Car Rental - Knoxville

 

Rent a car in Knoxville, Tennessee and get ready to soak up the vibrant hospitality of this nature-loving southern city.

Knoxville car rental broadens your opportunities for adventures around this colorful city and wider state with offices in convenient locations for pick-up and drop-off. Knoxville is an artistic city at heart, with an abundance of museums like the Knoxville Museum of Art and the Ewing Gallery. There are plenty of green spaces here too, from the pristine World’s Fair Park to the more rugged hiking trails of Ijams Nature Center.

From Knoxville, you’re less than three hours from Nashville in your rental car, and under two hours from Chattanooga in the south. We have a varied selection of vehicles to meet the needs of your Tennessee road trip and inner-city cruising. SUVs are large enough for families, while stylish sedans work well for solo adventures and couples.

Reserve car rental in Knoxville with Hertz for a warm, southern welcome.

Knoxville Locations

A Quick Guide to Knoxville

Ijams Nature Center

Ijams Nature Center

2915 Island Home Avenue, TN, 37920

Originally created by artist Harry Ijams as a bird sanctuary, Ijams Nature Center is spread over 300 breathtaking acres just three miles outside of Knoxville. Take your rental car out for a drive, then hike the 12 miles of trails, take a canoe out onto Mead’s Quarry Lake and scale 60 feet up Ijams Crag.

World’s Fair Park

World’s Fair Park

963 World’s Fair Park Drive, TN, 37916

This exciting Downtown public park has transformed from the 1982 World’s Fair site into an all-year-round green space. Come here to marvel at the iconic Sunsphere and grand Tennessee Amphitheater and walk through the refreshing Splash Pads. A variety of events take place on the Festival Lawn throughout the year, so check to see what’s on when you visit.

Knoxville Museum of Art

Knoxville Museum of Art

525 Henley Street, TN, 37902

Immerse yourself in eastern Tennessee’s rich visual legacy at this outstanding museum. Celebrating the artistic geniuses of the state, discover the works of Beauford Delaney, Lloyd Branson and Catherine Wiley. The museum also features pieces by other significant artists outside of the region, including Ansel Adams celebrated landscape photographer Ansel Adams.

Bistro at the Bijou

807 South Gay Street, TN, 37902

This excellent bistro was originally built as a hotel in 1820 and welcomed four US presidents as guests. Newly renovated, the Bijou offers hearty plates of lemon chicken with oregano and garlic, and grass-fed 8oz steaks. It’s also a renowned brunch spot where you can order delicious breakfast burgers and omelets.

The French Market

412 Clinch Avenue, TN, 37902

Fire up your Knoxville car rental and visit this authentic French creperie in the heart of Downtown for sweet and savory stacks of goodness. Choose from classic Nutella, strawberries and cream or go bold with goat’s cheese with walnuts or roast beef with Swiss cheese.

Café 4

4 Market Square, TN, 37902

Enjoy southern classic comforts with a refined twist at this café in the historic Market Square. At this romantic eatery, diners can feast in the stylish dining room or go al fresco on the patio. The menu changes seasonally to use only the freshest local ingredients, but expect the likes of shrimp and grits, a lobster BLT and exemplary chicken and waffles.

The Oliver Hotel

407 Union Avenue, TN, 37902

Get behind the wheel of your Knoxville car rental and visit The Oliver, a sophisticated boutique hotel inside a historic building in the heart of the city. Guests are treated to luxuriously soft cotton sheets and feather pillows, as well as plush robes to enjoy in their room. Dine at the hotel’s Oliver Royale restaurant for an exquisite evening meal or decadent brunch.

Courtyard by Marriott Knoxville West/Bearden

250 Brookview Center Way, TN, 37919

This Knoxville venue is wonderfully spacious and modern. Take advantage of the heated indoor pool and fully-equipped fitness center. The bistro is open for breakfast and dinner and provides guests with excellent coffee to kick start their day.

Hilton Garden Inn Knoxville Papermill Drive

6200 Papermill Drive Northwest, TN, 37919

Enjoy free parking for your Knoxville car rental, an indoor pool, fitness center and on-site restaurant at this Hilton hotel, located just off the I-40 and close to the Knoxville Museum of Art. Rooms are large and minimally designed, and the rooftop bar features atmospheric firepits and stylish but comfortable seating.

Driving In and Around Knoxville

  • Locust Street Garage (37902) has more than 600 spaces, ideal for any type of rental car in Knoxville, and gives easy access to the surrounding Downtown area.
  • Market Square Garage (37902) is just half a block away from the vibrant Market Square and offers free EV charging ports.
  • Dwight Kessel Garage (37902) is the ideal place to park when visiting the courthouse or bustling waterfront scene in Knoxville.
  • Interstate 75 (I-75) is a major north-south highway that stretches between Michigan at the Canadian border and Tampa, Florida.
  • US Route 129 (US 129) connects Downtown to McGhee Tyson Airport and Maryville in the south, before continuing to the North Carolina state line. It provides great travel connections when renting a car in Knoxville.
  • Interstate 40 (I-40) is a major US highway spanning more than 2,500 miles between California and North Carolina. It connects Knoxville to Asheville and Bristol in the east and Nashville to the west.

How to Get From McGhee Tyson Airport to Downtown

It’s just a 20-minute drive from McGhee Tyson Airport to downtown Knoxville with your car rental.

  1. Leave the Hertz car rental lot in Knoxville on West General Aviation.
  2. Turn left onto US 129 N and continue straight for 15 miles.
  3. Keep right and follow the fork to merge onto I-40 E.
  4. After one mile, take exit 388 and continue onto US-441.
  5. Stay in the left two lanes to turn onto West Church Avenue.

 

How to Get From Knoxville to Nashville

It’s less than three hours  driving in your rental car from Knoxville to Nashville. From Henley Street in Downtown, get on I-40 west and continue for 178 miles, following signs for Interstate 65 S. Keep right and take exit 209 to follow Church Street into Nashville.

BESbswy