Planning a group trip is a beautiful mess. Someone wants BBQ. Someone else wants live music. Your uncle wants a museum, your best friend wants a rooftop, and your cousin’s kids want a zoo. Memphis is one of the rare cities where you don’t have to choose. It packs world-class attractions, honest-to-goodness soul food, walkable nightlife, and giant riverfront parks into a footprint you can actually cover in a long weekend.
At Endless Stays, we host groups in Memphis every week. Bachelorette parties, family reunions, wedding weekends, corporate offsites, and multi-generation trips where grandma and the toddlers are somehow both happy. What we hear again and again is the same thing: the crew arrived worried they’d never agree on anything, and left already planning the next trip.
This guide is our shortlist for Memphis for groups, where everyone actually wants to go. Every spot has been vetted for one thing: does it handle a party of 8 to 20 without feeling like a chore? If the answer is yes, it’s on this list.
Iconic Memphis Stops That Actually Work for Big Groups
Some attractions promise a great group day and then buckle when you show up with 12 people. These do not. They have the space, the flow, and the group-friendly logistics to absorb a crew without anyone getting lost or bored.
Graceland
Elvis’s Graceland is the anchor stop of any Memphis for groups itinerary, and for good reason. Even the crew members who “aren’t really Elvis people” walk out grinning. The estate is huge, the pacing is self-guided via an iPad tour narrated by John Stamos, and the complex across the street (with gold records, jumpsuits, and classic cars) means everyone finds their thing. Large groups can pace themselves without the human traffic jam that kills other tourist stops.
- Rating: 4.5 stars (25,000+ Google reviews)
- Address: Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis, TN 38116
- Category: Museum and mansion tour
- Group tip: Buy timed-entry tickets in advance and stagger your group into two waves, 15 minutes apart, so the mansion feels less crowded
- View on Google Maps
Beale Street
The three-block stretch of neon, live blues, and honky-tonk kitchens on Beale Street is the reason most groups end up hoarse by day two. It’s compact, it’s walkable, it hums 365 nights a year, and you can go from a rooftop cocktail to a live blues set to fried chicken on a stick in under twenty minutes. For bachelor and bachelorette parties, this is basically the natural habitat.
- Rating: 4.4 stars (971+ Google reviews)
- Address: Beale Street, Memphis, TN 38103
- Category: Historic entertainment district
- Group tip: Anchor at one venue with a big patio or rooftop early, then let the crew rotate in and out as the night gets going
- View on Google Maps
National Civil Rights Museum
Housed at the former Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, the National Civil Rights Museum consistently ranks as one of the most powerful museum experiences in the country. It’s the sort of stop that changes the conversation over dinner that night. For family reunions, corporate offsites with a values day, or trips with older kids, this belongs on the itinerary.
- Rating: 4.9 stars (14,000+ Google reviews)
- Address: 450 Mulberry St, Memphis, TN 38103
- Category: National museum
- Group tip: Book the group rate in advance and plan for two hours minimum. It is not a rushable experience
- View on Google Maps
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
If Graceland is the crown of Elvis’s Memphis, Stax is the crown of soul. The museum sits on the original site of Stax Records, where Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, and Booker T. and the M.G.’s cut some of the most influential records ever made. It’s the perfect musical bookend to Graceland or Beale Street, and it always leaves the music lovers in the group buzzing.
- Rating: 4.8 stars (3,400+ Google reviews)
- Address: 926 E McLemore Ave, Memphis, TN 38106
- Category: Local history museum
- Group tip: Combine with a quick lunch at nearby soul food spots for a natural half-day arc
- View on Google Maps
Memphis Zoo
Ranked among the best zoos in the country, Memphis Zoo has more than 3,500 animals across generous, shady grounds. It’s a natural fit for family reunions and any group with kids or grandparents in the mix. There is enough real estate that even a party of 20 finds a rhythm quickly, and there are plenty of splash areas, snack stops, and shaded benches when the crew needs a breather.
- Rating: 4.6 stars (16,000+ Google reviews)
- Address: 2000 Prentiss Pl, Memphis, TN 38112
- Category: Zoo
- Group tip: Buy timed tickets online for a summer morning slot. The zoo empties out by 2 pm on hot days
- View on Google Maps
Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid
The 32-story Memphis Pyramid houses one of the most improbable and delightful attractions in the South: a Bass Pro Shops that is also an aquarium, a hotel (Big Cypress Lodge), a bowling alley (Fishbowl), a restaurant scene, and the tallest freestanding elevator in the country. It’s an entire day’s worth of things to do inside a single glass pyramid, which is exactly what you want when your group has wildly different energy levels.
