Shelby Farms Park is a 4,500-acre urban park in Memphis, Tennessee, and is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. This guide covers opening hours, costs, parking, transport, accessibility, and practical visitor tips to help you plan your visit.
Updated May 2026.
Quick facts: Shelby Farms Park, Memphis
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 6903 Great View Drive North, Memphis, TN 38134 |
| Park hours | Sunrise to sunset, every day of the year |
| Admission to the park | Free |
| Paid activities | Bike hire, boat and paddleboard hire, Go Ape, horseback riding, paintball (see below) |
| Parking | Free, multiple gated entrances throughout the park |
| Public transport | Limited — car or rideshare recommended |
| Size | 4,500 acres; 40+ miles of trails; 20+ bodies of water |
| Typical visit duration | 2 hours to a full day, depending on activity |
Shelby Farms Park opening hours
The park is open every day of the year from sunrise to sunset. Unlike most attractions, the park does not have fixed opening and closing times. Hours change daily based on actual sunrise and sunset times. The current day’s hours are displayed on the website homepage.
In mid-May, for example, the park opens around 5:50am and closes around 8:00pm. In mid-winter, it opens around 6:45am and closes around 5:00pm. First-time visitors should check the website the morning of their visit to confirm closing time, particularly in autumn and spring when daylength changes quickly.
Individual facilities and rental stations (bike hire, boat hire, Go Ape, the Visitor Center) operate on their own seasonal hours, which are shorter than the park’s overall hours.
Five great things to do in Memphis
- 🎸 Enjoy a private luxury tour of Memphis – with Graceland tickets included.
- 🍖 Get a taste of Tennessee – on a Downtown Memphis food tour.
- 🛥️ Take a Memphis discovery tour – with Mississippi cruise and Sun Studio add-on options.
- 🏙️ Discover Memphis beyond Beale Street – on a historic walking tour.
- 🚗 Hop on a day tour to Tupelo – and see Elvis’ childhood home.
Admission and activity costs at Shelby Farms Park
Admission to the park is free. There is no entrance fee, no annual pass requirement, and no charge for the majority of the park’s activities, including all trails, the Outback Off-Leash Dog Park, disc golf, fishing piers, open water swimming (when open), and attendance at free fitness classes.
Several activities on site are run by concession operators and carry separate charges:
| Activity | Provider | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bike hire | Shelby Farms Park | 3-speed hybrid and children’s bikes; helmets included; Tue–Sun seasonally |
| Canoe, kayak, SUP hire | Shelby Farms Park | Hyde Lake Boat House; spring and summer months only |
| Pedal boat hire | Shelby Farms Park | Pine Lake Outpost; spring and summer months only |
| Go Ape Treetop Adventure | Go Ape (independent) | Ziplines, rope courses, Tarzan swings; book online. |
| Horseback riding | Ride Shelby Farms (independent) | Trail rides; book online. |
| Paintball and laser tag | Battlefront Memphis (independent) | Book online. |
Current pricing for hire activities is published on the official website and updated seasonally. Check for the latest rates before visiting.
Opening hours and cost information were checked on the official website and last updated in May 2026.
How to get to Shelby Farms Park
The park’s main entrance is at 6903 Great View Drive North, Memphis, TN 38134, approximately nine miles east of downtown Memphis.
By car: The park is accessible from Interstate 40 (Germantown Parkway exit) and from Walnut Grove Road. Multiple gated entrances are located on Great View Drive North, Walnut Grove Road, Germantown Road, and Trinity Road. Different entrances serve different areas of the park — use the park map at shelbyfarmspark.org/park-map to identify the entrance closest to your planned activity.
By rideshare: Uber and Lyft both serve the park and are the most practical option for visitors without a car. Ask your driver for the specific entrance closest to your intended activity when booking.
By public transport: Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) bus routes do not serve the park directly in a way that is straightforward for most visitors. Check matatransit.com for current routes, but rideshare is the more practical option.
By bike: The Shelby Farms Greenline is a 10.65-mile paved trail connecting Midtown Memphis through the park to Cordova, Tennessee. Cyclists can access the park from multiple points along the Greenline without using a car.
