Whether you are here for a football game, basketball game, or a concert, these are the places my family and friends stay in Knoxville.
My favorite hotels, Airbnbs, and VRBOs- I’ve got it all here. Plus, I included walking distances, some maps, free parking hacks, the cheapest places to stay, as well as a couple of amazing luxury lodgings worth the indulgence.
As a born and raised Knoxvillian (and massive Vols fan), I love playing tour guide to my awesome hometown, and never more than on a UT football game weekend.
There’s nothing like a crisp fall Saturday and a hundred thousand people in fluorescent orange running around downtown singing “Rocky Top.” (Like literally, there is nothing like it – it is quite the sight to see.)
And if you are coming into town to watch a basketball game or see a concert at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, I’ve got you covered there too.
Neyland Stadium and Thompson-Boling Arena are a 5 minute walk (0.25 miles) apart. So this list of best hotels, VRBOs, and Airbnbs works for either a football game or event at Thompson-Boling.
See all of our Gameday blogs here for more ways to make Gameday manageable and fun!
I have acquired quite a bit of knowledge over the years about the best places to stay for a weekend in Knoxville, thanks to friends and family coming into town as well as my own downtown staycations.
I have a blog about my favorite places in Knoxville to stay, but I realized the list changes just a little when it comes to Gameday so I wrote this blog just for this. Go Vols!
Heads up- There are potential affiliate links below. See our full disclosure policy to find out why we don’t accept freebies or sponsored visits and what our affiliate links mean for you cost-wise (hint- nothing).
5 Key Takeaways
Stay in downtown Knoxville if you can
Downtown is so much fun on a Gameday weekend. Neyland Stadium & Thompson- Boling Arena are between 0.6-1.2 miles away.
You can avoid all the traffic headaches, time suckage, and parking hassles if you just plan on walking from downtown, ESPECIALLY for a football game. This is what I do.
If you are worried about parking downtown, check out our list of free or extremely cheap city-run garages.
Best Hotels In Downtown Knoxville
The Hyatt Place and Embassy Suites on Gay St have a great location and rooftop restaurants with a view. The Oliver Hotel is a lovely boutique hotel full of history and a hidden speakeasy on Market Square.
The Tennessean is the swankiest hotel and overlooks the Sunsphere and Worlds Fair Park and the new Marriott is next door to it. The Hampton Inn & Suites, and the Graduate Knoxville (not downtown but next to UT’s campus) are the closest hotels to Neyland Stadium.
Best VRBOs And Airbnbs In Downtown Knoxville
Look for vacation rentals that say Market Square, Gay St, or Old City for a great location.
The 2BR/ 2 Ba “Garden” apt listing is one of my favorites. Tailor Loft With Rooftop Deck is a more luxury stay in one of the best locations and rooftop decks in downtown.
Cheapest Hotels And Vacation Rentals
For hotels, check West Knoxville around the Papermill exit/ Bearden area and North Knoxville around Merchant Drive.
For vacation rentals, look at South Knoxville just across the river from downtown. In North Knoxville, look for rentals around the 4th and Gill and Happy Holler neighborhoods.
Good Lodgings Go Fast
Book early and expect to spend more than you might think, especially for a home football game.
Now if you want to know all the ins and outs of the different neighbourhoods near Neyland Stadium along with a lot more hotel and VRBO recommendations, then keep reading!
Some General Advice About Booking Lodging Near Neyland Stadium And Thompson- Boling Arena
It Gets Expensive On A Gameday Weekend Or If It Is A Big Concert
The first thing to know about finding a hotel or vacation rental in Knoxville is that lodging prices will go out the window on home game weekends as everyone goes slightly nuts.
Don’t get me wrong, I bleed orange and love it. But if you aren’t planning to go to the game, you might want to pick another weekend to visit.
Prices are not quite as bad when it is a basketball game or concert at Thompson- Boling (unless we are talking about Taylor Swift), but still will be more than on a quiet weekend without much happening.
Knoxville is super fun to visit on any weekend, not just when there is a big game at Neyland Stadium or a concert at Thompson- Boling Arena. It has a compact and walkable downtown, the fantastic Urban Wilderness is nearby for hiking/ mountain biking/ paddleboarding/ kayaking adventures, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park just 30- 45 min away.
Lodgings Book Up Fast And Early
I included more options in this blog that are outside of downtown Knoxville than I normally recommend because demand goes thru the roof for a home football game weekend and things book up fast. Like a year in advance fast.
If you are thinking of going to a game, I would go ahead and book now and cancel later if it doesn’t work out. Fortune favors the early birds in the Ktown football lodging sweepstakes. (Did you see how many cliches I managed to mangle there?)
Again, not as much as a problem for events at Thompson-Boling Arena because you are talking about 21,000 people versus 102,000 people.
But I still would go ahead and book if you find a place you like or a price that’s right. Especially for vacation rentals as the good ones go fast.
Many Hotels And Vacation Rentals Have A 2-3 Night Minimum Stay For Home Football Weekends
If you are looking for a hotel for just Saturday night and everything seems completely booked, try switching to a Fri- Sun stay.
They don’t often specify a multiple-night minimum on hotel websites but it is a common occurrence when there is a home football game.
Vacation rentals will often have a 2 or 3 day minimum night on home football game weekends so read the fine print before you get too excited about a place you found and you only want one night.
If you can only come in town for one night and it’s a big game (like any SEC game), you will probably have to find a hotel or VRBO outside of downtown. Don’t worry, I will talk about which areas not far from the stadium are best.
All About The Areas Of Knoxville Near Neyland Stadium And Thompson- Boling Arena
I have split Knoxville into 6 general areas for this blog and will talk a little about the best hotels and Airbnbs/ VRBOs in each area.
Where To Stay In Downtown Knoxville
I think downtown is the best place to look for lodgings when coming to Knoxville.
Encompassing everything between the river and the interstate and bordered by UT’s campus to the west, Knoxville’s downtown is pretty compact and walkable.
There are quite a few hotels, tons of restaurants and bars, and plenty of shops. Lots to do to make a super fun weekend out of your visit.
Downtown isn’t too far from Neyland Stadium or Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center (0.6-1.5 miles depending on where you are downtown) and there are sidewalks and greenways linking the two areas.
I almost always park downtown (even if I am not staying there) and walk from there to the game.
For info about the best parking spots and the $10 Football Shuttle, read The Best Parking For Neyland Stadium – it has all my insider tips.
Specific Areas To Know In Downtown
Gay Street
Gay St is the main street of downtown Knoxville and has shops, restaurants, 2 theatres, a museum, a movie theater, even a bowling alley. Most of Gay St is just over a mile away from Neyland Stadium/ Thompson- Boling Arena.
7 hotels are located either on Gay St or 1-2 blocks away. (There is a Main St in Knoxville but Gay St is where all the action is.)
Best Hotels On Or Near Gay St- Embassy Suites, Hyatt Place, Residence Inn, Courtyard By Marriot, Crowne Plaza, Hilton Knoxville, Hotel Cleo
The Embassy Suites and Hyatt Place have awesome rooftop restaurants with views and I love the cosy firepit area of the Hilton. Those are my favorites out of these hotels but all of them are solid choices.
Hotel Cleo is a brand new boutique hotel on Gay St and has gorgeous 2 person rooms with a very European feel.
Favorite Vacation Rentals– Tailor Loft Penthouse, Tailor Loft Urban Apt, Friedman’s Loft, Rooftop Deck
Market Square
Market Square is a pedestrian-only square adjacent to Gay St that is the social hub of Knoxville. Lots of great restaurants with outside seating on the square and one historic hotel.
There is a big Farmer’s Market here on Wednesdays and Saturdays during football season.
