9 Wheelchair Accessible Things to do in Knoxville, Tennessee

As you may know if you’ve read my blog for a while, I frequently go to the Great Smoky Mountains and Gatlinburg, as that area is only a couple hours from where I live. To get to the Great Smoky Mountains, I always drive through Knoxville and while I’ve driven through Knoxville many times throughout my life, I have never actually spent any time in the city… until very recently, anyway! 

If you’re a fan of college football, then you probably know Knoxville as being the home of the Tennessee Vols, and to be honest, that’s all I knew about the city until my recent trip. However, after spending four fun-filled days in wheelchair accessible Knoxville, I can now say that it has so much more than just the Tennessee Vols football team. In fact, it’s a destination with a plethora of accessible attractions and things to do!

From enjoying a cruise on the Tennessee River to seeing animals at Zoo Knoxville and so much more, I had a fantastic experience at some of the best wheelchair accessible Knoxville attractions, and I’d love to tell you about them. In my article below, I’ll let you know what all you can do in Knoxville as a wheelchair user and then at the end, I’ll tell you about the great hotel I stayed in. Here are some of the best accessible things to do in Knoxville, Tennessee –

Wheelchair Accessible Knoxville Attractions & Things to Do

Check out my short video below to see some of the best wheelchair accessible things to do in Knoxville in action!

Enjoy a dinner cruise onboard the Volunteer Princess

The Volunteer Princess Dinner Cruise is a two hour wheelchair accessible cruise. This spectacular experience takes you around Knoxville while enjoying the scenic beauty of the Tennessee River. From this cruise, you can see an amazing view of the Tennessee Vols college football stadium, float by some gorgeous waterfront homes, and even see the Sunsphere, which is the 1982 World’s Fair famous city landmark. 

Since boarding begins 30 minutes before departure, plan to get there early. There are several great spots for accessible parking, which can be found at 956 Volunteer Landing Lane. Just pull around behind Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and you can’t miss it! When facing Ruth’s Chris, you will find the paved walkway to your right that will lead you down to the boat dock for the boarding to begin. Once there, a staff member will assist you with boarding onto the boat. There is a ramp that the staff will happily place down for you to enter. I will say that the turn into the boat is narrow, but I had no problem getting onboard in my 400 lb power wheelchair. 

For the dinner, it is inside a seated indoor area completely cooled for those hot summer days. To get inside the dinner area, you’ll need to navigate another ramp, but it isn’t as narrow as the one getting on the boat. The entire lower level is wheelchair accessible, but there isn’t an elevator to get to the top level. 

The food is a three-course meal and it was absolutely delicious. On my cruise, we were given a fresh salad, chicken and steak (yes, I said both!), potatoes, vegetables, and even a tasty cheesecake for dessert! The servers were great and they kept my sweet tea filled the entire cruise, which lasted about two hours in total. 

I would highly recommend this dinner cruise if you are in the area. I just wore comfortable, but nice clothes and seemed to fit right in. Some people were dressed more formal for their night out with their loved ones and that’s fine too. Either way, it’s truly a great and accessible way to spend the evening. 

Take in the views from the Sunsphere

I grew up hearing stories of how my mom visited the World’s Fair in Knoxville in 1982 when she was a kid with her parents. Every time we drive through Knoxville, my mom always says, “There’s the Sunsphere! I had dinner inside there when I was in middle school!” She definitely stirred my interest in seeing inside this towering 266-foot structure with a 75 ft, gold dome sitting high above. 

You can’t visit Knoxville and not see this epic part of World’s Fair history, so I knew this was one thing I definitely wanted to do during my visit. Since I stayed at a downtown hotel (more details on it later in this blog post!), I was able to roll across a few streets using smooth curb cuts to get there. 

The wheelchair entry is at the third level elevator, which can be found on Clinch Avenue just next to the UT Conference Center. When arriving at the elevator, call 865-314-0660 and a delightful staff member will bring the elevator down to get you. Please note that the Sunsphere is open 7 days a week, Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, and Sunday 12pm-4pm, but it is closed from 1:30pm-2:30pm every day for lunch. 

