When visiting any new city, it’s important to research which areas to avoid for your own safety. This definitely holds true when planning a trip to Memphis. While this famous Tennessee destination is steeped in musical history and southern charm, it unfortunately has some risky neighborhoods visitors should steer clear of. By learning ahead of time about the areas to avoid in Memphis, you can better explore the city’s many attractions without putting yourself in danger.
As an avid traveler, I always make a point to learn about areas to avoid when I’m exploring a new destination. Memphis, TN has so many iconic sights to offer, from Graceland to Beale Street. But like most big cities, it also has some neighborhoods that are simply unsafe for tourists. Through my travel research and talking with locals, I narrowed down a list of the top areas to avoid in Memphis. This allows me to travel wisely while enjoying everything this city is known for.
See Also: Best things to do in Memphis
1. Downtown Memphis
While downtown Memphis is the city’s business district filled with attractions like Beale Street and the National Civil Rights Museum, it also has pockets of high crime. Avoid the area south of FedEx Forum and west of Danny Thomas Blvd after dark. Panhandling, drug use, and gang violence are issues there. Also be wary around the Greyhound bus station on Airways Blvd, where transients and addicts loiter.
Stick to popular tourist areas like Beale Street if exploring downtown at night. But even then, be alert and don’t flash expensive jewelry or cash. Better yet, join organized tours led by knowledgeable guides. They’ll steer you away from troubled spots. Downtown has great sights, but use common sense and avoid deserted streets.
Address: Downtown Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
2. Midtown
Just east of downtown, Midtown Memphis has undergone major revitalization and features hip restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions. However, it borders some rougher neighborhoods on its eastern and southern edges. Areas to be cautious around include Jackson Ave and north of Union Ave near Manassas St.
This part of Midtown has issues with gang activity and muggings. Exercise extra caution at night, even if you’re just passing through by car or bus. It’s best to avoid walking here. Midtown’s western neighborhoods and Overton Square are much safer, so stick to populated areas if you want to enjoy the bars and music on a Memphis weekend. Just be street-smart after hours.
3. Raleigh
When researching areas to avoid in Memphis, the neighborhood of Raleigh consistently comes up. Located north of Midtown, Raleigh is plagued by poverty and has the highest crime rates in the city. Drug use and gang violence are rampant, making Raleigh one of the most dangerous areas in Memphis. Stay alert on the main streets like Thomas St., avoid side streets, and do not walk here at night. Home break-ins are a big problem as well.
If you find yourself traveling through Raleigh, keep your doors locked and windows up. Do not stop or get out of your vehicle. Raleigh offers very little for tourists, so it’s best avoided altogether when visiting Memphis. The northern suburbs near Raleigh like Bartlett are much safer and more hospitable for visitors.
Address: Raleigh, Memphis, TN, USA
4. Soulsville
While Soulsville is the historical center of Memphis soul music and home of Stax Records, today it remains an impoverished neighborhood with high crime rates. Robberies, break-ins, and assaults are common issues. Drug dealing and gang violence are also problems, especially at night around abandoned properties.
If visiting the Stax Museum or other Soulsville attractions, go during daylight and travel by car, taking precautions by locking doors and not leaving valuables visible. Do not wander the neighborhood on foot. While artists and business owners are trying to revitalize Soulsville, it remains quite dangerous due to poverty and urban decay. Use caution when visiting.
5. Whitehaven
In South Memphis, Whitehaven was once a thriving suburb but fell victim to white flight and urban decay. Today, it’s plagued by drugs, shootings, and gangs. The area along Elvis Presley Blvd is especially troubled and seedy. Robberies and car break-ins are common at gas stations and shopping plazas.
Avoid walking or driving through Whitehaven at night. Fortunately, there are a few reasons for tourists to visit Whitehaven anyway. It mainly serves as a cautionary buffer zone between Graceland and truly dangerous neighborhoods like South Memphis. Drive through cautiously during the day or skip it altogether on a Memphis trip.
Address: Whitehaven, Memphis, TN, USA
6. Orange Mound
South of Midtown, Orange Mound is one of Memphis’ most dangerous areas. Riddled with gang violence, drug dealing, and crime, it’s a neighborhood plagued by generational poverty. Violent crime rates here are some of the city’s highest. Regularly avoid driving through the area, especially at night. Carjackings have also been on the rise.
