Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge is a city of 32,693 people in Anderson County, Tennessee, founded in 1942.
Why visit Oak Ridge
Townapedia lists 28 museums and landmarks, 47 parks and trails, 93 places to eat, 12 places to stay and 8 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Cinemark Tinseltown USA, Fanny Knob, American Museum of Science and Energy and Colonial Hall.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 87°F; January lows average 29°F.
Weather in Oak Ridge
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson and Roane counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, about 25 miles (40 km) east of downtown Knoxville. Oak Ridge's population was 31,402 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Knoxville Metropolitan Area. Oak Ridge's nicknames include the Atomic City, the Secret City, and the City Behind a Fence.
From the Wikipedia article Oak Ridge, Tennessee (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do8
Museums and landmarks28
American Museum of Science and Energy
Museum · 3.8 mi
Science museum in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
115 East Main Street, Oak Ridge
Mo-Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 13:00-17:00
Colonial Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.1 mi
Historic mansion in Oliver Springs, Tennessee, USA
Dr. Fred Stone, Sr., Hospital
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.2 mi
Former hospital in Tennessee, United States
J. B. Jones House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 7.4 mi
Oak Ridge, Tennessee, listed on the NRHP
Luther Brannon House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 7.0 mi
Historic house in Tennessee, United States
Oak Ridge Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Historic district in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
X-10 Graphite Reactor
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
World's second artificial nuclear reactor and the first reactor designed and built for continuous operation
International Friendship Bell
Monument and historic site · 3.5 mi
Monument in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, United States
Freel Farm Mound Site
Monument and historic site · 4.1 mi
Archaeological site in Tennessee, United States of America
Freels Farm Mounds
Monument and historic site · 4.1 mi
Archaeological site in Tennessee, United States of America
Southern Appalachia Railway Museum
Museum · 6.2 mi
Railway museum in Knoxville, Tennessee
16 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds47
Big Turtle Park
Park · 2.3 mi
Large Park that includes a Playground, Dog Park, and a couple soccer fields.
Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge
35 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes93
Red Lobster
Restaurant · Seafood · 3.5 mi
359 S Illinois Ave, Oak Ridge
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-21:00;Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Calhoun's
Restaurant · Barbecue, Steak House · 7.3 mi
100 Melton Lake Peninsula, Oak Ridge
Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Dean's Restaurant and Bakery
Diner · American · 5.2 mi
239 Jackson Square, Oak Ridge
Mo-Fr 11:00-20:00
El Jinete Mexican Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican · 5.2 mi
770 Briarcliff Avenue, Oak Ridge
Su-Th 11:00-22:00;Fr-Sa 11:00-22:30
Hong's Asian Bistro
Restaurant · Asian · 3.4 mi
1556 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge
Su-Mo,We-Th 11:00-21:00;Fr-Sa 11:00-21:30
81 more on the map.
History
The earliest substantial occupation of the Oak Ridge area occurred during the Woodland period (c. 1000 BC – 1000), although artifacts dating to the Paleo-Indian period have been found throughout the Clinch River valley. Two Woodland mound sites—the Crawford Farm Mounds and the Freels Farm Mounds—were uncovered in the 1930s as part of the Norris Basin salvage excavations. Both sites were just southeast of the former Scarboro community. The Bull Bluff site, which was occupied during the Woodland and Mississippian (c. 1000–1600) periods, was uncovered in the 1960s in anticipation of the construction of Melton Hill Dam. Bull Bluff is a cliff immediately southeast of Haw Ridge, opposite Melton Hill Park.
The Oak Ridge area was largely uninhabited when Euro-American explorers and settlers arrived in the late 18th century, although the Cherokee claimed the land as part of their hunting grounds. The European-American settlers who founded these communities arrived in the late 1790s after the American Revolutionary War and after the Cherokee signed the Treaty of Holston, ceding what is now Anderson County to the United States.
During the early 19th century, several rural farming communities developed in the Oak Ridge area, namely Edgemoor and Elza in the northeast, East Fork and Wheat in the southwest, Robertsville in the west, and Bethel and Scarboro in the southeast.
