No Better Place
To LIVE
There’s no better
place to live.
It’s a big statement, but it’s not an exaggeration.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a city with a better cost of living. With a deeper relationship with nature. With more dedicated football fans. With such an adventurous spirit, welcoming attitude, and vibrant nightlife.
Knoxville is continually ranked in the top percentile of great places to live for many reasons. The quality of life, affordability, and overall cost of living make this town a great place to call home. Knoxville has all the charm of a smaller town mixed in with some top shelf cultural attractions you would find in a much larger city. Knoxville welcomes the outdoor adventurist, the culinary enthusiast, the cultural explorer,the artistically curious, and the dedicated sports fan.
URBAN WILDERNESS
Spanning more than 50 miles of trails and greenways, the Knoxville Urban Wilderness is one of the most remarkable outdoor escapes you’ll find in any American city, drawing mountain bikers, hikers, paddlers, and nature lovers into a sprawling natural playground just minutes from downtown. Dramatic quarries invite you to kayak and paddle through scenery that feels worlds away from city life, while a 500-acre wildlife area, historic sites, and adventure playgrounds for the young and young at heart. The Ijams Nature Center, Baker’s Creek, and Mead’s Quarry offer food, fun, gear, and good times. One of Knoxville’s most unexpected treasures is a one-of-a-kind rail-to-trail artwalk that transforms a former railway corridor into a living gallery, where original works by local artists line the path and every step of your hike doubles as a stroll through an open-air museum.
ATTRACTIONS
Knoxville’s neighborhoods and landmarks offer endless exploration.The Sunsphere, the iconic gold-glass tower built for the 1982 World’s Fair, still stands as the city’s most recognizable silhouette and offers sweeping 360-degree views of the city and the Smoky Mountains beyond. Just steps away, the Knoxville Museum of Art is free to the public and offers world-class rotating exhibitions and a celebration of Appalachian artistry. Knoxville history runs deep. The East Tennessee History Center and the Mabry-Hazen House served as headquarters for both Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War, and they offer fascinating windows into the region’s layered past. Then there is “Big Orange,” because in Knoxville, cheering on the Tennessee Volunteers is less a pastime and more a way of life. A UT game is an experience that captures the soul of this city like nothing else.
EXPLORE THE SOUTH
Knoxville is perfectly positioned as a home base for both spontaneous road trips and extended travel adventures. Asheville, Nashville, Atlanta, and Lexington, all are within a three-hour drive, putting world-class restaurants, live country music, horse racing and more within easy weekend reach. McGhee Tyson Airport has been quietly evolving into one of the region’s most traveler-friendly gateways, with a growing roster of nonstop routes that make escaping to coastal cities, major hubs, and even international destinations easier than ever. Whether you’re planning a quick regional road trip or a once-in-a-lifetime journey across the globe, Knoxville puts the world within reach.
DOWNTOWN
At the heart of it all is Market Square, a landmark that has drawn people together for more than 150 years and still earns its reputation as the city’s favorite gathering place. On any given week, you might stroll through a farmers’ market, catch a free outdoor concert, or find yourself in the middle of one of the many festivals that bring the square to life throughout the year. Just a few blocks north lies the Old City, a historic neighborhood that rewards exploration with one-of-a-kind boutiques, artists’ and makers’ studios. The downtown dining scene punches well above its weight — spanning everything from Asian fusion and Mediterranean to fresh seafood, artisan burgers, and some of the best tamales you’ll find anywhere in the South. The downtown Knoxville cultural heartbeat expands beyond just the food. World-class performances come to life at the Tennessee and Bijou Theatres, where Broadway touring shows, renowned musical artists, opera, and symphony fill some of the most beautifully preserved historic venues in the region. Regional makers and gallery artists add yet another layer, turning a simple afternoon stroll into an unexpected discovery. And when it’s time for a drink, your options are anything but ordinary — slip into a moody speakeasy, sip on liquid art at a botanical cocktail bar, or raise your glass even higher at one of the multiple rooftop bars overlooking it all.
Read more about Downtown Knoxville.
SMOKY MOUNTAINS
Just 37 miles from the city center sits Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in America. With over 800 miles of trails weaving through ancient forests, past cascading waterfalls, and along ridgelines that stretch to the horizon, the Smokies offer a different adventure every time you visit. Almost half of the trails welcome equestrians, and 700 miles of pristine streams offer world-class fishing year-round. 70 miles of the legendary Appalachian Trail cut through the heart of the park, offering a taste of one of the greatest long-distance hiking experiences in the world. With nine additional national parks within a single day’s drive, Knoxville is a basecamp for endless outdoor adventures.