Once inside the elevator with the staff member, I was quickly taken up to the 4th floor observation deck. Rolling out of the elevator and seeing the 360 degree views of the Great Smoky Mountains, the Tennessee Vols football stadium, and the surrounding city of Knoxville with breathtaking views of the Tennessee River, I loved this experience. 

I was also excited to see memorabilia from the 1982 World’s Fair on display with a complete timeline, and even a gift shop so that I could grab some souvenirs. Being inside the gold sphere, and being able to easily roll around and see out of the floor to ceiling windows, was a fun experience. 

Immerse yourself in art at the Knoxville Museum of Art

The Knoxville Museum of Art is located in downtown Knoxville and is easily within walking/rolling distance of the Sunsphere. Oh, and I can’t forget to mention that admission is completely free, which is amazing!

The Knoxville Museum of Art is home to over 1,500 pieces of art, including paintings, sculptures, and even mixed media works. The particular focus here is on art from East Tennessee, beginning from the mid 19th century through the current time period. 

This museum is very spacious, smooth to roll around, and has elevator access to every level. I found it wheelchair accessible and the art here was intriguing. There are a variety of permanent and temporary exhibits with something to suit everyone’s taste. 

See a Broadway show at the Tennessee Theatre

I don’t believe that I’ve ever seen a prettier theatre than the Tennessee Theatre. There’s no wonder that it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and honored as the Official State Theatre of Tennessee. While visiting wheelchair accessible Knoxville, this is one venue that you don’t want to miss! 

Located on Gay Street in the heart of downtown Knoxville, the Tennessee Theatre frequently has shows that you can enjoy watching and it also offers wheelchair accessible tours, so you can hopefully still marvel at its beauty even if a show isn’t playing while you’re in town. 

In this theatre, you can see touring Broadway shows, today’s most popular musicians and singers, vintage films, and even performances by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. There’s a whole plethora of amazing options. 

During my visit, I chose to take a Deluxe Tour, which was a wheelchair accessible two hour tour. Rolling inside the theatre, I was immediately in awe of the gorgeous chandeliers in the Grand Lobby. The floor was smooth and easy to roll on as our guide explained all the details of the history of the grand opening of this theatre in 1928. She went on to tell the amazing story of its complete renovation years later, as she walked us to the wheelchair accessible seating area of the auditorium. 

There isn’t a bad seat in the theatre. The accessible seating is at the back of the theatre and  there are some accessible seats near the front as well. We also found more accessible seating areas on the second level with access from the elevator. I can only imagine how great a Broadway show would be from any of these wheelchair accessible seating areas. 

I was also happy to find a companion care restroom on the main level, just to the left of the theatre. And as our guide explained, they are currently undergoing more renovations to enlarge the venue and will be adding another companion care restroom on the top level as well. I will definitely be back to see a show in the near future! 

Shoot some hoops (and learn some history) at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame

When driving through the downtown Knoxville area, you can’t avoid seeing the huge 10 ton, 30-feet-high basketball sitting high atop the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. If that’s not enough to spark your interest, I don’t know what would. As soon as I saw it, I immediately had to pull in and check this place out.

Wheelchair accessible parking is available and near the entrance with paved sidewalks leading inside. As soon as I rolled inside the main entrance, an awesome 17-foot bronze statue met me at the door. It was erected to honor the past, present, and future of women’s basketball and every inductee into the Hall of Fame receives a replica. This facility is the only one of its kind to be dedicated to all levels of women’s basketball. 

After purchasing a ticket at the desk inside the gift shop, which is the first stop on your right, I was anxious to take a further look inside. Rolling through and reading the history, and seeing the photos of basketball stars from long ago and current was so interesting. I found the entire museum to be very spacious and easily maneuverable in my wheelchair. 

