Downtown Memphis has a ghostly mood after dark. This Haunted Memphis Walking Ghost Tour is a guided, mostly-outdoor stroll through downtown’s spookiest landmarks, with a mobile ticket and one included admission stop. You’ll move about 2 miles on public sidewalks, mostly in the open, so it feels like you’re touring the city you’re already standing in.

I especially like two parts. First, the guides are real storytellers, with names like Daniel, Sheena, TC, and Liz popping up often, and they balance scares with humor and patience when you ask questions. Second, you get a structured route of classic haunted stops, plus one place where you actually go in, Earnestine & Hazel’s, rather than just peer at the building from the curb.

The main drawback is expectation-setting: most stops are outside only and many buildings are not entered. So if you want a full indoor haunt experience everywhere you go, you’ll need to treat this as a sidewalk tour, not a building-by-building museum walkthrough.

Key highlights to know before you go

• Storyteller-led scares with real Q and A energy, plus humor and flexibility when the group is small
• One included admission stop at Earnestine & Hazel’s, where you’ll spend the longest time
• Six downtown stops paced for a 1 hour 30 minute experience across about 2 miles
• Mostly outside viewing, so weather and clothing matter
• End right near Beale Street, with an easy 10-minute walk back to where the action is

What you get in 90 minutes, and what you don’t

This tour is built for people who want Memphis atmosphere without spending the night hunched over a phone. It runs about 1 hour 30 minutes, and the pace is steady enough to enjoy the stories while still keeping you moving between stops.

You’ll also notice what is intentionally left out. The tour is mostly outside, and it does not include entrance into most of the sites you see. That means you’re there for the narration and the setting, not for a series of indoor ticketed attractions, with one key exception.

The one exception is Earnestine & Hazel’s, where admission is included. Expect that stop to feel like the emotional center of the whole walk, both because it’s longer and because you get to experience the space instead of just looking at it.

Where you start on Beale Street (and why it helps)

You meet at Alfred’s On Beale, 197 Beale St, and you end at Earnestine & Hazel’s, 531 S Main St. Starting on Beale is smart because it puts you in the right mood immediately, and it also makes the tour easier to plug into the rest of your evening.

There’s also a practical payoff for the finish location. After the tour ends, you can stay at Earnestine & Hazel’s, which is about a 10-minute walk back to Beale Street if you head north on Main St. Your guide may even walk the group back to Beale, which is a nice way to keep the momentum going without you having to orient yourself.

If you’re driving, you’ve got options nearby. There are four parking garages within a few blocks plus open-air lots. The closest garage to the starting area is the one at 149 Peabody Place, between Second Street and BB King Blvd., next to the Hampton Inn. You can also check metered street parking on Second Street just south of Beale, on Beale between Front and Second, and along Peabody Place from Front to Fourth.

Stop 1, Orpheum Theatre and the story of 12-year-old Mary

The first stop is the Orpheum Theatre, with a famous ghost story tied to a 12-year-old Mary. Since this is outside only, you don’t step inside the theatre as part of the tour, and admission is not included.

What makes this opening stop work is timing. Starting with something recognizable gives your brain an anchor point, so when the guide shifts into Memphis-style ghost lore, you’re not lost in the setting. Even if you’re not a theatre fan, the Orpheum is the kind of building that naturally feels dramatic after dark.

My advice: stay switched on at this first stop. The guide’s early framing matters because it sets the rules of the evening, like how they connect old events to the haunted versions you hear about on the sidewalk.

John Alexander Austin House, a haunted love story from the curb

Next up is the John Alexander Austin House. This stop is also outside only, with a focus on a love story that’s described as haunted.

This is a good place to slow your reactions a bit. When a building is set up like a storybook home, you get more out of the tour if you pay attention to details the guide calls out, like the way the architecture creates certain moods at night. You’ll spend about 10 minutes here, which is enough for the narration without dragging you too long through one corner of downtown.

If you’re trying to decide whether you’re in the right kind of tour, this stop usually makes it clear. It’s less about jump scares and more about mood and meaning, the Memphis brand of haunting where the story and the place blend.

Earnestine and Hazel’s is the included indoor moment

This is the stop that most people remember, because it’s the one you actually get to experience up close. Earnestine & Hazel’s is described as one of the creepiest and most haunted places around, and it comes with admission included. You’ll spend about 20 minutes there.

Practical reality check: drinks and food at Earnestine & Hazel’s are not included in your ticket price. So if you plan to make this a full dinner stop, budget for it on top of the tour price.

Also, this is a great place to decide what kind of photos you want. One person shared a story about capturing an apparition-style image there. You may or may not get anything on camera, but if you like night photos, you’ll understand why people try.

If the indoor setting is what you’re after, this is the reason the tour is worth it for many people. You’re not paying full price for an outside-only route with no entry, because this stop gives you the one inside payoff.

Green Beetle and Puck Food Hall, outside-only haunts with street vibes

After Earnestine & Hazel’s, the route keeps moving with two more outside-only stops.

The Green Beetle is next, described as a haunted gangster’s hideout, and you’ll view it from outside for about 15 minutes. The idea here is simple. The guide uses the storefront and the street context to tell the kind of stories that feel believable in a city where old corners still get used.

Then there’s Puck Food Hall, with a focus on voodoo and hoodoo in Memphis, also outside only for about 10 minutes. This is more atmosphere than museum facts. You’re walking downtown, and the guide links the supernatural themes to the way people have historically lived, worshipped, and told stories in the city.

