The Mississippi River has been delivering people to Memphis for a long time. Like, a really long time. So when it comes to planning how you’ll experience our mightiest natural feature, you’ll find plenty of advice. So much, in fact, you may need to filter your choices. Just think of Memphis’ riverfront as a choose-your-own adventure novel and jump to what you like.
The Mississippi River has been delivering people to Memphis for a long time. Like, a really long time. So when it comes to planning how you’ll experience our mightiest natural feature, you’ll find plenty of advice. So much, in fact, you may need to filter your choices. Just think of Memphis’ riverfront as a choose-your-own adventure novel and jump to what you like.
walk ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER'S LONGEST PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
The Harahan Bridge was once a busy corridor for cars and trains crossing the Mississippi River from downtown Memphis to West Memphis, Arkansas. On its 100th birthday, the bridge got a new life as Big River Crossing, a rails-to-trails project that unfurled a path for pedestrians and cyclists. At one mile in length, this is the longest pedestrian bridge across the Mississippi. The views it affords are one-of-a-kind too. Bonus: At night, Big River Crossing and the adjacent Hernando DeSoto Bridge put on a light display that's full of color. Learn more about Mighty Lights here.
LET the kids PLAY AT MUD ISLAND River Park
Splashing is totally kid-approved, right? At Mud Island River Park, kids can splash all the way from Cairo, Illinois, to New Orleans, Louisiana, following a scale replica of the Lower Mississippi River. We call it the Riverwalk. All told, it’s about five blocks (!) of splashing that ends in a million-gallon Gulf of Mexico. While swimming in the Gulf of Mexico pool is off limits, splashing in the Riverwalk is encouraged (and free!).
GET A History lesson with a view ON A MISSISSIPPI RIVERBOAT TOUR
Book passage with Memphis Riverboats out of Beale Street Landing for a 90-minute sightseeing cruise (available most months). Over the course of your eight-mile excursion, your captain will share river lore and personal stories of running this “Father of Waters.” Find additional riverboat excursions out of downtown Memphis here.
JOIN IN FOR RIVERFRONT EVENTS
Memphis is a whiz at imagining the potential of underused spaces. Memphis River Parks Partnership is reimagining and reinventing our river parks with free events such as Firepit Fridays in the winter, free yoga in the warmer months and even disco rolling skating. Check out the full list of events or let what you find there surprise you—could be live music, yoga, beer, games, roller-skating, a dance party or just people chilling with their dogs, families and friends.
Kayak or canoe THE DOWNTOWN MEMPHIS RIVERFRONT
Want to paddle out just far enough to Instagram a pic of the Memphis skyline? Kayak Memphis will launch you into the Wolf River Harbor for a self-guided or group guided tour. Don't miss experiencing the harbor at night with stand up paddleboards and a DJ afloat in a pontoon boat during summer Full Moon Kayaking nights.
BIKE THE RIVERFRONT
Explore Bike Share has deployed 600 bikes across dozens of Memphis locations. Translation: no matter where you are along our riverfront, you aren’t far from a bike. Beale Street Landing and Big River Crossing are just a few of Explore Bike Share’s riverfront stations. Note: While Tom Lee Park is undergoing renovations through the end of 2022, you can follow construction progress here.
Where to bike
You’ll find wide sidewalks from quiet Martyrs Park on the south end to Greenbelt Park and the new Wolf River Greenway on the north end.
The river is calling. What will you choose?
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