Your guide to flying into and out of Knoxville at McGhee Tyson Airport | Knoxpedia
To get a sense of a city's health and how it's viewed by outsiders, look no further than its airport.
McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville is becoming a destination for travelers as it tries to maintain its reputation as a convenient, passenger-friendly option. The airport has a calming visual landscape based on the Great Smoky Mountains, and its small size allows travelers to get through security and gates briskly.
It's also growing fast, thanks to a diverse mix of flyers and more flights and airlines. With that, comes a new era of construction you should plan around.
This section of Knoxpedia, Knox News' free guide to all things Knoxville, has all you need to navigate McGhee Tyson Airport, from parking to airlines and concessions.
Below, you'll find answers to some of the most popular questions asked by those flying out of Knoxville. Once you're finished, you can check out the full Knoxpedia guide and all its categories.
Don't see your questions included? Send us an email!
Where is McGhee Tyson Airport?
McGhee Tyson Airport is about 14 miles straight south of downtown Knoxville in Alcoa, Tennessee. Its address is 2055 Alcoa Highway, and it sits in Blount County.
McGhee Tyson is a little farther from downtown Knoxville than Tennessee's other major airports are from their respective cities – Nashville wins at 7 miles, followed by Chattanooga at 9 miles and Memphis at 10 miles.
The nice thing for Knoxville travelers is they don't have to spend much time on a congested interstate to get to the airport. McGhee Tyson is a straight shot down Alcoa Highway.
What time should I arrive at McGhee Tyson Airport?
The airport recommends arriving at least two hours before your flight is scheduled to take off, especially at busy times and as the airport parking situation gets more complicated (more on that later).
The busiest days for the airport are around major holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. Spring break, summer and fall break are also busy travel times.
You don't always need to give yourself that much time when you leave from your small local airport, however, especially if you aren't parking at the airport. Just make sure to check security wait times and parking availability on the McGhee Tyson website homepage, and be prepared with your ticket and ID.
Where can I park at McGhee Tyson?
The airport has garage, surface, terminal and economy parking lots. It changed the names of its parking areas ahead of its busiest summer on record to make more room.
The airport closed its surface lot near the terminal in February 2024 to prepare for construction of a new parking garage, but reopened the lot for the summer through Nov. 1. You can see where the lot will close again this fall on this online map.
An economy lot with shuttle service will compensate for the lost parking.
Formerly called short-term and long-term parking, the lots weren't about how long you left your car there. The only difference was their distance from the terminal building and their price.
When these lots fill, there are terminal and economy lots. Terminal Lots A and B, formerly called economy lots, are right behind the Airport Hilton and are a 15-minute walk to the terminal building.
Economy Lot C is near the new intersection of Hunt Road and Tyson Center and requires a shuttle service to and from the terminal building. Economy Lots D and E, formerly employee parking, will temporarily provide overflow parking at peak travel times with shuttle service.
Overflow Lot F, a ground transportation hub near the terminal, will open when all other lots fill.
You can check parking availability in real time on the McGhee Tyson website.
How much does it cost to park at McGhee Tyson Airport?
McGhee Tyson raised its parking rates slightly in summer 2023 to help pay for a six-story parking garage that is scheduled to be finished in 2027. It renamed its parking options in summer 2024:
Garage parking: $22 a day
Surface lot and terminal lots: $16 a day
Economy lots: $11 a day
The prices are typical for an airport like McGhee Tyson.
The airport also offers hourly parking, which begins at $1 per 20 minutes, or $3 per hour. Hourly parking is available in all lots, but once the hourly rate meets the daily rate, the price switches over to the daily rate. For instance, a car parked for eight hours or longer in garage parking would just pay the daily rate of $22.
How do I pick someone up from McGhee Tyson?
Rather than idling on the terminal road while waiting for passengers, the airport recommends drivers wait in the cell phone lot adjacent to the terminal.
To access the lot, drive in a loop as if you're leaving the airport, but circle back instead of getting on Alcoa Highway.
The small lot by the terminal holds 15 cars, but a new cell phone lot next to the Airport Hilton opened May 22 with 95 spaces. You can follow signs leading you to the new lot, where you must wait with your car.
You can wait in the lot for a call or text from the person you're picking up to make sure you don't contribute to a traffic jam.
Both cell phone lots will be open until November, when the airport will close the small lot to make way for a new parking garage.
What’s the security wait time at McGhee Tyson?
The average TSA security line wait at McGhee Tyson is about 6 minutes, according to TSA data, though the lines can get longer at busier times.
You can check security wait times on the MyTSA app or on the McGhee Tyson website homepage.
How do I get TSA PreCheck in Knoxville?
Who doesn't love a shorter line?
About 99% of passengers enrolled in TSA PreCheck wait less than 10 minutes in security lines, according to the agency. Through the program, passengers don't have to take off their shoes or remove laptops and liquids from their bags, making for a faster experience.
