The Best Memphis Parks
Overton Park
đź“Ť Midtown Memphis, TN
📝 A 342‑acre urban oasis and cultural centerpiece, Overton Park features miles of scenic shaded trails including the Old Forest Arboretum, Picnic Areas, Formal Gardens, Overton Bark dog park, a nine‑hole golf course, and iconic attractions like the Memphis Zoo and Brooks Museum of Art. Community gatherings and nature walks thrive beneath the lush canopy and at the iconic Bike Gate entrance.
Shelby Farms Park
đź“Ť 6903 Great View Dr N, Memphis, TN 38120
📝 One of America’s largest urban parks at 4,500 acres, Shelby Farms offers expansive green fields, lakes, woodlands, and over 40 miles of multi-use trails—including the iconic Greenline. Visitors can enjoy kayaking, horseback riding, disc golf, dog parks, playgrounds, picnic pavilions, and more in a tranquil yet vibrant setting.
Tom Lee Park
📍 Riverside Drive, Downtown Memphis, TN 38103
đź”— Visit: tomleepark.org
đź“ť A beautifully reimagined 31-acre riverfront oasis along the Mississippi River, opened in 2023 after a $61M redesign. Easily walkable from Beale Street, it features zones like the Active Core with the striking Sunset Canopy, the whimsical Life on the River playscape, a serene hammock grove, and public artworks including A Monument to Listening. Perfect for jogging, play, events, picnics, or sunset river views.
Lichterman Nature Center
📍 5992 Quince Rd, Memphis, TN 38119
đź”— Visit: Lichterman Nature Center Website
📝 Nestled in East Memphis, this 65‑acre certified arboretum and nature center features miles of shaded forest and meadow trails, a lake, and family-oriented amenities like the Backyard Wildlife Center and interactive exhibits. It's a year-round destination for education, recreation, and immersive nature experiences in the city.
Audobon Park
📍 4145 Southern Ave, Memphis, TN 38117
📝 A verdant 373-acre urban oasis near the University of Memphis, Audubon Park features a one-mile paved loop trail, shaded woodlands, open fields, playgrounds, pavilion areas, a lake, an 18-hole golf course, the Memphis Botanic Garden and Leftwich Tennis Center. It’s the perfect blend of recreational diversity and natural beauty in the heart of East Memphis.
Mud Island River Park
📍 101 N Island Dr, Downtown Memphis, TN 38103
đź”— Visit: Memphis River Parks Website
📝 Explore a scenic riverside getaway situated on a peninsula along the Mississippi—home to a half‑mile Riverwalk, a scale replica of the Mississippi River, the iconic MEMPHIS sign, and sweeping views of downtown skyline and the Hernando de Soto Bridge. The park offers biking, kayaking, picnic lawns, interactive public art, and seasonal family events—all free to the public.