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3-star hotel Check-in 15:00 · Check-out 12:00

Holiday Inn Knoxville N - Merchant Drive by IHG

Stay at Holiday Inn Knoxville N - Merchant Drive by IHG, featuring bright rooms, free breakfast, an outdoor pool, and a restaurant. Close to Zoo Knoxville and Sunsphere.

5634 Merchants Center Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37912, United States View on map
8.4/10
Very Good Based on 823 recent guest reviews
Free Wi-Fi Paid breakfast Free parking Accessible Outdoor pool
What recent guests emphasize

Friendly staff, comfortable rooms, and convenient amenities

Recent visitors highlight attentive and helpful staff, well-maintained rooms with strong showers, and flexible breakfast options. Some note the hotel offers good value and a welcoming atmosphere, although breakfast quality receives mixed remarks.

Guests often praise

  • Friendly and attentive front desk and restaurant staff who enhance the guest experience.
  • Clean and spacious rooms, featuring comfortable beds and excellent hot water pressure in showers.
  • Convenient breakfast options, including included meals for large groups and affordable prices for individuals.
  • A welcoming, safe environment supported by helpful and professional team members.
  • Good food quality at the on-site bar and grill, with compliments on steak and wings.

Worth knowing

  • Breakfast quality receives mixed feedback, described as adequate but not exceptional by some guests.
  • Beds are notably high, which may be a consideration for shorter guests or those with mobility concerns.
  • Non-guests can pay a small fee for breakfast, accommodating locals or visitors not staying overnight.
  • The hotel offers special arrangements for groups, such as private meeting rooms for meals, which may not apply to individual travelers.
  • Location provides easy access to downtown Knoxville and several popular attractions via a short drive.

Best for

  • Visitors seeking a welcoming and LGBTQ+ friendly hotel with personable staff.
  • Travelers who appreciate clean, comfortable accommodations with strong showers.
  • Groups or teams needing flexible dining arrangements and included breakfast options.
  • Guests looking for a convenient stay close to Knoxville’s main sights and highways.
  • Anyone wanting casual dining on-site with good bar food selections.
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About this property

Welcome to Holiday Inn Knoxville N - Merchant Drive by IHG

Holiday Inn Knoxville N - Merchant Drive by IHG is a straightforward hotel located conveniently along I-75, approximately 5 miles from the Sunsphere tower and 10 miles from Zoo Knoxville. The informal property features bright rooms and provides an outdoor pool, free breakfast, and a restaurant/bar called Southern Hospitality Bar and Grill, which offers American cuisine and receives positive mentions for its food and service.

The hotel serves a diverse range of guests, including families, sports teams, and business travelers, with facilities such as a conference center and private meeting spaces where group meals can be arranged. Guests often highlight the friendly and attentive staff, as well as well-maintained rooms featuring comfortable beds and good bathroom amenities, including strong water pressure in the showers.

Its location offers easy access to local attractions like Zoo Knoxville, Knoxville Museum of Art, and the iconic Sunsphere, suitable for visitors looking to explore the city. McGhee Tyson Airport is just a 24-minute drive away, adding convenience for travelers. The surrounding area hosts several other hotels within walking distance, providing additional lodging options.

While breakfast is complimentary for overnight guests, it is also available for a small fee to others and is generally described as satisfactory though not exceptional. Some guests note high bed heights and mixed opinions on breakfast quality, but overall comments emphasize the welcoming atmosphere and helpful service team. The property is also recognized as LGBTQ+ friendly.

Summary compiled by GoHotelly editors from verified guest reviews, partner descriptions and editorial notes.
Facilities & essentials

What's on-site and what you should know before you arrive

The short version: what's available day-to-day, and the key practical details most travelers search for.

Most popular facilities

Free Wi-Fi
Paid breakfast
Free parking
Accessible
Outdoor pool
Air-conditioned
Business center
Pet-friendly
Room service
Kid-friendly
Restaurant
Fitness center
Bar
Smoke-free

Not available at this property

Airport shuttle
Verified guest reviews

What recent guests are actually saying

Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.

