Gate-side grab at TYS: Smoky Mountain Travel Mart
Right in the Main Terminal at McGhee Tyson (TYS), Smoky Mountain Travel Mart handles the basics: drinks, snacks, and last‑minute items before you board. It’s a standard travel shop, not a sit‑down spot, so think 3–5 minute in-and-out stop on the way to your gate.
You’ll see the usual bottled drinks, packaged candy, gum, and salty snacks, with prices running a bit higher than downtown Knoxville (a regular soda can easily hit $3–$4). Selection skews national brands, so you’ll find the same chips and chocolate you’d see in a typical US airport newsstand.
Smoky Mountain Travel Mart also carries basic travel gear like neck pillows, phone chargers, and earbuds, handy if you realize at TYS security that your cable is still in a hotel room off Alcoa Highway. Expect simple, generic accessories rather than premium brands, and price accordingly in the $15–$30 range for electronics.
For souvenirs, you’ll spot Tennessee and Great Smoky Mountains themed items: logo mugs, keychains, and T‑shirts that say “Knoxville” or “Smokies,” usually in the $10–$30 bracket. It’s fine for a quick gift if you didn’t make it to Market Square or the Old City before flying out.
Practical tip: if you care about price, pick up bigger drinks or snacks in town before heading to McGhee Tyson, then use Smoky Mountain Travel Mart in the Main Terminal only for true last‑minute gaps like forgotten chargers or a quick bottle of water before boarding.