The Dog-Friendly Guide to Knoxville
Here in Knoxville, Southern hospitality extends to locals and visitors alike, and four-legged friends are no exception. In fact, Knoxville is actually one of the most dog-friendly cities around, so whether you’re grabbing a bite to eat, going on an outdoor excursion, or exploring the local sites, your pups will never stay home while in Scruffy City. From hikes, parks, and patios to restaurants, breweries and shops, we’ve curated this list of favorite local spots for bringing your canine companions along for the adventure!
PARKS
CONCORD PARK
On & Off-Leash | 10901 South Northshore Dr | Knoxville’s newest PetSafe dog park, Concord Park is laid out on almost four acres with paved and natural surface walking trails winding throughout in addition to a dock with access to the river where pups can make a splash. They’ve got dog-specific water fountains and even a dog shower for rinsing off your canine friend before hopping back in your car!
FORT DICKERSON
On-Leash | 3000 Fort Dickerson Rd | One of the best-preserved earthen forts from the Civil War era, Fort Dickerson is nestled within a spectacular city park featuring a pristine quarry lake and more than 4 miles of multi-use natural trails where you and your pup will find plenty of opportunity for hiking, running, or going for a refreshing swim.
IJAMS NATURE CENTER
On-Leash| 2915 Island Home Ave | @ijamsnaturecenter | On-Leash | For a woodsy adventure with your dog without leaving town, Ijams Nature Center welcomes four-legged friends year-round with more than 12 miles of trails that feed into the expansive network of Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness and Mead’s Quarry where pups can go for a dip.
KNOXVILLE BOTANICAL GARDEN & ARBORETUM
On-Leash | 2743 Wimpole Ave | @knoxgarden | The Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum is located on 47 acres of the former Howell Nurseries featuring walking trails and display gardens for you and your canine companion to navigate. Often overlooked as a place to bring your pup, this place is in-fact dog-friendly and makes a wonderful outing for you and your four-legged friend.
LAKESHORE PARK
On-Leash |5930 Lyons View Pike | @lakeshorepark | This massive park is a favorite for dog parents with a wide stretch of lush greens, walking trails, riverside views, and various terraces and meadows for ultimate dog-friendly outdoor enjoyment. Oh and did we mention those fantastic Great Smoky Mountain views?
SEVEN ISLANDS STATE BIRDING PARK
On-Leash | 2809 Kelly Ln, Kodak | @sevenislandsstatepark | If you desire a calmer pace with scenic views, Seven Islands State Birding Park is a wonderful place to bring your pooch. While it’s only about half an hour outside of the city, it feels a million miles away with beautiful scenery, peaceful wildlife, plenty of trails to explore, and even a few spots for your dog to go for a swim.
UT GARDENS
On-Leash | 2518 Jacob Dr | @utgardensknoxville | The official botanical gardens of Tennessee, UT Gardens is a hidden-gem among Knoxville’s dog-friendly haunts boasting a variety of native flora branching off beautiful pathways and across verdant lawns. We highly recommend bringing your pup for a peaceful afternoon exploring this lush urban paradise.
WORLD’S FAIR PARK
On & Off-Leash | 525 Henley St | @worldsfairparkevents | With its sprawling green space of over 15 acres, on any given day you’ll find pups playing fetch, catching frisbees, and meeting fellow four-legged friends. Featuring a playground for littles and lots of space for a picnic, this is the perfect place to bring your entire family – dog obviously included – for fresh air and fun.
HIKES & TRAILS
HOUSE MOUNTAIN
House Mountain Natural State Area | 4.5 Mile Loop | Hard | Known for its fantastic vantage point of the Smokies, House Mountain is the tallest peak in all of Knox County offering a serious workout for both you and your canine companion. This hike features a bit of rock scrambling and can be challenging for less experienced or older dogs, so before you go, make sure your dog is in top-notch shape. But if you’re at all worried, we recommend bringing a dog airlift sling for extra safety during those harder to navigate sections!
TRIPLE FALLS ON BRUCE CREEK TO DEVILS RACE TRACK
Triple Falls | 1.9 Miles Out & Back | Moderate | Triple Falls on Bruce Creek to Devils Racetrack is a favorite among both the two and four-legged locals featuring a man-made three-tiered waterfall and straight up climb. This is the perfect place to bring pooches who prefer both swimming and climbing, plus they will love letting their ears flap in the wind once you reach the top!
COFFEE SHOPS
HONEYBEE COFFEE
10716 Kingston Pike & 700 Sevier Ave, Knoxville | @honeybeecoffeeco | Honeybee Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster and cafe serving high-quality coffee beverages and local craft beers. Spend your morning on their dog-friendly patio sipping your latte and fueling up with a breakfast biscuit or stop in for a frosty pint during happy hour while your pup enjoys the nice weather.
K BREW
1138 N Broadway + 3 locations | @knoxvillebrew | With four locations around Knoxville, each with plenty of outdoor seating (hammocks included), K Brew’s patio is a treat for both you and your pup. Not to mention the awesome menu featuring top-notch craft drinks made from house-roasted coffee, including locally-sourced specialty ingredients plus bagels and from-scratch cream cheese made fresh daily.
OLD CITY JAVA
109 S Central St | @oldcityjava | A longtime favorite for dog-parents who like to bring their furry friends along for their caffeine fix, this Old City coffee shop offers an aesthetically pleasing alley patio for sipping coffee concoctions and snacking on a variety of freshly-baked pastries.
TREETOP COFFEE SHOP
1206 Kenesaw Ave | @treetopcoffeeshop | The ideal location for work from home days accompanied by your canine companion, the dog-friendly patio at this Sequoyah Hills coffee shop boasts laid-back vibes in addition to fantastic specialty espresso-based beverages.
