Car rental Knoxville, TN

Knoxville takes pride of place as the seat Knox County, where modernity mixes with history of a bygone era and the pace is steady. Explore the city and Tennessee by rental car, and you’ll be able to absorb it all.

If you’re here on business, aim for the Downtown district – Knoxville’s business hub, which shimmers with buildings and structures, including the 81-metre Sunsphere, which looks like an enormous Van de Graff generator.

If you’re flying into McGhee-Tyson Airport, the best route to the city centre is on US-129, which stays close to the banks of the Tennessee River. Here you have great access to Gay Street, an important stretch of the city’s downtown area, where art galleries and cinemas are tucked between landmarks.

There are many convenient parking lots nearby, including State Street Garage by Charles Krutch Park, where you can benefit from reduced rates during Tennessee Volunteers football games.

Knoxville is served by a convenient web of highways stretching through Tennessee, North Carolina and beyond. I-640 is a useful bypass of I-40, providing an easy way to navigate the neighbourhoods of North Knoxville.

Continue on I-40 to reach Nashville in the west and North Carolina in the east. The eastern stretch of freeway winds through the rolling hills and lush woodland between the Cherokee National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Many tourists use Knoxville as their base while visiting the Smoky Mountains. There are several routes into the magic, but the Chapman Highway is the most direct, winding through quaint towns with their own vibrant attractions. Cruise past Mountain Coasters at Gatlinburg until you emerge in the forested foothills of the Smoky Mountains.

If you’d prefer to explore more of the beautiful lands surrounding Knoxville, I-75 curves north towards Kentucky. Then, in the south, it stretches along the Mississippi River towards the historic town of Chattanooga.

Renting a car in Knoxville allows you to experience it all.

The maximum speed limit is 25mph (40km/h) in downtown Knoxville, and generally below 35mph (56km/h) in the Smoky Mountains. Be sure to check in with the National Park Service for the latest road closures.

The energetic epicentre of the Tennessee valley, Knoxville, or Marble City – thanks to the area’s abundance of the material – is a city where the wonders of nature are never far away.

Historically known as the Cradle of Country Music, modern Knoxville is home to the University of Tennessee and many top attractions. Plan your vacation carefully to mix cultural city sights with blissful journeys through the south-eastern United States.

Cultural exploration

This bright city has a thriving arts scene, with distinct art and theatre districts packed with colourful venues.

The magical lanes around Gay Street have a reputation for drawing out the artistic spirits of every traveller. Visit the Art Market Gallery to find local art and fine souvenirs. The Emporium Centre, meanwhile, is the go-to place to find multiple galleries, including a community mural.

Theatres are a core part of Knoxville’s story, with a legacy dating back to 1872. The Tennessee Theatre is a grand and opulent favourite, where 90 years of heritage sit beneath an ornate, golden ceiling. Catch a Broadway show, see classic films or enjoy an indulgent night at the opera.

The Bijou Theatre is a historic venue with a slightly different atmosphere. Here, you can see traditional Vaudeville shows and take a journey back to the early 20th century. The venue has superb acoustics and hosts music concerts and comedy shows.

Travel through time in the Old City

Knoxville’s new architecture is flamboyant and impressive. The 81-metre-tall Sunsphere – like a gigantic disco ball on a pedestal – was built for the 1982 World Fair, and continues to be a source of pride.

The Old City is home to a different atmosphere entirely; period buildings stand beside traditional saloons while 1920s jazz spills from the doorways. This neighbourhood isn’t far from the downtown financial district, and its coffee shops and night spots are favourites among business and leisure travellers.

The historic market square is the bustling heart of the area; known as the Creative Corridor, it’s home to great galleries and independent boutique stores.

See the Smoky Mountains

From Clingmans Dome to Cades Cove, the Smoky Mountains have many summits that will take your breath away. Since Knoxville is so close to this natural paradise, the ridges are simply too tempting to ignore.

There are many great places to try horseback riding in the Smoky Mountain’s foothills – just stop by one of the many visitor centres along the winding mountain highway.

Sugarlands Visitor Center is the ideal place to stop if you’re not familiar with mountaineering, with staff handing out maps to help you along the hiking trails in each direction. If you prefer, Sugarlands is also home to natural history museums, so it’s possible to stay close to the road.

This region is also home to some impressive scenic drives, including Clingmans Dome Road and the 900-metre ascent along Newfound Gap Road.

Alternative attractions in the Smoky Mountains include Dollywood – an amusement park part-owned by Dolly Parton – where you can experience water rides in the shadow of North America’s oldest mountain range.

Top Secret Trail heads through the Appalachian foothills and, despite the name, its treasures are, thankfully, no secret. Tour the highlights of southern Tennessee from Oak Ridge to the Cumberland Plateau, past top museums, science centres and even more magnificent scenery.

Car rental is a great way to see more of the beautiful landscape surrounding Knoxville, helping you to make the most of your time in glorious Tennessee.