Lenoir City // Loudon County, TN
Car rental near Lenoir City, Tennessee
Fort Loudoun Lake, Watts Bar, and the western Knoxville corridor. Drive865 serves Lenoir City through TYS and Maryville pickup.
Quick answer
Drive865 doesn't have a Lenoir City storefront, but our TYS pickup is about 30 minutes from Lenoir City and our Maryville location is about 25 minutes. Lenoir City sits on Fort Loudoun Lake between Knoxville and Loudon — a quiet residential and lake community with good access to the Smokies and Tail of the Dragon.
Key facts
- From TYS
- ~30 min · 22 miles via US-321
- From Maryville
- ~25 min · 18 miles via US-321
- Drive865 storefront?
- No — pickup at TYS or Maryville
- Lake access
- Fort Loudoun Lake, Watts Bar Lake
- Pickup options
- TYS, Maryville, or arranged delivery
Lenoir City and the western Knoxville corridor
Lenoir City is the county seat of Loudon County, Tennessee — a small city of about 10,000 on US-321 between Maryville and Kingston. It sits on the Tennessee River (Fort Loudoun Lake) and serves as a western gateway to the Knoxville metro area for residents of Loudon County.
Residents of Lenoir City and the surrounding Loudon County area who want to rent a sports car or distinctive vehicle typically pick up at our Maryville location — about 25 minutes east on US-321. The same US-321 corridor connects Maryville to Townsend and the Smokies, putting Lenoir City renters 50 minutes from Cades Cove and 90 minutes from Tail of the Dragon.
Getting a rental car to Lenoir City
US-321 runs directly from Maryville to Lenoir City — it's a two-lane highway through the foothills, straightforward and relatively low traffic. From TYS, the fastest route goes south through Maryville on US-411 and then west on US-321.
For Lenoir City residents renting locally, our Maryville pickup is the practical choice. No airport required — pick up in Maryville, return to Maryville.
Drive times to nearby destinations
| From | To | Minutes | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) | Lenoir City center | 30 | 22 |
| Maryville, TN | Lenoir City center | 25 | 18 |
| Lenoir City | Deals Gap (Tail of the Dragon) | 90 | 75 |
| Lenoir City | Cades Cove loop entrance | 60 | 47 |
Good fits from this pickup
See full fleet →
Picked for this trip
1995 Mazda Miata Base
Lenoir City's rural county roads and the Fort Loudoun Lake corridor are excellent top-down Miata territory — the lake is visible from several stretches of US-321 and TN-72.
From $177/day

Picked for this trip
2023 Honda Odyssey Sport
Family lake day. Seven seats for the crew, cargo room for the gear, practical on the highway from TYS.
From $122/day

Picked for this trip
2020 Subaru BRZ Limited
For the Lenoir City local who wants a Dragon day. Maryville pickup, US-321 to Townsend, Cades Cove or straight to the Dragon.
From $155/day
Frequently asked questions
Can Drive865 deliver to a Lenoir City address?
Case-by-case. We sometimes arrange delivery to addresses in the western Knoxville corridor. Message us before booking.
Is there boat ramp access near Lenoir City for a lake day?
Yes — Fort Loudoun Lake has several public boat ramps in the Lenoir City area. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency manages public ramp access. Drive865 doesn't supply boats; we supply the car to get you there.
How far is Lenoir City from Tail of the Dragon?
About 75 miles and 90 minutes via US-321 through Maryville and Townsend to the Dragon's approach. A feasible day trip with an early start.
What airport serves Lenoir City?
McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Alcoa is the closest commercial airport — about 30 minutes from Lenoir City on US-321.
What's the best Drive865 car for a Fort Loudoun Lake day?
For the drive along the lake and the back roads of Loudon County: the Miata convertible top-down is genuinely excellent on the rural county roads. For a family lake day: the Odyssey for the cooler, towels, and kids.
Related
Related
Maryville pickup
The closest Drive865 pickup to Lenoir City — 25 minutes east on US-321.
Related
Tail of the Dragon
90 minutes from Lenoir City via Maryville and Townsend — the Dragon day trip.
Related
Convertible rentals
The Miata on the rural roads of Loudon County is an underrated Drive865 use case.
Related
Knoxville
The metro area east of Lenoir City — Drive865's service area overview.
Lenoir City car rental
From $88/day