Winter. Spring. Summer. Fall. Every season in Knoxville is truly unique, but when summer comes to a close, you’ll find all kinds of reasons to fall in love with this artful, adventuresome city.
Planning a fall family getaway to Knoxville, Tennessee? Cooler temperatures, changing leaves, football Saturdays, pumpkin patches and plenty of outdoor adventures make fall a great time to explore with kids. From hiking and greenways to downtown murals and family-friendly attractions, here are 10 ways to experience Knoxville this season.
If you’re longing for breathtaking East Tennessee views from a spot that feels close to home… take it to the House (Mountain)!
House Mountain is a favorite Knoxville-area hiking destination, especially when fall color starts to appear. If you’ve got energetic elementary-age kids and up, put on your hiking shoes and hit the trail. The climb comes with a pretty great reward: sweeping views of Knoxville and the surrounding East Tennessee landscape.
Good for: Older kids, active families and fall foliage seekers.
2. Take the Cradle of Country Music Walking Tour
Are your kiddos learning about different types of music in school? Knoxville's Cradle of Country Music Walking Tour is a great opportunity to add a little Tennessee music history to your trip.
Bristol may be known as the birthplace of country music and Nashville is well known for the genre, but Knoxville is the missing link between the two and has an important place in the story. The self-guided tour takes you through downtown Knoxville while sharing the people, places and stories connected to the city's musical past.
Stroll at your own pace, enjoy the fall weather and feel free to hum a little “Jolene” along the way.
Good for: Music lovers, history buffs and families exploring downtown on foot.
3. Go on a Knoxville Mural Hunt
Parents and caregivers are going to love this one—it’s free!
Turn Knoxville's colorful murals into your own family scavenger hunt. Pick a few to find or see how many you can spot while exploring downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.
Then make the photos part of the fun. Jump in the air. Stand on one foot. Make funny faces. Re-create a pose from the mural. You’ll get active, explore the city and fill your camera roll with some pretty wonderful Knoxville memories.
Good for: All ages, free family fun and an easy downtown activity.
This one might seem a bit odd at first, but many of Knoxville's breweries offer laid-back spaces where you'll regularly see locals enjoying time with friends and family. Knoxville's craft beer scene includes plenty of patios and outdoor spaces that are especially enjoyable when temperatures cool down in the fall.
Explore the Knoxville Ale Trail and look for a stop that fits your crew. A spacious outdoor Biergarten like the one at Schulz Bräu Brewing Company can give adults a chance to try something local while everyone enjoys being outside.
As always, individual brewery policies and events can vary, so check before you go.
Good for: Parents looking for a relaxed afternoon stop.
5. Take a Self-Guided Driving Tour
Prefer to discover Knoxville from the comfort of your own vehicle?
Choose one of Knoxville's self-guided driving tours, turn up the heat if there’s a fall chill in the air and put the pedal to the metal. (Disclaimer: please follow speed limits!)
Depending on your family's interests, you can explore local history, learn more about the Civil War in East Tennessee, travel through rural communities along the French Broad River or get to know Knoxville's neighborhoods.
It’s an especially easy option for families with younger children—or when everyone needs a little downtime between adventures.
Good for: History lovers, multigenerational families and rainy or chilly days.
6. Bike, Walk or Roll on Knoxville's Greenways
Grab your stroller, bicycles, scooters or roller blades and explore Knoxville on a greenway.
The city's network of paved trails connects parks, neighborhoods, and scenic areas, giving families plenty of choices for an easy fall outing. You can keep things short with younger kids or make an afternoon of it with older ones.
Add changing leaves and cooler temperatures and suddenly “going for a walk” sounds a whole lot better.
Fall in Knoxville means one thing is very likely: you'll see a lot of orange!
A University of Tennessee game day is an experience even if your family isn't already full of Vols fans. Catch a football game at Neyland Stadium, explore the University of Tennessee campus, or simply soak up the game-day atmosphere around Knoxville.
Make time for a pre-game meal, find some Tennessee orange for the kids and practice your best “Go Vols!”
Good for: Sports fans, older kids, and families looking for a true Knoxville fall experience.
8. See a Show at Knoxville Children's Theatre
Need something indoors on a cool fall day?
Knoxville Children's Theatre produces professional-quality plays for children, performed by children, making it an especially fun addition to a family trip.
Because productions change throughout the year, check the current schedule when planning your visit. You may discover that a cozy afternoon at the theatre is exactly what your fall itinerary needed.
Good for: Young theatre fans and cooler or rainy fall days.
9. Visit a Pumpkin Patch or Corn Maze Near Knoxville
Fall is here! And is there a better way to celebrate than pumpkins, hayrides, corn mazes, sunflowers, apple cider and maybe a funnel cake?
Knoxville and the surrounding East Tennessee area offer plenty of classic fall attractions for families. Spend an afternoon searching for the perfect pumpkin, getting dizzy in a corn maze, or seeing who can make it through without asking, “Wait…haven’t we already been this way?”
Check Visit Knoxville's current fall and Halloween events before your trip to find seasonal attractions, pumpkin patches and family-friendly events happening while you're here. And if you're really just into a pumpkin spice latte, check out Knoxville's Coffee Shops and you'll have your pick of the patch!
Good for: Basically everyone who believes fall requires at least one pumpkin.
10. See Knoxville's Fall Colors from the Sunsphere
No family trip to Knoxville is complete without looking up and spotting the Sunsphere.
Head to the observation deck for panoramic views of downtown Knoxville, the University of Tennessee campus, the Tennessee River and the surrounding landscape. In fall, you can watch the city trade its summer greens for the reds, oranges and golds of the season.
And as the days get shorter, an evening visit gives you another possibility: watching the sun go down and Knoxville's city lights come on.
These suggestions merely scratch the surface of family-friendly things to do in Knoxville this fall. Whether you're visiting for a weekend getaway or spending several days exploring East Tennessee, Knoxville gives families plenty of ways to get outside, learn something new and have a little fun together.
We guarantee you'll FALL in love with Knoxville!
Author
Kristen Combs
Kristen Combs is the Director of Communications & Social Strategies for Visit Knoxville. With an extensive knowledge of Knoxville as a tourist destination, Kristen is also the author of 100 Things to Do in Knoxville Before You Die, published by Reedy Press and available in the Visitors Center Gift Shop. Find Kristen on Instagram at @100thingsknoxville.