Steer clear of side streets and keep moving if passing through Orange Mound. Like Raleigh, there are very few reasons for tourists to visit here anyway. Convenience stores and gas stations often get held up as well, so avoid these. Stay north of Park Ave or west of Airways if possible.
Address: Orange Mound, Memphis, TN, USA
7. Parkway Village
In North Memphis near the airport, Parkway Village suffers from extremely high crime rates. It’s considered one of the most dangerous parts of the city due to drugs, gangs, shootings, and poverty. Visitors should avoid this area at all costs, even during the day.
Carjackings, robberies, and assaults are very common. The streets here are dimly lit and devoid of pedestrians at night. If you end up lost passing through, roll up your windows, lock your car doors, and don’t stop for any reason. Let a map app redirect you to safer neighborhoods north like Bartlett or east like East Memphis. But ideally, avoid Parkway Village altogether.
Address: Parkway Village, Memphis, TN, USA
8. Binghampton
Sandwiched between Midtown and East Memphis, the Binghampton neighborhood suffers from moderate crime rates and isolated gang violence. While not nearly as dangerous as areas like Orange Mound or Raleigh, Binghampton has issues with drug use, home burglaries, and robberies, especially at night.
Exercise caution traveling through Binghampton after dark. Don’t leave valuables visible in cars and make sure your doors are locked. For visits to Broad Ave restaurants and shops, go during the daytime or early evening when other people are still about. Binghampton’s pockets of decay amid revitalization make it a tricky area to evaluate. When in doubt, go with your gut instinct.
Address: Binghampton, Memphis, TN, USA
9. Frayser
In North Memphis, the Frayser area was once a vibrant working-class neighborhood that fell victim to economic hardship and white flight. Today it’s plagued by higher-than-average crime, drugs, and gang activity. Theft, shootings, and robberies are ongoing issues, especially around neglected apartment complexes.
Avoid walking around Frayser, even during the day. Travel by car only, keeping alert at stoplights and not stopping for strangers. While the community is working to rebuild Frayser, it remains one of Memphis’ most dangerous and poverty-stricken areas. Stay south nearer to Shady Grove Road if visiting attractions like Frayser Exchange shopping center.
Address: Frayser, Memphis, TN, USA
10. South Memphis
The area directly south of Downtown should be avoided by visitors, day or night. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave marks the boundary where things get risky. South Memphis is plagued by intense poverty and gang violence. Walking here is extremely dangerous due to muggings, shootings, and drug dealing. Even driving through South Memphis is unwise due to car break-ins.
South Memphis offers very little for tourists anyway. Key attractions like Graceland and Sun Studio are well west in Whitehaven. If you get lost driving and end up in South Memphis, roll up your windows and get back to the I-55 freeway as quickly as possible. Avoid stopping for gas or food here. South Memphis’ dire poverty makes it far too risky for visitors.
Address: South Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
11. Shelby Forest-Frayser
In the city’s far north, the neighborhood of Shelby Forest-Frayser suffers from abandoned properties and higher rates of robberies, assaults, and break-ins. Pockets near the Wolf River have issues with transients and drug use as well. Avoid side streets here and recreation areas at night.
Overall, Shelby Forest-Frayser sees lower crime than the city center but still requires caution. Don’t leave cars unattended with valuables inside. Stick to populated streets and stores if visiting attractions like Dave Wells Community Center. While not extremely dangerous, take reasonable precautions in Shelby Forest-Frayser.
Address: Shelby Forest-Frayser, Memphis, TN, USA
Conclusion
While Memphis has pockets of poverty and crime like any major city, it still rewards visitors with southern hospitality, delicious barbecue, and live music around every corner. By staying street-smart and avoiding the most dangerous areas, you can safely experience everything great about this Tennessee metropolis.
Do your research before visiting and get tips from your hotel or hosts on neighborhoods to be wary of. Avoid walking or driving through Memphis’ rougher east and south sides. Stick to popular tourist destinations in downtown, midtown, and central Memphis for a smooth trip. Being informed about areas to avoid in Memphis allows you to better appreciate everything this storied city offers.
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