Memphis Car Rental Guide

Memphis is a city where a rental car can make your trip much easier, especially if you want to see more than Beale Street and downtown. The city has music history, barbecue, museums, river views, neighborhoods, suburbs, and road-trip routes that are much easier to explore with your own vehicle.

If you are staying only downtown, near Beale Street, the riverfront, and a few central attractions, you may not need a car every day. But if your plan includes Graceland, East Memphis, Germantown, Shelby Farms Park, the airport area, business meetings, or trips into Mississippi or Arkansas, renting a car is usually a smart choice.

The important thing is not just finding the cheapest car. The real goal is choosing the right pickup location, the right car type, and the right number of rental days. A low daily rate can become expensive after airport fees, insurance, fuel charges, extra driver fees, and parking.

This guide explains how car rental in Memphis works and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

How much does it cost to rent a car in Memphis?

Car rental prices in Memphis depend on travel dates, pickup location, vehicle class, rental company, and demand. Recent comparison data shows Memphis rental cars can start from around $25 per day, while January is often one of the cheaper months at around $49 per day on average. April and summer months can be more expensive, and airport rentals at MEM may average around $70 per day in peak months such as July.

Approximate daily prices in Memphis:

These are only practical estimates. Prices may rise during major concerts, Elvis Week, sports events, holidays, college events, festivals, and busy travel weekends.

A useful rule for Memphis: do not overpay for a large vehicle if you only need simple city driving, but do not book the smallest car if you plan to drive with luggage, family, or several stops across the region.

Renting a car at Memphis International Airport

Most visitors who fly into the city arrive through Memphis International Airport, also known as MEM. Renting a car at the airport is usually convenient, especially if you want to drive to your hotel, Graceland, East Memphis, or another city right away.

Official airport information says Memphis International Airport is served by nine national rental car companies, and they are located in the Ground Transportation Center. After leaving your gate, you proceed to Terminal B, go to the lower level below baggage claim, and follow “Rental Cars” signs to the Ground Transportation Center.

Airport pickup is best if:

you arrive with luggage;
you are visiting Graceland soon after landing;
you are staying outside downtown;
you are traveling with family;
you have business meetings in different parts of the city;
you plan to continue into Mississippi, Arkansas, or other parts of Tennessee.

But if you are staying downtown first and will mostly walk around Beale Street, restaurants, and riverfront attractions, you may save money by renting the car later from a city location.

Airport rental or city rental?

Airport rental is convenient, but it may include extra airport-related fees. City pickup can sometimes be cheaper, especially if you only need the car for one or two days.

Choose airport pickup if you need the car immediately after landing.

Choose city pickup if your first days are focused on downtown Memphis and the car would mostly stay parked.

For example, if you arrive Friday night, spend Saturday around Beale Street and the National Civil Rights Museum, and visit Graceland on Sunday, you might not need the car until Sunday morning. That can save one or two days of rental cost plus parking.

The smart Memphis rule is simple:

Downtown only? Maybe rent later.
Graceland, suburbs, parks, or regional trips? A car makes sense.

Do you need a rental car in Memphis?

Memphis is spread out enough that a car is useful for many visitors.

You may not need a rental car if your trip is focused only on:

Beale Street;
downtown hotels;
the riverfront;
FedExForum;
restaurants and music venues near the center;
short rides between central attractions.

You should consider renting a car if you want to visit:

Graceland;
Sun Studio and other music-history stops on your own schedule;
East Memphis;
Germantown;
Shelby Farms Park;
Memphis Zoo;
suburban shopping areas;
business locations outside downtown;
Tunica, Mississippi;
Arkansas routes across the Mississippi River;
longer Tennessee road trips.

Memphis is not the kind of city where every attraction is within a short walk. A rental car gives you flexibility, especially if you want to combine several places in one day.

What type of car should you choose in Memphis?

For most travelers, a compact or midsize car is the best choice. It gives you enough comfort for city driving and short highway routes without making parking difficult.

Choose an economy car if you are traveling alone, staying mostly downtown, and want the lowest price.

Choose a compact or midsize sedan if you want the best balance of price, comfort, and luggage space.

Choose an SUV if you are traveling with family, carrying more bags, visiting parks, or planning regional drives.

Choose a minivan if you are traveling with a group.

Choose a premium or luxury car only if comfort, business travel, or a special occasion matters more than price.

For Memphis, a midsize sedan is often the safest “default” choice. It is comfortable enough for airport driving, Graceland, suburbs, and short road trips, while still usually being more affordable than an SUV.

Driving in Memphis: what visitors should know

Driving in Memphis is usually easier than driving in very dense cities, but you still need to plan carefully. Roads can be wide and convenient, but distances between attractions may be longer than visitors expect.

If you are staying downtown, pay attention to one-way streets, event traffic, and parking rules. Around Beale Street, FedExForum, and major venues, traffic and parking can become more complicated during concerts, games, and weekend nights.

