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Memphis Riverboats

Type: Sightseeing , Tours and Excursions

Last updated on June 29, 2015

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45 S Riverside Dr Memphis, TN 38103

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• Tours and Excursions : "Most cruises are offered seasonally, so be sure to check the website or call for the most updated schedule."
• Best for Tours and Excursions Because: We love the fact Memphis Riverboats offers a speedboat tour of the river - it's a great way to experience the Mississippi's power.

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This Seneic Riverboat Cruise In Tennessee Is The Best Way To Start A Summer Day

Chris Dodge

My name is Chris Dodge and I live right here in the great state of Tennessee. My family and I are full adventurers filled with passion to see the amazing things our state has to offer. We are avid hikers and have explored many different places in Tennessee and beyond but we are always thankful to be living in such a glorious state.

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The mighty Mississippi River is one of those iconic landmarks that holds massive historical significance. It is one of the largest rivers in our country and is used as a dividing line for east and west. Being on the east side of the Mississippi, Memphis benefits greatly by being located right along the water. And if you want to fully  experience the waters of this resplendent river, the best way is to hop aboard the Memphis Riverboat Cruise in Tennessee. 

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The Memphis Riverboat Cruise in Tennessee is a great way to start any summer day. Allow the cool breeze from the water take you away as you sightsee and enjoy the history of not only Memphis, but of the mighty and majestic Mississippi River. Make sure to visit the Memphis Riverboat Cruise website to book a tour or for more information. 

Interested in spending some more time in the city? Check out our Memphis day trip that includs attractions, accommodations, and great BBQ!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Boat Rides on the Great River Road

Attractions , Featured , Things to Do | 0 |

Photo Credit: Memphis Riverboats (Memphis, TN)

From paddle wheelers to eco focused charter boats, jump on board, pack a fishing pole or sit back and sight see with a cocktail in hand. The Great River Road offers ample opportunity to take a break from the road and hit the river on these fantastic boat rides.

 ~Minnesota~

Minneapolis Queen (Minneapolis, MN)

Departing from Bohemian Flats this paddle-wheeler is a perfect way to experience the history of beautiful downtown Minneapolis from the water.

Winona Tour Boat (Winona, MN)

Narrated boat tour on the history of the area including Winona’s famous boathouse community, see eagles in their natural habitat or take a ride during the fall colors.

 ~Wisconsin~

La Crosse Queen Cruises (La Crosse, WI)

A modern-day replica of the grand river boats that plied the Mississippi River in the early 1900s. Cruising out of Riverside Park, this is one of the few authentic paddlewheel river boats still in operation today.

Dubuque’s American Lady (Dubuque, IA)

Enjoy the tree-covered bluffs and a unique view of historic downtown Dubuque while you take a Sightseeing, Lunch, Happy Hour, or Dinner Cruise on the Mighty Mississippi. 

Riverboat Twilight (Le Claire, Iowa)

Come aboard the most elegant riverboat to be launched in the last 100 years. Explore the Upper Mississippi River Valley in style on the Riverboat Twilight. America’s Authentic River Experience.

  ~Illinois~

Celebration River Cruises (Moline, IL)

The “Celebration Belle” is specifically designed for cruising the waterways of the great Mississippi River, offering casual sightseeing, luncheon and dinner cruises.

 ~Missouri~  

Mark Twain Riverboat (Hannibal, MO)

Spend the day on the river taking in the sights or dining on the river at sunset, the Mark Twain has been a unique feature on the Hannibal riverfront for more than 30 years.

Gateway Arch Riverboats (St. Louis, MO)

Enjoy some of the best views of the Gateway Arch and St. Louis’ working riverfront on a riverboat cruise. Whether you’re in the mood for a romantic dinner, a relaxing tour, or a floating party with live music and dancing, we have a cruise to suit your interests.

~Tennessee~

Memphis Riverboats (Memphis, TN)

Authentic American Riverboat Cruises on the Mississippi River. Take a Paddlewheeler a few miles up and down the greatest river in the U.S.A., The “Mighty” Mississippi.

~Louisiana~

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Riley Strain's body found in Nashville river, police say

University of Missouri student Riley Strain 's body was found in the Cumberland River on Friday morning, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department announced.

"The body of Riley Strain was recovered from the Cumberland River in West Nashville this morning, approximately 8 miles from downtown," the department wrote on X . "No foul play-related trauma was observed. An autopsy is pending."

