What to know about parking at McGhee Tyson Airport this busy Thanksgiving

Knoxville’s airport will be busy in the days before and after Thanksgiving. It’s a growing hub, and it’s looking to expand parking options for travelers.

But its nearly $200 million parking garage project is a work in progress, and for people looking to hop a holiday flight, preparing for how to get to McGhee Tyson Airport will save time, money and frustration.

A new garage – the most expensive project in McGhee Tyson's history – will add thousands of parking spots. It’s a few months behind schedule, but it’ll be done in time for a holiday season. Just not this one. Airport workers expect it to wrap in 2027.

Here’s what to know about parking at McGhee Tyson this Thanksgiving.

What to know about parking at McGhee Tyson

Close to 82 million people across the United States are expected to travel over 50 miles for the holiday, according to a news release from AAA.

That means the holidays are a busy time at airports.

“Typically, we see our biggest push the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and then on the Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving,” airport spokesperson Becky Huckaby said. “We do know we’ll have a busy holiday season here at McGhee Tyson.”

Travelers who drive themselves to McGhee Tyson will have to pay to park. Fees range from $11 a day in the economy lot to $22 a day in the existing garage. There is a shuttle or travelers can walk to the terminal.

The airport has several standard parking lots – one of which also houses McGhee Tyson’s complimentary phone lot, for people dropping off or collecting passengers – and a multistory garage. Some parking is off-limits while the new structure is being built.

Motorcycles, trailers and RVs aren’t allowed to park at the airport. Parking fees aren’t generally refundable, even if an airline cancels a flight.

No car? How to catch a ride to the airport

Public bus routes don’t run from Knoxville to Alcoa, where the airport is located. Alcoa does not have its public transit system, and it's too dangerous to walk near Alcoa Highway, one of the most heavily driven routes through East Tennessee.

Travelers who don’t want to park their cars at the airport, or who don’t drive, have some options, short of asking friends and family for help.

Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft drivers service McGhee Tyson. The cost for a trip with either service could go up if demand is high or during certain times.

Traditional taxis also operate at McGhee Tyson.

Christopher Kirkland owns 1-N-Only Airport Taxi, one of 10 taxi operators licensed to work at the airport. Kirkland told Knox News in a phone call that scheduling a ride in advance pays dividends.

"Book your taxi ride when you book your plane tickets," Kirkland said. "We get a lot of phone calls at the last minute, and we try to help out, but sometimes we can, and sometimes, we can't."

Scheduling a ride two or three weeks in advance is usually best, Kirkland said, but if that's not possible passengers hoping to head to the airport should aim for a week or 10 days ahead of time.

Unlike rideshares, taxi services operating at the airport are bound by Knoxville to fixed rates. A ride from the downtown area to the airport, Kirkland said, would run about $40 every day of the year. A trip is more expensive from outlying parts of Knox County, like Strawberry Plains, he said.

Mariah Franklin reports on technology and energy for Knox News. Email: [email protected]. Signal: mariahfranklin.01