Location & Infrastructure
Position yourself for success in Blount County.
Blount County’s location and infrastructure gives area businesses a strategic advantage over their competitors. With major road arteries such as I-75, I-40, and I-65 crossing Tennessee, our businesses take advantage of one of the best road networks in the U.S. Plus, with access to a general aviation airport, two Class I railroads, and the navigable waterways of the Tennessee River, Blount County businesses can efficiently reach their customers with low transportation costs.
10,000 ft
Runway at McGhee Tyson Airport
2
Class I Railroads
887
Miles of Navigable Waterways
75%
U.S. population within a day’s drive
By Road
Located within minutes to Interstates 40, 75 and 81 via Interstate 140, Blount County gives businesses access to 76% of major markets within a day’s drive. Interstate 40 is a major east-west connection, linking eight states from North Carolina to California. Interstate 75 is a major north-south connection, linking six states from Michigan to South Florida. Interstate 81 is a north-south connection from New York to Tennessee. U.S. Highways 129, 321, 411, and 441 crisscross Blount County, providing quick access to other major roadways.
By Air
McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) handles commercial airline service, air cargo operations, military and general aviation. It is home to the 134th Air Refueling Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard. The West Aviation Area offers clear, shovel ready sites with easy access to two runways—one 10,000 ft and one 9,000 ft. Airport activities include aircraft manufacturing or maintenance, air cargo & logistics operations, corporate aviation facilities, research & development centers, private hangars, and more.
By Rail
Blount County has access to two Class I Railroads. CSX and Norfolk Southern service the area as main freight haulers. Six out of seven Class 1 railroads run 2,133 miles in Tennessee. Twenty-three short line railroads run 915 miles.
By Water
Beginning a mile above Knoxville, TN, the nearby Tennessee River’s main navigable channel is 652 miles long. It is the largest tributary of the Ohio River at Paducah, KY. Over 28,000 barges carry 45 to 50 million tons of goods up and down the Tennessee River annually.