Knoxville

Around Knoxville

Photo: David Ratledge · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Metro area · Tennessee · 957k people

Knoxville

Locals say East Tennessee · “The Marble City”, “The Scruffy City”, “K-Town”

Where the mountains meet the river.

Tennessee Volunteers OrangeRiver Blue

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Welcome to Knoxville, where the Smokies are your backyard and the Vols are your hometown team. Grab a sweet tea, wander Market Square, and get ready to fall in love with this river city.

Clubs for Knoxville

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The room

One room for everyone around Knoxville. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Knoxville. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park America's most-visited national park, right at the doorstep.
  • Tennessee River Runs through downtown, perfect for kayaking and riverfront walks.
  • University of Tennessee campus Home of the Vols, with the iconic Torchbearer statue.
  • Neyland Stadium Vols football on the Tennessee River, one of the largest stadiums in the country.
  • Market Square Historic downtown hub with farmers market, shops, and events.
  • Old City Warehouse district turned arts and nightlife spot.
  • Outdoors Hike the Urban Wilderness trails
  • Outdoors Paddle the Tennessee River
  • With kids Zoo Knoxville
  • With kids Muse Knoxville
  • Evenings Tennessee Theatre
  • Evenings Mill & Mine
  • Locals love Riverfront parks
  • Locals love Brewery taprooms

Through the year

  • Big Ears Festival March Avant-garde and indie music festival in March.
  • Dogwood Arts Festival April Spring celebration with art, garden tours, and dogwood blooms.
  • Knoxville Marathon April Road race through downtown and along the river.
  • Sundown in the City Summer Free outdoor concert series on Market Square.
  • Tennessee Valley Fair September Carnival rides, livestock shows, and live music.

Knoxville has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Hot, humid summers and mild winters, but spring and fall are the best times to be outside. Best: Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures and clear skies.

Talk like a local

“Vols”
Nickname for the Tennessee Volunteers sports teams.
“Rocky Top”
The University of Tennessee fight song, often used as a rallying cry.
“holler”
A small valley or hollow, common in Appalachian speech.
“fixin' to”
About to do something.

Getaways

  • Sevierville Dollywood, Smoky Mountain gateway, and outlet shopping.
  • Morristown Cherokee Lake recreation and historic downtown.
  • Newport Whitewater rafting on the Pigeon River and Smoky Mountain access.
  • Middlesborough Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and scenic drives.

Local flavour

Teams

  • Tennessee Volunteers NCAA Division I
  • Tennessee Smokies Double-A South (MiLB)
  • Knoxville Ice Bears Southern Professional Hockey League

Eat and drink

  • Barbecue (pulled pork) Tennessee-style, often served with sweet sauce
  • Biscuits and gravy Southern breakfast staple
  • Sweet tea Iced tea with sugar, ubiquitous
  • Dollywood cinnamon bread Famous at the theme park in nearby Pigeon Forge
  • Southern comfort food Fried chicken, country ham, grits, and other soul-warming dishes

Where people go

  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park The most-visited national park, a short drive away
  • Tennessee River Winding through the city, offering recreation and views
  • University of Tennessee campus Home to the Vols, historic buildings, and the iconic orange
  • Neyland Stadium One of the largest college football stadiums, on game days a sea of orange
  • Market Square Historic downtown square with shops, restaurants, and events
  • Old City Trendy district with art galleries, bars, and brick streets
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory Major research lab, part of the Manhattan Project history
  • World's Fair Park Site of the 1982 World's Fair, with the Sunsphere and green spaces

Heritage and traditions

East Tennessee is proud of its Appalachian heritage, the Volunteer spirit, and being the home of the University of Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains. Locals celebrate a mix of mountain traditions, scientific innovation, and Southern hospitality.

Say it like a local: “branch” — a small stream or creek

Festivals

  • Rossini Festival April An Italian street fair with opera, food, and entertainment in downtown Knoxville.
  • Rhythm N' Blooms April A multi-venue music festival showcasing local and national acts.
  • Kuumba Festival June A celebration of African American culture with music, art, and food.
  • Jazz on the Square Summer Free outdoor jazz concerts in Market Square on summer evenings.
  • Hola Festival September Hispanic heritage festival with dance, music, and authentic cuisine.
  • Greek Fest September Greek Orthodox church festival featuring traditional food, music, and dancing.

