Knoxville's outdoor pools open Memorial Day weekend, city KORE camp runs June to July, and free play fountains run 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. from May.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from the City of Knoxville’s Aquatics, Inskip Pool, Ed Cothren Pool, Water Play Fountains and Summer Camps pages, Zoo Knoxville and Ijams Nature Center.

Summer in Knoxville starts Memorial Day weekend, when the city’s two outdoor pools open. The 2027 schedules and camp dates are not out yet, so the details below are from summer 2026, the latest each organizer has published. The last day of school for Knox County students is Wednesday, May 26, 2027.

Who to call

  • City aquatics: 865-300-4624
  • Pool weather closings: Ed Cothren Pool 865-544-7840 or Inskip Pool 865-687-9919
  • City camps and community centers: Knoxville 311, 865-215-4311; register at knoxville.recdesk.com

City pools

Pool Where Type Phone
Ed Cothren Pool Malcolm-Martin Park, off Reynolds Street, Northwest Knoxville Outdoor, with baby pool 865-544-7840
Inskip Pool Inskip Park, 4204 Bruhin Road Outdoor, with wading pool 865-687-9919
Elmer Brine Pool City indoor pool Indoor Aquatics office, 865-300-4624
Williams Creek Community Center and Pool City indoor pool Indoor Aquatics office, 865-300-4624
Carl Cowan Pool Run by the Emerald Youth Foundation Indoor Emerald Youth

Season and hours (2026). The outdoor pools opened Memorial Day weekend (Saturday, May 23, 2026) and were open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, weather permitting. Once Knox County Schools are back in session, they open on weekends only through Labor Day.

Cost (2026). $5 a person a visit, spectators included. A Splash Pass gives 10 visits for $42 or 20 for $75. Groups of 10 or more, such as day cares and church groups, can get a group rate if they apply in advance.

What is there. Inskip Pool, open since the 1950s, has a high diving board, two low boards, a wading pool, a snack bar, a sand volleyball court and covered pavilions. Ed Cothren Pool has a baby pool, shelters, a concession stand and a zero-entry ramp with a pool wheelchair; its park has a playground and basketball court. KAT Route 12 stops near Ed Cothren and Route 24 near Inskip.

Rules. Children under 11 must be with an adult 18 or older. No food or drink in the pool area, no flotation devices and swim pants for children who are not toilet trained. The city also offers swim lessons and lifeguard classes; it hires lifeguards each spring (865-300-4624).

Free splash fountains

The city’s outdoor play fountains are free. The city says it tries to keep them on daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and they are typically turned on in May and off in mid-October.

  • Market Square, downtown
  • World’s Fair Park, 1060 World’s Fair Park Drive
  • Krutch Park Extension, near Gay Street
  • Volunteer Landing on Neyland Drive is closed, with no reopening date.

Questions: Knoxville 311, 865-215-4311. Water Play Fountains

Summer camps

Camp Ages 2026 dates and hours Register
City of Knoxville KORE camp 6 to 12 June 1 to July 24; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays City page
City Aspire Teen Camp 12 to 15 Same City page
Zoo Knoxville day camps 4 to 17 Half-week and full-week sessions Zoo camp
Ijams Nature Center camps 3 to 15 Eight weeks from June 1 Ijams camps

City KORE camp. The Knoxville Outdoor Recreation Experience runs at nine community centers, with one teen camp site. In 2026 there was no camp on June 19 or the week of June 29 to July 3. Campers go on field trips to outdoor pools and local attractions, and lunch and a snack are served each day. The city asks families to commit to at least three to four weeks. In 2026, registration opened at 10 a.m. Monday, March 30, for city residents and Thursday, April 2, for nonresidents, with a registration fee and a weekly fee; city residents pay less, and scholarships are available for city residents. One site, Deane Hill, was full within about a week.

Zoo Knoxville runs summer day camps for ages 4 to 17 with animal encounters, experiments, crafts and behind-the-scenes visits; members get early registration and a discount.

Ijams Nature Center ran four camp programs for ages 3 to 15 in 2026: Preschool, Discovery and Adventure camps for eight weeks and Wilderness camp for four weeks in June, in 5-day sessions (four days the week of July 4). Ijams says 2027 information is coming soon.

More summer ideas

What this means for you

  • Mark late March on the calendar if you want a city camp spot; popular sites fill fast.
  • A 10-visit Splash Pass ($42 in 2026) pays off from the ninth swim.

Related: Memorial Day, Father’s Day and dog-friendly Knoxville (Inskip Pool holds Doggie Dip nights in September).

Frequently asked questions

When do Knoxville city pools open?

The city’s outdoor pools, Ed Cothren and Inskip, open Memorial Day weekend; in 2026 that was Saturday, May 23. Once Knox County Schools are back, they open weekends only through Labor Day.

How much does it cost to swim at a Knoxville city pool?

In 2026 it was $5 a person a visit, including spectators. A Splash Pass gave 10 visits for $42 or 20 for $75.

Where are the splash pads in Knoxville?

The city runs free play fountains on Market Square, at World’s Fair Park, 1060 World’s Fair Park Drive, and in the Krutch Park Extension. They are typically on from May to mid-October, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Volunteer Landing fountain is closed with no reopening date.

When does City of Knoxville summer camp registration open?

For 2026, registration opened at 10 a.m. Monday, March 30, for city residents and Thursday, April 2, for nonresidents. Camp ran June 1 to July 24 for ages 6 to 12, plus a teen camp for ages 12 to 15.

What summer camps are there in Knoxville?

The city’s KORE camp at nine community centers, Zoo Knoxville day camps for ages 4 to 17, and Ijams Nature Center camps for ages 3 to 15 are among the options.