Tip: during these outside-only stops, watch for the way the guide uses your position in relation to the building. A turn of 10 feet can change how you experience the street. Use that to your advantage instead of just listening while you drift.

National Civil Rights Museum area and the Lorraine Motel stop

The last themed stop is tied to the National Civil Rights Museum – Lorraine Motel area. You’ll hear about Morris Cemetery as part of the site context, with the tour focusing on the area as a place connected to Memphis’s past.

This is not a purely spooky stop. It’s a reminder that downtown haunt stories often overlap with real-life tragedy and real history. The guide keeps it moving, and you’ll spend about 15 minutes here, and admission is not included.

My advice here is to switch gears mentally. If you go into the last portion expecting only ghosts, you might miss the balance the tour is trying to create. Let the mood shift, and listen for the human side of the story, not just the supernatural angle.

How the guides tell it, and how you can get more out of the walk

The biggest strength of this tour is how it’s delivered. Multiple guide names show up often, including Daniel, Sheena, TC, and Liz, and the pattern is clear: they’re entertaining without rushing, and they respond to questions instead of forcing you to keep up like a movie preview.

One person also noted that a guide was willing to adjust the tour when the group was just two people. That matters, because a walking ghost tour lives and dies by your guide’s pacing. If you feel like you’re in good hands, the stories land better.

To get more out of it, do two small things:

• Ask one question early in the tour, not at the end. You’ll get a better answer while the group is still warming up.
• Stay attentive to the transitions. The stops are short, and the guide often bridges from one story to the next by explaining how a location connects to the next one.

Also, expect some humor. One guide style described as adding comical touches helps, especially when the subject matter turns heavy. It keeps the evening from feeling like a nonstop scare session.

Group size, pacing, and who this fits best

This tour caps at 24 travelers, which is a sweet spot for a walking experience. Smaller than a big bus group, but big enough that you don’t feel like you’re doing something too private or too awkward.

You’ll walk about 2 miles total on public sidewalks with some elevation. It’s not described as a steep hike, but it’s still real walking time. If you have moderate mobility needs, I’d bring that up before booking or plan on taking it at an easy pace with breaks if needed.

Because it’s mostly outdoors, it’s also a tour best enjoyed when the weather is cooperating. The tour notes that it requires good weather, and if it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

This is a great fit if you:

• Like storytelling and walking tours
• Want one inside experience, not just outside photo stops
• Plan to spend time on Beale Street anyway and want an organized way to do it at night
• Prefer a guided spooky night over trying to self-tour multiple haunted locations alone

Price and value: is $29.63 a good deal?

At $29.63 per person, you’re paying for a guided 1 hour 30 minute, about 2 mile sidewalk route with local taxes included and a mobile ticket. You’re also getting one meaningful admission component: Earnestine & Hazel’s is included.

When I evaluate value for tours like this, I look at two things: how much you actually get to experience, and how much effort it saves you. Here, the “experience” part is the included indoor stop plus the time your guide spends at six different downtown locations. The “effort saved” part is that you’re not stitching together your own route while also trying to interpret ghost lore.

What’s not included is just as important. Gratuities are extra, and drinks or food at Earnestine & Hazel’s are not included. Alcoholic beverages are also not included. So plan for optional spending if you want to eat or drink.

Booking timing is another value signal. The tour is typically booked about 10 days in advance on average, which suggests it’s popular. If you want a specific night, I’d secure your spot sooner rather than later.

What to wear, plus a few logistics that keep the night easy

Because this is mostly outside, dress like it matters. Wear shoes that handle uneven sidewalk conditions and any small elevation. Bring a light layer if the evening turns cool, since you’ll be standing around at each stop for the guide to speak.

Bring the basics too. A phone is helpful for directions if you want it, but since you’ll have a mobile ticket, your main priority is comfort. If you’re sensitive to cold or wind, plan for it.

Service animals are allowed, and the tour is near public transportation. If you’re not driving, this is a good place to let transit do the heavy lifting.

Finally, remember the end of the tour. You finish at Earnestine & Hazel’s, and you can stay there if you want. Or take the short walk back toward Beale Street while the stories are still fresh.

Should you book this Memphis haunted walking tour?

I’d book it if you want a fun, guided haunted night that balances spooky with real downtown context. The big reason is practical: you get a storyteller-led route with multiple outside stops, plus included admission at Earnestine & Hazel’s. That combination usually feels like a complete experience instead of a quick photo walk.

I’d pause before booking if you want constant indoor access or you hate outdoor walking in uncertain weather. Most stops are outside only, and the tour is timed for a 1 hour 30 minute window, so it’s designed to move.

If your goal is to see downtown Memphis in an organized way, hear the city’s ghost stories with humor and good pacing, and then continue your night on or near Beale Street, this tour fits the bill.

FAQ

How long is the Haunted Memphis Walking Ghost Tour?

It lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at Alfred’s On Beale, 197 Beale St, Memphis, TN 38103, and ends at Earnestine & Hazel’s, 531 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103.

How much walking is involved?

The tour covers about 2 miles on public sidewalks, with some elevation.

Is the tour mostly outside, or do you go inside buildings?

The tour is conducted mostly outside and does not include entrance into most of the buildings. Admission is included at Earnestine & Hazel’s.

What is included in the ticket price?

The guided walking tour and local taxes are included. You also get admission for Earnestine & Hazel’s. Drinks or food there are not included.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.