RESTAURANTS & BREWERIES
ALLIANCE BREWING COMPANY
1130 Sevier Ave | @alliancebrewing | Alliance Brewing is all about Active Beer Culture (aka bringing the community together through beer) and Active Beer Culture includes your pups! Whether you’re hanging out on Alliance’s patio or cozying up inside, feel free to bring your four-legged friend while you enjoy craft beer, ciders, and other quality brews.
BEARDEN BEER MARKET
4524 Old Kingston Pike | @bearden.beer.market | This friendly local beer shop specializes in unusual, hard to find brews paired with a laid back beer garden for gathering over frosty pints. With lots of seating and great food truck options, locals love this ultra-casual, laid-back place to bring their pup.
BISTRO AT THE BIJOU
807 S Gay St | @bistrobijou | This cozy bistro attached to the historic Bijou Theatre offers a dog-friendly ambiance for enjoying live jazz and seasonal Southern comfort food and cocktails. Grab a seat on the patio with your pooch to enjoy delicious home-grown eats and the eccentric ambiance.
MERCHANTS OF BEER TAPROOM & BEER MARKET
137 S Central St | @mobknoxville | This easygoing, industrial-chic bar offers ample al fresco seating and dog-friendly outdoor space for your pup to come along while you explore the lengthy craft beer offerings, dine on hearty pub grub, or even puff on a cigar.
PEACEFUL SIDE SOCIAL
7967 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Townsend | @peacefulsidesocial | With chef-driven eats, a variety of German and local microbrews, picturesque Smoky Mountain views, and a large dog-friendly covered patio – with plenty of wide open green space to play fetch, we might add – this new restaurant and taproom is the perfect hangout for both you and your dog.
PRETENTIOUS BEER CO.
131 S Central St | @pretentiousbeerco | Known for their striking glassware, this airy taproom is casual, trendy, and offers the occasional live music while serving a great rotating selection of beers on-tap plus bar snacks. Their covered outdoor back patio is a go-to for lounging craft brew in-hand alongside your four-legged friend.
SCHULZ BRÄU BREWING COMPANY
126 Bernard Ave | @schulzbraubrewing | Knoxville’s first German biergarten (voted one of the best in the South!), Schulz Bräu Brewing offers by far one of the best dog-friendly hangouts. Grab a seat in the beautiful beer garden with your pup by your side while you wash down delicious bar food with a frosty pint or two of authentic German brew.
SOKNO TACOS
3701 Sevierville Pike | @sokno_taco | This modern Mexican eatery sits right in the heart of Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness, making it the perfect stop to follow your adventure through Ijam’s Nature preserve with your pup. Take a seat on the dog-friendly patio to refuel on street-style tacos and on-tap beer while your pooch relaxes at your feet.
SUGAR QUEEN CREAMERY
106 E Young High Pike | @thesugarqueencreamery | As if Sugar Queen Creamery couldn’t get any better with their to-die-for seasonal ice creams, scrumptious hand-dipped cones, and pillowy-soft pretzels, they also have a dog-friendly patio equipped with picnic tables and umbrellas for enjoying your sweet treat with your pup.
THE STOCK & BARREL
35 Market Square | @thestockandbarrel | If you and your canine companion find yourselves in the Market Square area and are looking for a dog-friendly spot to grab a bite, The Stock & Barrel has a great patio where you can snack on Southern-style starters and swig back bourbon between bites of your delicious burger.
WILD LOVE
1625 N Central St | @wildlovebakehouse | From the husband and wife duo behind Old City Java, Wild Love is their second dog-friendly concept serving wildly popular pastries. Bring your dog on the patio for a breakfast of cold brew and croissants (come early, these sell out fast!) or an afternoon cookie and caffeine fix.
OUTINGS & ACTIVITIES
MAST GENERAL STORE
402 S Gay St | @mastgeneralstore | A true adventurers outpost, at this downtown gem you can pick up something for yourself plus a surprise for your pooch. With an entire section dedicated to our four-legged friends in addition to everything from outdoor apparel, hiking shoes, knives, and even a great selection of sweets, this is a must-visit. Dogs are even welcome to shop with you inside the store!
TUBING WITH RIVER RATS
205 Wears Valley Rd, Townsend | @smokymtnriverrat | Float along and soak up the scenery of the Little River while your dog splashes alongside you. Or if they choose to ride with you, furry friends are welcome in both open and closed-bottom tubes in addition to kayaks. Just be sure your pooch stays on leash and is comfortable in and out of water! Outpost A is the only dog-friendly tubing route.
RIVERDOG BAKERY
5201 Kingston Pike | @riverdogbakery | River Dog Bakery sells all things pup-centric from plushies, chew toys, and dog beds to collars, leashes, and grooming products in addition to their famous freshly-baked treats and custom doggie cakes. Have a feline friend at home that could also use a special treat? They’ve even got a kitty corner!
STANLEY’S GREENHOUSE
3029 Davenport Rd | @stanleysgreenhouse | Stanley’s Greenhouse is a pristine plant farm and garden center where you can cultivate your green thumb and shop for all sorts of seedlings, flowers, greenery, pots, and outdoor accessories all with your pup by your side. It’s the perfect way to get out and about with your dog plus they’ll love exploring all the new sights and smells down every aisle.
UNION AVE BOOKS
517 Union Ave | @unionavebooks | At this locally owned and locally loved indie bookstore, dogs are welcome both inside and outside so you won’t have to part with your pup while you peruse their massive collection or take a seat at a table and crack open your latest literature purchase. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and they even sell an assortment of fun gifts, puzzles, and stationery.
Looking for more local loving activities? Browse our Insider Guides to Knoxville, TN. And don’t forget to tell them Scout sent you!