LL
LaDawn Lofton Apr 19, 2026
10

Ever since I found out that I can come and enjoy breakfast for $5 without being an overnight guest, I have become a regular. I stop in a couple times a week to jumpstart my day. I LOVE the staff. Jebbi is always so nice and attentive. I now recommend all of my out of town guest to stay here. Thank you holiday inn

PB
Patrick Billette Apr 17, 2026
10

This is a great hotel! It is a lot of fun and the rooms are phenomenal. I would stay again. We just came as a soccer team with United Genuine and 3 other teams. I like how they do the team dinner and breakfast in a private meeting room so it is crowded. It is nice that breakfast is included if you come as a large group. If you come on your own, it is $4.99 a person. It was very nice and they have spacious rooms and the bathroom is nice. They have great food options for breakfast and the staff were super nice. U would love to stay at a Holiday Inn again in the future. It is a 10 minute drive from Downtown Knoxville which is very nice if you need something to do while you are here. They have plenty of food, restaurants, shops, and everything you need.

MK
Matt Koester Apr 15, 2026
10

We stayed here a couple times already and let me tell you that I got the best showers I've had in the real real long time, amazing water pressure and super hot water!! Staff is very friendly and amenities abundant. I would definitely stay here again.

T
treyanna Apr 05, 2026
10

First I want to shout out Laura & Savannah! at the Knoxville location. I was there with my boyfriend for a Christmas vacation 2025, the first interaction I had was NICE and professional and genuinely made me feel safe with the choice we made to stay there. After our stay, I had left 3 pairs of shoes there, I contacted them & they were able to resolve MY mistake swiftly and kindly. Talking to both of these women was such a great experience and were able to put my mind at ease. Shout out to those 2 women and THEY DESERVE A RAISE!

NB
nik baxe Mar 19, 2026
10

We stay one night. The ladies at the front desk were great. Just wish I would have taken there names. The room were very clean and nice. We didn't have any meals, so we can't talk about that. We would would go back.

KV
Kevin Vail Mar 19, 2026
10

I stayed there for a couple weeks for work under my bosses name in August, this is the best hotel I think I’ve been in. Room was always clean, bed super comfortable, and not too noisy, the front desk was always helpful and attentive. The food was probably the best hotel food I’ve ever had. Steak was AMAZING, and so were the wings! And not over priced either! One of the bartenders I think his name was Dexter? I remember his middle name was Kevin though cause I told him my name was Kevin, so I just called him Kevin. He was just super! Very nice individual! I hope they give him some free food or something. If I’m ever back that way I definitely want to stay there. Good job you guys! Keep up the good work!

MC
Maria Calderon Jan 06, 2026
10

I went to another hotel that asked for a $200 cash deposit for being a Knox resident, even though it was due to the weather and my apartment not having hot water or working water pipes. When I headed to Holiday Inn, I was told there was a $50 deposit, which made me feel better. The front desk personnel, Savanah, was terrific and made us feel comfortable and confident about our decision to stay there. The next morning, Reina helped us with breakfast and made us feel at home. We will be using Holiday Inn again if any pipes are broken or there are home issues. Thank you for having a great staff!

WKW
Wendy K Welch Dec 30, 2025
10

This hotel is really lovely. It is very nicely set out and also has a bar. The room we had was very clean and the shower was very relaxing. The beds are comfortable. One thing I had never seen before was beds as high as theirs. It wasn’t just our room, All the friends we were with also had the same. I’m 5’ 1“ and had to struggle to get up onto the bed. It was higher than the top of my thigh. This isn’t a complaint just an observation.! We got a laugh out of it. Breakfast was ok, but not beautiful. I would defiantly stay here again. Everything else was excellent.

Location & neighborhood

Where you'll find Holiday Inn Knoxville N - Merchant Drive by IHG

Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

Set along I-75, this casual hotel lies 5 miles from the Sunsphere tower and 10 miles from Zoo Knoxville. It's 9 miles from Knoxville Downtown Island.

  • Merchant Dr EB and Camelia Rd 10 min Walk
  • Merchant Dr WB and Davida Rd 10 min Walk
  • Merchants Dr EB after Clinton Hwy 17 min Walk
  • McGhee Tyson Airport 24 min Car
Things to do nearby

Worth the walk or a quick ride

Curated spots travelers usually pair with a stay in Tennessee. Distances are rough real-world times, not straight-line.

Knoxville Museum of Art 1,836 reviews

Knoxville Museum of Art

1050 Worlds Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916, United States

4.7 · Art Museum
Sunsphere 2,353 reviews

Sunsphere

810 Clinch Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902, United States

4.5 · Historical Landmark
Zoo Knoxville 12,528 reviews

Zoo Knoxville

3500 Knoxville Zoo Dr, Knoxville, TN 37914, United States

4.5 · Zoo
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