The Graduate by Hilton Knoxville is the one downtown Knoxville hotel that’s actually in the middle of the University of Tennessee campus. That seems appropriate for the hotel chain that specializes in themes based on local universities.
University of Tennessee Hotel
Some may quibble with including this on-campus hotel in a site about downtown Knoxville, but we like to think of the University of Tennessee campus as an extension of downtown. And The Graduate Knoxville is the hotel that provides easiest access to everything at the university. The hotel is located on a part of Cumberland Avenue that has been modified to be a highly walkable connection between the university, local businesses and nearby student housing. You’re never far from a place offering something to eat when you’re in this part of town. It’s about a 1/2 mile walk from the hotel to World’s Fair Park.
It’s the ultimate (and undoubtedly difficult-to-book) hotel for anyone coming to a Tennessee Volunteers football game: a 12-minute, 1/2 mile walk to Neyland Stadium. It’s also the closest place to stay for events at Thompson-Boling arena, 15 minutes, 0.6 miles.
Lots and Lots of Orange
Each hotel in the Graduate chain takes on a theme based on a local university. So you’ll find lots of University of Tennessee orange throughout this hotel on the north side of the UT campus on Cumberland Avenue. The hotel has 112 rooms spread across seven floors. Each room looks at bit like the bedroom of the ultimate Volunteer fan.
Saloon 16 is the hotel’s bar and casual restaurant, created in a partnership with Tennessee football legend Peyton Manning. The cafe Poindexter is the on-site place for coffee and “light fare”.
Within Walking Distance
While The Graduate is all about the University of Tennessee, it’s still not outrageously far from the most popular places of interest in central downtown:
- Market Square (1.3 miles, approximately 30 minutes)
- Knoxville Convention Center (0.8 miles, 20 minutes)
- Tennessee Theatre (1.2 miles, 27 minutes)
