School Trips to Memphis
Study civil rights at the Lorraine Motel, trace Memphis music from soul to rock ’n’ roll, and investigate how the Mississippi River shaped the city.
Choose a five-day civic program at $2,010 per student, or a six-day music, river and science program at $2,410. Both use one Memphis base; airfare is excluded.
No commitment, and no sales call unless you ask for one.
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- $2,010–$2,410
- per student
- 5–6 days
- two Memphis-based programs
- Custom school trips
- your classmates, teachers and curriculum
- 1 free teacher spot
- per eight paying students
- 321 schools
- have partnered since 2012, each counted once
Compare school trips to Memphis
Choose deeper civic inquiry or a wider music and science route. Both keep one Memphis hotel base and protected time for reflection.
Compare the two programs
| Decision | Civil Rights, Soul and Civic Voice | Music, River and Science |
|---|---|---|
| Length and base | 5 days / 4 nights in Memphis | 6 days / 5 nights in Memphis |
| Price per student | $2,010 | $2,410 |
| Choose for | Historian and teaching-artist sessions, reflection and a student-made public-history project | More music venues, natural history and habitat comparisons |
| Core visits | National Civil Rights Museum, Stax, Beale Street, A. Schwab, Peabody and riverfront | The civic sites plus Sun Studio, Graceland, Pink Palace, Memphis Zoo and the Pyramid |
| Group and pace | 10+ students; more workshop time | 20+ recommended; fuller museum days and more coach transfers |
Memphis: Civil Rights, Soul and Civic Voice
The National Civil Rights Museum, Stax and a downtown river walk, worked into one piece of student-made public history.
Choose this programYour 5-day itinerary
-
Day 1
Meet Memphis
The river arrives first, as a route for work, migration and exchange. Set the week’s discussion rules the same evening.
MorningTravel to Memphis International Airport (MEM) or arrive by regional charter coach. Allow flight and transfer time before planning activities.AfternoonTransfer to the Memphis hotel and check in. A short downtown orientation is possible if arrival leaves room for it.EveningWelcome meal, music trivia and a source exercise comparing a song, photograph and public statement. Establish respectful discussion and journal options.- Route
- MEM to one Memphis hotel; private group transfer.
- Travel
- Private group transfer
- Overnight
- Memphis.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while the group is on program.
- Physical demand
- Low effort
-
Day 2
Rights and the unfinished story
Examine the National Civil Rights Museum’s evidence, then protect time to reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s final campaign.
MorningVisit the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. Allow about three hours for slavery, Jim Crow laws, the Montgomery Bus Boycott and nonviolent resistance.AfternoonView preserved Room 306 and explore the reopened Legacy Experience in the Legacy Building, then take a quiet lunch and decompression break. Discuss the sanitation workers’ struggle with a local historian using documented sources, subject to the speaker and group space being confirmed.EveningReflection on how collective action works; no student is required to disclose personal experiences publicly.- Route
- Hotel to the National Civil Rights Museum and a group discussion space. Museum closed Tuesdays; confirm a daytime slot.
- Travel
- Coach, then on foot
- Overnight
- Memphis.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort
-
Day 3
Soul, collaboration and recognition
Study music as evidence about the same decades as the civil-rights movement, with time to draft and revise.
MorningVisit the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Soulsville USA. Use a teacher-led inquiry into blues, gospel, soul and cross-racial collaboration; this itinerary uses a self-guided visit led by teachers.AfternoonLunch and a planned local teaching-artist workshop on lyrics or spoken word, subject to the artist and fee being confirmed in the group quote. Students need no performance experience; allow draft and revision time.EveningDinner and optional sharing, with no nightlife itinerary. If the teaching artist cannot be confirmed, discuss a revised teacher-led version before booking.- Route
- Hotel to Stax Museum in Soulsville USA; Stax closes Mondays.
- Travel
- Coach
- Overnight
- Memphis.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Low effort
-
Day 4
Build a civic story beside the river
Read commerce and public memory in the city, then turn museum and river evidence into a student-made interpretation.
MorningTake a planned guide-led daylight walk through the Beale Street Historic District and A. Schwab to examine retail and music history. A student interview with a local historian or civic educator depends on an agreed host and venue.AfternoonUse Tom Lee Park and accessible portions of Beale Street Landing to investigate Mississippi River cotton trade, migration, flooding and floodplain ecology. Teams produce an audio script or exhibition panel that credits its sources.EveningArrive at The Peabody Memphis around 4:30 p.m. for the public 5 p.m. Peabody Duck March, subject to lobby capacity. Discuss hotel preservation, then share presentations over a barbecue dinner with dietary needs agreed in advance.- Route
- Downtown walking segments with coach transfers as needed; confirm riverfront construction access before travel. Beale Street visits finish before 8 p.m.; special-event entry rules must also be checked.
- Travel
- Coach, then on foot
- Overnight
- Memphis.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort
-
Day 5
Take the inquiry home
Which claim changed, and what would be worth doing at home? Then the airport, with nothing scheduled against the flight.
MorningBreakfast and closing reflection: how did geography, race and music shape Memphis, and how did Memphis help shape America? Pack and check out.AfternoonMEM transfer and departure, with meals while on program. No essential stop is scheduled before a flight.EveningTravel home; the program ends at the agreed departure transfer.- Route
- Memphis hotel to MEM; allow airline check-in and security time.
- Travel
- Private group transfer
- Overnight
- None; program ends.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while the group is on program.
- Physical demand
- Low effort
Memphis: Music, River and Science
Add Sun Studio, Graceland, Pink Palace and Memphis Zoo to a Memphis-based study of music, civil rights and river environments.
Choose this programYour 6-day itinerary
-
Day 1
Meet Memphis
The river arrives first, as a route for work, migration and exchange. Set the week’s discussion rules the same evening.
MorningTravel to Memphis International Airport (MEM) or arrive by regional charter coach. Allow flight and transfer time before planning activities.AfternoonTransfer to the Memphis hotel and check in. A short downtown orientation is possible if arrival leaves room for it.EveningWelcome meal, music trivia and a source exercise comparing a song, photograph and public statement. Establish respectful discussion and journal options.- Route
- MEM to one Memphis hotel; private group transfer.
- Travel
- Private group transfer
- Overnight
- Memphis.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while the group is on program.
- Physical demand
- Low effort
-
Day 2
Civil rights, memory and the Peabody
Examine the National Civil Rights Museum’s evidence, then protect time to reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s final campaign.
MorningVisit the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. Allow about three hours for slavery, Jim Crow laws, the Montgomery Bus Boycott and nonviolent resistance.AfternoonView preserved Room 306 and explore the reopened Legacy Experience in the Legacy Building, then take a quiet lunch and decompression break. Discuss the sanitation workers’ struggle using documented sources with teachers and Program Leaders.EveningArrive at The Peabody Memphis around 4:30 p.m. for the public 5 p.m. Peabody Duck March, subject to lobby capacity. Discuss the hotel’s preservation before dinner.- Route
- Hotel to the National Civil Rights Museum and a group discussion space. Museum closed Tuesdays; confirm a daytime slot.
- Travel
- Coach, then on foot
- Overnight
- Memphis.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort
-
Day 3
Recording sound, from Sun to Stax
Compare the rooms, technologies and communities behind rock ’n’ roll and soul.
MorningTour Sun Studio and use a teacher-led study of acoustics, microphone placement and tape-delay technology to connect blues, country and gospel with rock ’n’ roll. Groups of 20 or more can request a private slot; the visit depends on confirmation. Smaller groups need a same-day admission plan.AfternoonAfter lunch, visit Stax Museum in Soulsville USA for a self-guided inquiry into blues, gospel and soul. Leave time for a daylight Beale Street Historic District walk and A. Schwab before its posted closing time.EveningBarbecue dinner and a comparison of the recording industry, artistic credit and the Mississippi Delta’s musical influence.- Route
- Hotel to Sun Studio, Stax and Beale Street by coach; confirm Sun’s group arrangement and build in arrival/queue time.
- Travel
- Coach, then on foot
- Overnight
- Memphis.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort
-
Day 4
Elvis’s Memphis and regional natural history
Give Graceland its own daytime block, then compare celebrity culture with the region’s longer history.
