Walkable Living In Bearden: Shops, Dining And Home Options
February 19, 2026
February 19, 2026
Wish you could grab dinner, a few groceries, and a greenway stroll without getting in the car? In Bearden, a West Knoxville neighborhood about five miles from downtown, you can do a lot of daily life on foot if you choose the right block. This guide shows you where walkability clusters, the shops and restaurants locals love, and the home options that put you close to it all. You will also get practical tips to evaluate a specific address before you buy. Let’s dive in.
Kingston Pike is Bearden’s spine, but it is not uniformly walkable from end to end. Instead, activity clusters at a few “village” nodes with sidewalks, crossings, benches, and short side streets that feed in. Local advocates and city partners have pushed these upgrades to make parts of the corridor more comfortable for pedestrians. You can see that emphasis in recent Bearden Village Council projects, which highlight sidewalks, safer crossings, and small public spaces.
Greenway access is a big reason Bearden works for walking. The Third Creek Greenway connects the commercial spine to surrounding neighborhoods and the larger city network, giving you a calmer route than Kingston Pike for many trips. Explore entrances and connections on the city’s Third Creek Greenway guide. A small but beloved stop is Everly Brothers Park, a pocket park at Kingston Pike and Forest Park Boulevard that anchors a mini-hub of sidewalks, bus stops, and nearby shops.
Walkability is block by block. A good example is the Bearden Village Greenway area, where Walk Score’s example rating near the Bearden Village Greenway shows about 72, which is considered Very Walkable. Just a few blocks away, scores can dip depending on sidewalks, crossings, and the destinations you care about. Always evaluate the exact address and test your typical routes in person.
Knoxville Area Transit helps fill the gaps. Routes that run along Kingston Pike and Sutherland Avenue give you a backup for longer errands or rainy days. You can check lines and frequency on KAT’s schedules and maps. Bus access, paired with greenway links, is what turns Bearden’s nodes into practical, car-light living for many residents.
Living near Kingston Pike puts everyday errands close by. You can walk to grocery anchors like The Fresh Market at 4475 Kingston Pike, Kroger at 4918 Kingston Pike, and ALDI farther west along the Pike. Pharmacies, banking, and fitness studios are scattered among the corridor’s small centers, so you can often pair two or three stops in one loop.
You will find a mix of long-time local spots and newer favorites within a short stroll. Grab a wood-fired pie at Hard Knox Pizza, pick up a fresh catch at The Shrimp Dock, or settle in at the relaxed, community-minded Bearden Beer Market. The Tomato Head’s West location on Kingston Pike is another easygoing standby for lunch or dinner. Many of these sit within a few blocks of one another, so it is simple to turn dinner into a pleasant evening walk.
Bearden’s retail is a mix of standalone shops and small centers, with a strong lineup of boutiques along Kingston Pike. Seasonal merchant roundups like Shopapalooza make browsing easy. For a handy starting point, check the Bearden merchant list, then confirm hours before you go. Keep in mind that retail turns over. For example, the longtime Long’s Drug Store closed in January 2024, which is a reminder to verify current tenants and hours. Local news covered the Long’s Drug Store closure.
If you want to live steps from dinner and the greenway, condos, apartments, and townhomes close to Kingston Pike and Sutherland Avenue are your best bet. Recent infill has added modern townhome options that appeal to buyers who want a low-maintenance, walk-friendly lifestyle without moving downtown. You will see small condo buildings, loft-style homes near Sutherland, and townhome communities that tuck just off the main corridor.
One or two blocks off Kingston Pike, you will find established single-family streets with mid-century ranches, bungalows, and brick homes. These blocks usually feel quieter while still giving you a short walk or bike to shops and dining. Neighborhood names to watch include West Hills, Deane Hill, Rocky Hill, and Sequoyah Hills, all referenced for general location context rather than as firm boundaries.
Move a bit farther from the corridor and you will see larger renovated homes and some properties near the river’s edge, especially on the fringes of Sequoyah Hills. These give you more space and privacy, with greenway access and Kingston Pike still within a short drive or bike ride.
At the ZIP level, 37919 posted a median sale price around 574,000 dollars in December 2025. That number is helpful for context, but it hides big differences by block and property type. Prices vary based on age, size, renovation level, and exact location relative to the walkable nodes.
A simple way to think about it:
If walkability is a must-have for you, plan for a premium when you are within a few blocks of favorite shops, greenway access, and frequent transit. You can often save by moving a little farther from the corridor while keeping a short bike ride to daily errands.
If walkable living in West Knoxville is on your list, you do not have to trade comfort for convenience. With the right address, you can keep your yard, walk to dinner, and hop on the greenway when you want fresh air. For block-by-block guidance, pricing confidence backed by an in-house appraiser, and a calm plan from search through closing, reach out to Jennifer Whicker. Request your free home valuation or schedule a Bearden tour today.
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