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2 cleaner spots within a 3-hour drive

Knoxville is breathing 3.9 cigarettes a week

12.4
PM2.5 µg/m³
57
AQI
3.8
Cleanest in reach · µg/m³
See the 2 cleaner spots

Where are you?

Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

Chattanooga looks like the better move.35% cleaner air with a verified 2 h 10 min road trip. Rankings balance cleaner air with trip ease.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Knoxville Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Tellico Plains
Cel-shaded illustration of Tellico Plains
#1Tellico PlainsPM2.5 7.1Checking road routesaves 1.7 cigs/wk

Tennessee· PM2.5 7.1 µg/m³

Cherokee National Forest gateway on the Tellico River, a quiet Smokies-adjacent base with cabins.

43% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 7.1 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 7.1/22 × 7 = 2.3 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Knoxville right now

43% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Townsend
Cel-shaded illustration of Townsend
#2TownsendPM2.5 9~55 min drivesaves 1.1 cigs/wk

Tennessee· PM2.5 9 µg/m³

Quiet 'peaceful side of the Smokies' town on the park's western edge, a low-key mountain base with cabins and inns.

27% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 9 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Knoxville right now

27% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Gatlinburg
Cel-shaded illustration of Gatlinburg
#3GatlinburgPM2.5 10~55 min drivesaves 0.8 cigs/wk

Tennessee· PM2.5 10 µg/m³

Mountain resort town at the main gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, tucked high in the range, with abundant lodging.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 10 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Knoxville right now

19% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Bryson City
Cel-shaded illustration of Bryson City
#4Bryson CityPM2.5 10Checking road routesaves 0.8 cigs/wk

North Carolina· PM2.5 10 µg/m³

Smoky Mountains gateway town on the Tuckasegee, a rafting-and-rail base with cabins and inns.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 10 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Knoxville right now

19% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Cherokee
Cel-shaded illustration of Cherokee
#5CherokeePM2.5 10Checking road routesaves 0.8 cigs/wk

North Carolina· PM2.5 10 µg/m³

Smoky Mountains gateway town on the Qualla Boundary, with a broad lodging base and cool ridge air.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 10 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Knoxville right now

19% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Maggie Valley
Cel-shaded illustration of Maggie Valley
#6Maggie ValleyPM2.5 10Checking road routesaves 0.8 cigs/wk

North Carolina· PM2.5 10 µg/m³

Smokies-adjacent valley town near the Blue Ridge Parkway, with cabins and cool high-valley air.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 10 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Knoxville right now

19% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Sylva
Cel-shaded illustration of Sylva
#7SylvaPM2.5 10Checking road routesaves 0.8 cigs/wk

North Carolina· PM2.5 10 µg/m³

Western North Carolina mountain town on the Tuckasegee, with a walkable courthouse-hill Main Street.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 10 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Knoxville right now

19% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Franklin
Cel-shaded illustration of Franklin
#8FranklinPM2.5 10Checking road routesaves 0.8 cigs/wk

North Carolina· PM2.5 10 µg/m³

Nantahala National Forest town in the Little Tennessee valley, a hiking base with cool mountain air.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 10 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Knoxville right now

19% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Pigeon Forge
Cel-shaded illustration of Pigeon Forge
#9Pigeon ForgePM2.5 11.3~40 min drive

Tennessee· PM2.5 11.3 µg/m³

Smoky Mountains resort town just below Gatlinburg, set in the foothills with a huge stock of hotels and cabins.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 11.3 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 11.3/22 × 7 = 3.6 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
9% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Waynesville
Cel-shaded illustration of Waynesville
#10WaynesvillePM2.5 12Checking road route

North Carolina· PM2.5 12 µg/m³

Smoky Mountains gateway town near 2,700 feet, with cool valley air and a growing base of inns.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 12 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 12/22 × 7 = 3.8 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
3% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Corbin
Cel-shaded illustration of Corbin
#11CorbinPM2.5 12.3Checking road route