MorningAllow about four hours for Graceland Mansion and the separate Elvis Presley’s Memphis entertainment complex. Study Elvis Presley’s musical influence and the business of celebrity.AfternoonAfter lunch and a coach transfer, explore Pink Palace Museum & Mansion, part of MoSH, on a self-guided visit focused on natural history and regional geology. Reserve a two-hour afternoon block before the museum closes.EveningUse one artifact from each visit to explain how a museum constructs a story. Paid labs or planetarium sessions require a revised schedule and quote.- Route
- Memphis hotel to Graceland, then Pink Palace Museum & Mansion; allow 30–45 minutes between districts, including loading.
- Travel
- Coach, then on foot
- Overnight
- Memphis.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort
-
Day 5
River habitats, conservation and the Pyramid
Compare a zoo habitat, a retail reconstruction and the working Mississippi riverfront.
MorningSpend the morning at Memphis Zoo in Overton Park. Use teacher-led field notes at Teton Trek and Zambezi River Hippo Camp to compare adaptations and biological taxonomy, then discuss evolutionary biology and conservation.AfternoonAfter lunch, visit Bass Pro Shops at the Memphis Pyramid to examine building geometry and the recreated indoor cypress swamp. Compare its interpretation of native wetlands, migratory waterfowl and Delta fish with river observations at Tom Lee Park and accessible Beale Street Landing.EveningCreate a final evidence panel linking music, civil rights and river geography. No ranger-led workshop or behind-the-scenes animal access is included.- Route
- Hotel to Memphis Zoo, the Pyramid and downtown riverfront; coach between districts and short walking segments.
- Travel
- Coach, then on foot
- Overnight
- Memphis.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort
-
Day 6
Take the inquiry home
Which claim changed, and what would be worth doing at home? Then the airport, with nothing scheduled against the flight.
MorningBreakfast and closing reflection: how did geography, race and music shape Memphis, and how did Memphis help shape America? Pack and check out.AfternoonMEM transfer and departure, with meals while on program. No essential stop is scheduled before a flight.EveningTravel home; the program ends at the agreed departure transfer.- Route
- Memphis hotel to MEM; allow airline check-in and security time.
- Travel
- Private group transfer
- Overnight
- None; program ends.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while the group is on program.
- Physical demand
- Low effort
Planning details
- Rooms
- Gender-separated student rooms with individual beds; private teacher rooms.
- Arrival
- Use MEM or a regional coach; keep one hotel base.
- Access
- Review museum standing, Sun Studio access and riverfront construction before booking.
How much does a school trip to Memphis cost?
The five-day Civil Rights, Soul and Civic Voice program is $2,010 per student. Budget $2,410 per student for the six-day Music, River and Science program, excluding airfare.
Program Tuition includes lodging, meals while on program, ground transport, the listed core visits and Program Leader support, with one complimentary teacher place per eight paying students. Final pricing depends on dates, group size and confirmed bookings.
$2,010 / $2,410
civic program quote / six-day price per student; airfare excluded.
5–6 days
program length across two itineraries.
Final group quote
Confirmed after dates, group size, rooming and reservations are agreed.
| Included | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Travel | Every program night's lodging, all meals and drinking water, airport transfers, coach transport throughout, scheduled activities, guides, and entrance fees. |
| Staff and support | At least two trained Program Leaders, including both a male and a female leader, pre-departure planning, and school documentation. |
| Chaperones | One complimentary Program Tuition place per eight paying students. Chaperone airfare and insurance are separate. |
Not included: Transportation to and from the destination, travel insurance, medical insurance, and personal spending.
| Effect | Factor |
|---|---|
| raises | Peak school-trip weeks and holiday dates |
| raises | Named-experience bookings and paid facilitation |
| raises | Upgraded lodging |
| raises | Extra chaperones beyond the complimentary place |
| lowers | More students in the group means fixed costs split more ways. |
| raises | Shorter trips cost more per day, since fixed costs spread across fewer days. |
Payment and cancellation
Installment plans are available. Schools pay as a group, or families pay monthly under the current enrollment terms.
What do students learn on a Memphis school trip?
Students connect Memphis civil-rights history and music with the geography of the Mississippi River. The six-day route adds regional natural history and habitat comparisons.