Market Square is 1 mile away from Neyland Stadium/ Thompson- Boling Arena and easily walkable. There is a $10 Football Shuttle from adjacent Krutch Park on gamedays.
Best (And Only) Hotel In Market Square – The Oliver Hotel
The Oliver Hotel is an architecturally beautiful building and leans into the historic vibe. Has 2 terrific restaurants on the ground floor as well as a hidden speakeasy for relaxed cocktails in a cozy atmosphere.
Favorite Vacation Rentals – Amazing Heart of Market Square. Market, Garden, Lofn, and Zen are 4 apts in the same building above Tommy Trent’s Sports Bar.
The Old City
A couple of blocks away from Gay St, the Old City is a more historic part of town and doesn’t have high- rise buildings. It is a little more bohemian and artsy, with great restaurants, fun shops, and a thriving, more indie, music scene.
About 1.5 miles away from Neyland Stadium walking or there is a $10 shuttle from Barleys to Neyland Stadium on Football Gamedays.
Best Hotels: No hotels yet surprisingly but several are in the planning stages.
Favorite Vacation Rentals: As Good As It Gets
Convention Center/ World’s Fair Park
Between Knoxville’s downtown proper and UT’s campus, the Knoxville Convention Center and Worlds Fair Park is centered around the large park created for the 1982 Worlds Fair in Knoxville and its lasting iconic (and somewhat useless but beloved nonetheless) legacy, the Sunsphere.
There is a playground here, a greenway, and lots of open space so it is a great location for families.
Neyland Stadium and Thompson-Boling Arena is only about 0.7 miles away and super walkable as it is connected by a greenway.
Best Hotels: The Tennessean, Marriott, Cumberland House Tapestry Collection, Hampton Inn & Suites
The Tennessean is my first choice if you can swing it as it is truly a luxury stay. You’ll find superb attention to detail everywhere in this hotel, from the sheets to the staff.
The Hampton Inn & Suites is probably the closest hotel to Neyland Stadium/ Thompson-Boling Arena at around 0.6 miles away.
The Tennessean Luxury Hotel (in white) and the Marriott (in black) are next to the Sunsphere in Worlds Fair Park. Image courtesy of the Tennessean hotel website. 
Worlds Fair Park in downtown Knoxville has a pretty lake, amphitheater, playground, and of course, the Sunsphere.
The Riverfront
The north shore of the Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville has 2 good restaurants (Calhoun’s and Ruth’s Chris) that are super popular, especially before games at Neyland Stadium or Thompson- Boling.
There is a greenway all along the waterfront so it is an easy walk if you are staying in this area. The Vol Navy parks here for home football games and that is a fantastic sight to see.
Hotels: None
Favorite Vacation Rentals: Downtown River Views, then the most unusual of Knoxville VRBOs– several houseboats in the marina by Calhoun’s and Ruths Chris restaurants- Magnificent 70’Houseboat, Beautifully Renovated Houseboat
If you are looking for something different, then I would absolutely check out the riverboat rentals.
The boats are permanently docked so you can’t take them for a river cruise but most of the rentals have kayaks, paddleboards, and bikes to borrow, all of which are an excellent way to explore around Knoxville.
Where To Stay Near The University Of Tennessee
(*Actually not my first choice for lodgings for UT Games surprisingly)
UT’s campus sprawls along the Tennessee River just to the west of downtown proper.
The Strip
The main commercial artery of campus is Cumberland Ave, which is known locally as “The Strip.”
There is lots of massive construction on the Strip currently so it is not my favorite area right now but there is a cool hotel here (see info about The Graduate below) and Sunspot, one of my favorite restaurants in Knoxville. You also find the usual cheap student eats and bars.
It’s about 0.6 miles from the Strip to Neyland Stadium/ Thompson- Boling Arena.
