The Elvis Entourage VIP Tour: A Guide to Graceland, the Home of Elvis Presley
- Barry Pickard
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Regardless of this, please be advised that all opinions expressed in this blog post are genuine and authentically my own.
Author: Barry Pickard
Hi, I'm Barry, the owner of Tailor-Made Itineraries and I have been designing bespoke self-guided tours for adventurous and curious travellers since 2015. I am a history graduate with a passion for travel.
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I created this blog to show, through my own adventures, how you can have an incredible travel experience as an independent traveller, giving you the information to navigate the world with confidence.
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Is the Elvis Entourage VIP Tour at Graceland worth the extra cost? Standing in the Elvis Presley's Memphis entertainment complex, I watched the regular ticket holders form a long queue for the mansion bus while we breezed past with our VIP passes – and that's when I knew we'd made the right call.
The smell of vintage leather from Elvis' car collection mingles with the air conditioning as you enter the sprawling complex, and you can hear "Suspicious Minds" playing softly through hidden speakers. The white columns of the mansion gleam across Elvis Presley Boulevard, and there's this palpable buzz of anticipation from fellow visitors clutching their iPads, ready to step into the King's private world.
I'm Barry, and I've been designing self-guided tours for independent travellers since 2015. But here's the thing – I wasn't even Elvis' biggest fan when I booked this trip. I organised it for my Mum, who's been obsessed with the man since 1956. Yet after spending five hours immersing myself in Graceland's exhibits, standing at Elvis' grave in the Meditation Garden, I found myself unexpectedly moved by the whole experience. That's when I knew this place deserved a proper, detailed breakdown.
If you're planning your Memphis trip and trying to figure out which Graceland tour package to book, whether the VIP option is worth it, and how much time you'll actually need, you've found the right guide. I'll walk you through everything the Elvis Entourage VIP Tour includes, share what worked (and what didn't), and give you the practical information you need to plan your visit like a pro. This is based on my own experience navigating the complex with my family, and I'm going to give you the honest truth – not the glossy brochure version.
Don’t forget that Tailor-Made Itineraries delights in creating bespoke self-guided tours. So, if visiting Graceland appeals to you, reach out to me by email. I would be more than happy to design a self-guided tour around your requirements incorporating Graceland and other Elvis associated sites, or indeed, a general tour of Memphis.
The Graceland Mansion
We had decided to book the Elvis Entourage VIP Tour (which costs $148 per person in January 2026) online. The main bonus of this package is that you get front-of-the-line Mansion access. This cut waiting times down significantly. The Graceland Mansion is separate from the entertainment complex, and can only be accessed by bus from the complex, and our package allowed us to get taken to the mansion and back again without delay. The package also gives you a Keepsake Backstage Pass and access to the Exclusive VIP Exhibit. We found that this exhibit, however, was unimpressive, certainly compared to the rest of the exhibits.
The tour of the Graceland Mansion was fascinating, and you were led around by an interactive iPad that you were issued with. The tour included only the ground and basement floors of the house, which still gave you access to the living room, Elvis’ parents’ bedroom, the kitchen, the TV room (which was a crazy entertainment room with three TVs side by side), the fun pool room, and of course, the famous Jungle Room.
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Obviously the Jungle Room was everyone’s favourite! Who wouldn’t want green carpet on the floors, walls and ceiling??
Outside, we visited the Trophy Building, which gave a fascinating insight into the life and times of Elvis through his personal mementos. My favourite displays were the homemade films that Elvis shot, showing fun times that he'd had at his sanctuary. We also had a chance to view Priscilla's wedding dress and Lisa Marie's cot.
There was also the chance to visit Vernon’s (Elvis’ father) Office and the Racquetball Building.
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The tour of the mansion finishes off at the Meditation Garden. As the name suggests, this was a peaceful and touching resting place for Elvis and his family. Even though I wasn’t Elvis’ biggest fan, I couldn’t help but shed a little tear while standing at his grave. The whole Graceland experience was so well done and I really felt a connection with the man himself after immersing myself in all of the displays. After walking around Graceland, it would be hard not to feel some sort of emotion while paying respects at his shrine.
Presley Motors Automobile Museum
The tour round the Graceland Mansion was certainly the highlight of the visit, but it is by no means the only thing to see. Of particular interest to me was the Presley Motors Automobile Museum. I love my classic cars, and this was a great chance to see the famous Pink Cadillac (which he eventually gifted to his mother Gladys), as well as the 1960 MG used by Elvis in Blue Hawaii, and perhaps his favourite car, the 1973 Stutz Blackhawk. As well as the cars, I was really impressed with the museum itself, as it was spacious and well laid out, giving all of his many cars the space to really shine.
There was also the Presley Cycles exhibit; the Private Presley: Elvis in the Army Exhibit; Icons: The Influence of Elvis Presley Exhibit; and the Mystery Train: The Sam Phillips Exhibit, which describes the story of the record producer that discovered Elvis.
Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum
Special mention should also be made to the Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum. I must have spent almost an hour studying this amazing collection of jumpsuits and memorabilia!
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Elvis’ Jets Exhibit
The visit was rounded off with a short walk across the carpark to the Elvis’ Jets Exhibit. On show was his 1958 Convair 880, named Lisa Marie, and his smaller Lockheed Jet Star. Full access is given to the Convair, which you walk through, checking out his living room, conference room and even his bed, complete with oversized seat belt!
Conclusion
Graceland exceeded my expectations in ways I didn't anticipate. Whether you're a lifelong Elvis devotee like my Mum or a curious traveller like I was, the VIP tour gives you the breathing room to really absorb the experience without the stress of long queues cutting into your day. Set aside at least four hours (we spent five and could've stayed longer), wear comfortable shoes, and prepare to see Elvis not as a distant icon, but as a real person who built this extraordinary home as his sanctuary. The mansion tour will move you, the exhibits will fascinate you, and you'll leave with a genuine appreciation for why Elvis remains such an enduring figure in American culture.
Where to Stay
If you are looking to stay near Graceland, there are a couple of excellent choices, such as The Guest House at Graceland, and the Holiday Inn Express. There are also budget options, such as the Super 7 Inn, and the Comfort Inn Airport.
If you are looking to stay nearer the centre of Memphis, there are a number of luxury options, such as the MOXY Memphis Downtown, and the ARRIVE Memphis. As for a more budget option, you won't go far wrong with the Best Western Plus Gen X Inn, or the La Quinta by Wyndham Memphis Downtown.
Related Blog Posts
If you are interested in finding out more about Elvis, please view the Tailor-Made Itineraries posts below:
Drop a comment below and tell me – which part of the VIP experience would you be most excited to see?
Don’t forget that Tailor-Made Itineraries delights in creating bespoke self-guided tours. So, if visiting Graceland appeals to you, reach out to me by email. I would be more than happy to design a self-guided tour around your requirements incorporating Graceland and other Elvis associated sites, or indeed, a general tour of Memphis.
Tailor-Made Itineraries posts every two weeks, and you can subscribe to the latest blog and newsletter here. Until then, happy reading and safe travels.
Barry
Contact Me: tailoritineraries@gmail.com