Civil rights and civic voice
Study historical sources at the National Civil Rights Museum, then compare interpretations with classmates and allow time for quiet reflection.
Music and American studies
Memphis music treated as evidence about the same decades rather than as an interlude.
River and natural history
Compare cotton trade and floodplain geography with Pink Palace’s regional geology and the zoo’s habitats on the six-day route.
What makes Rustic Pathways educational trips different?
A Rustic Pathways school trip is one private group on your school's own dates, one bed per student, and an itinerary built to your curriculum.
- 01No mixed groups. Just your school
- 02One student, one bed
- 03Your school picks the dates
- 04Monthly payment plans available
- 05No tipping; Rustic Pathways Program Tuition includes community donations
- 06Aligned to your curriculum
How is safety managed on a school trip to Memphis?
Program Leaders manage local operations alongside school chaperones. Across 13 years of published incident data from Rustic Pathways programs worldwide, 87% of reports were GREEN, the minor tier where the group stays intact.
What the team plans for
Walking days
A stated effort level on every day, with seated breaks and a shorter alternate arranged in planning
Emotionally demanding sites
Quiet time protected after each one, with no required public disclosure
Road transfers
Charter coach with daylight routing and the group kept together
Heat
Shaded breaks and drinking water on every leg through the summer months
Supervision
Two Program Leaders with the school's chaperones and a named meeting point on every leg
Controls built into every trip
Written risk plan. A score above 5 requires new controls, reassessment or cancellation.
Two-Deep Leadership. A single staff member is never alone with students, and at least two trained Program Leaders, including both a male and a female leader, support each School Group Travel trip.
Assessed activity vendors. Every named vendor is reviewed before use, every one to two years, and on site when high risk.
Medical readiness. Dr. William R. Smith, Medical Director since 2015, oversees medical protocols and emergency response planning.
Is Rustic Pathways the right partner for your school trip to Memphis?
Take a private Memphis school trip with your teachers and classmates, on dates planned around your curriculum and venue opening days.
Individual students can join teen travel programs in the United States.
A strong fit
- You want civil-rights and music study for grades 8–12, with time for reflection.
- You can travel for five or six days with at least 10 students.
Talk with us first
- Share mobility, sensory, medical, mental-health, dietary or religious support needs early.
- You have fewer than 10 students, need different museum days, or want Sun Studio with fewer than 20 people.
Probably not a fit
- You need individual enrollment or want your group combined with another school.
- You want the full six-day site list inside a two- or three-day trip.
Questions about school trips to Memphis
How much is a school trip to Memphis?
The five-day Civil Rights, Soul and Civic Voice route costs $2,010 per student, and the six-day Music, River and Science route costs $2,410 per student. Added performances or workshops are quoted separately. Airfare and travel and medical insurance are extra.
When is the best time for a school trip to Memphis?
April–May or October–November offers milder weather for Memphis walks. A Sunday arrival places the National Civil Rights Museum on Monday and Stax on Tuesday, avoiding their usual closure days.
Have a question before you ask for a proposal?
Patrick Ziemnik answers Memphis school-trip questions with the school travel team.
Send your group size, dates, trip length, and what you want students to learn. I’ll reply within 1 business day and send you options within 48 hours, and no sales call unless you ask for one.
Start with your travel window
Start your Memphis trip proposal with your travel dates, group size, and learning goals. Receive a reply within 1 business day and customized trip options within 48 hours.
Or reach a person directly: +1 440-975-9691 or groups@rusticpathways.com
Need approval or funding first?
Certificate of insurance, risk management plans, and fundraising templates for families, on request.
Destinations related to Memphis
United StatesBrowse all school trip destinations- Rustic Pathways has operated student travel since 1983. Recent industry recognition:
- 2026 GoAbroad Innovation AwardsInnovation in Adventure-Based Programming · Global Adventure Learning Model
- 2025 International Travel AwardsBest Group Tour Operator
- 2024 Skift IDEA AwardsIndustry Innovators – Tour Operators
- 4x WYSETC Best Youth Tour Operator2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
- BBB A+ RatingBetter Business Bureau profile
- NESA Affiliate OrganizationNear East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools
- 2025 World Travel AwardsUnited States’ Leading Tour Operator