The Knoxville center is around the area of Market Square and the area of Knoxville Museum of Art.
Deciding on the best time to visit Knoxville depends entirely on what you would like to do while you're there. During the summer, the city comes alive with plenty of festivals and events. The months of June through September see average high temperatures in the mid- to upper 80s, with July being the wettest month of the four. However, keep in mind that this is the most popular time of year to visit the city, so hotels charge the highest rates.
While October and November bring cooler temperatures, you still won't find very many hotel deals, as people travel to the area to take in the beautiful fall colors in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. October sees average highs in the lower 70s, while November typically sees average highs in the lower 60s. The biggest festival of the season, Tennessee Fall Homecoming, happens in mid-October, and brings in nearly 400 bluegrass, folk, and gospel musicians.
Winters are relatively mild in Knoxville, and this is the best time of year to get a good deal on a hotel room. From December through February, you'll experience average high temperatures in the 40s and 50s and average low temperatures in the 30s. While Knoxville doesn't get a lot of snow, you can expect an average of 1 to 2 inches per month.
Spring is a lovely time to visit Knoxville. In March the average highs are in the lower 60s, but by May they've climbed into the upper 70s. April brings the Dogwood Arts Festival, which is a month-long celebration of the city's beautiful dogwood trees in full bloom. During the event you'll be able to travel over 60 miles of dogwood-lined trails that wind around the city.
From special packages to discounted room rates, Knoxville hotels offer plenty of ways for you to save money. At Embassy Suites Knoxville West, you can save 5 percent during your next stay by using your AAA, CAA, or AARP membership. Or, if you book your room at least 14 days in advance, you can save up to 20 percent. Active and retired military personnel and their families can also enjoy exclusive savings on leisure stays at Embassy Suites Knoxville West.
Hilton Garden Inn Knoxville West/Cedar Bluff offers packages and discounts to make your next stay in Knoxville even more special. For example, AARP members and seniors 65 and older can both save up to 10 percent off the best available rate, while AAA and CAA members can save up to 10 percent off a weekend room rate and 5 percent off a weekday rate. If you don't want to worry about meals during your stay, consider the Dine and Unwind package. You'll get a $25 daily food and beverage credit that can be used at the on-site restaurant, for a made-to-order breakfast, for room service, or for a snack at The Pavilion Pantry.
The value option hotels in Knoxville offer comfortable amenities while still staying within your travel budget. Hampton Inn & Suites Knoxville Papermill Drive is just seven miles from the University of Tennessee football stadium and the Bijou Theatre. Along with an indoor pool, the hotel also has free self-parking, a fitness center, complimentary coffee and tea in the common area, and a free breakfast buffet. All 108 rooms come with iPod docks, free wireless internet access, LCD televisions with cable channels, and deep soaking tubs.
If you don't want to miss a workout during your stay in Knoxville, take a swim in the outdoor pool, or use the cardiovascular equipment in the 24-hour fitness center at Best Western Plus Cedar Bluff Inn. The hotel also features a 24-hour business center, laundry facilities, free self-parking, coffee and tea in the lobby, and a complimentary breakfast buffet. Relax in rooms that have refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, flat-screen televisions with digital channels, MP3 docks, and free wireless internet access.
No matter where you choose to stay in Knoxville, you'll have endless opportunities for fun during your trip. Regardless of what time of year you visit the city, head to Market Square to take in all the sights and sounds of this pedestrian mall. Originally built in 1854 as a market place for farmers, today you can watch performers and musicians in the spring, play in the fountains in the summer, catch a festival in the fall, and go ice skating in the winter.
Rising above the Knoxville city skyline is the 266-foot hexagonal Sunsphere, which was built for the 1982 World's Fair. Head up to the level four observation deck for 360-degree views of downtown Knoxville, the University of Tennessee, the Smoky Mountains, and the Tennessee River. Go up one more floor and you can enjoy Italian cuisine with a spectacular view of the surrounding area at Primo Ristorante Italiano.
When you visit Knoxville, you'll find a vibrant city with plenty of shopping, dining, entertainment, and outdoor recreational opportunities. And whether you want affordable or luxurious, you'll also find the ideal hotel for your stay.
Below are the GSA reimbursement limits for hotel spending in Knoxville, TN excluding taxes per night. See gsa.gov for more details.
Applies to Knox
| Season Begin | Season End | Lodging Rate | Meals & Incidentals |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2027 | December 31, 2026 | $119.00 | $74.00 |
Below are reviews of the city of Knoxville, TN from an actual visitor's perspective.
We were visiting a relative in Powell and the hotel was close to their residence; it was very convenient.
Country
Easy to navigate, dog friendly, people friendly, artsy but not snobby! A place that knows itself!
Went to Shoney's for holiday meal, inexpensive and delicious, only 1/2 from hotel.
Most everything
Strawberry Plains convenient to Knoxville & UT.
