State Route 33 (SR 33) is a primary and secondary route in East Tennessee. It runs 176 miles, from the Georgia state line in Polk County, northeast to the Virginia state line north of Kyles Ford in Hancock County. South of Maryville, SR 33 is a "hidden" route which shares a concurrency with US 411.
The section of SR 33 between Knoxville and Tazewell, along with US 25E between Tazewell and Middlesboro, Kentucky, was an inspiration for the song The Ballad of Thunder Road. In the song, a moonshiner runs illegal whiskey from Kentucky to Knoxville on this route. Sections of the former Highway 33 in Union County have signs marking "The Original Thunder Road".
Route description
Polk County
SR 33 begins in Polk County in Tennga at the Georgia state line concurrent with US 411 as its unsigned companion route. It begins as a primary highway. US 411/SR 33 go north and pass by the community of Conasauga and cross over the Conasauga River to enter Old Fort where they intersect SR 313. They continue north to Ocoee where they have an interchange with US 64/US 74/SR 40. US 411/SR 33 then continue north, then turn northwest and cross the Ocoee River before entering Benton. In Benton, they have an intersection with SR 314. They then leave Benton and continue north. They then enter Delano and begin a concurrency with SR 30. They then cross the Hiwassee River to pass by Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park (via Spring Creek Road) and intersect with the eastern end of SR 163 before leaving Delano. US 411/SR 33/SR 30 continues north and crosses into McMinn County.
McMinn County
A short distance later, they enter Etowah. In Etowah, they intersect with the western end of SR 310, before SR 30 separates and turns west towards Athens. US 411/SR 33 then leave Etowah and go north to Englewood, where they intersect and have a short concurrency with SR 39. They then continue north to cross into Monroe County.
Monroe County
They then enter Madisonville and have an interchange with SR 68. They then bypass downtown to the north and then leave Madisonville, going northeast. US 411/SR 33 then intersect and become concurrent with SR 72 before entering Vonore. In Vonore, they intersect SR 360 before crossing Tellico Lake/Little Tennessee River, leaving Vonore. Just before crossing into Loudon County, SR 72 separates and turns east, running along the banks of Tellico Lake. US 411/SR 33 then cross into Loudon County and go northeast to Greenback to intersect with the southern end of SR 95. They then cross into Blount County.
Blount County
They continue north to intersect the southern end of SR 336 just north of Lanier. They then intersect and become concurrent with US 129/SR 115 before entering Maryville. They then intersect with the southern end of SR 335 before entering downtown. Just before downtown, US 129/SR 115 separate at an interchange, with US 129/SR 115 bypassing downtown to the west and providing access to McGhee Tyson Airport. US 411/SR 33 then go through downtown, where they intersect US 321/SR 73 before coming to an intersection with SR 35. Here, SR 33 separates and follows its own path with US 411 turning south on SR 35. Also, SR 33 becomes signed for the first time and turns into a secondary highway. It again has another intersection with SR 335, this time the northern end, before leaving Maryville to intersect the current eastern end of I-140 (Pellissippi Parkway, Exit 14) in Eagleton Village. SR 33 goes north through Rockford before crossing into Knox County.