One of my favorite things was the locker room exhibit, where you could actually sit and listen to the Knoxville Hall of Famer herself, Pat Summit. You could hear her voice overhead and actually watch her on the screen while sitting amongst statues of players. I really felt like she was talking to me and I was ready to take the court with full speed. There was also a film about the history of women’s basketball with a theater that included accessible seating. I also took the elevator down to the bottom floor, where there were some basketball goals set up and some basketballs. If you’re able, you can try your hand at shooting some hoops! 

Honestly, I’ve never been a huge fan of basketball, but I do have full respect for the athletes, so rolling through this Hall of Fame was an eye opening experience and I loved it. I learned a lot about these amazing women and their many accomplishments in basketball. If you visit, plan to be here for at least a couple hours. 

Roll through the great outdoors along accessible trails 

When traveling, there’s nothing worse to me than staying cooped up inside a hotel room. I want to get out and explore the destination, and one of my favorite ways to do that is on wheelchair accessible hiking trails. On these, I can view wildlife, meet other people along the way who are out enjoying nature, and traverse the landscape. I was so happy to find two wonderfully wheelchair accessible trails in Knoxville and I want to tell you all about them.  

High Ground Park has a paved wheelchair accessible trail that winds you through the towering trees. The trail is spacious and does have a few steep sections, but I didn’t have an issue exploring this gorgeous trail in my power wheelchair. I was lucky enough to see a couple squirrels along my journey and several kinds of birds.

Accessible parking for the trail is near the entrance of High Ground Park and there are bar spaces beside the spots, so loading and unloading your wheelchair won’t be an issue. I found this trail to be very well maintained and beautiful, and I felt at one with nature here. 

I was also ecstatic to learn that Knoxville is home to about 54 miles of paved ADA-accessible greenways! That would be a lot of rolling for my power wheelchair, especially since my battery would be dead and I would be stuck in the middle of the trail by the end of 54 miles. So, I opted to ride the section at Island Home Park on the Will Skelton Greenway. The Greenway is paved, so I had no worries that it would be a terrific trail for me and for anyone using a wheelchair. I easily found accessible parking beside the playground and quickly started my journey. 

The Will Skelton Greenway is paved and runs for 3.5 miles along the lovely Tennessee River. There are several viewing spots along the way, where I thoroughly enjoyed watching the boats go by. Also, the airport is near here, so seeing lots of airplanes fly over was another exciting part of rolling along this trail. I visited on a warm summer day, so I really appreciated that there was a lot of shade along the route.

See over 1,200 animals at Zoo Knoxville

One of my favorite things to do in any city is visiting the zoo. I love watching the animals interact with one another and at Zoo Knoxville, I was able to get up close and personal with so many beloved animals.

At Zoo Knoxville, accessible parking is easy to find near the main entrance. Once parked, rolling inside is super quick and easy, as the grounds are all paved and curb cuts are available as needed. Make sure to grab a park map when showing your tickets, so that you can see all the locations and times of the animal encounters as they are plentiful at Zoo Knoxville. The encounters include the sloth, otters, gorillas or chimps, lions, baboons, and more.

I found the entire park to be easily accessible since it is all paved and not very hilly. There are several spots for shade and benches to take a rest if needed. If you’re feeling pretty brave like I was, you can even roll across a suspension bridge to get the best views of the monkeys. I really enjoyed watching the lions play too, as well as the gorillas with their human like features. 

Another impressive part of the zoo is the 2.5 acre center, The Clayton Family Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Campus. It houses over 95 species of reptiles and amphibians. It was easy for me to enter inside, as it is smooth and paved, and roll past the glass enclosures of Reticulated Pythons, King Cobras, Golden Dart Frogs, and so many other bone chilling creatures. I was able to roll so close to the glass that I could watch the snake’s sides expand with every breath that they took. Yikes! 

I’ve visited some pretty spectacular zoos throughout my travels, including the San Diego Zoo and even Taronga Zoo in Sydney, and I can confidently say that Zoo Knoxville is one of the best I’ve visited. If you’ll be in the Knoxville area, this should be a must-do during your wheelchair accessible Knoxville trip! 

