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Tennessee, United States

Knoxville

One evening and a morning: dinner around Market Square, then Ijams before heading into the mountains. This guide pulls together 4 sights, 1 outdoor spot and 2 places to eat from our curated routes.

Plan Knoxville with friendsBrowse 8 places
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
Places
8

4 See · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink

Curated routes
1

Smokies Weekend

Best season
Apr – Oct

from our route notes

Warmest month
August

32°C / 89°F avg high

Coolest month
January

8°C / 47°F avg high

Wettest month
July

about 140 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Knoxville

8 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Knoxville across Downtown, Gay Street and World's Fair Park. 3 of them are free.

  • Market Square in KnoxvillePhoto: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0
    See

    Market Square

    Pedestrian square with restaurants, patios and a Saturday farmers market.

    Tip Saturday farmers market runs May–Nov.

    • Downtown
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Evening
  • Tennessee Theatre in KnoxvillePhoto: Joel Kramer · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Tennessee Theatre

    Restored 1928 movie palace with a Mighty Wurlitzer organ.

    Tip Catch a classic movie night or concert.

    • Gay Street
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • Evening
  • World's Fair Park & Sunsphere in KnoxvillePhoto: AppalachianCentrist · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    World's Fair Park & Sunsphere

    1982 World's Fair grounds with the gold Sunsphere tower.

    Tip Free observation deck on the 4th floor.

    • World's Fair Park
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Afternoon
  • Knoxville Museum of Art in KnoxvillePhoto: garrett hostetler · Google
    See

    Knoxville Museum of Art

    Free museum focused on East Tennessee art, with Richard Jolley's glass installation.

    Tip Free entry; closed Mondays.

    • World's Fair Park
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Midday

Outdoors

Trails, views and open space in and around Knoxville.

  • Ijams Nature Center in KnoxvillePhoto: Brian Stansberry (photographer) · CC BY 3.0
    Outdoors

    Ijams Nature Center

    Urban forest with river bluffs and a turquoise quarry lake.

    Tip Walk to Mead's Quarry; rentals at Ijams River Rental.

    • South Knoxville
    • Free
    • 2 hr
    • Morning

Eat

2 places to eat in Downtown, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • J.C. Holdway in KnoxvillePhoto: Mark Exposito · Google
    Eat

    J.C. Holdway

    Chef Joseph Lenn's wood-fired Southern cooking downtown.

    Tip Reserve dinner; the fried chicken is a favorite.

    • Downtown
    • $$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Dinner
  • Yassin's Falafel House in KnoxvillePhoto: Paul · Google
    Eat

    Yassin's Falafel House

    Beloved downtown falafel shop run by a Syrian refugee family.

    Tip Get the falafel wrap; closed Sundays.

    • Downtown
    • $
    • 30 min
    • Lunch

Drink

1 bar or café in Old City for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • Pretentious Beer Co. in KnoxvillePhoto: Pretentious Beer Co · Google
    Drink

    Pretentious Beer Co.

    Old City brewery and glassblowing studio pouring beer in its own glassware.

    Tip Look at the glass studio before you order.

    • Old City
    • $
    • 75 min
    • Evening

How to fit Knoxville into a trip

Knoxville is stop 1 of 3 on our Smokies Weekend route. Follow it as-is or lift Knoxville into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Knoxville month by month

Average daily highs run from 8°C / 47°F in January to 32°C / 89°F in August. July is the wettest month, with about 140 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Knoxville weather and the best time to visit →

Near Knoxville

8 other destinations from our guides within about 250 km (155 mi), measured in a straight line.

Knoxville questions, answered

How many days do you need in Knoxville?

Our route notes suggest a morning in Knoxville. On our Smokies Weekend route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 4-day trip. The listed visit times for our 8 places add up to roughly 10 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Knoxville best known for?

One evening and a morning: dinner around Market Square, then Ijams before heading into the mountains. Standouts on our list: Market Square (Pedestrian square with restaurants, patios and a Saturday farmers market); Tennessee Theatre (Restored 1928 movie palace with a Mighty Wurlitzer organ); World's Fair Park & Sunsphere (1982 World's Fair grounds with the gold Sunsphere tower).

When is the best time to visit Knoxville?

Our Smokies Weekend route is best Apr – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (32°C / 89°F), the coolest in January (8°C / 47°F) and the most rain in July (about 140 mm).

What are the best things to do in Knoxville?

Start with Market Square, Tennessee Theatre, World's Fair Park & Sunsphere, Knoxville Museum of Art and Ijams Nature Center. Our guide lists 8 places in all, from 4 sights, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.

Where should a group eat in Knoxville?

Our picks: J.C. Holdway (Downtown); Yassin's Falafel House (Downtown). Reserve dinner; the fried chicken is a favorite (J.C. Holdway).

What is near Knoxville?

The closest destinations in our guides are Townsend (about 34 km / 21 mi), Cherokee (about 76 km / 47 mi) and Asheville (about 130 km / 81 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Knoxville with your crew

Open the Smokies Weekend route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 8 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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