Proud Mary Trail in Tennessee 

Head north out of Memphis along the Great River Road, a National Scenic Byway, and discover the inspiration of Mississippi River towns, blues and rock pioneers.

Memphis

C’mon to the CMOM – the Children’s Museum of Memphis – where kids can pilot a FedEx plane, then enter the kingdom known as Graceland, home of Elvis Presley. Pop into the Peabody Hotel to see their famous parade of ducks.

The Great Outdoors, Golf, & Wine

Following the Mississippi River shore, head north on Highway 388 to Meemon Shelby Forest State Park. Visit a public golf course in Millington owned by local boy Justin Timberlake, and then refresh with a glass of Delta White at Old Millington Winery.

Follow the trail to Covington with its charming town square, then to Henning where you can visit the home of Roots author Alex Haley.

This slice of West Tennessee is an agricultural wonderland and Ripley’s prized tomatoes are the cream of all crops. Farther along the trail, Dyersburg is a must-visit for its all-American small-town feel. 

Nature & Music

This trail is rich with blues and rock pioneers. Northeast of Dyersburg is Tiptonville, hometown of Carl Perkins, and where you can soak up nature at Reelfoot Lake State Park. Pass through Union City on your way to Martin’s Our Backyard Town Bed & Breakfast.

Heading back toward Memphis, pop in for a concert at The Dixie Carter Performing Arts & Academic Enrichment Center in Huntingdon. Visit Humboldt for fresh Tennessee strawberries and the West Tennessee Regional Arts Center. Celebrate 30 years of teapot tradition at Trenton’s Teapot Festival, honouring the town’s prized collection of porcelain Veilleuses-Theieres, the world’s largest. Via highway 79 south, the rich history of northwest Tennessee can be discovered at the Cotton Museum of the South in Bells and Brownsville’s Tennessee Delta Museum. The Nutbush Tina Turner sang about was her Tennessee birthplace, and state route 19 leading into town is named for the leggy vocal wonder, and certainly inspired the name of this trail.

Civil Rights

Heading back into Memphis, stop off in Arlington to peruse a huge quilt shop and other boutiques in the historic downtown, and finish the trail in downtown Memphis with a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum and a final music stop along world-famous Beale Street.

For more details, please get in touch with our expert team!