The small town of Alcoa lies in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is rich in Tennessee history. Alcoa makes a great base for exploring the surrounding countryside and this part of America is well-known for its spectacular scenery and southern hospitality.
Alcoa was a company town, established by the Aluminum Company of America in the early 1900's. With the start of World War I, production sky-rocketed and the town began to grow. The city of Alcoa that exists today is far different from those early days, but thanks to careful town planning and the donation of much land from the original company, Alcoa is a city of open spaces and pretty parkland. Most Alcoa hotels are in the center of town, though many visitors choose Alcoa accommodation in the nearby national park. Hotels near Alcoa Airport – McGhee Tyson Airport – are also popular since the airport serves as an entry point for Knoxville, only 16 kilometers away.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a small though stunningly beautiful area that attracts many nature lovers. Hiking trails and campsites are found throughout the park, and there are sixteen different mountain summits over 1800 meters, many of which can be climbed in a day.
Within Alcoa visitors will find all the necessary stores to stock up on a camping or fishing trip. There a couple of large shopping malls, the usual choice of fast food chains, plus general facilities for motorists passing through Tennessee. The city is connected to a couple of major interstate highways, so it's a convenient and picturesque stop on long road trips. Alcoa hotels are clean and comfortable and some, like the Holiday Inn, have great business facilities.
For more information on hotels and landmarks in the different areas of Alcoa, click on the interactive Alcoa map on the left-hand side of the page.
