and not for the better in my opinion. I call myself an original fan. I’m 80 now so can’t make the trips like I use to. Was blessed with meeting his family and the Mafia, the people that worked for him around Graceland. I fell blessed!
Megan Singleton
Monday 21st of March 2022
Thanks John, a true fan!
Cookie
Sunday 30th of January 2022
Can u sit on the stairs and take a picture
Megan Singleton
Sunday 30th of January 2022
Ooh good question. From memory there is a cord hanging across the foot of the stairs, but you could stand in front of that for a picture.
Irene Miller
Friday 28th of January 2022
If you want to visit the most memorable and magical place in the 🌎 visit Elvis's Graceland. It is so nostalgic and will bring you right back to the 50's. You can close your eyes and picture him there. I've visited there 2xs and would go back in a ❤ heartbeat. I remember the day he died.i miss him everyday. I love ❤ you forever,Elvis. You are always will be the king.
Pam Bairnsfather
Monday 3rd of January 2022
I was so blessed to have seen Elvis live in Concert five times. It is something I will never forget. I remember every intricate detail about each show. To this day, I’ve never been to Graceland. It is my dream to visit one day before I leave this world. Much love to all of you wonderful Elvis fans. We are the most loyal and loving fan base in the world. Elvis lives forever in our hearts. I miss him every single day. ❤️