The short answer
Maryville and Alcoa are neighboring Blount County towns east of Tennessee National, the private, gated lake and golf community on Watts Bar Lake in Loudon, Tennessee. McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is on the Alcoa side, about 35 minutes from the gate. Residents use the two towns for flights, a second hospital, big stores and the road into the Great Smoky Mountains.
Key facts
- McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is in Blount County, about 35 minutes from Tennessee National.
- Maryville is the Blount County seat and home to Maryville College.
- Alcoa is named for the aluminum company that built the town.
- The road from Maryville through Townsend leads into Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- The Great Smoky Mountains are about an hour from Tennessee National.
Most people meet Maryville and Alcoa through an airplane window. McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), the airport for Tennessee National, sits on the Alcoa side of the two towns. For a lot of owners it is the first and last piece of East Tennessee they see on every trip.
It is worth knowing what else is there.
How far are Maryville and Alcoa from Tennessee National?
The airport is about 35 minutes from the gate, and the two towns sit right around it. Downtown Maryville is a few minutes from the airport. Both towns are east of Tennessee National, in Blount County.
They are not where you live. They are where your flights, some of your errands and your road to the mountains begin.
What is the difference between Maryville and Alcoa?
Maryville is the older county seat, and Alcoa is the company town that grew up beside it.
| Maryville | Alcoa | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Blount County seat and college town | Town built by the Aluminum Company of America |
| Known for | A walkable downtown, Maryville College, a hospital | The airport, big stores, newer commercial corridors |
| When you go | Dinner after a mountain day, a second option for care | Flights, a big shopping run |
They run together on the map. Locals cross from one to the other without noticing the line.
What do Tennessee National residents use them for?
Mostly the airport. TYS is how visiting family gets in and how part-time owners get out.
- Guests flying in. Send them to TYS. There are hotels near the airport and in Farragut, which is about 20 minutes from Tennessee National. See hosting family and guests.
- Splitting the year. If you divide your time between two homes, you will pass through TYS often. Flying to Tennessee National through McGhee Tyson covers the trip.
- Big shopping. Alcoa's commercial corridors have the national retailers you visit when you are outfitting a new home. Pair the stop with an airport run.
For weekly errands, most residents stay closer to home in Loudon, Lenoir City or Farragut.
Is there a hospital in Maryville?
Yes. Maryville has its own hospital and the medical offices that gather around one. For Tennessee National residents, that is a second direction to drive for care, in addition to Knoxville's hospital systems about 30 minutes away.
Which one fits you depends on your insurance and your doctors. Ask your insurer which hospitals and specialists are in network before you move. Our healthcare guide explains how to sort it out.
Is Maryville the way to the Smokies?
Yes. Maryville is the gateway to the quieter side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The road east from town leads to Townsend and on into the park. The Foothills Parkway, a scenic road run by the National Park Service, follows the ridges nearby.
The mountains are about an hour from Tennessee National. That makes a simple day when you have guests: breakfast in downtown Maryville, a morning in the park, and back to the marina on Watts Bar Lake by evening. Our Townsend and Cades Cove day trip lays out the plan.
Check road status and park conditions with the National Park Service before you go.
What else is in Maryville?
A college and a downtown worth an evening. Maryville College is a small liberal arts college close to the center of town. Colleges put on concerts, lectures and games, so check the college's calendar to see what is open to the public.
Downtown Maryville is compact and walkable, with locally owned places to eat. It is where you take visiting family for dinner after a mountain day. We do not list specific restaurants, because they change.
How does this fit with life at Tennessee National?
Maryville and Alcoa anchor the east side of your map. Knoxville, about 30 minutes away, anchors the northeast, with Farragut on the way. Chattanooga is about an hour and a quarter south. Our Knoxville guide covers the city side.
Daily life happens at home. Tennessee National is 1,492 gated acres on Watts Bar Lake, with a Greg Norman Signature golf course, a full-service marina with 140+ boat slips, and 22 social clubs. You will be on the water, on the course, or on a golf cart between the two.
The honest trade-off
You will not be in Maryville or Alcoa every week. They are a drive, and for groceries and quick errands nothing there beats what is close to the gate in Loudon.
What they give you is options in a second direction: an airport, another hospital, big retail and the mountains. Fly into TYS on your first visit and drive through on the way in. You will have seen the east side of the map before you reach the gate.
Frequently asked questions
Which airport is closest to Tennessee National?
McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is the closest commercial airport to Tennessee National. The airport is in Blount County, on the Alcoa side of Maryville and Alcoa, about 35 minutes from the community in Loudon, Tennessee.
What county are Maryville and Alcoa in?
Maryville and Alcoa are in Blount County, Tennessee, east of Loudon County. Maryville is the county seat. Tennessee National is in Loudon County, on Watts Bar Lake, with McGhee Tyson Airport about 35 minutes away.
Can you get to the Smoky Mountains through Maryville?
Yes. The road from Maryville through Townsend leads into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Great Smoky Mountains are about an hour from Tennessee National, so residents treat the trip as a day outing.
Are Maryville and Alcoa good for shopping from Tennessee National?
For a big shopping run, yes. Alcoa has national retailers, and the stop pairs well with an airport run. For weekly errands, Loudon, Lenoir City and Farragut are closer to Tennessee National. Downtown Maryville is a good dinner stop after a mountain day.
Facts about Tennessee National come from the community. Lake facts come from TVA. Rules, taxes, loans and insurance change, so confirm anything that affects a purchase with the right office or professional before you buy.