Purchase local goods at the Market Square Farmer’s Market

The Market Square Farmer’s Market is open-air and is located in Market Square in downtown Knoxville. This event takes place every Wednesday and Saturday, May through mid-November. I was lucky enough to be visiting on a Saturday, so of course I had to see what all local products were available. I quickly learned that everything at the market is either made, grown, or raised within a 150-mile radius of Knoxville. How cool is that?!

I found the accessibility in the area to be excellent and I was able to roll around the closed off city streets and shop the local stands that were set up. I purchased a tasty latte from a food truck, some delicious homemade caramels from the kindest lady, and my favorite item of all, chocolate chip pumpkin bread. 

The people selling the goods were all super friendly and nice, and offered assistance for me when looking at their items. I had a great time looking at the handmade bird houses, the artistic colors in the paintings, and even seeing the sunshine glare off the handmade jewelry pieces. I had a great time at the Market Square Farmer’s Market! 

Dine at some of Knoxville’s delicious restaurants

Knoxville has some seriously amazing restaurants, coffee shops, and even ice cream shops, and I had the chance to try a number of them during my trip. Here are some of my favorite places to eat and drink in Knoxville, Tennessee:

South Press – Known for providing a safe community space in the Knoxville area, South Press offers a warm welcome with hospitality for all. Accessible parking out front is easy, free, and near the entrance. As I rolled inside, I received a warm welcome with a hearty “Good morning!” from both the owner, Joslynn, and the staff. The menu of hand crafted coffee and teas had plenty of options, and the eclectic atmosphere was even better. As I sipped on my latte, I never wanted it to reach the bottom. I was thoroughly enjoying just sitting and looking at all the unique and colorful decorations around the shop. I was also excited to see wheelchair accessible booths here. I didn’t have to sit on the end of the booth because one of the benches was cut shorter, so that I could pull right up on the side and sit in my wheelchair at the table, just as if I was sitting in the bench seat. I loved this feature and will definitely be back for more coffee here! South Press also frequently has events, including drag bingo and performances, so be sure to check their calendar.

Sweet P’s – Being from the south, I’ve eaten my fair share of delicious barbecue. But I have to admit, Sweet P’s Downtown Dive location in Knoxville serves up some of the best I’ve ever eaten. I easily found wheelchair accessible parking in their lot across the street and the accessible entrance is just to the right of the building. Once inside, you can smell the barbecue and immediately my stomach began to growl. After looking over way too many great sounding choices, I decided on the tender beef brisket slices with their macaroni and cheese, sautéed greens, and cornbread. I really loved it all and enjoyed every bite. But just when I thought that I couldn’t hold any more food, I then splurged for the banana pudding. Every single bite that was on my plate was absolutely delectable. Be sure that Sweet P’s is on your list of must-eats in Knoxville! 

Yassin’s Falafel House – When in Knoxville, you definitely need to grab a delicious lunch at the restaurant named in 2018 as the “Nicest Place in America”, Yassin’s Falafel House. When dining at their downtown location, wheelchair users should call 865-219-1462 upon arrival and ask them for the accessible door code to enter. This accessible entrance is in the back where the public parking area is. Once parked, just roll to the door, type the code in, and make your way to the front entrance. They have so many great food options, but I finally decided on the falafel plate. It had falafel with salad, homemade hummus, and baba ghanoush with a side of Pita and a drink. I absolutely loved it all and even cleaned my plate with all this deliciousness. But you know how they say that you have a separate stomach for dessert? Well, it must be true because I made room for their tasty baklava. And let me say, don’t leave there without trying this item. It was so good!

Cafe 4 – Located on Market Square in Knoxville is Cafe 4. Diners here can choose to sit indoors and enjoy their lovely ambiance, or sit outside and people watch at the lovely Market Square. I chose to eat outside, but It was easy to maneuver through the indoor dining areas with my wheelchair as well as the outdoor patio. This restaurant is spacious, so no worries there! After scouring their menu, I chose to get two Nashville hot chicken tacos and one fish taco. These were so scrumptious and I ate every single bite! I’d love to return and try even more of the menu. 