The Fort
Fort Sanders is a historic neighbourhood adjacent to both downtown Knoxville and UT’s campus, with older houses, some large student apartment complexes, and 2 large hospitals.
The former stately homes in this area have mostly been converted to multiple- dwelling, student apartments so I lump it into UT’s area versus downtown. It is known locally just as “The Fort.”
Will be loud and rambunctious on game weekends and you are likely to hear NSFW chants when we are playing Alabama or Florida.
Depending on where you are in The Fort, it is anywhere from 0.5- 1 mile to Neyland Stadium/ Thompson- Boling Arena.
Best Hotels Near UT Campus: The Graduate Knoxville (adjacent to The Strip)
The Graduate Knoxville is the most Volunteer-themed hotel in Knoxville and part- owned by Peyton Manning. Stay here if you are into orange (like reeeeally into orange but in a fun, tasteful way) or you fancy a beer in Saloon 16 (get it? 16 for Peyton?).
The drawback is parking- it costs $50 a day on a Gameday weekend and you only get 1 car per room. There are no cheap public parking options nearby either.
Favorite Vacation Rentals Near UT Campus: None. You might find some cheap rentals in The Fort but I think there are better areas to look.
Where To Stay In South Knoxville
If you want a vacation rental for a good price, South Knoxville would be my first choice to look. No hotels though.
For a lot of locals, South Knoxville can mean anything south of the Tennessee River, but for our purposes we will limit it to the area just across the river or what some people call SoKno.
Lots of great vacation rentals for better prices than in downtown itself. No hotels in this area yet though.
The commercial heart of South Knoxville is Chapman Highway that runs from the Tennessee River all the way out to Sevierville and is full of strip malls so it’s not terribly charming.
I would look around Sevier Avenue instead, a smaller street lined with restaurants, breweries, and some shops just a few blocks off the Tennessee River.
The area around Baker Creek Preserve (one of the parks in the Urban Wilderness) also has some restaurants and a brewery. Check out where to eat in South Knoxville.
The Urban Wilderness is the main draw for people staying out in the Sevier Ave/ SoKno area as it has mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, cool playgrounds, a zipline park, and the excellent nature center at Ijams.
All of this just a 10 minute drive from Neyland Stadium. It is really fabulous. We have a whole page devoted to blogs about the Urban Wilderness and all the things you can do.
You can walk to Neyland Stadium/ Thompson- Boling Arena from parts of SoKno, such as Sevier Avenue, which is 1.5- 2 miles walk depending. I would probably plan on an Uber/ Lyft though or driving to one of the free city- run garages and then walking from there.
Favorite Vacation Rentals In South Knoxville: Urban Mountain Home, Barber Street Flats
Where To Stay In West Knoxville
If you can’t get a hotel downtown I would look west along the interstate, especially around the Papermill exit in Bearden.
Spreading from downtown all the way west to Farragut, West Knoxville is suburban to its core but has some nice hotels not too far from Neyland Stadium/ Thompson- Boling Arena, along with good places to eat and drink near them.
You will probably need to drive to the stadium, although there are public buses. Uber/ Lyft can be tricky, they are usually fine going there but it can be super hard to get a pick-up afterwards near the stadium and usually you need to walk downtown.
The Papermill Rd exit from I 40/ I 75 in Bearden has 4 hotels clustered together and it is only a 15 minute drive from the stadium/arena (see map below).
You can probably get better prices the further west you go, like out to Cedar Bluff or even Farragut, but traffic on the interstate can be brutal so keep that in mind.
Best Hotels In West Knoxville: Hampton Inn & Suites Papermill, Holiday Inn Express Papermill, Hilton Garden Inn Papermill, Courtyard by Marriott Bearden
All of these hotels are nice chain hotels very near each other and also near some excellent restaurants in Bearden (see map below). I would stay in any of them, it just depends if you want included breakfast or amenities like a pool.
