Knoxville offers many family-friendly fun and free things to do for your next vacation. The city is home to a number of beautiful parks, museums, greenways and trails that come to visitors which could be accessed at free of cost. From vibrant culture to rich history, and many other free attractions to see and do, Knoxville, with its southern charm and hospitality, has strong reasons for you to visit this weekend.
So, read on and explore the best free attractions Knoxville has to offer to make anyone’s trip a memorable one!
1. Market Square
Market Square is a worth going place to enjoy many free, fun activities you can do that you can’t do in other parts of the city. The walkable Market Square weaves throughout multiple fun places including shops, family-friendly and free events, artist displays and street musicians.
Take an afternoon and stroll throughout the historic Market Square. If you’re willing to splurge small amount, there are dozens of restaurants, cafes and bars drawing a large number of visitors each year.
A nice entertainment place for locals and visitors alike, the historic attraction is quite popular among kids, specially during summer months, when the two water fountains are operative. If you’re planning Knoxville trip before December, must include this attraction in your list of best free things to do in Knoxville, TN.
From May through November, the Market Square Farmers Market will surely give you a different perspective about the local vendors’ selling skills and also about their home grown or made fresh products and vegetables.
2. World’s Fair Park
Address: 525 Henley St, Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-1158
Hours: Open everyday and 365 days a year, form 6 am to 12 am.
A visit to World’s Fair Park, a public park in downtown Knoxville, is indeed some of the best free things to do in Knoxville, TN. The Performance Lawn of the park could be your next favorite spot where chances are huge to make new friends, enjoy delicious food, concerts, festivals and parties and to build a lifetime memory!
World’s Fair Park is packed with number of fantastic events and concerts that are conducted throughout the year and its charm draws millions of locals and visitors every year. So, whenever the time is right for you, plan your visit and it’s for sure, something special is happening to please you!
If you’re planning a family trip to Knoxville, and kids are with you, World’s Fair Park is sure to please your little ones with its splash pads and fountains. These water features are open in summertime only, till mid-October.
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3. House Mountain State Natural Area
Address: 9601 Hogskin Rd, Corryton, TN 37721
Phone: (865) 215-6600
Hours: Open 365 days a year, from 6 am to 6 pm.
Nestling just 15 miles driving distance from the downtown of Knoxville, House Mountain State Natural Area is a wonderful place for outdoor lovers. The outdoor attraction is most popular with bird-watching, scenic trails, and bicycling opportunities.
The House Mountain is a 527-acre natural area, and its highlighting feature includes the 2,100-foot crest that provides significant vistas of the Unakas to the southeast and Cumberlands to the northwest, each some 30 miles away.
As mentioned earlier, House Mountain is a favorite place for birdwatchers. So, be little more excited to watch and photo-capture many types of birds as the nature area is home to more than 100 bird species. The most common species include migrating hawks, pileated woodpeckers, scarlet tanagers and warblers.
The best thing, the nature area allows leashed dogs in trails. Remember, don’t leave the trail for shortcut. Always remain on the trail, otherwise it could be problematic. Unfortunately, the area is not permitted for fishing, hunting or camping.
Also Read: Best Parks To Take Your Kids And Family in Nashville, TN.
4. UT Gardens Knoxville
Address: 2518 Jacob Dr, Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: (865) 974-7324
Hours: Open every day from 5 am to 8 pm.
Drop into the University of Tennessee Gardens Knoxville and enjoy a day-trip beyond the earth! Recognized in 2013 as the official botanical gardens of the state of Tennessee, the UT Gardens houses annuals, perennials, herbs, tropical plants, trees, shrubs, vegetables and ornamental grasses, a perfect place that packs quite a punch for the nature and plant lovers and explorers.
The gardens are open during all seasons and are totally free to the public. So, whenever you plan your trip to Knoxville, this attraction is sure to explore! Moreover, it’s a good place to teach your kids some necessary horticultural education available in each garden.
Plus, the outstanding multiple green spaces make the UT Gardens some of the best fun free things to do in Knoxville, TN. Complete with beautiful landscape and a number of fun free activities for all ages, the family-friendly attraction is a place to learn, explore and relax!
You Might Also Like: Best Places To Take Your Kids in Knoxville.
Also Read: Best Things To Do in Memphis With Your Kids.
5. McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture
Address: 1327 Cir Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: (865) 974-2144
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 9 am to 5 pm; Sunday 12 to 4 pm; closed on Monday.
Functioning as a general museum, McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture is located on the Campus of the University of Tennessee and it’s a popular attraction among local and visitors for its amazing collection in anthropology, archaeology, decorative arts, local history, and natural history.
Built in 1963, the attraction comes with free admission to the public. Advanced registration is mandatory. The museum is a great place to burn few hours.
McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture is truly an inspiring place and it offers some long-term exhibits, including The Decorative Experience, where a collection of artworks from different cultures from the world are explored; and the Tennessee Freshwater Mussels, where a collection of diversified freshwater pearl mussels is shown to the public.
Moreover, the museum conducts special exhibits where artworks and artifacts from other collections or institutes are showcased. So, opportunities are endless! The museum also offers special hours when willing visitors could participate in paint and play programs.
6. Old City
Encompassing approximately 33 acres of area, Old City is some of the most famous neighborhoods in Knoxville, Tennessee. Though the name suggests Old City with old culture, old buildings and boring old things, but this Old City hits different! The attraction is a beautiful mixture of multiple old and new culture, architecture and many more!
A visit to the Old City is a must, and no one could complete their list of free things to do in Knoxville, TN without exploring the richness of the historic Old City. The neighborhood takes visitors on a time-traveling journey and also takes them back to the present time when they explore the fantastic, some new and some restored coffee houses, nightclubs, restaurants, antique stores, galleries and music venues.
Not willing to spend a single penny? Still the place has many to give. Undoubtedly, it’s a great place for sightseeing, enjoying live music, or just hanging out! A visit to the historic Old City is surely one of the best ways to make memories in Tennessee.
Also Read: Most Unique Things You Must Explore in Knoxville.
7. East Tennessee History Center
Address: 601 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-8801
Hours: Monday and Tuesday 8 am to 8:30 pm; Wednesday through Friday 8 am to 5:30 pm; Saturday 9 am to 4 pm; Sunday 1 to 4 pm.
This free attraction is a favorite among history lovers. East Tennessee History Center is a must visit history museum in Knoxville, Tennessee. With its vibrant collection, a tour of the museum allows visitors to explore the history of East Tennessee, the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, Knox County Archives, the Tennessee Archives of Moving Image and Sound and so many things to excite every history lover.
So, plan your visit, enjoy the award-winning exhibits that tell the history of important people, places and events that shaped the region.
Related: Best Free Things You Must Do in Nashville, TN.
8. Knoxville Museum of Art
Address: 1050 World’s Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916
Phone: (865) 525-6101
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday 1 to 5 pm; closed on Monday.
Knoxville Museum of Art is another free attraction and it must be in your bucket list. With the mission of educating and serving a diverse community, the art museum houses a collection in historical and contemporary art pieces from the East Tennessee region.
The museum was initially housed in the H.L. Dulin House on Kingston Pike in 1961, and the museum was famous with the name of the Dulin Gallery of Art. Later, in 1984, the facility was shifted at the site of World’s Fair in downtown Knoxville, and the name was changed into Knoxville Museum of Art in 1987.
The 53,200-square-foot facility offers many fun free things to do in Knoxville, Tennessee. Spend few exciting hours when exploring the museum’s permanent and traveling exhibitions. Don’t miss the highlight of the museum, it’s a collection of nine Thorne miniature rooms, designed by Narcissa Niblack Thorne in the 1930s and 1940s period.
Also Read: Most Popular Museums You Must Visit in Nashville, TN.
9. Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum
Address: 2743 Wimpole Ave #B, Knoxville, TN 37914
Phone: (865) 862-8717
Hours: Open every day, from dawn to dusk.
The scenic views of Knoxville Botanical Garden are breathtaking. It takes you through trees and lawn through its well-kept walking paths. With its vibrant atmosphere, the attraction is boasting old walls and stone buildings, perfect to make the escape getaway more special and nostalgic!
The garden is located on 44 acres of former Howell Nurseries, featuring unique and historic horticulture and multiple display gardens. It’s an ideal destination for those who love trees, flowers, and serenity.
Among the many walking trails, the 2 miles of distinctive stonewalls border the trails and it takes visitors to stone buildings and stone-sided greenhouses. Also, there is a Secret Garden. It’s truly a unique and hidden garden filled with many fine attractions in its one-acre garden area.
10. Strong Alley Graffiti Gallery
Address: Strong St, Knoxville, TN 37902
Hours: Open 24 hours, every day.
Strong Alley Graffiti Gallery is a wonderful place to go and have amazing artistic experiences! The entire alley is an absolute fun place, and at every corner you’ll discover how Knoxville is beautifully embracing local artists and street arts.
A perfect spot for photo clicking, Strong Alley is located just off Market Square in between Union Ave. and Wall Ave. So, weather you’re looking for a quite weekend away or just a leisure walk with your dear one, this place has the facility to please you and make an unforgettable memory with your close ones!
FAQs
1.What is special about Knoxville, TN?
Knoxville, home to the oldest symphony orchestra in the South, is special among visitors for many reasons. The most fascinating things is, the city offers many budget-friendly attractions for all ages to inspire visitors to plan their getaways in Knoxville, Tennessee. Be it a relaxed getaway with family, a romantic escape with that special one, or a trip with friends that is packed with breathtaking adventures, the Cradle of Country Music city is having everything!
