About this Location

Facility Overview

Economy Parking Lot C is an official long-term parking facility serving McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), situated along Tyson Boulevard near the intersection with Hunt Road in Alcoa, Tennessee. Spanning an expansive open-air asphalt surface with over 1,000 parking bays, Lot C was specifically engineered to provide affordable, high-capacity vehicle staging for airport travelers and regional commuters. Because it is a completely uncovered ground-level lot, there are no restrictive vertical height barriers, overhead pipes, or tight concrete clearance beams found in multi-level parking decks (such as the airport terminal garage, which is limited to 7 feet 2 inches). As a result, Economy Lot C effortlessly accommodates standard sedans, compact crossovers, large pickup trucks, full-size SUVs with rooftop cargo boxes, extended-wheelbase work vans, and high-roof passenger vans without any risk of clearance damage.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Conveniently located on airport property in Blount County, Economy Parking Lot C serves as an essential embarkation point for local travelers, university affiliates, and tourists heading across the nation. The McGhee Tyson Airport passenger terminal is reachable in just minutes via complimentary 24/7 dedicated shuttle service. In addition to direct aviation departures, the facility sits within a 5-to-15-minute radius of prominent business parks, corporate headquarters such as Clayton Homes, and major local institutions, including Maryville College (5 miles south) and the headquarters of the Tennessee Air National Guard 134th Air Refueling Wing. For college sports enthusiasts and concertgoers, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus—home to iconic Neyland Stadium and the Food City Center (Thompson-Boling Arena)—lies approximately 12 miles straight north via US-129. Furthermore, visitors utilizing regional rental cars or staging for Great Smoky Mountains National Park excursions will find Townsend, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg directly accessible via scenic Foothills Parkway corridors.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Navigating to and from Economy Parking Lot C is smooth and intuitive, thanks to direct arterial access to US-129 (Alcoa Highway), which links seamlessly with Interstate 140 (Pellissippi Parkway), State Route 35, and Interstate 40. Motorists entering from Knoxville or Maryville can take the designated airport and Hunt Road exits onto Tyson Boulevard, guided by prominent illuminated airport authority directional signs. Entry and exit points feature wide turning lanes equipped with automated ticket dispensers and credit card payment gates designed to process high departure volumes during morning departure peaks and late-night flight arrivals. For terminal transit, the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority operates frequent round-the-clock shuttle shuttles picking up passengers at sheltered stops directly within the lot, running approximately every 15 minutes with a rapid transfer right to the terminal curbside.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Continuous 24-hour complimentary airport shuttle buses connecting Lot C shelters directly to the passenger departure and arrival curbs.
Fully paved, flat surface parking layout with clear lane markings, row identifiers, and wide stall geometry.
Bright high-mast LED security lighting across all rows, perimeter safety fencing, and regular patrols by airport police and operations personnel.
Unrestricted vertical clearance, offering open headroom for high-roof sprinters, lifted trucks, and roof racks.
Automated payment terminals at exit gates accepting major credit cards, debit cards, and contactless digital wallets for rapid departure.
Designated ADA-accessible parking spaces located in close proximity to shuttle pickup shelters, accompanied by wheelchair-accessible shuttle transport.
Direct vehicular access off Tyson Boulevard with overflow connectivity to adjacent airfield parking sectors during holiday travel periods.

Ideal For

Commercial airline travelers seeking reliable, cost-conscious airport parking for weekend getaways and multi-week vacations.
Business travelers departing on regional and national flights from McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) who value simple entry and egress.
Drivers of lifted 4x4 trucks, full-size vans, or vehicles carrying sports gear and roof storage boxes that exceed airport garage clearance limitations.
Faculty, alumni, and sports fans traveling through the Knoxville metropolitan area for UT Volunteers away games and regional athletic championships.
Smoky Mountain regional vacationers needing secure temporary parking close to airport car rental centers and hospitality corridors.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Travelers planning to park in Economy Lot C should budget an additional 15 to 20 minutes into their travel itinerary to allow for parking, shuttle boarding, and transit to the main terminal building. Before departing home, check FlyKnoxville.com to view real-time lot occupancy levels and ensure Lot C is open, as airport officials occasionally redirect arriving vehicles to adjacent overflow lots during heavy holiday peaks. Keep your physical ticket in a secure spot inside your vehicle out of direct sunlight, or take a quick smartphone photo of your parking space number and row marker so you can quickly locate your car when returning on late-night flights.