Urgent Care Centers in Knoxville

June 15, 2026

Urgent care centers fill the gap between a primary care office and a hospital emergency room. They treat non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries on a walk-in basis, usually with extended evening and weekend hours, which makes them useful when a doctor’s office is closed but the situation is not an emergency. In Knoxville, a city of roughly 195,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau) and the hub of East Tennessee, urgent care centers operate across the city’s neighborhoods and along its major corridors, from Kingston Pike in the west to Broadway in the north and Chapman Highway to the south.

Most urgent care centers are staffed by physicians (M.D. or D.O.) along with nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Physicians in Tennessee are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners or the Board of Osteopathic Examination, both under the Tennessee Department of Health, and consumers can verify a provider’s license through the department’s online verification system. In Knoxville, some centers are affiliated with regional hospital systems such as Covenant Health or Tennova Healthcare, while others operate as national franchises like AFC (American Family Care). A center’s affiliation can influence how records are shared and where a patient is referred for follow-up or specialty care.

A typical urgent care visit covers colds, flu, sore throats, ear and sinus infections, urinary tract infections, minor cuts and burns, sprains and strains, and minor fractures. Many Knoxville centers also offer on-site X-ray, rapid and send-out laboratory testing, COVID-19 and flu testing, vaccinations, and physical exams for school, sports, and employment, including DOT physicals. Occupational health services such as drug and alcohol screening and workers’ compensation injury care are common. Online check-in or pre-registration tools allow patients to reserve a spot before arriving, though walk-ins are accepted at most locations.

An urgent care center is not a substitute for emergency care. For chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of stroke, severe bleeding, or any other true emergency, patients should call 911 or go directly to a hospital emergency room. Tennessee’s consumer protection framework, administered by the Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), accepts complaints about deceptive business practices, and questions about a provider’s licensing can be directed to the Tennessee Department of Health. The information below is general and educational, not medical advice; patients should consult a qualified provider about their individual circumstances.

Top Urgent Care Centers Providers in Knoxville

1. Covenant Health Urgent Care – South Knoxville

Address: 7625 Chapman Highway, Suite 107, Knoxville, TN 37920
Phone: (865) 983-1310
Website: https://www.covenanthealthurgentcare.com/locations/urgent-care-south-knoxville/
Services: treatment for illness and injury, COVID-19 testing, labs and bloodwork, X-ray imaging, physicals, immunizations, occupational health
Description: Covenant Health Urgent Care – South Knoxville is a walk-in clinic on Chapman Highway, located on the Covenant Health South campus, open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with walk-ins welcome. The center provides on-site X-ray imaging, labs and bloodwork, and COVID-19 testing, and through the broader Covenant Health Urgent Care network it offers illness and injury treatment, physicals, immunizations, and occupational health services. As part of Covenant Health, a regional hospital system, the center can coordinate records and referrals within that network. Covenant Health Urgent Care operates multiple locations across the greater Knoxville area, and patients can use the “Save My Spot” tool to reserve a place in line before arriving.

2. AFC Urgent Care Knoxville

Address: 6108 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 539-9299
Website: https://www.afcurgentcare.com/knoxville-tn/
Services: urgent care for colds, flu, allergies, sore throat, sinus infections; injury care (sprains, strains, cuts, burns); on-site labs (rapid COVID-19, flu, strep, mono, urinalysis, glucose) and send-out labs (STD panels, blood chemistry, CBC, liver and kidney function); STD/STI testing; UTI care; X-rays; physicals (school, sports, immigration, DOT); occupational health (pre-employment, workers’ compensation, drug and alcohol testing); vaccinations; pediatric urgent care (ages 6 months and up)
Description: AFC Urgent Care Knoxville is a walk-in clinic on Kingston Pike open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with no appointment needed. The center treats common illnesses and minor injuries and offers on-site rapid testing along with a send-out lab menu that includes STD panels, blood chemistry, and complete blood count, as well as X-ray imaging. It provides a range of physicals from school and sports to immigration and DOT, a full occupational health program, vaccinations, and pediatric urgent care for patients six months and older. The clinic is part of American Family Care, a national franchise with more than 400 clinics across the United States, and patients can complete pre-registration online before their visit.

3. AFC Urgent Care Fountain City

Address: 5150 North Broadway Street, Knoxville, TN 37918
Phone: (865) 549-5111
Website: https://www.afcurgentcare.com/fountain-city-tn/
Services: illness care (cold, flu, allergies, sinus infections, bronchitis, strep throat); injury treatment (sprains, strains, cuts, burns); X-rays and on-site labs; rapid testing (COVID-19, flu, strep, mono, urinalysis); send-out labs (STD panels, blood work, cultures); UTI and STD/STI testing; school, sports, and immigration physicals; occupational health (DOT physicals, pre-employment exams, workers’ compensation, drug testing); pediatric care
Description: AFC Urgent Care Fountain City is a walk-in clinic on North Broadway Street in North Knoxville, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with walk-ins welcome and no appointment required. The center treats a wide range of illnesses and minor injuries and provides on-site X-rays and laboratory services, including rapid tests for COVID-19, flu, strep, and mono and send-out labs for STD panels and blood work. It offers school, sports, and immigration physicals, a full occupational health program covering DOT physicals, pre-employment exams, workers’ compensation, and drug testing, and pediatric care. The clinic is part of American Family Care and serves North Knoxville neighborhoods including Inskip-Norwood, North Hills, and Halls Crossroads, with online pre-registration available.

Frequently Asked Questions About Urgent Care Centers in Knoxville

Q: What is the difference between an urgent care center and an emergency room in Knoxville?

An urgent care center treats non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries, such as infections, minor fractures, sprains, and flu, usually on a walk-in basis with extended hours. An emergency room is equipped for serious or life-threatening conditions. For chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of stroke, severe bleeding, or another true emergency, call 911 or go directly to a hospital emergency room rather than an urgent care center.

Q: Do I need an appointment to visit an urgent care center in Knoxville?

Most Knoxville urgent care centers accept walk-in patients with no appointment required. Many also offer online check-in or pre-registration that lets you reserve a place in line before you arrive, which can reduce your wait. Hours vary by location and system, so confirming a center’s hours before visiting is a good idea.

Q: How can I verify that a Knoxville urgent care provider is licensed?

Physicians in Tennessee are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners or the Board of Osteopathic Examination, both part of the Tennessee Department of Health. The department maintains an online license-verification system where consumers can check a provider’s license status. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are licensed through their respective boards under the same department.

Q: Are Knoxville urgent care centers affiliated with hospital systems?

Some are and some are not. Several Knoxville centers are affiliated with regional hospital systems such as Covenant Health or Tennova Healthcare, which can affect how medical records are shared and where patients are referred for follow-up or specialty care. Others operate as national franchises such as AFC. A center’s affiliation is usually listed on its website.

Q: What services do urgent care centers in Knoxville commonly provide?

Common services include treatment for colds, flu, infections, and minor injuries, on-site X-ray and laboratory testing, COVID-19 and flu testing, vaccinations, and physicals for school, sports, and employment. Many centers also offer occupational health services such as DOT physicals, drug and alcohol screening, and workers’ compensation injury care. The specific menu varies by location.

Q: How do I file a complaint about an urgent care center in Knoxville?

Complaints about deceptive or unfair business practices can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which enforces the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Concerns about a provider’s clinical licensing or professional conduct can be directed to the Tennessee Department of Health, which oversees the medical and osteopathic boards. Keeping copies of bills, records, and any correspondence strengthens a complaint.