memphis trolley tour

main street trolley tour

Grab your sneakers!

Downtown Memphis is home to some of the South's best architectural stories of resilience and progress. For just $2/day, hop on board the Main Street Trolley, grab those earbuds and enjoy learning about the story of our spectacular city.

Let's start at the very first station on the line located at Central Station Hotel, 545 South Main. The Main Street Rail Line operates from 6:45 a.m.-12:00 a.m. Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m.-6:00 p.m. on Sunday (operating every 12 minutes). > Download a map

Central Station Hotel

545 south main.

The Central Station has stood watch over South Main Street in downtown Memphis for more than 100 years, a direct reflection of the success, struggle, and spirit of the city that grew up around it. It was built simply for arrivals and departures, but the life that churned through on its rails gave South Main a vitality that turned it into one of the most iconic and dynamic neighborhoods in the city. Today, Central Station Hotel lets you experience the verve of this town in ways unlike any other, just like a real Memphian would. 

Arcade Restaurant

540 south main.

Memphis' oldest restaurant wasn't only Elvis' favorite: it's also the favorite backdrop for films set in Memphis.  Come sit in Elvis' booth for the best view on South Main.

Driving positive change

 through the power of design..

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CiV : : the Center for Architecture + Design at Beale Street Landing

251 Riverside Drive

Memphis, TN 38103

901-654-7518‬

[email protected]

• The Memphis trolley: The new way to get around downtown!

If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to get around Memphis, this is your lucky day. After a long absence, the trolleys are back! Here’s your guide to our new favorite method of exploring Downtown Memphis.

Welcoming back the trolley

The Memphis Area Transit Authority trolley system began running in 1993. Although the trolleys enjoyed a 21-year run of shuffling locals and tourists through the heart of the city, they haven’t operated in Memphis since 2014, when service was suspended after fires broke out on two cars.

Lucky for us, after extensive repairs, renovations and refurbishment, the trolleys are back! Memphians and visitors alike can once again experience the romance of a vintage trolley car ride along Main Street.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony and inaugural ride on the new trolley system took place on April 30, 2018. Initially, three trolley cars will be in service (a green car, a gold car, and a blue-and-white two-tone car), with more to be added throughout the year. Before you know it, these colorful cars will be a common sight in Memphis, and their whistles blowing will be a familiar sound.

2018 Memphis trolley guide

For now, one trolley line—the Main Street Line—is in operation, running from Butler Avenue to A.W. Willis Avenue past the Convention Center. The Riverfront Line and the Madison Avenue Line will return in the coming years.

The trolleys make 13 stops along the Main Street Line, many of them sheltered, and cars will run once every 20 to 30 minutes depending on the day of the week. A map of the route is available here along with information on the coming-soon Riverfront and Madison Ave. lines, while the MATA website offers details on trolley fares and passes . At the time of publication, a ride on the trolley costs $1 and you can get a day pass for $3.50.

Are the trolleys fast? Well, not exactly. But they are fun, reliable, stylish and will get you from A to B a heck of a lot faster than walking. To be more specific, traveling from one end of downtown to the other via trolley takes half an hour or less.

If nothing else, the experience of rolling through Memphis aboard a vintage trolley car sporting an antique-looking interior and wooden seats is an experience that every visitor to Memphis should have at least once. And if you happen to live here, the trolleys are a great option for getting around and seeing our city in a new way.

Looking for an App that tells the history of Memphis? Check this out!

You may also be interested in: Top Instagrammable Places in Memphis 

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Main Street Trolley

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MAIN STREET TROLLEY (Memphis) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

• Airport Transfer Request
• City Highlights Tour
• Walking and Trolley Tour
• African American Tour
• Private City Tour

Memphis City Highlights, Tourism and Travel

  Memphis City Highlights offers tourism and travel options for both the new and occasional visitor. From city tours to luxury airport transfers, we are here to make your trip safe and enjoyable. 

Memphis City Highlights: Guided Sightseeing Tour

Welcome to Memphis , a city where history, music, and culture converge to create an extraordinary tapestry. 

Join us on a memorable, guided sightseeing tour of this vibrant city, where the past meets the present, and music fills the air. City highlights include Big River Crossing , Mud Island, Slave Haven Underground Railroad, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the World Famous Beale Street, National Civil Rights Museum, Sun Studio, and the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum .

Access link below for additional tour details and reservation information. 

Available on both Viator and TripAdvisor.

Walking and Trolley Tracks Tour in Memphis

 Welcome to the beautiful city of Memphis! 

Get ready to embark on a delightful 2.5 mile walking & trolley tour of some of the city's most iconic and historic landmarks. Lace up your walking shoes, grab a bottle of water, and let's get started. 

To begin our tour, we'll start with a leisurely walk along the riverfront and enjoy the panoramic views of the Mississippi River. Following our walk along the river, we'll journey to the South Main Arts District and browse the eclectic art displays and charming boutiques. We'll also stop outside the National Civil Rights Museum and see the balcony where Dr Martin Luther King Jr. was tragically assassinated. After our time on South Main, we'll take the Main Street Trolley and make our way to Mud Island . If we're lucky, we might catch a glimpse of a riverboat cruising along the mighty Mississippi. 

