Mid-autumn · Weather & things to do
Knoxville in October
Knoxville sees its driest month, with just 3.3 in (83 mm) of rain, highs of 73°F (23°C) and lows of 50°F (10°C).
October opens the best stretch on our comfort score, at 89/100 (the top score of the year).
- Avg high
- 73°F (23°C)
- Avg low
- 50°F (10°C)
- Rain
- 3.3 in (83 mm)
- Humidity
- 71%
- Cloud cover
- 48%
- Daylight
- ~11 h 04 min
- Comfort score
- 89/100 · Great
What October feels like
Highs settle around 73°F (23°C), warm enough for short sleeves most of the day.
There's a big swing between day and night, about 13°C (23°F), so mornings and evenings feel much cooler than the afternoon.
Some rain is likely, about 3.3 in (83 mm) in the month, so pack for a shower or two.
Plan around October
October is one of Knoxville's best months on the climate data.
- Last warm month for a while: November highs fall to 61°F.
- Opens the best-scoring stretch on our comfort score: October.
- Comfort improves from 78/100 in September to 89/100.
- October sits inside the Apr – Oct window our Smokies Weekend route recommends.
What to pack for October
- Light, breathable clothes73°F afternoons
- A warm layer for eveningslows near 50°F
- Packable rain jacket or umbrellaa shower or two is likely
- Comfortable walking shoesmost places below are best reached on foot or with short walks
What to do in Knoxville in October
With conditions on your side, the picks below favor time outside.
Tennessee Theatre
Restored 1928 movie palace with a Mighty Wurlitzer organ.
J.C. Holdway
Chef Joseph Lenn's wood-fired Southern cooking downtown.
Knoxville Museum of Art
Free museum focused on East Tennessee art, with Richard Jolley's glass installation.
Ijams Nature Center
Urban forest with river bluffs and a turquoise quarry lake.
Why now October scores 89/100 for comfort, good conditions for being outside.
Yassin's Falafel House
Beloved downtown falafel shop run by a Syrian refugee family.
Nearby in October
- Townsend in October~21 mi · highs 72°F, 3.6 in rain · similar daytime temperatures, about as wet
- Cherokee in October~47 mi · highs 68°F, 3.8 in rain · 3°C (5°F) cooler by day, about as wet
- Asheville in October~81 mi · highs 67°F, 3.9 in rain · 3°C (5°F) cooler by day, wetter
- Blowing Rock in October~126 mi · highs 62°F, 3.8 in rain · 6°C (11°F) cooler by day, about as wet
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid, temperatures adjusted from the grid cell's ~424 m to Knoxville's ~275 m elevation (standard lapse rate). Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Knoxville in October: quick answers
Is October a good time to visit Knoxville?
Yes. On the climate data it's one of the best months, scoring 89/100. Expect highs of 73°F (23°C) and 3.3 in (83 mm) of rain. October is inside the Apr – Oct window our Smokies Weekend route recommends.
How hot is Knoxville in October?
Average highs are 73°F (23°C) and average lows 50°F (10°C), making it the 6th-warmest month by daytime highs.
Does it rain a lot in Knoxville in October?
Some: about 3.3 in (83 mm) of rain falls across October on average, the driest month of the year. The annual total is about 51.5 in (1308 mm).
What should I pack for Knoxville in October?
Bring light, breathable clothes (73°F afternoons), a warm layer for evenings (lows near 50°F), packable rain jacket or umbrella (a shower or two is likely) and comfortable walking shoes (most places below are best reached on foot or with short walks).
More on Knoxville
Routes in season in October
- Smokies Weekend Apr – Oct
Planning Knoxville in October?
Bring the crew into one shared trip: vote on dates, build the day-by-day plan, split costs and share one packing list.