[Photos] Elvis’ Graceland Automobile Museum Visitor Info & Review

 

 

Next to his music, Elvis Presley was also known for his impressive collection of cars. Visitors to Graceland in Memphis have the chance of seeing over 15 of his prized vehicles on display in the Graceland Automobile Museum.

Address: 3734 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee 38116

Directions: The Graceland Automobile Museum is part of the larger Graceland visitor complex, made of gift shops, restaurants, archive displays, and more gifts shops. It’s accessible via I-55 exit 5 off of Route 240. Follow Route 53 (Elvis Presley Blvd) south until you see signs for Graceland.

Parking: The closest and most direct parking is in the official Graceland parking lot, which costs $8.75-$10.00 per vehicle (up to $15 for over-sized vehicles) and is fenced in. If you want to save money, there are some strip mall parking lots nearby where you can park for free and walk to Graceland.

Cost: If you’re at Graceland, you’re probably not there for just the cars. The best deal is purchasing the Platinum upgrade on your basic Mansion Tour. For only $4.00 more, you’ll get access to the Automobile Museum and nearby archive exhibits (total cost: $40.00). By itself, admission to the Automobile Museum costs about $12. Student, senior, and AAA discounts are all offered.

Hours: Open when the rest of Graceland is–typically 9am-5pm (detailed hours can be found here)

Reservations: No reservations needed or accepted for visiting the museum.

Rules: Photographs are welcome but flashes cannot be used on indoor exhibits. Pets are not allowed, and you cannot touch the cars–obviously!

Handicap Accessible: The Automobile Museum is a single-level building without steps. Visitors in wheelchairs or walking braces are able to enter and browse the museum at their leisure.

Experience: Upon entering Graceland and purchasing your admission ticket, head to the far end of the “mall” away from the mansion boarding queue. After passing the restaurants, you’ll arrive at the last entrance on the strip–the automobile museum.

Inside, your ticket will be stamped and you’ll be given access to seeing a selection of Elvis Presley’s most iconic vehicles, including:

• 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood
• 1956 Cadillac Eldorado
• 1973 Stutz Blackhawk
• 1975 Ferrari Dino
• 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
• 1956 Lincoln Continental
• 1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 Limousine
• 1970 Mercedes 280 SL
• 4010 John Deere tractor
• Pink Jeep from Blue Hawaii
• Various motorcycles and motorized toys

The self-guided tour takes visitors past displays and placards explaining the vehicles’ history and Elvis’ ownership. A central seating area in the large, one-room museum loops a montage of clips from Elvis’ movies. The museum exits into a gift shop.

Experience length: 45 minutes

Review:

If you’re visiting Graceland, it’s probably not for the vehicles. The Automobile Museum isn’t a destination in itself–its small number of exhibits pales in comparison to the legions of models in other car museums–but it’s a nice addition if you’re already planning on visiting Graceland for the mansion tour. By itself, the car collection is not worth the admission cost, but the Platinum package is worth the upgrade cost.

The decor is great, using fake foliage/trees, benches, and soft lighting to appear like a walk in a park. The building doesn’t feel like a typical sterile showroom. The models are decently lit (cameras that do poor in low lighting won’t like it) and kept very clean.

When I visited, the pink Cadillac wasn’t there (on tour in the UK) so if seeing a certain model is a make-or-break aspect, you’d better call in advance to confirm.

Don’t forget to get some Memphis BBQ on your way out of town!