- Rating: 4.7 stars (7,300+ Google reviews)
- Address: 1 Bass Pro Dr, Memphis, TN 38105
- Category: Retail, entertainment, and lodge complex
- Group tip: Split the crew into two teams: bowling and dinner at Fishbowl for the loud half, top-floor observation deck for the scenic half
- View on Google Maps
Memphis for Groups: The BBQ and Restaurant Shortlist
Memphis is a BBQ city, but it’s also so much more. These are the spots that can absorb a group of 8 to 20 without stress, whether you want to drop a rack of ribs on a paper-covered table or throw a proper sit-down dinner.
Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous
Downstairs from a Downtown alley, family-run since 1948, and famous for dry-rub charcoal ribs that taste like nothing else in the country. Rendezvous is the definitive Memphis BBQ pilgrimage. The dining room is basement-huge, they seat groups well, and the ribs, brisket, and sausage plates come out fast. If you take exactly one BBQ meal in Memphis, take it here.
- Rating: 4.4 stars (7,100+ Google reviews)
- Address: 52 S 2nd St, Memphis, TN 38103
- Category: Barbecue restaurant
- What to order: Dry-rub pork ribs, cheese and sausage plate, red beans and rice
- Group tip: Call ahead for parties of 10+. They handle big groups all week, but do not accept online reservations
- View on Google Maps
Central BBQ – Downtown
A short walk from the National Civil Rights Museum, Central BBQ is the Memphis wet-rub answer to Rendezvous’s dry rub. The pulled pork sandwich, brisket, and nachos loaded with smoked meat are the moves. The patio is generous, the counter service moves fast, and the vibe is casual enough that nobody feels underdressed no matter what they packed.
- Rating: 4.3 stars (6,300+ Google reviews)
- Address: 147 E Butler Ave, Memphis, TN 38103
- Category: Barbecue restaurant
- What to order: Pulled pork sandwich, BBQ nachos, smoked wings, banana pudding
- Group tip: Line up at the counter as a group of 4 to order in waves. It’s faster than one person ordering for the whole crew
- View on Google Maps
The Majestic Grille
Housed in a converted 1913 movie palace on South Main, The Majestic Grille is where Memphis groups go when the trip calls for a proper sit-down dinner. The dining room is cavernous in the best way, the menu spans steaks, seafood, and Southern comfort, and the black-and-white silent films projected on the wall give the room a personality no other Downtown restaurant has.
- Rating: 4.5 stars (2,500+ Google reviews)
- Address: 145 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103
- Category: Bar and grill
- What to order: Filet mignon, grilled shrimp, mini desserts sampler
- Group tip: Book a large table by phone at least a week out. They handle parties of 20 with ease
- View on Google Maps
Nightlife, Breweries, and Group Games
Beale Street is Beale Street. But when you want something with more elbow room, a patio, or a dedicated group setup, Memphis has an outstanding second tier of nightlife venues built for crews.
Loflin Yard
Loflin Yard is a rambling outdoor beer garden and Southern kitchen tucked into a former horse stable a few blocks from Downtown. There are fire pits, string lights, cornhole, a stage that hosts live music most weekends, and enough covered space to keep the party going in any weather. It’s one of the easiest venues in Memphis to bring a group of 15 to without any prep.
- Rating: 4.4 stars (1,600+ Google reviews)
- Address: 7 W Carolina Ave, Memphis, TN 38103
- Category: New American restaurant and beer garden
- Group tip: Grab a fire-pit ring at dusk. Perfect for a bachelorette welcome hang before Beale Street
- View on Google Maps
Railgarten
Railgarten in the Central Gardens area is a sprawling outdoor complex with three bars, a diner, ping pong tables, a sand volleyball court, an ice cream stand, and a stage that hosts local acts. It’s the kind of place where a group of 20 can spread out and everyone finds their own corner, then reconvene at the fire pit an hour later.
