Stranded in Knoxville? Where to Stay & How to Get Around
Broke down far from home and the shop can’t finish until tomorrow? Here’s what to do next: where the hotel clusters are near the interstates, how to get around without your car and when it makes more sense to tow it home.
When will your car be ready?
Pick the answer the shop gave you. We’ll lay out the next steps, in order.
Hotel clusters near the interstates
Most Knoxville hotels sit in a few groups right off I-40 and I-75. Pick the one closest to the shop holding your car. We don’t recommend a specific hotel; compare prices on your phone, many offer same-night rates.
The largest group of hotels in the area, more than a dozen major chains, plus restaurants and shopping nearby. A good base if your car is at a shop in West Knoxville.
About ten chain hotels close to the Turkey Creek shopping area. Handy if you broke down west of town.
Half a dozen hotels close to Kingston Pike and Bearden, a short ride from downtown.
Full-service hotels within walking distance of Market Square and Gay Street restaurants. Pricier, but you won’t need a car for dinner.
One of the biggest hotel clusters on the north side, about ten chains. Practical if you broke down on I-75 heading north.
A few hotels on the east side, toward the Smokies and Sevier County.
Based on public hotel listings by exit. Hotels open, close and change brands, so check before you go.
How to move without your car
Uber and Lyft both operate in Knoxville and are the quickest way from a shop to a hotel, especially at night.
The main rental counters are at McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Alcoa, about 12 miles south of downtown. Several agencies also have branches around town.
Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) runs routes across the city from its downtown station. Fine by day, limited late at night.
Repair taking too long? We can tow your vehicle home to your own mechanic. Price confirmed upfront.
Take these with you
Phone and charger, wallet and ID, medication, house keys, chargers for any devices and anything valuable from the trunk. Leave only the vehicle key with the shop, and take a photo of the dashboard and the mileage.
Ask the shop for a written estimate and a phone number where you can reach the person working on your car. If the estimate looks too high to fix far from home, call us about towing it back.
Stranded in Knoxville: questions
Can you tow my car to a shop and drop me at a hotel?
Ask us when you call. Riding along depends on the truck and the situation. We can tow your vehicle to the shop of your choice and tell you which hotels and rides are closest to it.
Can you tow my car home if I’m from out of town?
Yes. If the repair would take too long or you’d rather use your own mechanic, we handle long distance tows across Tennessee and into neighboring states. Call with the pickup and drop-off addresses for a full price upfront.
Where are most hotels near the interstate in Knoxville?
The biggest groups of hotels are at I-40/I-75 exit 378 (Cedar Bluff Road) in West Knoxville and I-75 exit 108 (Merchants Drive) on the north side, with smaller clusters at Farragut, Papermill Drive, downtown and Strawberry Plains Pike.
Still on the side of the road?
Call our 24/7 line first. We get your vehicle to a shop, then you can plan the rest.