Category: Uncategorized

Written by: Emily Huffstetler 

For most trips to the Peaceful Side of the Smokies, a car is the easiest way to get between Townsend, Maryville, Walland and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

You can visit without renting a car in some cases. Downtown Maryville has walkable areas, and parts of Townsend are easy to explore on foot or by bike once you are there. Still, this is not a big-city destination with frequent public transit or guaranteed rideshare availability. 

Here’s what to know about getting around. 

Flying into McGhee Tyson Airport 

The closest airport to the Peaceful Side is McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), located in Alcoa. 

Ground transportation options at TYS include rental cars, rideshare, taxis, charter services and some hotel shuttles. The airport recommends making transportation reservations in advance. 

TYS does not offer an off-property shuttle service. If you’re staying outside the airport area, especially in Townsend or Walland, arrange transportation before arrival. 

Rental Cars at TYS 

Rental car counters are located on the lower level of the airport terminal near baggage claim. TYS lists Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Dollar and Payless as rental car options. 

For most visitors, this is the most practical choice. A rental car gives you flexibility for everyday stops like getting to your lodging, picking up groceries, going out to eat and driving into the national park. 

Rental car rates vary by date, vehicle type and availability. Reserve early for holidays, festivals, summer travel and peak fall color season. 

Uber and Lyft

Uber and Lyft operate at TYS. The rideshare pickup area is outside on the lower level of the terminal. 

Rideshare can work well for airport transfers, especially to Maryville or Alcoa. For longer routes to Townsend or Walland, check availability in the app before relying on it. TYS notes that Uber and Lyft may not be available during off-peak hours, so it’s best to have a backup plan. 

Taxis

TYS lists taxi companies licensed to do business at the airport. The taxi pickup area is outside on the north side of the terminal and accessible from baggage claim. 

A taxi can make sense for a short transfer, especially between the airport and Maryville. For longer routes to Townsend or Walland, call ahead to confirm availability, pricing, luggage space and return-trip options. 

Private Car Services and Charters 

Private transportation may be a good option for weddings, retreats, group trips or resort stays. TYS maintains a current list of taxi and charter companies licensed to serve the airport, so check their transportation page before booking. 

If you’re staying at Blackberry Farm or Blackberry Mountain in Walland, start with the property’s concierge team. They can help you understand your transfer options. If you plan to explore beyond the property, a rental car will give you the most flexibility. 

Hotel Shuttles

Some nearby airport hotels offer shuttle service to and from TYS. Coordinate with your hotel in advance, especially if you’re arriving early in the morning or late at night. 

Don’t assume a shuttle will take you to Townsend, Walland or Great Smoky Mountains National Park unless your hotel specifically confirms that service. 

Getting Around Maryville

Maryville is the easiest Peaceful Side town to enjoy without a car, especially if you stay downtown or in Maryville’s new Greenway Village. From there, restaurants, shops and parks are all within walking distance. 

That said, a car is still helpful for most trips, especially if you plan to visit nearby towns. 

Getting Around Townsend

Townsend is more spread out, so most visitors will want a car. This is especially true if you plan to drive to Cades Cove, enter Great Smoky Mountains National Park or stay somewhere outside the main corridor. 

Walking or biking can work well in the right location. The Townsend Historical Trail runs along both sides of US 321/Lamar Alexander Parkway for 4.5 miles each way, totaling 9 miles. If you stay near the trail, you may be able to reach nearby restaurants, shops and river outfitters without driving. 

Getting Around Walland

Walland is more rural, so plan transportation before you arrive. 

For resort stays, start with the property’s concierge team. For cabins, vacation rentals or plans that include restaurants, park visits or day trips, a rental car is usually the best option. 

Getting Around Great Smoky Mountains National Park 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park does not charge an entrance fee, but it does require a parking tag for vehicles parked longer than 15 minutes. Daily, weekly and annual tags are available, and each tag is valid for a single vehicle. 

If you’re renting a car, you may need to wait until you have the vehicle’s license plate number before buying your parking tag. Parking tags must be physically displayed in the vehicle, and purchasing one does not guarantee a parking spot. 

Transportation matters most if you plan to visit Cades Cove. For most visitors, driving is the simplest option. If you do not want to drive the loop yourself, Cades Cove Heritage Tours through the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend offers guided public and private bus tours. 

Cades Cove also has seasonal vehicle-free days when the loop is closed to motor vehicles and open to cyclists and pedestrians. Check the current National Park Service schedule before planning your ride. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are permitted, and all bikes must follow the posted speed limit. 

Before driving into the park, check current road, trail and facility conditions. Weather, maintenance and temporary closures can affect your route. 

Born and raised in Maryville, Tennessee, with roots in Cades Cove, Emily Huffstetler is a Maryville College graduate and writer for the Greater Smokies region. She holds a Master of Science in Conservation Education from Mississippi State University.

Written by: Emily Huffstetler 

One of the fastest-growing airports in the nation is named for a man who died before commercial air travel reached East Tennessee. 

