In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
Oak Ridge
Spend one day in Oak Ridge for the science museum and bell; add a half‑day for the zoo or golf if you have extra time.
Oak Ridge is a small Tennessee city built for the Manhattan Project. Its main attractions cluster near downtown and are reachable by car in short drives. One full day covers the American Museum of Science and Energy, International Friendship Bell and a quick walk in the Arboretum; a half‑day extra lets you visit the Little Ponderosa Zoo or Centennial Golf Course. Public transport is minimal, so a rental car is recommended.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, limited daylight)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $70–$100 excl. accommodation · Mid $120–$180 excl. accommodation · High $200+ excl. accommodation (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Taxi airport → city centre | $70 |
| American Museum of Science and Energy adult entry | $8 |
| Hotel night (mid‑range) | $120–$150 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TYS · McGhee Tyson Airport
- Taxi to Oak Ridge about $70; rental car recommended
Typical fares
- Taxi airport → city centre
- about $70, 30 min (check)
- Car rental (economy, 4 days)
- ≈ $180 total, pick‑up at TYS
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car is essential; no regular bus service. Main roads are I‑40 and Pellissippi Parkway to downtown.
See and do
Known for
- American Museum of Science and Energy
- International Friendship Bell
- Green McAdoo Cultural Center
- Little Ponderosa Zoo
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | Drive west on I‑40 about 30 min | ≈ 30 min |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Drive north on I‑75 then I‑40 about 1 h 30 min | ≈ 1 h 30 min |
Sleep
- Hampton Inn Oak Ridge
- Convenient downtown location; rates higher for lab visitors
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excuse me / Sorry |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| Where is the museum? | Where is the museum? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Taxi from airport costs around $70; plan for that expense
- City is dry – no bars serve alcohol
- Limited public transit; walking distances can be long between attractions
Low overall crime; stay alert after dark in isolated spots and watch traffic on I‑40 and I‑75.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Oak Ridge yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- American Museum of Science and Energy
- International Friendship Bell
- Green McAdoo Cultural Center
- Little Ponderosa Zoo
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Oak Ridge, revision 4932214 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4932214
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Oak Ridge
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
US consular services are in Knoxville; nearest foreign embassies are in Washington, DC.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/oak-ridge). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.