With the summer heat starting to leave the South, now is the perfect time to get outside.
This season is perfect for spending time outdoors, whether it’s going on a hike or exploring a new city. We’ve compiled a list of the best road trip destinations near Memphis, including some that are less than four hours away (one way).
Here are some great places to visit for a weekend getaway or day trip that aren’t too far from Memphis.
Little Rock, Arkansas
Distance from Memphis: 137 miles
Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas, is located in the central part of the state along the Arkansas River. Downtown has many restaurants and shops that attract tourists. Little Rock is two hours from Memphis.
A major feature of the city is the Discovery Museum in downtown Little Rock, which focuses on STEM education. All exhibits are interactive and also feature a live animal collection. The museum holds the record for the world’s largest bipolar Tesla coil, tying it with a coil at the Hands-On! Regional Museum in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Pinnacle Mountain State Park is another must-see spot while you’re in the city. Located on Little Rock’s west side, the park is home to Pinnacle Mountain, 22 miles of trails, 14 miles of bike paths, and the Big and Little Maumelle rivers. There’s space to have a picnic, enjoy the pavilions, and check out the park’s visitor center. The state park is also part of the Trails of Tears National Historic Site.
For a history education, there are two major sites to see: the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, which was the first school to desegregate following Brown v. Board of Education in 1957, and the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, which is the presidential library of former President Bill Clinton.
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Distance from Memphis: 188 miles
Hot Springs, Arkansas is located in the Ouachita Mountains. One of its biggest attractions is the natural hot springs in Hot Springs National Park. Hot Springs is known for the many bathhouses in the area. It is just under 3 hours from Memphis to Hot Springs.
Garvan Woodland Gardens, owned by the University of Arkansas, is filled with botanical landscapes that provide great photo opportunities. The gardens’ mission is to protect and enhance the unique parts of the Ouachita environment. It is a place where people can learn about the landscape and foster cultural enrichment.
Another great outdoor activity is Hot Springs National Park, which has hot springs throughout the park, as well as 26 miles of hiking trails with stunning views and forest scenery.
Hot Springs’ indoor attractions include the Mid-America Science Museum, which offers hands-on science learning with more than 100 exhibits spread across 21 acres, and features indoor and outdoor centers for learning for all ages.
Jackson, Mississippi
Distance from Memphis: 209 miles
The capital of Mississippi is a three-hour drive from Memphis. Jackson calls itself the City of Soul. The city is home to 15 major museums and three cultural districts.
The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Downtown Jackson focuses on important civil rights figures from Mississippi. The museum has eight exhibits.
Not only does Jackson have a great history, it also excels in the arts: the Mississippi Museum of Art in Downtown Jackson currently has five exhibits with two opening next month, and the museum also hosts multiple events each month for both adults and children to enjoy.
With the Mississippi Children’s Museum, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame all within a mile, you can easily visit all three in one day. There’s sure to be something within that will pique the interest of at least one member of your family.
Nashville
Distance from Memphis: 212 miles
Music City is another destination just three hours away from Memphis, and its nightlife scene is known for combining great food and music.
Downtown Nashville is one of the hottest spots in the entire state, home to Broadway and an entertainment district renowned for its nightly music scene.
The Grand Ole Opry is a must-visit historic venue that broadcasts live country music every week on the radio. It is the longest running radio show in American history. Visit this historic venue and take a behind the scenes tour.
Also in the music genre is the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which features eight exhibits showcasing individual artists, regional country music, and current country artists.
Birmingham, Alabama
Distance from Memphis: 245 miles
The capital of Alabama is also known as the Magic City and is about a 3.5 hour drive from Memphis. Birmingham is called the Magic City because of the iron-making resources such as iron ore, limestone, and coal that are all concentrated in one area.
A great way to experience the outdoors in Birmingham is to visit the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, which offers year-round gardening classes, children’s summer camps and plant studies.
Those looking for a fun activity to do with “the boys” might want to check out the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, which displays over 1,800 motorcycles made over 100 years, as well as the world’s most extensive collection of Formula 1 Lotuses.
To learn a bit of the history of the magical city of Birmingham, visit Vulcan Park and Museum. The Vulcan statue was created in 1904 and has been placed on a hill overlooking the city since the 1930s. The park surrounding the Vulcan statue, the museum and the statue itself make up Vulcan Park and Museum.
Arkansas Ozark
Distance from Memphis: 266 miles
The smallest destination on the list is Ozark, Arkansas. It’s located 50 miles from Little Rock and takes 3.5 hours. This is a completely outdoorsy trip, so pack your hiking boots.
Ozark-St. Francis National Forest, located on the Arkansas-Missouri border, is one of the most beautiful and scenic areas in the U.S. The park encompasses 1.2 million acres and offers hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, kayaking, boating, camping, swimming, fishing and more. There are also numerous campgrounds within the park for those looking to enjoy some more rugged activities during their vacation.
St. Louis, Missouri
Distance from Memphis: 284 miles
Your final and furthest destination is the capital of Missouri, St. Louis, which is just over four hours away.
St. Louis’ most famous landmark is the Gateway Arch, located in the heart of downtown along the Mississippi River. Built in 1963, it is the tallest monument in the United States. A tram runs through the arch, and you can climb to the top, 630 feet high, for views of the city.
Just a few steps from the Gateway Arch is the St. Louis Zoo, known as one of the top zoos in the nation for animal research, conservation and management, and the best part is that admission is always free.
If you’re in St. Louis and see a bus parked on the roof of a building, don’t worry – it’s the City Museum. The museum is located in an old shoe factory. It has indoor, outdoor and underground play areas that are open to everyone. There are slides, ladders, a skate park, an outdoor castle and much more.
Jordan Green covers trend news for The Commercial Appeal. Contact him at Jordan.Green@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter.Follow
