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Football season is in full swing, and people are making the trip to Knoxville to cheer on the Vols. Parents are stopping in to visit their college kids attending the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Tourists are checking out the Scruffy City.
Regardless of why they're coming to Knoxville, they all need the same thing: a place to stay.
But should your guests choose an Airbnb or a hotel?
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. It really depends on how long they plan on staying and how many people they're traveling with.
Here's a look at hotel and short-term rental prices in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Is it cheaper to rent a hotel or Airbnb in Knoxville?
The average nightly rate for an Airbnb or Vrbo in Knoxville was around $192 including taxes and fees, from September 2022 to September 2023, according to AirDNA.
Hotels in Knoxville can be cheaper, but it really depends on when and where you're looking to get a room.
The average nightly rate at hotels from Jan. 1 to Sept. 26 in the city was $116.84, said Visit Knoxville President Kim Bumpas. Downtown hotels were more expensive, with an average nightly rate of $181 through August.
That doesn't take into account how prices soar on Vols home game weekends!
Bumpas said weekends with events like Tennessee football games or the Bassmaster tournament "significantly elevate" rates, but said she doesn't have a solid number or percentage increase.
Here's an example of how prices can fluctuate.
We picked a condo in northeast Knoxville that's listed on Airbnb as an example.
To come to town for the Vols' showdown with Texas A&M Oct. 13-15, the two-night stay would have been $305 a night for a two-night total of $867 including fees and taxes.
That same Airbnb for the weekend of Oct. 20-22, when the Vols are away in Tuscaloosa, would run $152 a night, for a two-night total of $517 including fees and taxes.
On the hotel side, we chose the Hampton Inn and Suites on Papermill Drive as an example. During the Vols home game weekend Oct. 13-15, rooms were $819 a night, with a total two-night stay of $1,920 with taxes and fees.
For the weekend of Oct. 20-22, a room with two queen beds would cost $199 a night for a two-night total of $467 including taxes and fees.
More: Knoxville-area Airbnb rentals are having a record year as county considers regulations
Are Airbnbs more expensive than hotels?
A 2022 study from NerdWallet.com found Airbnbs are usually more expensive for short stays, largely due to cleaning fees. Often property owners will offer discounts for extended stays.