City in Tennessee, United States
Is Memphis safe?
Downtown tourist areas are generally fine by day and evening, but violent crime is high citywide and concentrated in some neighborhoods.
Is Memphis safe?
Downtown tourist areas are generally fine by day and evening, but violent crime is high citywide and concentrated in some neighborhoods. Plan your route and use rideshare at night.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- Homicide rate in United States: 5.8 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in United States: 12.7 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
Safety in Memphis at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Armed robbery and car break-ins are the main risks; pickpocketing on Beale Street on busy nights. Gun violence concentrates outside the tourist core. |
| At night | Downtown stays busy near Beale Street but empties elsewhere. Use Uber or Lyft rather than walking after dark. |
| Solo women | Fine in central areas with normal care; use rideshare at night, watch drinks on Beale Street and avoid isolated parking decks. |
| Other risks | Summer heat and humidity; Severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings, spring; Winter ice storms close roads occasionally |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Panhandlers and 'tour' touts on Beale Street; decline politely
- Card skimmers on standalone gas-pump and street ATMs
Take care
- Walking between Beale Street and Orange Mound or South Memphis after dark
- Beale Street late on weekends: crowds, fights and a night curfew for minors
- Leaving belongings visible in parked cars anywhere
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Drinking age is 21 everywhere; bars and shops check ID, so carry your passport.
- Open alcohol containers in public and in cars are illegal in most places.
- Cannabis is legal in some states but federally illegal; never carry it across borders or onto federal land.
How Memphis compares in United States
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Sedona | 5/5 · Very safe |
| New York City | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Las Vegas | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Orlando | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Honolulu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Boston | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Diego | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Maui | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nashville | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Austin | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Miami Beach | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Key West | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Denver | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Portland | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Antonio | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Charleston | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Savannah | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Fort Lauderdale | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kauai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Big Island | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Los Angeles | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Miami | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| San Francisco | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Washington, D.C. | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Chicago | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| New Orleans | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Seattle | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Philadelphia | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Atlanta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Memphis | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Memphis safe for solo female travelers?
Fine in central areas with normal care; use rideshare at night, watch drinks on Beale Street and avoid isolated parking decks.
Is Memphis safe at night?
Downtown stays busy near Beale Street but empties elsewhere. Use Uber or Lyft rather than walking after dark.
What is the crime rate in Memphis?
Armed robbery and car break-ins are the main risks; pickpocketing on Beale Street on busy nights. Gun violence concentrates outside the tourist core. Nationally, United States records 5.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Memphis?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
More about Memphis
Going to Memphis solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Memphis meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) fares
- Memphis International Airport
- Memphis Travel (Visit Memphis)
- National Civil Rights Museum
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.