Parking at Shelby Farms Park
Parking is free at all park entrances. Multiple surface car parks are distributed throughout the park at different gates. On busy weekend days and during special events, car parks close to the main entrance on Great View Drive North can fill. Alternative entrances on Walnut Grove Road, Germantown Road, and Trinity Road (for the Outback area) offer additional capacity.
A downloadable park map shows all car park locations, gates, and trail connections. Downloading this before you arrive is strongly recommended given the size of the site.
How long to spend at Shelby Farms Park
Visit duration varies entirely by activity. A family walk along the Promenade around the lake takes around one hour. A mountain bike session on the Tour de Wolf and Wolf River Trails might take two to three hours. A full day combining water activities, the dog park, a picnic, and a trail run is easily achievable. Budget at least half a day for a first visit to explore the main areas; a full day if visiting with children or planning multiple activities.
Accessibility at Shelby Farms Park
The park has a dedicated ADA Access page. The main paved trails — including the Baptist Memorial Health Care Promenade around the lake and the Shelby Farms Greenline — are accessible to wheelchair users and visitors with pushchairs. The Promenade is a separated-use trail, with pedestrian and cyclist loops kept apart.
The First Horizon Foundation Visitor Center is fully accessible and serves as the main hub for information, facilities, and the gift shop. Accessible restrooms are located throughout the park, including at the Visitor Center and at the Woodland Discovery Playground area. The unpaved trails — including the Tour de Wolf, Wolf River Trails, and the North Pine Lake Horse Trail — are natural-surface paths not suitable for wheelchairs.
Inside Shelby Farms Park: what to see and do
Trails cover more than 40 miles of paved and unpaved routes across the park. The Baptist Memorial Health Care Promenade (2.34 miles for pedestrians; 2.45 miles for cyclists, with each loop separated) is the most popular route for a first visit — it circles the main lake in the Heart of the Park and passes the Visitor Center. The Shelby Farms Greenline (10.65 miles, paved) connects the park to Midtown Memphis and Cordova. Unpaved trails include the Tour de Wolf (6 miles, good for mountain biking and trail running) and the Wolf River Trails (up to 9 miles total) running alongside the Wolf River through the Lucius Burch Jr. State Natural Area.
The Buffalo Herd is one of the park’s most distinctive features. Shelby Farms Park maintains a herd of American bison as part of an ongoing conservation programme. The herd is visible from designated viewing areas. Drones may not be flown over the buffalo enclosure under park rules.
The Outback Off-Leash Dog Park covers more than 100 acres of open fields, ponds, and unpaved trails on the northeastern side of the park (Gates 11, 12, and 13 on Trinity Road and Raleigh-Lagrange Road). The Outback was voted the number one dog park in the United States in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It includes a dog wash station and a water fountain (currently out of order — bring water for your dog). Open sunrise to sunset.
Water activities are centred on Hyde Lake and Pine Lake. The Hyde Lake Boat House rents canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards during spring and summer. The Pine Lake Outpost rents pedal boats during the same season. Visitors with their own non-motorised boats (kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, or sailboats up to 14 feet) can launch from the ramp on the north edge of Hyde Lake. Motorised watercraft are not permitted. Under Tennessee law, all persons aged 12 and under on a boat must wear a personal flotation device.
Go Ape Treetop Adventure is an independently operated zipline and rope course located near the Pine Lake Pavilion. It is run by Go Ape and booked separately at goape.com/location/tennessee-memphis.
Woodland Discovery Playground is a large natural-themed play area for children.
Disc Golf is free to play. The course is accessible from the main trail network. Bring your own discs; none are available for hire at the course.
Free fitness classes run throughout the year as part of the Get Outside! programme, led by local partners including the YMCA, Ballet Memphis, Club Pilates, and Kidokinetics.
Canoes + Cocktails is a seasonal adults-only (21+) evening event on the lake, combining kayak or canoe access with drinks.
