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Field guide · Knoxville

Rainy day in Knoxville

When the mountains cloud over, Knoxville has plenty of indoor cover: a hands-on children's museum, two free museums, a deep bench of taprooms, and the grandest old movie palace in the state. Here is where to wait out the rain.

The spots, by neighborhood

Muse Knoxville
A fully indoor children's museum in Chilhowee Park with a planetarium, aimed at ages 0 to 10. The rainy-day classic for families. 516 N Beaman St.
East Knoxville
Knoxville Museum of Art
Free, indoors, and downtown: a couple of unhurried hours among the glass and the Thorne Rooms.
Downtown
East Tennessee History Center
300 years of regional history under one downtown roof, with a kids' classroom and a free genealogical library. 601 S Gay St.
Downtown
McClung Museum (UT)
Free, indoor, and rarely crowded: ancient Egypt, archaeology, and regional history on the UT campus.
UT Campus
Tennessee Theatre or Bijou
Catch a film or a show in the 1928 Tennessee Theatre or the historic Bijou, both on Gay Street. Tours run on dry and wet days alike.
Downtown
The breweries and taprooms
Knoxville's nearly 20 breweries are all indoors: park it at Schulz Brau's biergarten, Pretentious in the Old City, or anywhere on the Ale Trail (see the breweries guide).
Citywide
Lawson McGhee Library
The downtown Knox County library: a kids floor, a quiet place to read, and a regular storytime. Free.
Downtown

"Two free museums, a children's museum, and a 1928 movie palace: the rain is not a problem here."

Good to know

Best rainy-day option with kids?

Muse Knoxville is fully indoors with a planetarium and play spaces for ages 0 to 10. Pair it with the free East Tennessee History Center's kids classroom or the library if you need to fill a full day.

Best rainy-day option for adults?

The free Knoxville Museum of Art, a tour or matinee at the Tennessee Theatre, or a slow afternoon working through the Knox Ale Trail breweries, all indoors.

Anything free and indoor?

Yes: the Knoxville Museum of Art and the McClung Museum at UT are both free, and the Lawson McGhee Library downtown is free and dry.

Muse Knoxville per themuseknoxville.org; Knoxville Museum of Art (free) per knoxart.org; East Tennessee History Center per Knox County Library; breweries per the Knox Ale Trail. Verified June 2026.