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Tennessee, United States

South Main & the Riverfront

A slow Jan 1: breakfast at the Arcade, the Lorraine Motel and a walk over the Mississippi. We have mapped 1 sight, 1 activity and 2 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.

Plan South Main & the Riverfront with friendsBrowse 6 places
South Main & the Riverfront, Tennessee, United States
Places
6

1 See · 1 Do · 2 Eat · 1 Shop · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Memphis New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
August

34°C / 93°F avg high

Coolest month
January

9°C / 48°F avg high

Wettest month
May

about 138 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Memphis, the nearest city we track.

Things to do in South Main & the Riverfront

6 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

1 sight worth building a day around in South Main.

  • Lorraine Motel in South Main & the RiverfrontPhoto: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 4.0
    See

    Lorraine Motel

    Site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, preserved as part of the National Civil Rights Museum.

    Tip The museum is traditionally closed Jan 1, but the balcony and wreath are visible from the plaza.

    • South Main
    • Free
    • 30 min
    • Morning

Do

1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look in Riverfront.

  • Big River Crossing in South Main & the RiverfrontPhoto: Dclemens1971 · CC BY 4.0
    Do

    Big River Crossing

    Walking and cycling path on the Harahan Bridge, nearly a mile across the Mississippi to Arkansas.

    Tip Walk out to the state line marker midway for the best look back at the skyline.

    • Riverfront
    • Free
    • 75 min
    • Afternoon

Eat

Where we would book a table in South Main & the Riverfront across South Main and Downtown.

  • Arcade Restaurant in South Main & the RiverfrontPhoto: Thomas R Machnitzki · CC BY 3.0
    Eat

    Arcade Restaurant

    Memphis's oldest cafe, a 1919 diner on South Main known for sweet potato pancakes and its neon sign.

    Tip Check holiday hours for Jan 1 and expect a short wait at peak brunch.

    • South Main
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Late morning
  • Eat

    Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken

    Downtown outpost of the Mason, Tennessee, spicy fried chicken shop, a short walk from South Main.

    • Downtown
    • $
    • 45 min
    • Lunch

Shop

Markets and shops worth the detour in South Main.

  • Shop

    South Main Street

    Arts district of restored warehouses, galleries and shops along the Main Street trolley line.

    Tip Many galleries keep short hours on Jan 1, so treat it as a walk rather than a shopping trip.

    • South Main
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Midday

Stay

1 place to stay we would book in South Main.

  • Central Station Hotel in South Main & the RiverfrontPhoto: Antony-22 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Stay

    Central Station Hotel

    Hotel in the restored 1914 Memphis Central Station, still served by Amtrak's City of New Orleans.

    Tip A quieter base than Beale if you want to walk to the party and back.

    • South Main
    • $$$

How to fit South Main & the Riverfront into a trip

South Main & the Riverfront is stop 2 of 2 on our Memphis New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift South Main & the Riverfront into your own plan.

Weather by month, based on Memphis

Our climate figures for South Main & the Riverfront come from Memphis, about 2 km (1 mi) away. Average daily highs run from 9°C / 48°F in January to 34°C / 93°F in August. May is the wettest month, with about 138 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Memphis. Memphis weather (covers South Main & the Riverfront) →

Near South Main & the Riverfront

8 other destinations from our guides within about 350 km (217 mi), measured in a straight line.

South Main & the Riverfront questions, answered

How many days do you need in South Main & the Riverfront?

On our Memphis New Year's Eve route it is stop 2 of 2 in a 3-day trip. Split evenly, that is about 2 days here, an estimate rather than a rule. The listed visit times for our 6 places add up to roughly 5 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is South Main & the Riverfront best known for?

A slow Jan 1: breakfast at the Arcade, the Lorraine Motel and a walk over the Mississippi. Standouts on our list: Lorraine Motel (Site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, preserved as part of the National Civil Rights Museum); Big River Crossing (Walking and cycling path on the Harahan Bridge, nearly a mile across the Mississippi to Arkansas); Arcade Restaurant (Memphis's oldest cafe, a 1919 diner on South Main known for sweet potato pancakes and its neon sign).

When is the best time to visit South Main & the Riverfront?

Our Memphis New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for nearby Memphis put the warmest highs in August (34°C / 93°F), the coolest in January (9°C / 48°F) and the most rain in May (about 138 mm).

What are the best things to do in South Main & the Riverfront?

Start with Lorraine Motel and Big River Crossing. Our guide lists 6 places in all, from 1 sight, 1 activity, 2 places to eat, 1 shop and 1 place to stay.

Where should a group eat in South Main & the Riverfront?

Our picks: Arcade Restaurant (South Main); Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken (Downtown). Check holiday hours for Jan 1 and expect a short wait at peak brunch (Arcade Restaurant).

What is near South Main & the Riverfront?

The closest destinations in our guides are Beale Street & Downtown Memphis (about 1 km / 1 mi), Memphis (about 2 km / 1 mi) and Helena-West Helena (about 83 km / 51 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan South Main & the Riverfront with your crew

Open the Memphis New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 6 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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