View from a plane window over the wing toward snow-dusted mountain ranges below

McGhee Tyson Airport · Terminal

Inside TYS: gates, food and Wi-Fi.

Two levels, one checkpoint and, since fall 2026, thirteen gates. Explore the terminal, see what is open when you get there, and find out which gates your airline has been using.

Explore the terminal What is open

Photo: Pexels

Short answer

McGhee Tyson's terminal has two levels: Departures, ticketing, security and the gates upstairs, and baggage claim, rental cars and ground transportation downstairs. There are 13 gates after a fall 2026 renumbering. Food is past security: Tennessee Marketplace, Starbucks, Quiznos with Express Uno and Cinnabon, and Ruby Tuesday. Wi-Fi is free. No airline lounge is listed.

Verified Oct 19, 2026

Knox Nonstop is an independent guide, not the airport. For live parking, flight status and official notices, use flyknoxville.com.

Interactive

Find your way around.

Switch levels and tap a number. Everything here comes from the airport's own terminal map and amenities pages; the drawing is ours and only approximate.

Terminal explorerTap a number

Approximate schematic, not to scale. Gate dots are illustrative.

Upper level: Departures, security and gates

Lower level: Arrivals, bags and rides

TSA security checkpoint

One checkpoint serves every gate. A $10 million expansion is funded and was set to start construction in fall 2026.

Drawn by Knox Nonstop from the airport's terminal map and amenities pages. Left and right are as you face the gates after security. For the official map, see flyknoxville.com.

Gates

Gates 1 to 13

On Sept 21, 2026 the airport announced a phased renumbering and a new thirteenth gate as part of Flight Plan:

Week of Sept 21
Gates 11 to 13
Week of Sept 28
Gates 9 to 11
Week of Oct 5
Gates 7 to 9

The airport did not publish an old-to-new gate list, so we do not guess one. If you knew a gate number before September 2026, check the screens.

Airline	Gates on the live board
Delta	135
Southwest	69
American	681012
United	1113
Allegiant	No gate posted yet for its flights that night

A snapshot of the airport's departures and arrivals board, read the night of Oct 19, 2026 for flights on Oct 19 and 20. Gate 13 was assigned to United flights to Houston. Assignments change daily.

Interactive

Food and drink: what is open?

Pick a day and time. All restaurants are past security, so eat after you clear the checkpoint.

What is open?Hours snapshot, May 2026

Day Time (Eastern)

Tennessee MarketplacePast security, on the right · Daily 4:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.Open
Starbucks CoffeePast security, on the right · Daily 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.Open
Quiznos Subs, Express Uno and CinnabonPast security, on the right · Sun/Mon/Thu/Fri 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Tue/Wed/Sat 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.Closed
Ruby TuesdayPast security, on the left · Daily 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.Open
Smoky Mountain TravelmartSecond level, before security · Hours fluctuate based on flight schedulesHours vary

Hours are a snapshot from the airport's Amenities page (updated May 22, 2026). Hours change, especially early and late; on peak weekends the airport has said it coordinates with concession partners for bigger crowds.

Fun facts

A year of TYS appetites

279,724Starbucks drinks ordered at TYS in 2024.

461,125Quiznos sandwiches served in 2024.

53,059Cinnabons eaten in 2024.

1,330,557cars parked on airport property in 2024.

From the airport's 2024 year-in-numbers post (Jan 27, 2025).

Amenities

Comfort and services

Wi-Fi and power

Free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal. Charging plug-ins are under chairs, and the 2026 furniture added cyber bars with outlets.

No airline lounge

None is listed by the airport. New concourse seating in April 2026 raised seating capacity by more than 65%.

Escalators and elevator

New escalators reopened in December 2025, replacing a set in service since 2001. An elevator gives step-free access and stairs are on either side.

Help desk

The information booth in baggage claim is staffed 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Customer service staff help with wheelchairs and other needs 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.: (865) 342-3180.

Families

Family restrooms are near Gate 2 and Gate 7 and a Mamava lactation pod is past security, per the airport's May 2026 amenities page (written before the gate renumbering).

Money

ATMs are before security, plus a TN State Bank ATM past security next to Ruby Tuesday. TYS has no currency exchange and no customs office.

Rows of empty economy seats with seatback screens inside an airliner cabin, window shades up

Before you go

The lines start before the gates.

The airport asks for 2.5 hours. See the three daily rush windows and plan when to leave home.

Security guide

Photo: Pexels

More airport guides

Questions

How many gates does McGhee Tyson Airport have?

Thirteen. In September 2026 the airport said it was adding a thirteenth gate and renumbering several existing gates in phases (gates 11 to 13 the week of Sept 21, 9 to 11 the week of Sept 28, and 7 to 9 the week of Oct 5). Gate 13 appeared on the airport's live flight board by Oct 19, 2026.

What food is at the Knoxville airport?

Past security: Tennessee Marketplace, Starbucks, Quiznos with Express Uno and Cinnabon, and Ruby Tuesday. Before security, the Smoky Mountain Travelmart shop is on the second level. The airport says food concessions are only past the checkpoint.

Does TYS have free Wi-Fi?

Yes. The airport provides free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal, with charging plug-ins underneath chairs.

Is there an airport lounge at McGhee Tyson?

The airport's amenities page lists no airline club or paid lounge. New concourse furniture installed in 2026 added lounge-style seating and cyber bars with power, increasing concourse seating by more than 65%.

Is McGhee Tyson an international airport?

No. The airport's FAQ says TYS is not an international airport and has no customs office, and there is no currency exchange.

Where are the rental car counters at TYS?

On the lower level of the terminal near baggage claim.

Which gate does my airline use at TYS?

Gates are assigned daily and changed during the fall 2026 renumbering. On the airport's live board the night of Oct 19, 2026, Delta used gates 1, 3 and 5, Southwest 6 and 9, American 6, 8, 10 and 12, and United 11 and 13. Always check your boarding pass and the screens.

Sources