Favorite Vacation Rentals in West Knoxville: Luxury Suite (sleeps 2)
Where To Stay In North Knoxville
If you want a vacation rental near the most craft breweries close to town or a cheap hotel room farther north
NoKno
North Knoxville can refer to a massive area of basically everything north of the interstate that goes through downtown.
The area closest to downtown is known as “NoKno” and contains the historic 4th and Gill neighbourhood, Happy Holler, North Central St, and North Broadway – all good watchwords to look for when looking at vacation rental listings.
NoKno was once a wealthy suburb built around a streetcar route from downtown so it has lots of great 100 year old bungalows and Victorian houses if you like architecture.
The area got a little run- down during the 1980s/ 90s but now businesses and people are returning in droves but it still has its pockets of sketchy areas.
Some love its trendy, hipster feel and some are more comfortable in a newer, more suburban setting like West Knoxville. I think it is super cool personally and have never felt unsafe but everyone is different.
NoKno is the heart of Knoxville’s craft brewing businesses, with several fabulous ones all within walking distance of each other, including my favorite, Schulz Brau.
You can walk to Neyland Stadium/ Thompson-Boling Arena from the NoKno area within about 1.8-2.5 miles, depending on where exactly you are.
Or you can walk over to the Old City about 0.5 mile away and take a $10 shuttle that picks up and drops off in front of Barley’s on football Saturdays.
Or you can always Uber (just remember getting there is easy but pick-up after the game can be difficult right near the stadium/ arena).
Favorite Vacation Rentals: Jennings- Downtown Knox, 517 Townhome
Merchant Drive Exit From I-75
If you go further out in North Knoxville, there is a cluster of hotels just off I-75 at the Merchant Drive exit. There isn’t much at the exit besides a bunch of chain restaurants, gas stations, and hotels so not a lot of charm there but the hotel prices can be really good.
Only a 15 minute drive from downtown, this would be a good area if you want an inexpensive hotel and are okay with driving in for the day (see our parking blog for the best places to park the car for a UT football Game).
Best Hotels At Merchant Drive exit: 13 hotels clustered off of Merchant Drive
Where To Stay In East Knoxville
While there are things to see in East Knoxville (the Zoo, House Mountain, Muse Knoxville, etc), there aren’t a lot of lodging options in this part of town.
There are some chain hotels clustered around the Strawberry Plains exit of I40, which is about 20 minutes away from Neyland Stadium/ Thompson-Boling Arena. And there are even more if you go about 5 minutes more on the interstate to the Kodak/ Sevierville exit.
I would only stay out this far though if the price was really fantastic or if I was planning on spending some time in Sevierville/ Pigeon Forge too. Hotels Around Strawberry Plains/ Kodak, TN.
There are some interesting vacation rentals in this area as well but again, you are pretty far out from Neyland Stadium and Thompson- Boling Arena.
But if you find one you like and are also planning on spending some time at Dollywood or elsewhere in Pigeon Forge while on your trip, then I would go for it.
There is a glamping retreat that looks fun as well as some nice cabins. Vacation Rentals Around Strawberry Plains And Kodak, TN.
Best RV And Tent Camping Near Neyland Stadium And Thompson- Boling Arena
Low Meadow Farms
Low Meadows is located in South Knoxville, very close to the parks of the Urban Wilderness and is 20 minute drive from Neyland Stadium/Thompson- Boling Arena. The owners have turned their 4 acre meadow bordered by a creek into a primitive camping/ RV site.
There are 13 spots, most hold 2 people and are along the stream but a couple are larger group sites for up to 6 people. Each site has a fire pit/ring and there is a portable bathroom on site as well as a water spigot served by city water.
This is a perfect site for people who want some peace and quiet while not far from the city. Book a site on hipcamp.
Final Thoughts
I hope I have helped you figure where are the best places to stay near Neyland Stadium and Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.
If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to shoot me an email. I have been directing family and friends to great hotels and vacation rentals for years so chances are I know the answer. 😉