After filling out an online application, you can visit the enrollment center at 9080 Barbee Lane Suite 102 in West Knoxville to finish the process, which includes fingerprinting. A five-year enrollment costs $78, and you will get a special ID number to add to airline reservations. Children 17 and younger can join PreCheck with an adult if it's listed on their boarding pass.
Do I need a Real ID to fly?
You have until May 7, 2025, to get Real ID if you want to fly domestically in the U.S., including at McGhee Tyson.
The Real ID is a more secure form of ID soon to be required by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after several delays. Millions of Americans already have a driver's license with Real ID certification, complete with a gold or black star.
In order to get a Real ID in Tennessee, you must present originals or certified copies of:
Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence
Proof of full Social Security number
Two proofs of Tennessee residency
You can visit a drivers services center to get a Real ID. There are six centers in Knox County. There are several TSA-approved alternative forms of ID if you don't use a state-approved license or ID, including a passport.
Where can I eat and shop at McGhee Tyson?
There are several options for getting a bite to eat at McGhee Tyson, including the last Quiznos in the city:
Quiznos Subs
Express by Uno (if you want pizza fast)
Cinnabon
Ruby Tuesday (full service)
Starbucks
Smoky Mountain Travelmart
Tennessee Marketplace
Check the airport website for concessions hours.
How many flights are delayed at McGhee Tyson?
Flight delays are the product of airlines and unforeseeable circumstances, especially weather. The number of delayed flights can vary widely.
But the good news for Knoxville travelers is that McGhee Tyson recently broke its own record for most on-time flights.
The airport delivered 89.89% of its flights on time in February 2024, according to AirHelp, the world’s largest air passenger rights organization.
"Being located next to the Smoky Mountains allows us to buffer some of that weather that impacts those inclement travel delays that some cities may face," said Becky Huckaby, the airport's vice president of public relations.
Some destinations experience delays more than others. Florida airports, for instance, often face more delays because of severe thunderstorms.
Where can I fly from Knoxville?
McGhee Tyson offers nonstop flights to over 30 destinations, though six destinations are seasonal only:
Austin
Boston
Chicago (Midway)
Destin/Fort Walton Beach
Houston (Hobby)
Newark
Among the year-round nonstop destinations are popular business spots like Charlotte, Detroit and Washington, D.C. There are also plenty of vacation spots, including Las Vegas, Orlando and Punta Gorda, Florida.
See the full list of destinations here, and check back since the list changes often.
What airlines fly out of Knoxville?
Six airlines offer flights from McGhee Tyson:
Is Uber or Lyft available at McGhee Tyson?
Ride share services like Uber and Lyft are available at the airport. The pick-up area for ride share services is outside baggage claim on the first level of the terminal. Turn right as you leave the building.
Ubers, Lyfts and taxis are typically available at the airport, though they thin out later in the day. It's harder to get a ride on weekends after 9 p.m. or 10 p.m., Huckaby said.
What car rental services are at McGhee Tyson?
Eight rental car companies serve McGhee Tyson. You can find their counters on the first floor of the terminal building, and all car pick-ups and drop-offs are on the first level of the parking garage.
Alamo
Avis
Budget
Dollar Rent A Car
Enterprise
National
Hertz
Thrifty
Should I fly from Atlanta or Nashville instead of Knoxville?
McGhee Tyson has long marketed itself to passengers as a more convenient option for locals and for out-of-towners who want to see a University of Tennessee game or visit the Smokies, Gatlinburg and Dollywood.
That's because it's much smaller than the two nearest airports that passengers sometimes drive to for a direct international flight or a cheaper flight: Atlanta and Nashville.
There's no perfect way to calculate whether it's worth it to fly out of Knoxville, but the parking likely will be cheaper, the security line likely will be shorter and locals will get home much sooner after landing at McGhee Tyson.
Several budget airlines fly from Knoxville, including Allegiant and Frontier. Especially for those traveling light, these airlines can be an affordable option.
Knoxville does not offer direct flights to the West Coast or to international destinations, though you can often get to these places with a single connecting flight.
Why isn’t Southwest flying out of Knoxville?
If there's one airline Knoxville wants to come to McGhee Tyson, it's Southwest. If there's one flight Knoxville residents want more than any other, it's a Southwest nonstop to Los Angeles.
The farthest west you can fly nonstop from Knoxville is Las Vegas.
Though McGhee Tyson leaders have made the case to Southwest that Knoxville would be a great market, it's completely up to the airline whether it adds service. Coming to any new airport is a gamble for an airline. At risk is Southwest's most precious and limited resource: planes.
Before Southwest comes to Knoxville, it will need to know that it can fill its planes and make money. It might also ask McGhee Tyson for some incentives, such as waived operation fees and local advertising. McGhee Tyson budgets around $240,000 annually for these kinds of incentives.
For now, Knoxville is likely too small a market for Southwest to bet on. The airline has faced manufacturing delays and customer service fiascos that have slowed its spread to new markets.
