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A local's guide to Knoxville
Knoxville sits where the Tennessee River bends between the Cumberland Plateau and the Smokies, and you feel that location every day. It's a city small enough to walk across downtown in twenty minutes but spread out enough that you'll still find new greenways and neighborhoods after years of living here.
Fall Saturdays mean orange everywhere, Neyland Stadium fills up, and the whole town slows down around kickoff. The rest of the year it's Market Square concerts, float trips on the river, and long waits at Pete's for breakfast. People here are proud of the Urban Wilderness, proud of the Vols, and proud that you can hike a ridge in the morning and grab dinner on Gay Street that same night.
If you grew up here, you probably have an opinion about Pizza Palace versus the other place on your side of town, and you own at least one t-shirt repping this city.
Things to do in Knoxville
Blount Mansion ↗Built in 1792 for Governor William Blount, it's Knoxville's only National Historic Landmark and where the first Tennessee State Constitution was drafted. Zoo Knoxville ↗Home to over 1,500 animals across 200 species, with river otters as some of the most active residents. Market Square ↗A community gathering spot since the 1860s, with independent restaurants, shops, the farmers market, and ice skating in winter. Sunsphere ↗Climb to the observation deck at World's Fair Park for 360 degree views of downtown and the Smokies for just a few bucks. Old City ↗Restored Victorian buildings from the railroad era now hold coffee shops, galleries, and the Tennessee Whiskey Trail stop Knox Whiskey Works. WDVX Blue Plate Special ↗Free live music at noon at the Knoxville Visitors Center, Monday through Saturday, a real local tradition. Get outside
Ijams Nature Center ↗A 300-acre sanctuary that's the central hub of the Urban Wilderness, with trails, a climbing crag, and Mead's Quarry Lake for paddling. Baker Creek Bike Park ↗Two asphalt pump tracks and five jump lines, plus the Devil's Racetrack, the region's only double-black diamond downhill trail. Knoxville Greenways ↗Over 125 miles of paved greenways and natural trails link neighborhoods across the city, from First Creek to Third Creek. House Mountain ↗Knox County's highest peak, a challenging hike with rock scrambling and sweeping ridgeline views. Fort Dickerson ↗A historic Civil War site in South Knoxville with a quarry lake, now a favorite for easy strolls and swimming. Knoxville neighborhoods
Downtown & Old CityGay Street and Market Square anchor downtown, while the Old City next door keeps the railroad-era Victorian buildings and leans into nightlife and art.
SoKno (South Knoxville)South of the river in the 37920 zip code, connected to downtown by three bridges and home to the Urban Wilderness trail network.
Fourth and Gill & Old North KnoxvilleHistoric districts north of downtown with Queen Anne and Folk Victorian houses, next to the Happy Holler shops on Central Street.
BeardenA Kingston Pike neighborhood annexed in 1962, now home to more than 30 shopping centers and boutique shopping in the District of Bearden.
Fort Sanders & UT CampusThe Victorian hill beside the University of Tennessee, with the Cumberland Avenue Strip and Neyland Stadium close by.
East KnoxvilleEast of First Creek along Magnolia Avenue, home to Zoo Knoxville, Chilhowee Park, and the Beck Cultural Exchange Center.
Events through the year
Big Ears Festival ↗MarchA downtown concert series exploring connections between musicians and artists across genres, crossing into film and visual art. Rossini Festival ↗AprilKnoxville Opera's International Street Fair on Gay Street and Market Square, with four outdoor stages and 75-plus artisan booths. Dogwood Arts Celebration ↗AprilRunning since 1961, it celebrates the natural and cultural beauty of East Tennessee with blooming trails, visual arts, and music. Concerts on the Square ↗May through AugustFree outdoor music on Market Square every Tuesday and Thursday evening, put on by the City of Knoxville. Shakespeare on the Square ↗July to AugustTennessee Stage Company's free, family-friendly outdoor Shakespeare festival staged right on Market Square. Asian Festival ↗AugustHeld at World's Fair Park, this festival celebrates traditions and talents from across the Asian continent. Brewer's Jam ↗OctoberAn annual craft beer and music festival at World's Fair Park with unlimited samples from regional brewers. Christmas in the City ↗November through DecemberA two-month celebration across Knoxville featuring the Celebration of Lights and the WIVK Christmas Parade. Where locals eat
Pete's Restaurant ↗A downtown diner on Union Avenue and local favorite for breakfast for more than 31 years. Ye Olde Steak House ↗Family-owned since 1968 on Chapman Highway, known for flame-grilled steaks and housemade desserts. Pizza Palace ↗Started in 1961 in East Knoxville by the Peroulas family, famous for hand-cut onion rings and family-recipe sauces. Cafe 4 ↗A Market Square spot for refined Southern classics with a mezzanine coffee shop upstairs. A little Knoxville history
Knoxville started as White's Fort, built by Revolutionary War veteran James White in 1786 on a bluff above the river. In 1791 territorial governor William Blount picked it as capital of the Southwest Territory and renamed it for Henry Knox, Secretary of War. The town was laid out with street names borrowed from Philadelphia and Baltimore, and Blount built his home here, which doubled as the territory's capitol.
Knoxville served as an early capital of Tennessee before the seat moved to Middle Tennessee in 1818. Growth was slow until the railroad arrived in 1855, turning the town into a commercial and rail hub, which also made it a strategic target during the Civil War. The city was the site of the 1863 Siege of Knoxville, and Bleak House on Kingston Pike served as Confederate General Longstreet's headquarters during that campaign.
The 20th century brought TVA and its hydroelectric power, then the 1982 World's Fair, which left the city with the Sunsphere and World's Fair Park. Today Knoxville is Tennessee's third largest city and the anchor of East Tennessee.
Knoxville FAQ
What are Knoxville's nicknames?
Locals and old signage call it Marble City, Heart of the Valley, Queen City of the Mountains, K-Town, Scruffy City, and Knox Vegas, and it's also known as the Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains.
What's the area code?
865 covers Knoxville and Knox County.
How did Knoxville get its name?
It started as White's Fort in 1786, built by James White. In 1791 territorial governor William Blount renamed it Knoxville after Henry Knox, Secretary of War under George Washington.
What's the best free thing to do downtown?
Catch the WDVX Blue Plate Special, a free live music broadcast at noon at the Knoxville Visitors Center on Gay Street, Monday through Saturday.
Is Knoxville a good base for outdoor stuff?
Yes, the Urban Wilderness has over 60 miles of trails just minutes from downtown, and House Mountain and the Great Smoky Mountains aren't far either.
What's Knoxville known for historically?
It was an early capital of the Southwest Territory and of Tennessee, a key Civil War railroad town during the Siege of Knoxville, and host of the 1982 World's Fair, which left behind the Sunsphere.
Sources: visitknoxville.com · knoxvilletn.gov · zooknoxville.org · downtownknoxville.org · legacyparks.org · thenewplace.com · knoxwhat.com · tennesseeencyclopedia.net · en.wikipedia.org · cityviewmag.com · mcclungmuseum.utk.edu
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