Getting around · Knoxville
Getting to and from TYS: taxi, rideshare, transit & the cell-phone lot
The quickest way to Knoxville airport is usually a taxi or a rideshare: a metered taxi gets you to Downtown Knoxville, and Uber & Lyft pick up in a marked pickup zone. Picking someone up instead? Wait free at the Phone & Wait Lot. Below: every way to and from the airport, what it costs, whether to park or grab a ride, and how to fold the drive into your Leave-By Time so you reach security with room to get through the line. Check TYS TSA wait times today before you decide when to leave.
- Terminal
- 1
- Checkpoints
- 2
- PreCheck
- Yes
- CLEAR
- No
- Global Entry
- Off site
- Wait data
- Predicted
Taxis from TYS — fare and where to find the stand
Typical taxi fare
Metered
to Downtown Knoxville
Drive time
15–25 min
13 mi to Downtown Knoxville
A taxi is the simplest door-to-door option and needs no app. Fares to Downtown Knoxville are on the meter, so the total depends on traffic and your exact address.
Taxis stage on the north side of the terminal, reached from baggage claim. A taxi to downtown Knoxville typically runs under $35; more than ten cab companies serve the airport.
The TYS cell-phone waiting lot
Picking someone up? Wait free at Phone & Wait Lot. Behind the Airport Hilton, accessed from the Hunt Road intersection, with 90+ spaces. Wait there until your traveler texts that they're at the curb, then loop in once. Stay with your vehicle in the free lot and pull to the curb once your passenger is ready.
Leaving a car for the trip instead of getting dropped off? It's worth checking the lots: compare TYSparking by price & distance.
Where to catch Uber & Lyft at TYS
Uber and Lyft pick up on the terminal's lowest level, to the right of the building.
Dropping off? Drop departing passengers at the upper-level Departures curb; pick up on the lower level. Knoxvillehas a single terminal, so there's no wrong-curb risk — any door gets you to check-in and security.
Driving to TYS — routes & drive time
TYS sits about 13 miles from Downtown Knoxville, a drive of roughly 15–25 minutes via US-129 (Alcoa Highway) north links the airport with downtown Knoxville — closer to the high end at rush hour. That drive time is the first input into your Leave-By Time, so the calculator counts it backward from your flight along with today's security wait and the walk to your gate.
Getting to TYS by train or transit
No rail or scheduled public bus serves McGhee Tyson; taxis, rideshares, hotel shuttles, and rental cars are the ground options.
Hotel and city shuttles to TYS
Hotel and charter shuttles serve the terminal, along with several limousine operators. If a shuttle is part of your plan, add its ride time to your Leave-By Time — it's easy to forget the 15–20 minutes between the curb and the terminal.
Park or ride to TYS?
The rule of thumb: a round-trip ride is one fixed cost, while parking adds up by the day. For a quick 1–2 day trip, parking usually costs less; for a longer trip, a round-trip taxi or rideshare often comes out ahead.
Want the exact trade-off for your dates? compare TYSparking by price & distance — the closest lot isn't always the one that costs the least.
Accessibility and late-night rides at TYS
Accessible taxis and vans are available on request from the ground-transport curb.
Late or overnight arrival? With no public transit, rely on a taxi, rideshare, or pre-arranged car late at night; the Phone & Wait Lot is open around the clock.
Returning a rental on the way out? Return rental cars at the on-airport rental facility per your agreement. (We cover where to return a car, not where to book one.)
Recently changed: The free Phone & Wait Lot behind the Airport Hilton opened in 2024. Pickup zones and curb rules change — we verified TYS's ground-transport details as of July 1, 2026. Always check the in-app pickup pin and posted signs when you land.
Flying out of a nearby airport instead?
If a fare or a schedule points you elsewhere, the closest airport we cover is AVL (Asheville), about 86 miles from TYS in a straight line. The same math on this page — drive time, ride cost, security wait — decides whether the extra distance is worth it.
Other airports nearby
Straight-line distance from TYS — check current waits before switching airports.
Before you go TYS
TYS TSA wait times todaySee today's security wait by checkpoint, then time your ride to the airport.Getting-around FAQ TYS
How much is a taxi to or from TYS?
Taxis to Downtown Knoxville are metered, so the fare depends on traffic and the exact address. Taxis stage on the north side of the terminal, reached from baggage claim.
Where do you catch Uber and Lyft at TYS?
Uber and Lyft pick up on the terminal's lowest level, to the right of the building. Open the app after you land and follow its pickup pin, not the curb out front.
Where is the TYS cell-phone lot?
Phone & Wait Lot — Behind the Airport Hilton, accessed from the Hunt Road intersection, with 90+ spaces. It's free, and you wait there until your traveler texts that they have their bags.
How far is TYS from Downtown Knoxville?
TYS is about 13 miles from Downtown Knoxville — roughly 15–25 minutes by car depending on traffic, via US-129 (Alcoa Highway) north links the airport with downtown Knoxville.
Is there a train from TYS to Downtown Knoxville?
Not directly. No rail or scheduled public bus serves McGhee Tyson; taxis, rideshares, hotel shuttles, and rental cars are the ground options.