- Rating: 4.5 stars (2,000+ Google reviews)
- Address: 2166 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
- Category: Restaurant, bar, and event yard
- Group tip: Show up before the live music starts to claim a group table. Ping pong tournaments run themselves
- View on Google Maps
Wiseacre Brewing Downtown
Wiseacre’s Downtown taproom is a big, bright, industrial space designed with group hangs in mind. They pour their full lineup of hazy IPAs, lagers, and stouts, there’s plenty of long communal seating, food trucks rotate through, and the location on B.B. King Boulevard is walking distance from Beale Street. It’s the ideal warm-up (or cool-down) venue for a Downtown group evening.
- Rating: 4.6 stars (350+ Google reviews)
- Address: 398 S B.B. King Blvd, Memphis, TN 38126
- Category: Brewery and taproom
- Group tip: Ask about their private events team if you need a reserved section for 20+ people
- View on Google Maps
Topgolf Memphis
Topgolf in East Memphis is the crew-pleaser that works for every group. Bachelor/bachelorette parties, family reunions with teens, corporate offsites, and reunion friend trips all end up here. Nobody needs to know how to golf. The bays hold up to six players, they pour full food and drink service, and the point-scoring games have a way of turning even the shyest cousin into a trash-talker by round three.
- Rating: 3.4 stars (490+ Google reviews)
- Address: 3450 S Germantown Rd, Memphis, TN 38119
- Category: Golf, party venue, and sports bar
- Group tip: Book two adjacent bays for parties of 8 to 12. Weekend nights book out weeks ahead
- View on Google Maps
Parks and Riverfront: Where Groups Breathe
Cities that treat their parks as afterthoughts run out of gas by day three of a group trip. Memphis parks are legitimate destinations, and they save every itinerary. Whether you want a picnic pavilion, a paddleboat, a river view, or just a big lawn where the kids can burn energy while the adults regroup, this is where you go.
Shelby Farms Park
At 4,500 acres, Shelby Farms is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. There are trails, a lake with paddleboats and kayaks, off-leash dog areas, playgrounds, a herd of American bison, and pavilions you can rent for group cookouts. It’s the natural default for a low-effort, high-payoff group afternoon.
- Rating: 4.8 stars (12,200+ Google reviews)
- Address: 6903 Great View Dr N, Memphis, TN 38134
- Category: Park
- Group tip: Rent a pavilion and pair it with lunch at nearby Coastal Fish Company for a full-day arc
- View on Google Maps
Overton Park
Overton Park sits in the heart of Midtown and packs a shocking amount into 342 acres: the Levitt Shell open-air amphitheater (where Elvis played his first paid gig), Old Forest State Natural Area, the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, the Memphis Zoo, an off-leash dog park, and enough shaded lawn for a full-scale picnic. The Old Forest Trail is a cool, walkable 2-mile loop even on hot days.
- Rating: 4.6 stars (8,100+ Google reviews)
- Address: 1914 Poplar Ave #202, Memphis, TN 38104
- Category: City park
- Group tip: Pair a morning Old Forest walk with a Memphis Zoo visit to knock out two spots without moving the car
- View on Google Maps
Tom Lee Park
The newly redesigned Tom Lee Park is Memphis’s showpiece riverfront: a 30-acre stretch of Mississippi shoreline with sculpture gardens, shaded seating, courts, a playground, and the sort of unobstructed river view you don’t get anywhere else in the city. It’s the best place in Memphis to catch sunset with a group, no reservation required.
- Rating: 4.6 stars (3,700+ Google reviews)
- Address: 422 Riverside Dr, Memphis, TN 38103
- Category: City park
- Group tip: Bring blankets and takeaway BBQ from Central BBQ for a river-view group dinner
- View on Google Maps
The Perfect 3-Day Memphis Group Itinerary
Here is the arc we recommend to almost every crew that stays with us. Adjust for the type of trip, but this framework works whether it’s a bachelorette, family reunion, or corporate offsite.
Day 1: Arrive, settle in, ease into the city.
- Late afternoon: Fire-pit hang at Loflin Yard or Wiseacre Downtown
- Evening: Casual first dinner at Central BBQ, then walk to Beale Street for a live set
Day 2: The big Memphis day.
- Morning: Graceland (buy the timed-entry package)
- Lunch: Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous for the definitive Memphis rib experience
- Afternoon: National Civil Rights Museum, then the Stax Museum if the group has energy
- Evening: Peabody Duck March (if you time it right), rooftop drinks, dinner at The Majestic Grille
Day 3: Outdoors and lighter energy.
