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The Blues Highway: 3-Day Plan You Can Actually Drive
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The 3-day version for May: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 3-day plan · 4-day plan · 5-day plan · best time to go.
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3
days
330 km
distance
8.1 h
driving
13
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- ~13.8 hours of daylight in May — the plan keeps days inside a realistic window.
- Juke joints warm up for festival season — Clarksdale's Juke Joint Fest in April is the real thing — and the Delta's flat green horizon shimmers rather than bakes.
Day 1 Memphis → Clarksdale & the Delta
- Transit
- 3h46
- Finish
- ~17:55
- Temperature
- 16.6°C–27.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~19
- Daylight
- 13.8h
09:00
Tour the iconic home of Elvis Presley, filled with memorabilia and grandeur.
50 min · Memphis · Elvis Experience: adults (11+) $85; children (5-10) $49; children 4 and undermfree
open: Daily 9AM-4PM (last tour begins); airplanes daily 10AM-4PM
10:30
Walk through history in the preserved Lorraine Motel, echoing with legacy.
50 min · Memphis · Adults (18+) $25; children (5-17) $22; seniors (65+) and college students $23
open: Wednesday - Monday 9AM - 6PM (closed Tuesday)
11:30
Experience thrilling basketball games in a massive, energetic arena.
90 min · Memphis
13:00
Gus's World Famous Hot & Spicy Fried Chicken gusfriedchicken.com map ↗
Devour mouthwatering fried chicken that lives up to its fame.
60 min · Memphis
open: Su–Th 11AM-9PM; F Sa 11AM-10PM
17:05
Overnight: Clarksdale & the Delta
e.g. Quality Inn · Riverside Hotel
Day 2 Around Clarksdale & the Delta
- Transit
- 0h18
- Finish
- ~14:15
- Temperature
- 16.6°C–27.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~19
- Daylight
- 13.8h
09:00
Explore the restored Illinois Central Railroad depot filled with blues history and memorabilia.
50 min · Clarksdale & the Delta · $7, ages 6-12 $5, under 6 free
open: Mar-Oct: M-Sa 9AM-5PM; Nov-Feb: M-Sa 10AM-5PM
10:00
11:45
Blues Harmonica Jam Camp search
Learn blues harmonica in a 5-day seminar filled with classes, jams, and camaraderie in the Delta.
90 min · Clarksdale & the Delta
13:15
Abe’s Barbecue abesbbq.com map ↗
Savor famous barbecue pork, beef, hot tamales, and ribs at this iconic spot since 1924.
60 min · Clarksdale & the Delta
Day 3 Vicksburg
- Transit
- 4h04
- Finish
- ~17:15
- Temperature
- 17.1°C–28.0°C
- Rainy days
- ~17
- Daylight
- 13.7h
12:35
13:35
Walk through a historic building with ties to famous American figures.
50 min · Vicksburg · Adults $5, students grade 1-12 $3, 65+ $4.50
14:35
Biedenharn Museum of Coca-Cola Memorabilia biedenharncoca-colamuseum.com map ↗
Explore restored bottling works and enjoy vintage soda fountains.
50 min · Vicksburg · Adults: $2.75, Under 12: $1.75
open: M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 1:30PM-4:30PM
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.