Kentucky· PM2.5 12.3 µg/m³

Southeastern Kentucky town beside Cumberland Falls' plunging gorge, a wooded Appalachian base with cabins.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 12.3 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 12.3/22 × 7 = 3.9 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
1% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Sevierville
Cel-shaded illustration of Sevierville
#12SeviervillePM2.5 14.6Checking road route

Tennessee· PM2.5 14.6 µg/m³

Foothills gateway to the Smokies below Pigeon Forge, with a broad lodging base and cooler valley air.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 14.6 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 14.6/22 × 7 = 4.6 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Knoxville

18% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Chattanooga
Cel-shaded illustration of Chattanooga
#13ChattanoogaPM2.5 8~2 h 10 min drivesaves 1.4 cigs/wk

Tennessee· PM2.5 8 µg/m³

River and mountain city with plentiful lodging between Nashville, Atlanta and Birmingham.

35% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 8 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 8/22 × 7 = 2.5 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

4.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Knoxville right now

35% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Ellijay
Cel-shaded illustration of Ellijay
#14EllijayPM2.5 10.4Checking road routesaves 0.6 cigs/wk

Georgia· PM2.5 10.4 µg/m³

North Georgia apple-country town at the edge of the Blue Ridge, with cabins and cool foothill air.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 10.4 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 10.4/22 × 7 = 3.3 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
16% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Blue Ridge
Cel-shaded illustration of Blue Ridge
#15Blue RidgePM2.5 10.4~2 h 35 min drivesaves 0.6 cigs/wk

Georgia· PM2.5 10.4 µg/m³

Mountain town in the north-Georgia Blue Ridge, a cool forested reset with a walkable core of inns and cabins.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 10.4 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 10.4/22 × 7 = 3.3 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
16% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Berea
Cel-shaded illustration of Berea
#16BereaPM2.5 10.6Checking road routesaves 0.6 cigs/wk

Kentucky· PM2.5 10.6 µg/m³

Arts-and-crafts college town at the edge of the Appalachian foothills, with inns and B&Bs south of Lexington.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 10.6 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 10.6/22 × 7 = 3.4 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
15% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Cleveland
Cel-shaded illustration of Cleveland
#17ClevelandPM2.5 11.1Checking road routesaves 0.4 cigs/wk

Georgia· PM2.5 11.1 µg/m³

North Georgia foothills town near Helen and Unicoi, higher and cooler than metro Atlanta, with cabins.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 11.1 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 11.1/22 × 7 = 3.5 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
10% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Indianapolis
Cel-shaded illustration of Indianapolis
#18IndianapolisPM2.5 3.8~6 h 35 min drivesaves 2.7 cigs/wk

Indiana· PM2.5 3.8 µg/m³

A major Indiana city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

69% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.8 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.8/22 × 7 = 1.2 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

8.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Knoxville right now

69% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Lafayette
Cel-shaded illustration of Lafayette
#19LafayettePM2.5 3.8Checking road routesaves 2.7 cigs/wk

Indiana· PM2.5 3.8 µg/m³

Indiana community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

69% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.8 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.8/22 × 7 = 1.2 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

8.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Knoxville right now

69% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Muncie
Cel-shaded illustration of Muncie
#20MunciePM2.5 4.1Checking road routesaves 2.6 cigs/wk

Indiana· PM2.5 4.1 µg/m³

Indiana community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

67% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.1 µg/m³ here vs 12.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 here; 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

8.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Knoxville right now

67% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT · 53 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

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What this means · Knoxville

Phew.

3.9cigarettes

per week, if this air holds

Act two · The scale

Where today lands

From a crisp horizon to smoke you can taste — here’s your reading on it.

12.4 µg/m³
CrispSome smokeHeavy smoke

Act three · The ladder

What each rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · The fine print

The receipts

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 12.4 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 12.4/22 × 7 = 3.9 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →