Maryville // Blount County, TN
Car rentals in Maryville, Tennessee
The local pickup alternative to TYS. Closer to the Dragon, closer to Cades Cove, easier for Blount County residents.
Quick answer
Drive865 has a car rental pickup location in Maryville, Tennessee — the seat of Blount County, about 20 minutes south of downtown Knoxville and 25 minutes from Tail of the Dragon. Maryville pickup is the better option than TYS for local Knoxville/Blount County renters and for guests whose trips are Smokies-focused and want a shorter drive to the park. Contactless lockbox pickup — the exact address is shared after booking confirmation.
Key facts
- Pickup type
- Contactless lockbox — address shared after booking
- From downtown Knoxville
- ~20 min · 15 miles via US-411
- From TYS
- ~15 min · 9 miles
- From Maryville to Deals Gap (Dragon)
- ~55 min · 45 miles
- From Maryville to Cades Cove
- ~35 min · 27 miles
- Pickup address
- Shared after booking confirmation
Why Maryville pickup over TYS
If you're not flying in, Maryville pickup is simpler than going to the airport. No airport shuttle, no lot navigation, no $11 parking fee. You drive to the pickup location in Maryville, open the lockbox on the car, and drive. The pickup process is identical — same lockbox system, same code in your booking emails, same 5-minute walk from wherever you park.
The Maryville location is also meaningfully closer to the roads most renters are here for. Tail of the Dragon's access road (US-321 to Deals Gap) starts from Maryville. Cades Cove is 35 minutes from our Maryville location compared to 80 minutes from TYS. If your trip is Smokies-focused, Maryville is the logical starting point.
For Blount County residents — Maryville, Alcoa, Rockford, Louisville — this is the home-market pickup. No airport overhead, no tourism district pricing. The car is in Maryville and you pick it up like any normal rental.
Maryville as a base for East Tennessee driving
Maryville sits at the geographic center of everything Drive865's fleet is built for. Fifteen minutes south is Townsend, the quiet gateway to the Smokies that avoids the Pigeon Forge tourist strip. Twenty minutes further is Cades Cove. Fifty-five minutes southwest is Deals Gap and Tail of the Dragon. Sixty minutes further southwest is the Cherohala Skyway entrance in Tellico Plains.
For a multi-day trip — say, two or three nights in the area — a Maryville pickup makes the logistics simple: pick up the car in Maryville, drive the Dragon on day one, Cades Cove and Foothills Parkway on day two, Cherohala on day three. All roads accessible within an hour of the pickup point.
What Maryville is
Maryville is the county seat of Blount County, Tennessee — a small city of about 30,000 immediately adjacent to Alcoa (which is where TYS is physically located). The downtown is compact and walkable with a few restaurants and bars worth noting. Maryville College sits on a hill above the downtown area.
Most Drive865 renters passing through Maryville are doing so on the way to Townsend and the park. The US-321 corridor from Maryville to Townsend to Cades Cove is a scenic and efficient route that many guests prefer over the Pigeon Forge approach.
Drive times to nearby destinations
| From | To | Minutes | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryville, TN | McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) | 15 | 9 |
| Maryville, TN | Downtown Knoxville | 20 | 15 |
| Maryville, TN | Deals Gap (Tail of the Dragon) | 55 | 45 |
| Maryville, TN | Cades Cove loop entrance | 35 | 27 |
| Maryville, TN | Walland (Foothills Parkway entrance) | 35 | 28 |
| Maryville, TN | Gatlinburg, TN | 45 | 38 |
Good fits from this pickup
See full fleet →
Picked for this trip
2020 Subaru BRZ Limited
The Maryville Dragon car. Pick up in Maryville at 7am, at Deals Gap by 8am. The BRZ makes the 45-minute approach drive to the Dragon something to look forward to.
From $155/day
Picked for this trip
2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser Trail Teams
Maryville to Cades Cove in 35 minutes. The FJ is the Smokies base-camp car for guests using Maryville as the logical gateway to the park.
From $99/day
Picked for this trip
1995 Mazda Miata Base
Maryville locals and Blount County residents renting the convertible for a weekend. Foothills Parkway is 35 minutes; Cades Cove is 35 minutes. The Miata fills the whole itinerary.
From $177/day
Picked for this trip
2021 Toyota Supra 3.0 Premium
Occasion car for Maryville area residents — a wedding, a birthday, a date night. Same dramatic car without the airport hassle.
From $222/day
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is the Maryville pickup location?
We don't publish the exact address publicly — it's shared with confirmed bookings in your trip confirmation email. This is standard for off-airport rental pickups to manage access. Once you've booked and your trip is confirmed, you'll have the address and a photo of the parking spot.
Is Maryville pickup available for all vehicles?
Yes. All vehicles in our fleet rotate between TYS and Maryville based on availability and scheduling. When you book, select your preferred pickup location. If your preferred vehicle isn't available at Maryville for your dates, we'll note it and work out the logistics.
How do I get from downtown Knoxville to Maryville?
US-411 south from Knoxville runs directly to Maryville — about 20 minutes, no major traffic complications except during morning and evening rush on weekdays. From the UT campus area, take US-411 south past the airport.
Is there parking at the Maryville pickup location?
Yes. You'll leave your vehicle there for the duration of the rental. Parking is available at the pickup location — details are in your booking confirmation.
Can Maryville-area residents use Drive865 without going to the airport at all?
Yes, that's exactly what the Maryville pickup is for. Blount County and Maryville residents book through the website the same way any renter does, select Maryville pickup, and pick up the car locally. No airport involved.
Is Maryville pickup cheaper than TYS?
Same rates. The vehicle rates don't change by pickup location. The practical savings at Maryville are the parking fee (no TYS lot charge) and potentially fuel savings if you're local.
How close is Maryville to the Foothills Parkway?
The Walland entrance to the Foothills Parkway's western section is about 28 miles from Maryville — 35 minutes on US-321. It's one of the closest scenic drives to the Maryville pickup.
Related
Related
TYS airport pickup
The airport alternative — contactless lockbox in Economy Lot C for guests flying in.
Related
Tail of the Dragon
55 minutes from Maryville — the closest Drive865 pickup to the Dragon.
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Cades Cove
35 minutes from Maryville via Townsend. The fastest route to the Smokies' best loop.
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Drive865 on Turo — Maryville
Same fleet available through Turo for Maryville-area trips. Channel comparison.
Maryville car rental
From $88/day