Landmarks with a story

  • Blount Mansion The 1792 home of territorial governor William Blount, a National Historic Landmark.
  • Mabry-Hazen House An 1858 house that served as headquarters for both Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War.
  • Ramsey House The oldest house in Knoxville, built in 1797 by Francis Alexander Ramsey.
  • East Tennessee History Center Museum and archives telling the story of the region from Native American times to the present.
  • McClung Museum University of Tennessee museum with exhibits on natural history, archaeology, and culture.
  • American Museum of Science and Energy In Oak Ridge, telling the story of the Manhattan Project and the 'Secret City'.

Food traditions

  • Meat-and-three A Southern institution where you pick a meat and three vegetable sides, often with cornbread and sweet tea.
  • Country ham Salt-cured, aged ham served at holidays and special occasions, often with red-eye gravy.
  • Pinto beans and cornbread A humble Appalachian staple, often cooked with a ham hock and served with skillet cornbread.
  • Chow-chow A tangy relish made from green tomatoes, cabbage, and onions, used to top beans or hot dogs.
  • Sorghum syrup A sweet molasses-like syrup made from sorghum cane, drizzled on biscuits or cornbread.

Music and arts

  • Bluegrass and country music East Tennessee is a cradle of Appalachian music, with roots in old-time and bluegrass.
  • Gospel music Strong church and gospel traditions, with many local groups and annual singings.
  • Appalachian folk art Quilting, woodcarving, and pottery reflect the region's mountain heritage.
  • Knoxville Symphony Orchestra The city's professional orchestra performs classical and pops concerts.

A little history

  • 1786 Knoxville founded as capital of the Southwest Territory
  • 1796 Knoxville served as the first capital of Tennessee
  • 1860s East Tennessee was strongly Unionist during the Civil War, leading to divided loyalties
  • 1933 The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was established with headquarters in Knoxville
  • 1942-1945 Oak Ridge was built as a secret city for the Manhattan Project, producing enriched uranium

Rivalries

  • Tennessee vs Alabama Third Saturday in October – a legendary SEC football rivalry.
  • Tennessee vs Florida Fierce football rivalry with the Gators.
  • Tennessee vs Vanderbilt In-state battle for bragging rights.
  • Knoxville vs Oak Ridge High school football and community pride.
  • Game day Vol Navy tailgating
  • Game day Rocky Top singalong
  • Outdoors Hike to the top of Sharp's Ridge
  • Outdoors Walk the Will Skelton Greenway
  • With kids Ride the Sunsphere elevator
  • With kids See a show at the Tennessee Theatre

East Tennessee speech is a Southern Appalachian dialect, with a slow drawl, dropped 'g's, and words like 'y'all' and 'reckon'. Locals often pronounce 'creek' as 'crick' and use 'holler' for valley.

Only here

  • The Vol Navy—a floating tailgate party on the Tennessee River where boats gather before UT football games.
  • The Sunsphere, a futuristic tower from the 1982 World's Fair, now a quirky symbol of Knoxville.
  • Oak Ridge, the 'Secret City' built during WWII for the Manhattan Project, still a center for science.
  • The Dogwood Arts Trail, where thousands of dogwood trees bloom across the city each spring.
New here? A few tips
  • Embrace the Vol spirit: on game days, downtown and Neyland Stadium are packed with orange; either join in or plan around the traffic.
  • Try a meat-and-three for lunch—it's the quintessential East Tennessee meal.
  • Learn to love the hills: the city is nestled in valleys, so be ready for winding roads and steep drives.
  • Take advantage of the greenways and Urban Wilderness for hiking and biking right in the city.
  • The Sunsphere is free to visit—go up for a great view of the city and the Smokies on a clear day.

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Part of Knoxville area

Nearby

Every area
SeviervilleTennesseeThe Smokies' front porchMorristownTennesseeApple country and lake life in the foothills.Monroe CountyTennesseeWhere rivers run deep and the mountains feel like home.NewportTennesseeWhere the mountains meet the riverTazewellTennesseeSmall towns, big mountain heartsMiddlesboroughKentuckyWhere the mountains meet the skyAthensTennesseeWhere the river runs through historyWaynesvilleNorth CarolinaThe friendliest town in the Smokies

Knoxville, TN. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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