 Knoxville At a Glance
Best Time to Go
Fall is the time to catch UT football in Neyland Stadium and go leaf peeping in the nearby
Smokey Mountains. With the exception of a few wet, cold weeks in winter, Knoxville is
pleasant year-round, with spring and summer being especially seductive for travelers who
like outdoor activities. The surrounding mountains make Knoxville's weather unpredictable
so it’s always best to check the weather just before you visit.
Average Weather
Knoxville gets around 48 inches of rain and 12 inches of snow each year. The first real
freeze usually hits during the first week in November; the last usually falls during the
first week in April. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of only 40 F
and an average snowfall of four inches. July’s average temperature is 78 degrees.
Transportation
Most of the national car rental chains have outlets at the Knox County Airport. Knoxville
is a city where a car will serve you well. For information about bus service, call
865-637-300. Knoxville’s bus company does run shuttle service to the Smokies baseball
games and UT home football games. A free trolley service provides a link between UT campus
and downtown Knoxville.
In-Season Costs
Knoxville is pleasantly priced. The cost of living in this Tennessee treasure is
considerably less than in comparable cities throughout the Southeast. You can find bargain
hotel rooms as low as $50 nightly and luxury digs for not more than $100. Always reserve a
room early during football season and during graduation weekends. Expect to pay around $20
for dinner in a moderately expensive restaurant --- around $40 for a special occasion
(with wine). You’ll find lots of budget options --- Knoxville is very much a
university town.
Day Trips
Gatlinburg and the Great Smokey Mountain National Park are only a short drive from
Knoxville. Dollywood and Pigeon Forge are other popular day-trip destinations. Knoxville
is a perfect base city for all the tourist attractions of East Tennessee, and well suited
to spend a couple of days exploring the area. A less well known but interesting area
attraction is Rugby, Tennessee, an Edwardian era town built as a utopian community
that’s perfectly preserved and open to tourists. |
