Knoxville.
Knoxville sits roughly three hours east of Nashville along Interstate 40, centered on the Tennessee River. It is known for its nineteenth-century Market Square and a distinct regional kitchen rooted in East Tennessee curing and foraging traditions. The compact downtown makes walking between old brick alleys and the waterfront straightforward. Knoxville is worth visiting if you want Appalachian table cooking, live noon radio broadcasts, and urban greenways along limestone bluffs. Look elsewhere if you want world-class art museums, late-night dance clubs, or the ability to explore beyond the compact downtown core without a car.
Last updated 9 Sept 2026
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What to do in Knoxville Tennessee United States
Knoxville arranges itself along a ridge above the Tennessee River, centered on the brick plazas of Market Square and Gay Street. The daily rhythm is unhurried, moving from morning bakeries to evening porch dinners and river walks. It suits independent travellers who enjoy southern Appalachian foodways, live roots music, and outdoor paths within ten minutes of downtown.
24 hours in Knoxville Tennessee United States
Start with biscuits on Market Square, then catch the free noon WDVX radio performance at the Knoxville Visitor Center. Cross the river in the afternoon for a stroll through the limestone bluffs at Ijams Nature Center, returning to the Old City for braised pork and dry cider along Jackson Avenue. Select 1 Day above to see it.
2 days in Knoxville Tennessee United States
Spend your second morning exploring Victorian cottages in Historic Fourth and Gill before browsing mid-century shops along North Central Street. Have lunch in Happy Holler, visit the Knoxville Museum of Art at World's Fair Park, and book a table for wood-fired trout on Gay Street. Choose 2 Days to expand the plan.
3 days in Knoxville Tennessee United States
A third day allows an easy morning drive to the quiet trails of Townsend and the Elkmont historic district in the Great Smoky Mountains. Return through Maryville for fried chicken and stone-ground grits, ending the evening with a film or concert at the restored Tennessee Theatre.
Knoxville Tennessee United States itineraries by interest
Regional Cooking in Knoxville Tennessee United States
Sample skillet cornbread, slow-braised pork belly, chow-chow, and heritage grains served across Market Square and the Old City.
Urban Trails in Knoxville Tennessee United States
Walk the South Knoxville trail system through old marble quarries and wooded ridges at the Ijams Nature Center.
Traditional Music in Knoxville Tennessee United States
Catch the live midday Blue Plate Special radio broadcast on WDVX inside the Knoxville Visitor Center on Gay Street.
Craft Beer in Knoxville Tennessee United States
Tour Central Avenue taprooms in Happy Holler pouring Appalachian sour ales, dry lagers, and locally hopped IPAs.
Local History in Knoxville Tennessee United States
Explore the 1792 Blount Mansion and the Museum of East Tennessee History detailing frontier statehood and railway boomtown days.
Waterfront Walks in Knoxville Tennessee United States
Follow the paved riverfront path along the Tennessee River from Volunteer Landing toward the bridges of South Knoxville.
Public Markets in Knoxville Tennessee United States
Browse local honey, fresh heirloom beans, cured hams, and baked skillet pies at the seasonal Market Square Farmers Market.
Historic Architecture in Knoxville Tennessee United States
Admire the 1928 Tennessee Theatre with its Spanish Moorish interior and intact Wurlitzer organ along south Gay Street.
Contemporary Art in Knoxville Tennessee United States
Visit the Knoxville Museum of Art in World's Fair Park, home to Richard Jolley's monumental figurative glass installation.
Distilling Traditions in Knoxville Tennessee United States
Taste small-batch Tennessee whiskey, white corn moonshine, and botanical gins produced in repurposed Old City railway depots.
Vintage Shopping in Knoxville Tennessee United States
Rummage through mid-century furniture, regional folk crafts, and retro vinyl along North Central Street in Historic Fourth and Gill.
Day Trips in Knoxville Tennessee United States
Drive forty-five minutes southeast into the Great Smoky Mountains to hike old-growth hardwoods and stone creek beds at Elkmont.