Stride Through History: African American Heritage Tour

Embark on a captivating walking tour through downtown Memphis, delving into the rich and vibrant African American history that has shaped this iconic city. 

Led by knowledgeable guides, this tour will take you on a journey through time, exploring significant landmarks, cultural sites, and pivotal moments in African American history. From the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement to the rise of African American music, experience the powerful stories and influential figures who have made Memphis a bastion of African American culture . 

Lace up your walking shoes and get ready to immerse yourself in this enlightening and inspiring tour. 

  Available on both Viator and TripAdvisor.  

Shadows of the Delta: Downtown Memphis Ghost Tour

Welcome to "Shadows of the Delta: Downtown Memphis Ghost Tour! " 

Embark on a spine-chilling journey through the heart of Memphis as we explore the haunted history, eerie legends, and ghostly tales that lurk in the shadows of this vibrant city . Prepare to be thrilled and captivated as we traverse the streets and uncover the supernatural secrets of downtown Memphis. 

Are you ready to face the spirits that wander the streets of Memphis? 

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Allow Memphis City Highlights to provide luxury transport to the Memphis International Airport from your mid-town or downtown hotel. Round-trip transfer also available.

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South Main Art Trolley Tour

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Visiting Memphis on the last Friday of the month? Head to the South Main Historic Arts District, where from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the South Main Art Trolley Tour makes the neighborhood jump. The historic warehouse district’s resurgence began with residential developers and artists taking advantage of the cheap rents. Today, the neighborhood is one of the more vibrant residential communities of Downtown Memphis, featuring restaurants, bars, art galleries, local boutiques, and small businesses scattered throughout. And the party that brings everyone together takes place the final Friday of the month, when all those businesses keep the doors open late. The Main Street Trolley that runs through the district is free, but the fun really happens when you stroll from gallery to boutique talking to friends and complete strangers. Musicians often find a spot on the sidewalk to play, next to kids trying to figure out hula hoops, next to carts selling Memphis-made Ghost River beer. And it all mixes perfectly. Some of the city’s more fun boutiques are found in the neighborhood, and Trolley Tour night is a good opportunity to check them out without any pressure to buy. The same goes for the many art showings that pop up in the neighborhood’s permanent galleries and temporary spaces.

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Discovering culture and fun at art trolley tour.

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Trolley Night

Category: Event Calendar

Dates and Times

• Friday, May 24, 2024    6pm - 9pm
• Friday, Jun 28, 2024    6pm - 9pm
• Friday, Jul 26, 2024    6pm - 9pm
• Friday, Aug 23, 2024    6pm - 9pm
• Friday, Sep 27, 2024    6pm - 9pm
• Friday, Oct 25, 2024    6pm - 9pm

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Every last Friday of the month, join us at Trolley Night on South Main to experience longest-running street festival in Memphis.  Visitors will be able to stroll South Main and explore the many galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars in our neighborhood that are open extra late for all to enjoy. The night kicks off at 6pm - Doors will be open featuring an assortment of live music, performances, complimentary drinks, and more.   Go to @southmainmem's Instagram account or Facebook page to see the specifics for each month, whether that's an art opening at Urevbu Contemporary Gallery, a DJ at Central Station, or music pop-ups by South Main Sounds. 



We'll see you on South Main soon! 

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365 Things to Do in Memphis #153: Take the Main Street Trolley

When it comes to downtown mass transit, Memphis goes old school with a light rail trolley system. Assignment #153 in the 365 Things to Do in Memphis  list is to slow your roll on the trolley's Main Street route.

The trolley's story is a bit of a saga. Back in 2014, they were shut down for safety and maintenance reasons. Risks of being authentically vintage, I suppose.

In spring of 2018, a few new-old trolleys—totally safe and tested—returned just to Main Street. MATA (Memphis Area Transit Authority) hopes to restart the Riverfront Loop and Madison Avenue trolleys in the future.

Trolley Update! November 3, 2021 

The Downtown Memphis Commission hosted a “State of Downtown” livestream today and President Paul Young answered some questions about the Madison and Riverfront Trolley lines. He said that MATA will begin testing a “modern trolley” on the Madison line in the next 90 days, and how those tests go will determine if they bring back the route or not. As for the Riverfront Line, Young says that MATA has purchased three trolleys (presumably the vintage kind) and are looking for a company that can refurbish them.

Ride The Main Street Line 

In the meantime, you can still use the Main Street Line to get around downtown. They run up and down Main Street, from South Main up to A.W. Willis Ave past the Convention Center, about every 20 minutes. There are plenty of stops. See a full map here.

There’s a bit of a running joke in town that you can out-walk a trolley. And it’s true...the pace of the downtown trolleys is leisurely at best. Riding the length will take maybe 30 - 45 minutes. It's not exactly the most efficient way to get from point A to point B, but it is a great way to see a lot of downtown Memphis in one go. 

Rides are $1 each. Read more here. Get more info on the trolley system here . 

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