From the History section of Oak Ridge, Tennessee on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay12
Days Inn by Wyndham Oak Ridge Knoxville
Motel and hotel · 3.2 mi
206 South Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Knoxville West - Oak Ridge
Motel and hotel · 3.1 mi
114 Tulsa Road, Oak Ridge
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Knoxville Oak Ridge
Motel and hotel · 3.9 mi
300 South Rutgers Avenue, Oak Ridge
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Oak Ridge - Knoxville
Motel and hotel · 3.3 mi
215 South Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge
Staybridge Suites Knoxville Oak Ridge
Motel and hotel · 3.4 mi
420 South Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge
The Flats at Jackson Square
Motel and hotel · 5.2 mi
82 East Tennessee Avenue, Oak Ridge
Churches and places of worship83
George Jones Memorial Baptist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 5.0 mi
New Bethel Baptist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Faith Promise Church
Church · 6.8 mi
10740 Faith Promise Lane, Knoxville
Kern Memorial United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 6.1 mi
451 East Tennessee Avenue, Oak Ridge
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Church · Jehovahs Witness · 6.2 mi
470 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge
St. Nektarios Orthodox Church
Church · Russian Orthodox · 6.3 mi
11525 Lamar Alexander Parkway, Lenoir City
Shopping20
Gas and EV charging19
Schools, colleges and libraries31
Hardin Valley School Complex
School · 6.4 mi
11345 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville
Healthcare11
Family Clinic of Oak Ridge
Clinic and pharmacy · 4.5 mi
100 Vermont Avenue, Oak Ridge
Jefferson Compounding Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.9 mi
22 North Jefferson Circle, Oak Ridge
Mac's Hometown Pharmacies
Clinic and pharmacy · 4.5 mi
45 New York Avenue, Oak Ridge
Riddle Drugs
Clinic and pharmacy · 5.0 mi
642 East Tri County Boulevard, Oliver Springs
Rite Aid
Clinic and pharmacy · 5.4 mi
490 East Tri County Boulevard, Oliver Springs
Map of Oak Ridge
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 29°F | 5.5 in | 1.8 in |
| Feb | 51°F | 32°F | 5.9 in | 1.4 in |
| Mar | 61°F | 39°F | 5.5 in | 0.6 in |
| Apr | 70°F | 47°F | 5.6 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 78°F | 56°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 64°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 87°F | 68°F | 5.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 67°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 81°F | 61°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 71°F | 48°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 59°F | 37°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 49°F | 32°F | 5.8 in | 0.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Oak Ridge Atdd (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Anderson County has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-02-06: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-02: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-04-02: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-04-17: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) (TYS) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 20 miles away.
- Farragut 9 mi southeast, about 14 min by car
- Lenoir City 10 mi south, about 17 min by car
- Clinton 13 mi northeast, about 21 min by car
- Powell 15 mi east, about 25 min by car
- Knoxville 19 mi east, about 31 min by car
- Alcoa 21 mi southeast, about 34 min by car
- Halls 21 mi east, about 34 min by car
- Maryville 23 mi southeast, about 37 min by car
- Athens 39 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Crossville 41 mi west, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Oak-ridge-united-church-tn1, Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory Aerial View 2, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy, Public domain
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory Aerial View, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy, Public domain
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory X-10 Reactor Control Room View, Bryanmackinnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory X-10 Reactor Dawn of the Atomic Age Plaque, Bryanmackinnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory X-10 Reactor Historic Landmark Panels, Bryanmackinnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory X-10 Reactor Face, Bryanmackinnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory X-10 Reactor Access Room, Bryanmackinnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory X-10 Reactor Logbook Reproduction, Bryanmackinnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oak Ridge History Museum 2025a, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oak Ridge History Museum 2025b, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oak Ridge History Museum 2025c, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oak Ridge History Museum 2025e, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oak Ridge History Museum 2025d, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oak-ridge-amse-tn1, Brian Stansberry (photographer), CC BY 3.0
- X10 Reactor Face, Ed Westcott / US Army / Manhattan Engineer District, Public domain
- Oak-ridge-stone-house1, Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
- Jones1-crop, Orlady, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Oak-ridge-george-jones-tn1, Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
- Colonial-hall-oliver-springs-tn1, Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
- NewBethelBaptistChurch, Orlady, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fred-stone-hospital-tn1, Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
- Clinch River at winter - panoramio, verygreen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ISS063-E-106298 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-241708 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS066-E-131616 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS043-E-13583 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS043-E-13584 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS043-E-13582 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS063-E-106299 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS016-E-22288 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS043-E-13581 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- Aerial view of ORNL main campus (51249760710), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, CC BY 2.0
- Paddlefish (51152136732), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, CC BY 2.0
- OarRidgeHistoryMuseum, LouScheffer, CC0
- SbcRCS, AdamBSimpson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- International Friendship Bell in September 2026 02, TomasVial, CC BY-SA 4.0
- International Friendship Bell in September 2026 01, TomasVial, CC BY-SA 4.0
- NOAA Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Lab, Orlady, CC BY-SA 3.0
- International Friendship Bell in September 2026 03, TomasVial, CC BY-SA 4.0
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