Knoxville itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Knoxville, day by day: the Sunsphere, Market Square, the Knoxville Museum of Art, the Museum of East Tennessee History and Blount Mansion first, then Zoo Knoxville, the Old City, James White's Fort, the McClung Museum, the Tennessee Theatre, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and Ijams Nature Center with a second day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Knoxville in 1 day
Day 1
Knoxville Museum of Art Must see
Free art museum in World's Fair Park focused on East Tennessee art, with a large glass installation by Richard Jolley.
Sunsphere Must see
Gold-glass tower built for the 1982 World's Fair, with a free observation deck over the city and the Tennessee River.
East Tennessee Historical Society Must see
Runs the Museum of East Tennessee History in the old Custom House on Gay Street, covering the region's past.
Market Square, Knoxville
Pedestrian square laid out in 1854, lined with restaurants and shops, with a farmers' market in season and summer events.
William Blount Mansion Must see
1792 frame house of territorial governor William Blount, where Tennessee's first constitution was drafted, shown on guided tours.
Knoxville in 2 days
Day 1
Knoxville Zoo
Zoo Knoxville, a large zoo in east Knoxville known for its red pandas, with elephants, gorillas and a children's area.
Old City, Knoxville
Historic warehouse district north-east of downtown, with brick buildings of the late 1800s now holding bars, restaurants and shops.
James White's Fort
Reconstruction of the 1786 log fort and cabins of Knoxville's founder, James White, with period furnishings and guided visits.
Market Square, Knoxville
Pedestrian square laid out in 1854, lined with restaurants and shops, with a farmers' market in season and summer events.
East Tennessee Historical Society Must see
Runs the Museum of East Tennessee History in the old Custom House on Gay Street, covering the region's past.
Sunsphere Must see
Gold-glass tower built for the 1982 World's Fair, with a free observation deck over the city and the Tennessee River.
McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture
Free museum on the University of Tennessee campus covering archaeology, natural history, ancient Egypt and the history of the region.
Day 2
Tennessee Theatre Must see
Ornate 1928 movie palace on Gay Street, the official state theatre of Tennessee, staging concerts, Broadway shows and films.
Knoxville Museum of Art Must see
Free art museum in World's Fair Park focused on East Tennessee art, with a large glass installation by Richard Jolley.
William Blount Mansion Must see
1792 frame house of territorial governor William Blount, where Tennessee's first constitution was drafted, shown on guided tours.
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Museum honouring women's basketball, marked outside by the world's largest basketball, with exhibits on the game's history and hands-on courts.
Ijams Nature Center
Large nature centre and urban wilderness park in South Knoxville, with woodland trails, a river boardwalk and old quarries.
Watch: Knoxville
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Knoxville
Spring, in April and May, and autumn, from late September to early November, are the most pleasant times, with the Dogwood Arts Festival in April and autumn colour in the nearby Smokies. Summers are hot and humid with afternoon storms, and winters are mild with occasional snow. University of Tennessee home football games on autumn Saturdays fill hotels.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Knoxville on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Knoxville on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Knoxville on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Knoxville
- The Sunsphere's observation deck in World's Fair Park is free; it can close for private events, so check before going.
- The Tennessee Theatre is a working venue; its interior is best seen at a show or on one of its occasional tours.
- Blount Mansion and James White's Fort keep limited opening days and hours; check before planning a visit.
- The McClung Museum on the University of Tennessee campus is free to enter, a short walk from World's Fair Park.
- Downtown, Market Square, the Old City and World's Fair Park are easy to walk; the zoo and Ijams Nature Center need a car.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- East Tennessee Historical Society: Nfutvol, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ijams Nature Center: Brian Stansberry (photographer), CC BY 3.0
- James White's Fort: Ɱ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Knoxville Museum of Art: Ɱ, CC0
- Knoxville Zoo: Richard from Canton, United States, CC BY 2.0
- Market Square, Knoxville: Unknown photographer, Public domain
- McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture: Walker Kinsler, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Old City, Knoxville: Col919, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sunsphere: Ɱ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tennessee Theatre: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
- William Blount Mansion: Ɱ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Women's Basketball Hall of Fame: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
