Free & Cheap Things to Do in Knoxville

Iconic Landmarks

The 1982 World's Fair left Knoxville a free 10-acre downtown park of fountains, a splash pad, lawns, and the gold-glass Sunsphere tower that's become the city's icon. Kids wade the interactive fountains in summer and the lawn hosts free festivals and concerts most of the year.

Address: 963 World's Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916

Tip: The park, fountains, and splash pad are free. Riding the Sunsphere's 4th-floor observation deck for 360° views runs about $10 adults / $5 kids — and Knox County residents get in free on designated days with ID. Free parking is limited; the Worlds Fair Park garage is cheap.

Shopping & Strolling

Knoxville's historic heart since the 1850s, Market Square is a pedestrian plaza ringed by local restaurants, indie shops, and a stage that hosts free concerts, the seasonal farmers' market, and Shakespeare on the Square. A fountain splash pad keeps kids busy while you people-watch.

Address: Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902

Tip: Free to wander year-round. The Saturday Market Square Farmers' Market runs May–November. Free live music and outdoor movies fill the square most summer evenings. Walk a block to Krutch Park and Gay Street for more. Metered street parking, free after 6 p.m. and Sundays.

Arts & Culture

Overlooking World's Fair Park, the Knoxville Museum of Art is free every day and focuses on the art and artists of East Tennessee, anchored by Richard Jolley's 'Cycle of Life,' one of the largest figural glass-and-steel assemblies in the world. Rotating exhibitions and a great city overlook from the terrace.

Address: 1050 World's Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916

Tip: Free admission, open Tuesday–Saturday 10–5 and Sunday 1–5; closed Mondays. The Thorne 'Cycle of Life' glass installation is the must-see. Free 'Alive After Five' jazz happens many Friday evenings (small cover for that event). Free parking lot on site.

Museums & Galleries

On the University of Tennessee campus, this free museum spans natural history and human culture — Ice Age fossils and a real Egyptian mummy, decorative arts, and one of the best collections of ancient Native American artifacts in the Southeast. Compact, well-curated, and genuinely kid-friendly.

Address: 1327 Circle Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37996

Tip: Free admission and free parking, open Tuesday–Saturday 9–6 and Sunday 10–5. The Ancient Egypt and Native American galleries are the highlights. Advance registration is preferred for groups. Pair it with a walk across the leafy UT campus and 'The Hill.'

Parks & Nature

Just south of downtown, Ijams is a free 320-acre nature center wrapped around the old Mead's Quarry — boardwalk trails along the Tennessee River, a swimming and paddling quarry lake, climbing crags, and a visitor center with live animals. The hub of Knoxville's Urban Wilderness trail system.

Address: 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920

Tip: Grounds and trails are free, dawn to dusk; parking is free. Mead's Quarry Lake has seasonal kayak and paddleboard rentals (extra). Leashed dogs welcome on most trails. The visitor center has restrooms and exhibits. Monthly homeschool programs run $20/student.

Family Fun

A nationally recognized zoo on the east side of town, Zoo Knoxville is a leader in red panda and reptile conservation, with elephants, gorillas, a Malayan tiger, and the immersive 'Tiger Forest' and 'Clayton Family Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Campus.' A full half-day for families.

Address: 3500 Knoxville Zoo Dr, Knoxville, TN 37914

Tip: Admission is over the site's usual $20 mark, but it's the top rainy-or-shine family pick — buy online to save a few dollars. Parking is $10. Members and Knoxville-area homeschoolers can join monthly 'Science Days' classes. Arrive at opening in summer to beat the heat.

History & Culture

A polished downtown history museum tracing 300 years of East Tennessee — Cherokee history, Davy Crockett's rifle, streetcar-era Knoxville, and the region's Civil War and music heritage. Engaging and well-labeled, a good rainy-day stop right on Gay Street.

Address: 601 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902

Tip: Admission is free through February 14, 2027 for the U.S. 250th anniversary; normally $5 adults, free for ages 15 and under, and free every Sunday. Open Monday–Saturday 9–4, Sunday 1–5. Shares the building with the McClung Historical Collection (free genealogy archive).

Parks & Nature

The State Botanical Garden of Tennessee's Knoxville site is a free, year-round display garden on the UT campus — an All-America Selections trial garden bursting with annuals, perennials, a children's garden, and riverside plantings. A quiet, colorful walk most visitors miss.

Address: 2518 Jacob Dr, Knoxville, TN 37996

Tip: Free and open dawn to dusk daily. Peak color is May through October. The children's garden and the seasonal-color beds are the highlights. Free parking on site. Combine with the adjacent UT campus and the Tennessee River walk along Neyland Greenway.

Museums & Galleries

The only museum in the world dedicated to all levels of women's basketball, marked by the world's largest basketball out front. Inside, interactive courts let you shoot on period hoops, dribble through the decades, and trace the game from 1890s bloomers to today's pros — fun even for non-fans.

Address: 700 Hall of Fame Dr, Knoxville, TN 37915

Tip: Admission $7.95 adults / $5.95 kids 6-15; under 5 free. Open Tuesday–Saturday (seasonal hours; call ahead in winter). Bring sneakers — the interactive shooting and dribbling courts are the best part. The giant basketball out front is a free photo stop even if you don't go in.

Family Fun

A hands-on children's science museum and planetarium at Chilhowee Park, Muse Knoxville is built for younger kids — climbing structures, a STEM maker space, outdoor exploration yard, and unlimited planetarium shows included with admission. A reliable rainy-day stop for families with little ones.

Address: 516 N Beaman St, Knoxville, TN 37914

Tip: Admission is $12 for everyone ages 1-64, with free unlimited planetarium shows included; half price for seniors, military, and educators. Free admission and planetarium the fourth Friday evening of each month (5–7 p.m.). Best for ages 2–10.

Historic Districts

Knoxville's oldest commercial district, the Old City is a few brick blocks of restored warehouses now full of coffee roasters, breweries, vintage shops, murals, and live-music venues. Free to wander by day for the street art and architecture; it comes alive at night.

Address: Jackson Ave & Central St, Knoxville, TN 37902

Tip: Free to explore; daytime is best for the murals, shops, and coffee. The Saturday-night scene is lively but bar-centered. The Knoxville History Project offers free self-guided walking-tour maps online. A short walk from Gay Street and Market Square.

Parks & Nature

A free riverfront promenade along the Tennessee River downtown, Volunteer Landing strings together interactive fountains, the story-panel history walk, fishing piers, and connections to the Neyland Greenway and the riverboat docks. The prettiest free stroll in Knoxville, especially at sunset.

Address: 956 Volunteer Landing Ln, Knoxville, TN 37915

Tip: Free and open all day. Walk or bike the greenway from here past Neyland Stadium toward UT, or board the Star of Knoxville riverboat (paid) at the dock. Interactive fountains run in summer. Free and metered parking nearby; arrive early on UT football Saturdays.