Charles McGhee Tyson was a Knoxville-raised World War I naval aviator who died in service in 1918. His name became part of East Tennessee’s aviation history because his parents, Brig. Gen. Lawrence Davis Tyson and Bettie McGhee Tyson, wanted a public memorial to him.¹

Nearly a century later, the airport that bears his name sits in Alcoa. It moves millions of passengers, supports military operations and serves as the home of Cirrus Aircraft’s Vision Center, where pilots and aircraft owners come for training, delivery and support.³ 

The story begins in Knoxville. 

After World War I, local flying activity centered around Aviation Field, later called Bearden Field, in West Knoxville. By the late 1920s, aircraft were improving, passenger demand was growing and Knoxville needed a municipal airport with room to expand.⁴

Knoxville’s original municipal airport opened in West Knoxville in 1927 and was named for Lt. Charles McGhee Tyson. 

His parents donated land to the City of Knoxville for an airfield with the stipulation that the facility bear the name of Lt. Charles McGhee Tyson. The original airport was located on Sutherland Avenue in Knoxville, near the current site of West High School.¹

Within a few years, that location was landlocked. In 1935, Knoxville purchased 351 acres at the airport’s current site in Blount County to build a facility that could accommodate air carrier traffic.⁴ 

The move reopened the naming discussion. Newspapers and boosters considered names such as Knoxville Airport, Knox-Blount Airport, Knoxville-Alcoa-Maryville Airport and Great Smoky Mountains Airport. The national park had recently been established in 1934.⁵

In early 1937, Knoxville city manager George Dempster said the city was bound by the original Tyson Park deed. Rather than risk losing the property, he maintained that the airport should keep its memorial name, even as it moved into Blount County.⁵ 

The new McGhee Tyson Airport opened in October 1937.²

The airport expanded in its first decades, with a new control tower, longer runways and additional facilities. By the postwar years, scheduled airline service connected the region to larger cities, and public figures traveling to Knoxville, Oak Ridge, the University of Tennessee and the Smokies often came through Blount County.⁴ 

In the 1950s, Bob Hope visited Blount County through McGhee Tyson. At the time, Hope was one of the country’s most recognizable entertainers, known for film, radio, television and his USO tours.⁶ 

Other public figures, including many politicians, have visited over the years. In 2015, Air Force One landed at McGhee Tyson carrying President Barack Obama and Tennessee legislators Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker and John Duncan. Air Force Two, carrying Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, followed.⁷ 

McGhee Tyson has also played a significant military role. 

During World War II, the Army purchased the airport and added military facilities, including a 4,500-foot runway. After the war, the Army sold the airport back to the city, but the military presence continued.¹

The location was particularly important during the Cold War because of Alcoa’s aluminum facilities, Oak Ridge’s nuclear operations and TVA dams. The first operational Air Force units were deployed to McGhee Tyson Municipal Airport on April 1, 1950, and officials announced a new $5.5 million Air Force base the following year.¹

McGhee Tyson Air Force Base officially opened on Aug. 9, 1952. As the active-duty Air Force presence wound down in 1957 and 1958, the National Guard Bureau established the 134th Fighter Interceptor Group, which inherited the facilities, aircraft and mission.¹

That mission changed over time, from fighter aircraft to aerial refueling. KC-97 aircraft arrived in the 1960s, followed by KC-135 Stratotankers beginning in 1976.¹

Civilian growth continued alongside the military mission. A new passenger terminal opened in 1974, a cargo complex followed in 1992 and a major terminal improvement project in 2000 added a new 12-gate concourse.⁴ 

In 2015, Cirrus Aircraft announced plans for a new Vision Center at McGhee Tyson Airport in Blount County. The project represented a $15 million investment and was expected to create 170 jobs in the Knoxville area.³

The Vision Center brought pilot training, aircraft delivery, maintenance and owner support to Blount County. It also connected the airport to the Vision SF50, Cirrus’ single-engine personal jet.³

Today, McGhee Tyson is in a period of rapid growth. 

The airport welcomed 3.3 million passengers in 2024, a 17.8% increase over 2023. In 2025, it broke the record again with 3,630,410 passengers, 36 nonstop destinations and 11 new routes launched or announced.^{8, 9} 

McGhee Tyson’s Flight Plan program includes parking, roadway, gate, concourse, security checkpoint, ticket counter and concessions improvements. The first major project, a $186 million parking garage, is expected to add 3,500 parking spaces by 2027.¹⁰ 

Southwest Airlines’ arrival in 2026 marked another major milestone. The airline announced service beginning March 5, 2026, with five daily round trips, including twice-daily service between Knoxville and Nashville and daily round trips to Baltimore, Dallas and Orlando.¹¹ 

Born and raised in Maryville, Tennessee, with roots tracing back to Cades Cove, Emily Huffstetler is a proud Maryville College graduate and storyteller of the Greater Smokies region. She holds a Master of Science in Conservation Education from Mississippi State University.  

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