If you are driving outside downtown, a car becomes more useful. Trips to Graceland, East Memphis, Germantown, and Shelby Farms Park are much easier with your own vehicle than by relying on multiple rideshare trips.

Parking in Memphis

Parking in Memphis is usually easier than in cities like New York, Boston, or Chicago, but it still affects your total rental cost.

Downtown Memphis has parking garages, surface lots, metered spaces, and event parking options. The official Downtown Memphis parking page lists parking by area, including Beale Street, South Main, Civic Center, The Pinch, and other neighborhoods, and also highlights seasonal parking deals such as 3 hours for $5 in some cases.

Before booking a rental car, check:

Does your hotel charge for parking?
Is parking self-park or valet?
Are there in-and-out privileges?
Will event parking affect the price?
Will the car sit unused for most of the day?

If you are staying downtown for nightlife and walking, it may be cheaper to rent only for the days when you leave the center.

Tolls around Memphis

One practical advantage of renting a car in Memphis is that tolls are usually not a major concern for local driving. Tennessee has historically had no regular toll roads, and Memphis itself is not a toll-heavy city.

However, rental car companies may still include toll policies in their agreements because their vehicles travel across many states. If your road trip takes you far outside Memphis, especially into other regions, you should still check how tolls are handled.

Ask the rental counter:

Does the vehicle have a toll transponder?
Is there any toll service fee?
Will I be charged if I accidentally use a toll road in another state?
Can I use my own transponder if needed?

For most Memphis-only trips, tolls are less important than parking, insurance, and fuel policy.

Insurance and deposit

Insurance is one of the easiest places to overpay if you do not prepare before the trip.

Rental companies may offer collision damage waiver, liability coverage, personal accident insurance, roadside assistance, and other add-ons. Some may be useful, but you should understand what you already have before buying more.

Before arriving, check whether your credit card includes rental car coverage. If you have personal auto insurance in the United States, check whether it covers rentals. If you are visiting from another country, review coverage more carefully because your normal insurance may not apply.

At the counter, ask:

What coverage is included?
What coverage is optional?
How much is the deposit hold?
What happens if I decline extra insurance?
What is my responsibility in case of damage?

Do not make the insurance decision only when you are tired after a flight.

Fuel policy and mileage

The best fuel policy is usually full to full. You receive the car with a full tank and return it full.

Avoid prepaid fuel unless you are certain you will return the car nearly empty. Many travelers pay for more fuel than they actually use.

Also check the mileage policy. Most rentals include unlimited mileage, but always confirm this if you plan to drive to Nashville, Little Rock, Mississippi, Arkansas, or other regional destinations.

Hidden fees to watch for

Before confirming your Memphis rental car, check the full price carefully.

Common extra costs include:

airport surcharges;
facility fees;
insurance add-ons;
young driver fees;
additional driver fees;
fuel charges;
late return fees;
one-way rental fees;
GPS fees;
child seat fees;
deposit holds;
hotel parking;
event parking.

A car with a slightly higher daily price but clearer rules can be better than the cheapest offer with expensive extras.

Best places to visit by rental car from Memphis

This is where renting a car in Memphis becomes especially useful.

Graceland is one of the biggest reasons visitors rent a car. It is outside the downtown core, and having your own vehicle makes the visit easier to plan.

Sun Studio can be combined with other music-history stops, especially if you want to avoid waiting for rides between locations.

Shelby Farms Park is much easier to enjoy with a car because it is large and located away from downtown.

East Memphis and Germantown are practical for shopping, restaurants, family visits, and business travel.

Tunica, Mississippi can be reached by car and is often included in regional itineraries.

Little Rock, Arkansas and Nashville, Tennessee are possible longer routes if Memphis is part of a bigger Southern road trip.

Mississippi Delta routes can be interesting for travelers who want music history, blues culture, and small-town road-trip atmosphere.

How to save money on Memphis car rental

Compare airport and city pickup locations.
Do not rent for days when you only stay downtown.
Book early during Elvis Week, holidays, festivals, and big events.
Choose a compact or midsize car unless you need an SUV.
Check hotel parking before booking.
Use your phone for navigation instead of paying for GPS.
Choose full-to-full fuel policy.
Bring your own child seat if practical.
Check the deposit and insurance rules before arrival.
Look at the final price, not only the daily rate.

The biggest money-saving tip in Memphis is to rent based on your route. If you only need the car for Graceland and a few outside stops, do not pay for it during the whole downtown part of your trip.

Final advice before booking

Memphis is a very practical city for car rental when your trip includes more than the downtown tourist core. For Beale Street, central hotels, and nearby attractions, you may not need a car every day. For Graceland, East Memphis, parks, suburbs, Mississippi, Arkansas, or a bigger Southern road trip, a rental car can make the visit much easier.

Before booking, compare the real total cost: daily rate, airport fees, insurance, fuel policy, mileage, deposit, and parking.

For most travelers, the smartest Memphis car rental is simple: rent a comfortable compact or midsize car, use it for the parts of the trip where it saves time, and avoid paying for days when it will sit parked downtown.