Police received a call around 7:28 a.m. from a worker at a nearby business who discovered Strain's body after removing an object from the river, Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake said during a press conference shortly after the discovery.

The city fire department then removed the body from the water and the medical examiner's office later confirmed the identity. Strain still had his shirt and other identifiable objects on his body, according to Drake.

His family has been notified.

"I want to say to the family, my heart and prayers go out to you all for this very unfortunate and tragic incident," Drake said. "I also want to say thank you to the Nashville community and the outpouring of support from the community in trying to help us locate Mr. Strain."

Given Strain's height and weight, police were expecting his body to surface between 14 and 20 days after his disappearance if it were in the Cumberland River.

"This is the 14th day, so we were really expecting anytime soon to find him," Drake said.

"Today, we mourn one of our Tigers," the University of Missouri wrote on X . "As the Mizzou community mourns Riley, we are keeping his family in our thoughts and offering support," university President Mun Choi added in a statement .

"Our hearts go out to Riley’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time as we work to provide support and resources to all those affected by this tragedy," the Delta Chi Fraternity said in a press release Friday.

Strain went missing on March 8 after being asked to leave Luke's 32 Bridge Food + Drink in downtown Nashville while on a trip with Delta Chi for a spring formal.

The 22-year-old told his friends he would return to his hotel, stepfather Chris Whiteid told NBC News affiliate WSMV . Whiteid said in an interview on " Top Story with Tom Llamas " that Strain never made it back to the hotel.

Luke's 32 Bridge + Drink said in a statement on March 15 that Strain was served one alcoholic drink and two waters before being escorted out by security around 9:35 p.m. "based on our conduct standards," but did not elaborate further.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has been using boats with sonar capabilities and drones to search for Strain in the city's Cumberland River. His bank card was found between Gay Street and the river on March 17.

In security video released by police on March 12, Strain appears to sway and do a full 360-degree turn before continuing to walk while crossing 1st Avenue North to Gay Street at 9:47 p.m.

Other security cameras captured Strain stumbling at times and falling in one instance after leaving the bar.

Strain was last seen on video around 9:52 p.m., briefly interacting with an officer who was responding to a vehicle burglary on a sidewalk adjacent to the Cumberland River on Gay Street.

In the video released on March 19, Strain appears to be walking normally as the officer asks how he is doing, to which Strain replies, "I'm good, how are you?"

No evidence of foul play has surfaced during the investigation, according to the Nashville police.

Katherine Itoh is a news associate for NBC News.

Reporter, NBC OUT

Dangers of the Cumberland River: How water depth, current and temperature impact people

As Tennessee authorities continue their search for missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain this week, the Cumberland River has become a key setting in the unfolding drama.

But, is the Cumberland River really dangerous?

The Office of Emergency Management has launched boats on the river twice as part of a coordinated search for Strain, 22, with the Metro Nashville Police Department. The university student was last seen Friday walking near Gay Street and 1st Avenue , according to Nashville Fire Department spokesperson Kendra Loney.

His friends reported him missing the next day.

The area where Strain was last seen was in a brushy area with cliffs that would make it nearly impossible for the missing student to have fallen into the river, Loney said, but the failed boat searches on Tuesday and Wednesday have raised some serious concerns about the safety of river, itself, concerns that one Nashville business owner couldn't help but raise.

The Cumberland River spans 688 miles, cutting a path through southern Kentucky and Middle Tennessee before connecting to the Ohio River. It runs through two major cities: Clarksville and Nashville. There are eight dams along the river, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency notes that it is often used by large barges for transporting goods.

Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency Captain Josh Landrum said the Cumberland River presents several dangers to people, especially at night and in cold temperatures.

"Undertows can be present anytime there is wind and strong currents in river systems. However, typically through the downtown area, the river is narrow, and the river current is the greater danger. A strong river current alone could cause even a good swimmer difficulty in getting back to the shoreline if they were to fall in," Landrum said.

Cumberland Kayak & Adventure Company operations manager Dylan Schultz said there are several variables that could cause even more danger for those navigating the river.

Among those issues is how fast the water travels.

Water velocity on March 8, when Strain was last seen, was measured at 3.81 feet per second , according to United States Geological Survey (USGS) data. Velocity peaked at 10:30 a.m. on March 9, when it was measured at 4.0 feet per second.

