We’re all in collective agreement (right?) that food hits different when served out of a truck. A food truck park allows a lowly burger to go from a pretty good dinner to a gosh-darn summer experience. So it comes as no surprise that Knoxville went from zero food truck parks to five (yes, five) in just a matter of a few years. Are we mad about this? We are not. (And since you’re here reading this, we’re just going to go ahead and assume you’re not mad about it either.)

Without further ado, here are five food truck parks to check out around Knoxville!

Central Filling Station:

North Knoxville

Central Filling Station was the first food truck park to hit the local Knoxville scene and they did so with a BANG. Located in one of our already favorite areas of town, they just went ahead and smacked the neighborhood into the freaking next level.

Central Filling Station has a covering, heaters, even some cozy fire pits which allow them to stay open pretty consistently no matter the weather. (Even if food trucks don’t want to brave the elements, the trendy storage-container-turned-bar remains!) We can’t decide if our favorite part is all the teal decor (hello, #onbrand?), the picturesque old gas pumps, or the fun events happening every week (like live music and trivia!).

What we do know is Knoxville summers aren’t quite complete without a few evenings spent at the North Knox food truck. Keep up with their daily food truck schedule and calendar of events here.

SouthSide Garage

SouthSide Garage

South Knoxville

SouthSide Garage was a perfect addition to the laidback, outdoorsy vibes of Old Sevier. Everything about them screams SoKno – from their big garage doors to a backyard that makes you feel like you’re hanging at your neighbor’s house to a fully dog-friendly atmosphere.

While SouthSide usually doesn’t sport quite as many food trucks as the first spot on this list, you can always count on their resident food truck (right now it’s Oakwood BBQ *drool*) and a full bar complete with wine, craft cocktails, and local beer. Come hang for a Trivia Tuesday or one of their legendary “MASHUP” events where food trucks collab on menu items and we all get to benefit from it?

The Cave at Hey Bear Cafe

West Knoxville

The backyard of Hey Bear Cafe – known for serving up insanely delicious boba tea – also serves as a food truck park, adorably named “The Cave.” (Get it? Bears? Caves? Yeah, you get it.)

You can usually count on 1-3 trucks hanging out there daily for both lunch and dinner. (Follow them on Instagram to see who will be there on any given day.) But the best part? You get to enjoy your food truck goodness on oodles of space. There’s a covered seating area, plenty of picnic tables, a stage for live music, even a full playground for the kiddos. (Trust us, this spot is amazing for the littles.) We are ✨obsessed✨

35 North

35 North

West Knoxville

35 North, located in Farragut, is probably (okay, definitely) the most polished of the Knoxville food truck scene. They sport a full bar in an extensive indoor area. Hold on, this requires a visual:

Look at all those screens! We told you it was extensive. However, if you’d prefer less screen time, their patio is just as lovely of a space to enjoy your food truck grub. In fact, this may be the one food truck park where red wine feels like the correct pairing…

Image from @streatparkknox

The StrEat Park

West Knoxville

This cute lil family-friendly pocket of sunshine is located in Farragut as well (just 10 minutes down the street off Lovell Rd.) but gives off a significantly more *chill* vibe. (You’ll get that pun in a second.) While StrEat Park certainly has their fair share of food trucks coming and going, they’re also the permanent home of The Wooden Spoon, a local food truck serving natural shaved ice. (Okay, now take a second to appreciate the previous pun…)

It’s a great low-key place to enjoy dinner and shaved ice around a picnic table… but the event calendar is what you really want to keep an eye on. We’re talking everything from cornhole tournaments to movie nights under the stars. Follow them on Instagram to make sure you never miss a memory-makin’ summer night!

We’re positive you’ll have a great experience no matter where you end up! But quick Pro-Tip: if you don’t find your favorite food truck at any of these spots, there’s usually one set up between Geezers and Xul breweries as well. Happy eating, Knoxville!