Car Rentals in Tennessee — Nashville, Memphis, Smokies, Chattanooga
Tennessee car rentals serve Nashville BNA (one of fastest-growing US airports) + Memphis MEM + Great Smoky Mountains NP gateway (Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge) + Chattanooga. PickRV's TN car catalogue spans Nashville music-city rentals, Memphis Beale Street trips, and Smokies SUV weekenders.
Rental classes Tennessee leans on
The body types this state's market is built around — each opens its PickRV hub.
Primary Tennessee car-rental markets
Nashville (BNA)
Fastest-growing US airport; music-city + bachelorette + business rentals.
Memphis (MEM)
Beale Street + Graceland + Mississippi River rentals.
Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge (Great Smoky Mountains gateway)
Smokies NP + Dollywood + Cades Cove drives; SUVs favored.
Chattanooga (CHA)
Lookout Mountain + Tennessee River rentals.
Knoxville (TYS)
East TN + Smokies gateway + UT campus rentals.
Tennessee state rental rules
TN Department of Safety + Homeland Security — Driver License- 1
Out-of-state US licenses honored without restriction for tourist rentals.
- 2
International tourists from countries with US driving reciprocity may rent with home-country license + IDP.
- 3
Minimum rental age typically 21; renters 21-24 face Young Driver Surcharge ($15-35/day).
- 4
TN minimum liability 25/50/15 — verify your insurance/credit card meets requirements.
Tennessee rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- State rental tax
- 7% · not collected by PickRV
- Min driver age
- 21+ std · 25+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Allowed — disclosure required
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-07:00
What the Tennessee DMV doesn't tell you
First-hand context the official .gov pages skip.
- What it costs
Nashville bachelorette + CMA Fest (June) tighten Nashville rental availability + surge pricing.
- Time and distance
Smokies Cades Cove Loop Road (11 mi one-way) closes to vehicles on Wednesdays (May-September) for cyclist + pedestrian access.
- Rules and permits
Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge summer Saturdays + holiday weekends: 1-2 hour traffic delays on US-441 to Smokies entrance.
- On the road
Memphis Beale Street parking is limited; rental cars favor side-street + garage parking.
- Terminal shuttle
Nashville BNA airport rental return shuttle 5-10 min.
Best season in Tennessee
March-November. Peak: late September-October (Smokies foliage) + April-May (mild + festivals).
Where PickRV is active in Tennessee
TN coverage is concentrated in Nashville + Memphis + Gatlinburg (Smokies gateway). Chattanooga + Knoxville growing.
Tennessee car rental FAQ
Can I drive Cades Cove on a Wednesday?
No — Cades Cove Loop Road closes to vehicles on Wednesdays May-September for cyclist + pedestrian access. Drive any other day.
Is Nashville CMA Fest week tough for rentals?
Yes — June CMA Fest tightens Nashville rental availability + surge pricing. Book 4-6 months ahead.