Outdoors Riverfront, Beale Street & Downtown Memphis
Tom Lee Park
An outdoor spot in Riverfront, Beale Street & Downtown Memphis, free to visit and worth about 45 minutes. Best time to go: Dusk.
Why go
Rebuilt riverfront park below downtown with long views of the Mississippi and the lit Hernando de Soto Bridge.
It is one of 8 curated places we feature in Beale Street & Downtown Memphis, alongside 3 places to eat, 2 bars & cafés and 1 activity. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with South Main Street and Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken. At about 45 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.
- Type
- Outdoors · Nature
- Neighborhood
- Riverfront
- Price
- Free
- Time needed
- 45 min
- Best time
- Dusk
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 6 beyond Beale Street & Downtown Memphis. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1South Main Street
Arts district of restored warehouses, galleries and shops along the Main Street trolley line.
Shopping · South Main & the Riverfront · 0.3 mi straight-line - 2Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken
Spicy, crackly fried chicken in a casual downtown dining room.
Food · Memphis · 0.3 mi straight-line - 3Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken
Downtown outpost of the Mason, Tennessee, spicy fried chicken shop, a short walk from South Main.
Food · South Main & the Riverfront · 0.3 mi straight-line - 4Lorraine Motel
Site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, preserved as part of the National Civil Rights Museum.
Sight · South Main & the Riverfront · 0.3 mi straight-line - 5National Civil Rights Museum
Museum built around the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King was assassinated in 1968.
Sight · Memphis · 0.3 mi straight-line - 6Arcade Restaurant
Memphis's oldest cafe, a 1919 diner on South Main known for sweet potato pancakes and its neon sign.
Food · South Main & the Riverfront · 0.3 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Tom Lee Park is a stop on our Memphis New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Beale Street & Downtown Memphis
Tom Lee Park is our only outdoors pick in Beale Street & Downtown Memphis; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Beale Street & Downtown Memphis guide.
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New Year's Eve on Beale
Free 21-and-up street party along Beale Street with bands, a DJ stage and fireworks and confetti cannons at midnight.
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B.B. King's Blues Club
The flagship blues club on Beale, with a house band, Southern food and a packed New Year's Eve stage.
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Rum Boogie Cafe
Long-running Beale Street blues bar at the corner of B.B. King Boulevard, with live bands nightly.
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The Peabody
Grand 1925 hotel two blocks from Beale, famous for the ducks in its lobby fountain and a ticketed ballroom party on Dec 31.
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Chez Philippe
The Peabody's French dining room, serving a fixed-price four-course menu on New Year's Eve.
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Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous
Basement rib house down an alley off Union Avenue, serving charcoal-cooked dry-rub ribs since 1948.
When to go: weather by month, based on Memphis
Our climate figures for Beale Street & Downtown Memphis come from nearby Memphis. Average daily highs in Memphis run from 48°F in January to 93°F in August; May is usually the wettest month. For Tom Lee Park itself, we suggest: Dusk.
Modelled monthly averages for Memphis from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Memphis weather by month (covers Beale Street & Downtown Memphis).
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Tom Lee Park, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 35.13650, -90.06267
- Destination
- Beale Street & Downtown Memphis, Tennessee
Tom Lee Park: quick answers
How much time do you need at Tom Lee Park?
Plan on about 45 minutes at Tom Lee Park. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Tom Lee Park?
Our pick: Dusk. Insider tip: Walk here at dusk on Dec 30 for the bridge lights before heading up to Beale.
Is Tom Lee Park free?
Yes, we list Tom Lee Park as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.
Which TripsCircle routes include Tom Lee Park?
Tom Lee Park appears on Memphis New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Tom Lee Park to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Beale Street & Downtown Memphis.
Plan Beale Street & Downtown Memphis
- Beale Street & Downtown Memphis travel guide 8 places
- Memphis weather (covers Beale Street & Downtown Memphis) weather by month
Lists & regions
Also in Beale Street & Downtown Memphis
- Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous Food
- B.B. King's Blues Club Drinks
- New Year's Eve on Beale Activity
- The Peabody Stay
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.