Practical visitor tips for Shelby Farms Park
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Download the park map before you arrive | At 4,500 acres, the park is large enough that arriving without a map is a common mistake. Download the park map and identify which gate to use for your planned activity. The main entrance on Great View Drive North is not the closest point for the Outback, the Wolf River Trails, or horseback riding. |
| Check the alerts page the morning of your visit | The park publishes live alerts. Trail conditions, facility closures, and event-related access changes are posted here. Conditions change often on a site this size. |
| Seasonal activities open and close at different times | Boat hire, the sprayground, and Canoes + Cocktails events are spring and summer offerings. Some trails may be muddy or temporarily closed after heavy rain. |
| Dogs must be on a lead everywhere except the Outback | Memphis leash laws apply throughout the park, including on the unpaved forest trails. The Outback (Gates 11–13) is the only designated off-leash area. Bring water and waste bags — water fountains are not guaranteed to be working. |
| The park is a non-profit — 75% of its budget comes from donations | Entry is free, but the park runs on private funding. If you visit regularly or want to support the park’s trail maintenance and conservation work, becoming a Park Friend is free and voluntary donations are welcomed. |
Frequently asked questions about Shelby Farms Park
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Shelby Farms Park free to enter? | Yes. Admission to the park is free. Certain activities — bike hire, boat hire, Go Ape, horseback riding, and paintball — are run by concession operators and carry separate fees. The majority of the park, including all trails, the Outback dog park, and disc golf, is free. |
| Is Shelby Farms Park open every day? | Yes. The park is open every day of the year from sunrise to sunset. Hours vary daily based on actual sunrise and sunset times. Check shelbyfarmspark.org for the current day’s hours. |
| Are dogs allowed at Shelby Farms Park? | Yes. Dogs must be on a lead, leash in hand, at all times throughout the park and on the Greenline. The Outback (Gates 11–13) is the designated off-leash area covering more than 100 acres. |
| Is there parking at Shelby Farms Park? | Yes — free parking is available at multiple gated entrances throughout the park. Download the park map to identify the correct entrance for your activity. |
Things to do near Shelby Farms Park
Shelby Farms Greenline (accessible directly from the park) is a 10.65-mile paved trail connecting the park westward through East Memphis and Midtown to the Hampline trail network. It is 2026’s 15th anniversary year for the Greenline. Walkers, runners, and cyclists use it free of charge.
Overton Park (Poplar Avenue, ~9 miles west) is a 342-acre urban park in Midtown Memphis containing old-growth forest, a public golf course, a sculpture garden, and the Memphis Zoo. It is connected to Shelby Farms via the Greenline network.
Memphis Zoo (2000 Prentiss Place, within Overton Park) is home to more than 3,500 animals across 500 species, including giant pandas.
Lichterman Nature Center (5992 Quince Road, ~4 miles west) is a 65-acre nature sanctuary with interactive exhibits, a three-acre lake, and guided nature programmes run by the Pink Palace Family of Museums.
Agricenter International (7777 Walnut Grove Road, adjacent to the park) is a working farm and agricultural education centre that shares Shelby Farms’ eastern boundary. It hosts the Memphis Farmers Market and seasonal events.
What to visit tomorrow: large parks and nature areas within two hours of Memphis
Overton Park (Memphis, ~9 miles, ~15 minutes) is Midtown Memphis’s major urban park with old-growth forest trails, and is connected to Shelby Farms via the Greenline. Also home to the Memphis Zoo and the Brooks Museum of Art.
Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park (~25 miles north, ~30 minutes) is a 13,467-acre state park on the Mississippi River bluffs north of Memphis. It has hiking trails, a lake with canoe and boat hire, primitive camping, and some of the best bottomland hardwood forest in the state.
T.O. Fuller State Park (~8 miles south-west, ~20 minutes) is a historic state park in southwest Memphis with hiking trails, an 18-hole golf course, and a swimming pool. It was the first state park east of the Mississippi River open to African Americans, designated in 1942.
Reelfoot Lake State Park (Tiptonville, TN, ~1.5 hours north) is a natural lake created by the 1811 New Madrid earthquakes and is one of the best bald eagle habitats in the eastern United States. Fishing, boat tours, and wildlife viewing are the main draws.
Natchez Trace Parkway (accessible from ~1 hour south-east) is a 444-mile National Parkway tracing a historic travel corridor from Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi. The nearest parkway access point from Memphis is near Hernando, MS — with hiking, cycling, and scenic driving along a route through forests, historic sites, and open meadows.
More Memphis travel
Other Memphis travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What to know before visiting the Memphis Botanic Garden.
- Plan your visit the music heritage attractions of Memphis: Sun Studio, Memphis Rock ‘N’ Soul Museum, Memphis Music Hall of Fame and Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