Nearby hotels with airport shuttles
The Hilton Knoxville Airport is the only airport within a short walking distance of McGhee Tyson, since it's adjacent to the terminal building.
There are several nearby hotel options with shuttle service to the terminal.
Courtyard by Marriott Knoxville Airport Alcoa at 141 Furrow Way (0.6 miles)
Tru by Hilton Alcoa Knox Airport at 125 Furrow Way (0.6 miles)
Best Western Knoxville Airport/Alcoa at 162 Cusick Road (0.7 miles)
Comfort Suites – Airport at 140 Cusick Road (0.7 miles)
La Quinta Inn & Suites Knoxville Airport at 126 Cusick Road (0.7 miles)
Hampton Inn Knoxville-Airport at 148 International Ave. (1 mile)
Fairfield Inn & Suites at 1865 Pauling St. (1.7 miles)
The Tennessean Hotel at 531 Henley Street (13 miles)
Does McGhee Tyson have an airport lounge?
McGhee Tyson Airport does not have an airport lounge.
Is baggage claim fast at McGhee Tyson or should I carry on?
Like at any airport, taking a carry-on or checking a bag is really a matter of how light or heavy you are traveling.
McGhee Tyson has a third bag belt it can operate to help process bags quickly at busy times. Ultimately, the speed of baggage claim is up to airlines.
"We provide the infrastructure as the airport, but the time it takes from the moment an airline lands for their airline employee to get the luggage off of the plane and into baggage claim really depends on the operational level of the airline," Huckaby said.
Why is there construction at McGhee Tyson?
McGhee Tyson's passenger numbers have exceeded the limits of the terminal building design. When it was completed in 2000, the terminal was made for up to 2.6 million passengers annually. In 2023, McGhee Tyson served more than 2.8 million passengers, a record number. The airport likely will exceed 3 million annual passengers in 2025.
Beginning in 2024, the airport will construct a new $190 million, 3,500-space parking garage next to the terminal building before embarking on an expansion of the terminal with up to six more gates.
The changes will show up in phases, but the first change is to parking. New signs show parts of the airport's surface parking lot are closed for construction. When the current garage fills up, passengers can park in economy lots.
Who runs McGhee Tyson Airport?
Knoxville's airport is owned and operated by a public corporation called the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, which was created by the city in 1978 after a state law allowed cities to form airport authorities.
The authority does not receive tax dollars, nor does it turn a profit from its runway operations. Its funding comes from passengers who use the airport and from state and federal grants. It has an executive staff led by President Patrick Wilson and a board with nine members who are nominated by the Knoxville mayor and confirmed by the city council.
How can I provide feedback to McGhee Tyson?
Are there changes you'd like to see at Knoxville's airport?
You can email info@tys.org, which is monitored by the airport's public relations team. You can also leave a comment on the airport's social media pages.
The airport conducted an online survey in 2023 that influenced plans for the design of the new terminal. More surveys could be coming as construction gets underway.
How old is McGhee Tyson Airport?
McGhee Tyson Airport lists its first year as 1937, when the airport opened at its current Blount County facility.
The airport has actually been under that name since 1930, when it was a small airstrip in West Knoxville.
Where does the name McGhee Tyson come from?
The airport is named for Charles McGhee Tyson, a Knoxville aviator and businessman who died in a plane crash in Europe during World War I.
In 1929, McGhee Tyson's mother, Bettie Tyson, a member of a wealthy Knoxville family, signed an agreement with the city that gave the land for Tyson Park off Kingston Pike in exchange for naming the airport after her son. The airport was dedicated McGhee Tyson Airport the following year.
Though some people wanted the name changed when the airport moved to Blount County in 1937, the agreement with Mrs. Tyson said the airport's name would stick even if it moved.
The Tyson family name appears other places in Knoxville, notably at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville's Tyson Alumni Center, which was once the family's Victorian home.
What is Knoxville's other airport, Downtown Island?
You might hear people mention Downtown Island Airport in Knoxville, but you won't be catching a flight there unless it's on your personal plane.
Downtown Island is a general aviation airport operated by the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, the same public company that owns and operates McGhee Tyson. It is Knoxville's oldest airport, founded in 1930, and served as a pilot training site during World War II.
It is the third busiest general aviation airport in the state, with 172 based aircraft and around 72,000 annual flights.
As its name suggests, Downtown Island is located on an island very near downtown. Dickinson Island on the Tennessee River is only three miles from the heart of downtown.
The airport is known as a user-friendly place with freshly baked cookies in its small terminal. The Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority recently finished a $12 million runway reconstruction project and hosts community events there.
You can visit the island to watch planes land and take off. The best part? You don't have to go through security.
Have more questions about Knoxville's airport?
Let this Knox News reporter help you!
Daniel Dassow is a growth and development reporter focused on tech and energy. He covers McGhee Tyson Airport, the Department of Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 2023, where he was campus editor and editor-in-chief of the Daily Beacon. Email: daniel.dassow@knoxnews.com. Cell: 423-637-0878.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville: Flights: parking, gates guide