- Morning: Shelby Farms paddleboats or Tom Lee Park stroll
- Lunch: Coastal Fish Company at Shelby Farms
- Afternoon: Bass Pro at the Pyramid or Memphis Zoo, depending on age mix
- Evening: Topgolf, Railgarten, or a chill in-property night at your rental
Where to Stay in Memphis for Groups
The best Memphis group trips have one thing in common: everyone stays under the same roof. Hotels split you across floors, force you into separate rooms for the parents and the singles, and end most nights early because there’s no shared living space. A vacation rental with proper group amenities changes the entire trip.
Our Memphis vacation rentals at Endless Stays are hand-picked for exactly this. Music-themed interiors, private pools, hot tubs, dedicated game rooms, theater rooms, and enough bedrooms that couples, singles, and kids all get their space. A few crowd-favorites for groups:
- The Retro Memphis Game House with mini golf and a fire pit, ideal for family reunions
- The Modern Memphis Hidden Gem with a full game room, perfect for a bachelorette or friend trip
We also host groups across other destinations, so if the crew is comparing options, browse everything on our Discover page or search filtered by group amenities: theater room, private pool, pickleball court, or basketball court.
Ready to Plan Your Memphis Group Trip?
Memphis rewards groups that stay together, plan lightly, and let the city do the heavy lifting. The music is real. The BBQ is legendary. The people are warm in a way that surprises visitors every single time. And when you come back to a vacation rental with your entire crew under one roof, a private pool in the backyard, and a theater room ready for a late-night movie, the trip feels less like a getaway and more like a chapter you’re actually going to remember.
Browse our Memphis vacation rentals and start building the trip. Then send this guide to the group chat and let everyone start arguing about which BBQ joint to hit first. That is, after all, half the fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best neighborhood in Memphis for groups to stay?
Groups tend to do best in East Memphis, Cordova, or the Downtown/South Main area. East Memphis and Cordova give you space, private pools, and easy driving access to Shelby Farms, Topgolf, and Coastal Fish Company. Downtown puts you within walking distance of Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, the Peabody, and the riverfront parks. For a bachelorette or friend trip, Downtown is unbeatable. For a family reunion, a larger East Memphis home with a private pool almost always wins.
How many days do you need in Memphis for a group trip?
Three full days plus arrival and departure is the sweet spot. Two days is enough for the greatest hits but forces you to choose between BBQ, museums, and nightlife. Three days lets you cover Graceland, the Civil Rights Museum, Beale Street, BBQ, a park afternoon, and one big group dinner without rushing. Four days is ideal if you want to add Topgolf, a brewery crawl, or a day trip to Discovery Park of America.
What is the best BBQ in Memphis for a large group?
For a definitive Memphis rib experience, Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous is unmatched and handles big groups nightly. For a more casual counter-service vibe with pulled pork, brisket, and a great patio, Central BBQ (especially the Downtown location) is the move. Groups often split the trip: one dinner at Rendezvous, one lunch at Central BBQ.
Is Memphis a good bachelorette destination?
Memphis is one of the most underrated bachelorette destinations in the South. Beale Street’s compact three-block strip is essentially built for a bachelorette crawl, the food scene is world-class, Graceland delivers unforgettable group photos, and Topgolf and Loflin Yard give the crew big activity venues without any dress code stress. Add a Memphis vacation rental with a private pool and a game room, and the trip essentially runs itself.
What are group-friendly things to do in Memphis when it rains?
Memphis has an unusually deep bench of indoor group activities. Graceland is largely indoor. So are the National Civil Rights Museum, the Stax Museum, the Rock and Soul Museum, Bass Pro at the Pyramid, and Topgolf’s covered bays. If the rain hits hard, an afternoon at the Pyramid combined with an evening at The Majestic Grille turns into one of the most memorable days of the trip.
How do you book restaurants in Memphis for a group of 15 to 20?
Most Memphis restaurants happily seat parties of 15 to 20 with a phone call at least 3 to 5 days out, and 1 to 2 weeks for weekends. Coastal Fish Company, The Majestic Grille, and Rendezvous all specialize in large parties. For counter-service spots like Central BBQ, no reservation is needed, but split the ordering into waves of 4 people to keep the line moving.