Petro’s Chili & Chips – Located in Market Square in the heart of downtown Knoxville is a tasty restaurant known as Petro’s Chili & Chips. This restaurant got its debut at the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville. At the event, fair-goers could enjoy their meal in a sliced open Fritos bag, that was piled high with chili and other tasty toppings. It was an instant hit and I can certainly see why. Their chili, now served in a dish, is delicious and pairing that with corn chips, cheese, and sour cream makes my mouth water just thinking about it. They are also famous for their famous Hint-of-Orange iced tea, so you will want to have a taste of this!

Cruze Farm & Phoenix Pharmacy – If you’re in the mood to treat yourself to some ice cream (and why wouldn’t you be?!), these two ice cream shops are wonderful options and they’re both located on Gay Street across from each other! I had a chance to try them both and honestly, I don’t know which one was my favorite, so you’ll just have to get both. Cruze Farm has fresh churned ice cream from a local dairy farm and I LOVED their vegan soft serve chocolate ice cream with a peanut butter hard shell topping. Phoenix Pharmacy is an old-fashioned pharmacy and soda fountain with a variety of sundaes and shakes. I had their brownie sundae, which was really tasty! 

Knox Brew Hub – Located just a block away from Market Square, I lucked up on a member of Knoxville’s Ale Trail (learn more about the Knoxville Ale Trail here). Knox Brew Hub has nearly two dozen taps, each one only dispensing a beer produced in Knox County or a bordering county. Upon rolling inside, I saw immediately what the draw was for enjoying a nice beer here. The atmosphere is laid back, the staff is very friendly, and the craft beer choices were plentiful. Since I’m not a huge beer drinker, I asked the bartender which he would suggest. He easily pointed out his most purchased beer, the Hub Lager. It was really tasty and it slid right down with their tasty spicy pimento cheese dip served with tortilla chips. 

Where to Stay: Hyatt Place Knoxville / Downtown

Throughout my time in Knoxville, I stayed at the Hyatt Place Knoxville / Downtown. This hotel is in a perfect location in the heart of downtown. It’s located on Gay Street, where many of the most well-known restaurants and shops are, and just a short walk/roll from places like Market Square, the Sunsphere, Knoxville Museum of Art, and more wheelchair accessible Knoxville attractions. 

Hyatt Place also has an on-site Starbucks, which I frequented several times during my stay, and a rooftop bar. The rooftop bar is called Five Thirty Lounge and it has both indoor and outdoor seating. It’s a gorgeous space with fantastic views of Knoxville. 

In my wheelchair accessible room, there were two queen sized beds and they had plenty of clearance underneath them for a hoist/hoyer lift. The room was spacious and even had a living area with a couch. I was impressed with the size of the room. 

In the bathroom, there was a pull-under sink, grab bars by the toilet, and a roll-in shower with a fold-down shower seat. The roll-in shower had smooth entry and the entire bathroom really couldn’t have worked more perfectly for my accessibility needs. 

I would absolutely stay at this hotel again next time I’m in Knoxville. With a prime location and excellent accessibility, Hyatt Place Knoxville / Downtown certainly won me over and I can’t wait to return to this hotel in the future. If you’d like to learn more about this hotel or book a stay of your own, just click here. 

My trip in Knoxville, Tennessee was better than I could’ve ever expected and I’m now in love with the city. It’s a special place and tremendously underrated, but I can guarantee that if you decide to visit, you’ll enjoy it just as much as I did. And now that you know which wheelchair accessible Knoxville attractions to check out, all that’s left is for you to actually plan a trip of your own! 

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*Thank you to Visit Knoxville for working with me on this trip and showing me the best of wheelchair accessible Knoxville! While my experiences were complimentary, all opinions expressed are authentic and my own.

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