Economy Lot C and G shuttles at TYS run 24/7 with lifts and ramps, so Accessible Parking actually gives you a real choice between distance and price.
Accessible Parking at McGhee Tyson Airport covers the Main Terminal garage, terminal-front lots, and Economy Lots C and G. Economy shuttles advertise a roughly 15-minute ride from the far lots to the terminal doors, and airport materials flag those buses as fully ADA-compliant. If you need a ramp or lift instead of steps, stick to the official on-airport economy lots instead of off-airport discount setups.
A reviewer in a Knoxville parking guide called the economy shuttle “easy for my mom who uses a walker,” which lines up with the airport’s 24/7 ADA shuttle claim for Lots C and G. Those lots sit farther from the terminal, but the trade is lower daily rates than the garage or short-term areas right by the Main Terminal. If you’re balancing budget and mobility needs, this is the combo locals talk about most.
The parking garage and terminal lots tie into TYS’s smart-parking project using TKH Security tech, which the airport says helps drivers spot open spaces and manage turn-by-turn wayfinding to designated areas. That matters when you’re trying to get to marked accessible spaces near elevators or crosswalks instead of circling every level. When traffic spikes around Monday mornings or Sunday evenings, that guidance can save a few minutes and a lot of backtracking.
Complaints in review roundups mostly hit peak-time crowding, not the ADA shuttles themselves. People mention leaving an extra 15–20 minutes on holidays or UT game weekends to find an accessible spot in the closer garage or terminal-front lots. Regulars with mobility-impaired family members often park in Economy C or G for longer trips, then switch to the garage for short 1–2 day runs.
Practical tip: for the shortest walk at TYS, aim for the Main Terminal garage first, then fall back to Economy C or G and the 24/7 ADA shuttle if those closer accessible spaces look tight.
15 min shuttle