Civil Rights Trail Self Drive Explorer Tour Detail Page

Welcome to Memphis! Upon arrival at Memphis International Airport, pick up your rental vehicle and drive approximately 20 minutes to the accommodation of your choice. The rest of the day is yours to relax and explore at your leisure.

Your journey begins in this city of pivotal importance to the civil rights movement. Start your day at the National Civil Rights Museum, located at the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Then, explore Memphis' vibrant music scene with museums dedicated to rock and soul music, or take a tour of the city’s African American heritage sites. In the evening, top off your day on iconic Beale Street, once the heart and soul of Memphis’ African American culture.

Depart Memphis and head approximately 3 hours to Jackson, Mississippi, home of famed civil rights icon Medgar Evers, who organized boycotts and led voter registration drives. Explore the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and visit the Medgar Evers Home Museum, dedicated to his life and legacy. Don't forget to savor some authentic Southern cuisine, from seafood to barbecue.

Start your day in Jackson, MS, with a hearty Southern breakfast at The Bean, a popular local café. Stroll through the Mississippi Museum of Art, which features a diverse collection of regional and contemporary art. For lunch, enjoy classic Southern cuisine at the iconic Mayflower Café. In the afternoon, visit the historic Eudora Welty House and Garden to learn about the life and work of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Take a leisurely walk through the lush grounds of LeFleur's Bluff State Park before heading to dinner at Walker’s Drive-In, known for its upscale take on Southern comfort food. End your evening with a live music performance at Duling Hall, soaking in the vibrant local culture.

Depart from Jackson and drive approximately 3 and a half hours to Birmingham, Alabama. Visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, home to one of the South’s most significant collections of civil rights history materials, offering a deep dive into the integration movement. See the cell where Dr. King wrote his famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and pay your respects at the 16th Street Baptist Church, site of one of the civil rights era’s most tragic moments. Alternatively, consider a 1963 Birmingham Civil Rights Experience walking tour, a Center Street Dynamite Hill walking tour, or even a ghost tour.

Leave Birmingham and drive about an hour and a half towards Montgomery. Consider stopping in Selma to cross the famous Edmund Pettus Bridge and enjoy lunch before continuing your journey. Montgomery, the setting of the historic Montgomery Bus Boycott in the 1950s, offers a compelling narrative of its complex past. Today, explore fascinating museums, dine at top-notch restaurants, and visit memorials honoring Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and other courageous activists.

Consider exploring Montgomery with a comprehensive civil rights tour, including Selma if desired. Visit. the Legacy Museum, Rosa Parks Museum, and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, the first U.S. memorial dedicated to enslaved and lynched African Americans, victims of segregation and Jim Crow, and those affected by contemporary racial injustice. Visit Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered powerful sermons. Discover the Alabama State Capitol, pivotal in Civil Rights history and the final Selma-to-Montgomery march destination. For a leisurely alternative, engage in a city scavenger hunt for a unique Montgomery experience.

Depart Montgomery and drive approximately 2 and a half hours to Atlanta this morning, a vibrant city rich in African American culture and history. Upon arrival, settle in and explore the city, making sure to indulge in Atlanta’s renowned soul food offerings.

Consider a full-day guided tour of Atlanta's civil rights sites, the Martin Luther King Quest Experience, or a Plantations, Civil War, and Civil Rights tour. Visit Dr. King’s birth home on Auburn Avenue, explore the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, including Ebenezer Baptist Church, and stroll through the historic Sweet Auburn district, once the most prosperous African American community in the nation. In the afternoon, visit the APEX Museum, Atlanta's oldest Black history museum. For a leisurely option, enjoy a roundabout Atlanta sightseeing city tour or an Atlanta BeltLine Cocktails and Bites experience to savor the city's vibrant atmosphere.