Everything my brother lives there and would consider moving if it wasn't for my children and grandkids- enjoyed Dollywood and Gatlinburg.
Good place to live
Our visit to Knoxville was great. It is a very welcoming city.
The hotel is located right at fwy so access was great. It's surrounded by yummy restaurants and fast food restaurants. We loved the Waffle House. Thank you!
There are plenty attractions. You will not be bored just a few minutes from everything.
A great city. Easy to get around. I recommend Knoxville to others. I believe you will enjoy it.
Knoxville is beautiful!
Freindly
In the area of the hotel is Aubrey's restaurant and Waffle House if you have to come the night before a procedure at the Premier Surgery Center.
City is great.
Clean, easy to get around on the highways.
we were visiting friends, beautiful place to visit
Lake Norris
A beautiful city
Knoxville was busy. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge were not at all what I expected. I would almost call it an mini East Coast - Las-Vegas.
Great dining experience. We love the Lakeside Tavern. The area is surrounded by water. It is very clean and beautiful.
Love the gluten free restaurant options!
We enjoyed being tourists on Market Square. Tomato Head was a delicious restaurant. We also ate at Calhouns on the River- not on Market Square. It had decent BBQ. The real draw is its location. We loved looking out at the river and walked along it afterwards. I'd eat there again. Don't go without making reservations.
University of Tennessee campus, UT baseball stadium, magnificent, gorgeous housing on Weston Road, the absolutely fabulous fabulous architecture of many churches, the availability of every type of restaurant of all levels and any other Nashville train stores as well as locally owned stores. The extreme friendliness and helpfulness of almost every person I met in Knoxville!!!
Nice restaurants
Austin's Steak and Buffet was a great place to eat.
Knoxville was really nice with friendly people. Pretty area
I loved seeing houses on big hill tops.
Near attractions.
Love it! So much to see and do. Restaurants are great!
We enjoyed visiting the Emporium.
Knoxville is a great city with a lot to offer visitors. World's Fair Park is beautiful and the University of Tennessee campus is amazing.
Clean city
We enjoyed Watson restaurant.
We were there to see the Vols play baseball. The location is good for downtown and the University of Tennessee.
Near specific medical facilities.
Easy access to shopping and restaurants. Did not meet anyone who was not friendly.
Easy access and lots of places to shop and food shops were great.
It's a great city!
It's vibrant! Alive!
Gun show!
We were there for a volleyball tournament and we didn't get to do anything else.
The downtown Market Square area!
Ease of finding what and where I needed to go.
River and close proximity to federal building and other things to do.
Cracker Barrel was very good and enjoyable.
Was only there for hospital surgery.
The market square and vibrant downtown area.
The market square and vibrant downtown area!
Local things to do. Places to eat.
The staff were awesome free breakfast was great!
DOWNTOWN IS SO FUN WITH BOUTIQUE RESTAURANTS!
Interesting location. Rachmaninov statute in downtown park in celebration of his last concert.
Knoxville has everything!
How clean it is.
Good school at University of Tennessee! Good food!
The hotel was not located in a vice part of town. Otherwise, Knoxville seems attractive and modern with many nice restaurants, friendly and helpful service people, and interesting stores
We were in town for a Christian conference.
Was here for a bowling fundraiser at Strikes & Spares bowling center for the VETERANS. Thank you Vets for your service.
Spent our time in Knoxville taking in the UT Homecoming activities. Enjoyed visiting the College of Music's UT Singers Concert and the MSU vs UT football game.
The First Watch restaurant has delicious food!
I stayed at Baymont to visit UTK. I absolutely loved my time in Knoxville, there's a lot of things to do and see. I can't wait to come back.
Great restaurants, people are friendly here and helpful with directions.
We had an event at the Knoxville Auditorium. It was lovely and easy to get to and park. We also love the restaurants and easy access to the shopping areas.
A great city with friendly people and a clean city.
People were super friendly!
The downtown area is nice with nice places to eat drink and shop and live music!
Market Square, restaurants, stores!
Only there traveling through to Maryland. What I saw of the city was impressive.
A very crowded place with lots to choose from!
Lots of choices!
It is a approximately a halfway point between Louisville, Kentucky and Charlotte, North Carolina which helps when we pick up our grandchildren from their parents.
Visited the farmers market downtown.
Downtown is very nice.
Did not have time to visit the city, but nice hotel.
Knoxville is a very pretty, interesting city. Very enjoyable for my grandson's wedding.
Great things around the hotel!
It's a neat little city with a lot of scenic views.
The city was nice; had a great time!
Quaint downtown, clean, friendly.
We were in town for a team camp at the University of Tennessee. Knoxville has many family friendly attractions; Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Market Square, Ijams, as well as great places to eat. This trip was not only to play basketball at team camp but also an experience trip for my players. We were able to experience an entirely new part of the country as well as see many different attractions. Very nice people and great trip.
Nice City!