Getting to know Knoxville, TN Airport (TYS-McGhee Tyson) will be a breeze once you've organized your rental car. But before you arrive in a new and unfamiliar place, it's always a great idea to know a bit of basic info about the area.Knoxville, TN Airport (TYS-McGhee Tyson) is located 12 miles to the south from downtown Knoxville.