"Day-to-day, the current varies," Schultz said. His company operates along a three-mile stretch of the Cumberland between Shelby Park and the downtown area. "It's not usually at a level where it is swift, but it would be difficult to swim against the current."

For those who are curious, the Cumberland's current runs west and northwest through Nashville, Schultz noted.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration defines swift currents as those with speeds of up to 8 feet per second.

But water velocity isn't the only factor to consider on the river. Depth is also important.

On March 8, the USGS reported that the river was 24.66 feet deep at 10 p.m. It has since changed, with the water level rising to 20.71 feet as of 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, the USGS said.

Despite those readings, Schultz said much of the Cumberland River is shallow enough to stand in. He estimates the average person can stand in the river anywhere between 10-15 feet from shore.

But, watch out, 'it does drop off quickly," he warned.

Perhaps the biggest challenge someone in the river might face, especially at night, comes from the transportation barges that float along the Cumberland combined with low air temperatures.

On March 8, temperatures were as low as 56 degrees, officials said. Landrum pointed out that water temperatures would have been in the 50-degree range, making hypothermia a possibility, especially if someone is unable to get out of the water quickly.

So far, the searches at the Cumberland have proven unsuccessful as local officials continue to hunt for the missing student.

Strain is 6'5" tall with a thin build, blue eyes and light brown hair.

He was out with a group of Delta Chi fraternity brothers Friday night when he got kicked out of Luke Bryan's bar at about 10 p.m. He hasn't been seen or heard from since.

The bar has said on social media that it is cooperating with authorities to aid in the investigation.

Anyone with information about Strain's whereabouts is asked to call Metro Police at 615-862-8600.

Riley Strain Update: What We Know After Body Found in River

T he Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) on Friday said a body that was found in the Cumberland River was identified as missing college student Riley Strain .

The Context:

Strain, a 22-year-old University of Missouri student, was on a trip to Nashville, Tennessee, with his fraternity brothers when he disappeared on March 8. Surveillance footage shows him stumbling and struggling to walk in a straight line after he became separated from his friends when he was kicked out of country music star Luke Bryan's bar, Luke's 32 Bridge.

According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, about 600,000 people go missing in the United States every year. Analysis of missing adults over the age of 21 by Statista showed that 100,492 men and 62,552 women went missing in 2021.

What We Know:

The MNPD confirmed that Strain's body was found in the Cumberland River in West Nashville, about 8 miles from downtown on Friday morning.

"No foul play-related trauma was observed," the local police wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter .

The police scene in The Nations area of the city is a roughly an 11 minute-drive from Gay Street where Strain was last seen on camera near the James Robertson Parkway Bridge.

Brian Entin, a senior national correspondent for NewsNation, gave some context on how the police located Strain's body amid their search.

"Police say they received a call this morning from a worker who was removing an object from the river and noticed a body," he wrote in an X post. "Fire crews retrieved body from river and it was identified as Riley Strain. Strain still had the same shirt and watch on."

Newsweek reached out to the MNPD, but no further updates were available.

What's Next?

There are still unanswered questions surrounding Strain's final moments, but MNPD said that an autopsy is pending.

Strain's family has yet to speak out after his body was found. During the search, Strain's stepfather, Chris Whiteid said at a news conference: "We appreciate more than you'll ever know the outpouring that we've received from the community, from the press, and everyone else involved."

Update 3/22/24, 10:57 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Update 3/22/24, 11:20 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Update 3/22/24, 11:37 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to reflect that MNPD was contacted for comment.

Related Articles

• Riley Strain Disappearance: Full List of Clues Found
• Riley Strain's Final Text Message Revealed
• Riley Strain's Parents Make Heartbreaking Statements After Son's Death

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Fourth of July Fireworks & Dinner Cruise

Memphis Riverboats invites you on a special holiday cruise featuring the Independence Day Spectacular Fireworks Show. Tickets also include Dinner. Don’t miss out on the best view available in the Mid-South aboard one of our Memphis Riverboat Vessels!

• Memphis-style Pulled Pork BBQ
• Grilled Chicken Breast
• Baked Beans
• Mac & Cheese
• House Salad

Boarding Time

Ticket prices.

• Adults (18+) – $65
• Youth (13-17) – $59.50
• Children (3-12) – $49.50
• Infants (0-2) – $10

Riverside Drive is closed the July 4th. Please plan accordingly. Parking will not be permitted on Riverside Drive.

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