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Transportation in Monroe County, TN

With all the great places to check out, how should you travel across the county?

If you are traveling by road, there are several highways going through the county. Sweetwater has access to Interstate 75. Three US Highways (11, 129, and 411) pass through the county along with several state highways.

Car driving on scenic road in the forest with mountain in the background

Driving is the most common form of transportation within the county, especially for getting from town to town. Madisonville, Sweetwater, and Tellico Plains have downtowns that are easily walkable. ETHRA offers some public transportation. You can cycle in each town but each town is ~10 miles apart and the roads are hilly so cycling from town to town can be difficult.

Photo of a row of white minibuses with the letters ETHRA painted in red letters above the windshield.
A group of four cyclists on a rural road

Monroe County has a public-use airport (Monroe County Airport KMNV) located in Madisonville. If you don't feel like piloting a small plane into the county, the nearest commercial airport is McGhee Tyson Airport, just outside Knoxville. Car rentals are available at McGhee Tyson. It is a domestic airport (check this page to see their nonstop flights), so for international flights, your best bet is a connecting flight at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Aerial photo of Monroe County Airport. A single runway with a small airport surrounded by fields and distant mountains.
Exterior photo of McGhee Tyson Aiport. A two-level building with stone, metal, and glass exterior. Near it are parked cars and trees.
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