When Jess and I moved to the USA, one of many issues I used to be most enthusiastic about was the chance to discover extra of this large nation at our leisure. There’s a lot to see and do throughout all of the states, and we now have the time and alternative to do exactly that.
One of many places now we have visited just lately is the town of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It’s just a few hours’ drive from the place we reside, making Chattanooga a straightforward 1- or 2-day journey. Jess had visited earlier than, however as a baby, so didn’t have a lot reminiscence of it apart from seeing an underground waterfall.
Earlier than we visited, we reached out to our e-newsletter subscribers for tips about what to see and the place to eat. Many Chattanooga locals received again to us and gave us some superior options.
So, with out additional ado, let me current our information to spending a day in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This isn’t going to be a deep dive into every part the town has to supply (which is loads, by the best way, there’s even a museum of Worldwide Towing and Restoration).
Nonetheless, should you’re visiting the town for a brief break, as we had been, this can cowl the must-see spots and highlights of Chattanooga. We’ll additionally supply our suggestions of the place to remain, and tips about getting round. Hopefully, every part it’s essential plan your personal fast getaway to Chattanooga.
Let’s get began!
1 Day Chattanooga Itinerary
Someday in Chattanooga gained’t allow you to see every part the town has to supply, however you’ll be capable of see lots of the highlights. As all the time, be happy to regulate this itinerary based mostly by yourself private preferences and pursuits!
We additionally suggest checking opening hours and pricing on the official web site earlier than setting out, as sights can shut or change working hours for numerous causes. For sights with tickets, a few of these will probably be cheaper if bought upfront.
Breakfast: 9am
Should you’re lodge or lodging doesn’t supply breakfast, otherwise you would merely want to have breakfast on the town someplace, now we have two choices for you. These can be Frothy Monkey, within the Choo Choo District, or The Each day Ration within the Northshore a part of city.
Each supply an excellent number of southern breakfast choices, with objects corresponding to Shrimp and Grits and Fried Rooster and Waffles. Naturally they each even have a superb espresso choice to start out your day proper.
Discover Downtown Chattanooga: 10am
After breakfast, we’d counsel getting down to discover the town’s downtown. With restricted time in your palms you gained’t have time to go to all of the downtown sights, however it’s best to be capable of embrace not less than one in your go to. In fact, in case you are extra within the downtown sights than a number of the different places we recommend afterward within the day you then would possibly contemplate switching a downtown attraction with considered one of our later choices. You possibly can additionally simply spend all day simply exploring the sights within the downtown!
When it comes to downtown sights, there are lots to select from. Among the foremost sights we recommend trying out can be the Tennessee Aquarium, the Hunter Museum of American Artwork or the Inventive Discovery Museum. That final one can be an excellent choice should you’re visiting Chattanooga with children.
When you’re achieved exploring the downtown, it’s time to move out of city for the sights on Lookout Mountain.
Lookout Mountain Points of interest: from 12pm
Lookout Mountain is a mountain ridge a couple of miles southwest of the Chattanooga metropolis middle. It’s residence to a few of Chattanooga’s hottest sights, in addition to strolling trails and viewpoints providing wonderful views of the encircling panorama. There are additionally quite a few locations to remain on the mountain itself.
A lot of Lookout Mountain is taken up by the Lookout Mountain Battlefield, which varieties part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Nationwide Navy Park. This was the situation of main occasions in the course of the American Civil Struggle, and people inquisitive about army historical past could need to go to the Level Park location for info on these occasions.
Level Park is a paid attraction, you possibly can see extra right here. We didn’t embrace it on our itinerary, however be happy to incorporate it should you just like the sound of it fairly than considered one of our different choices!
The remainder of the Lookout Mountain Battlefield space is free to go to and it’s residence to round 30 miles of trails. So if you wish to simply discover nature and do some mountain climbing, that’s definitely an choice. Simply discover a parking spot, select a path, and get going. There’s a superb path map on the Nationwide Parks website right here.
Introduction to Lookout Mountain apart, let’s dive into the sights that we suggest you go to in your first journey to Lookout Mountain. These are paid, however we predict they’re undoubtedly price it.
Incline Railway: 12pm
The primary cease we suggest in your Lookout Mountain journey is the Incline Railway. Inbuilt 1895, this mile lengthy railway will whisk you to the higher a part of the mountain. While the higher station of the incline railway isn’t technically on the highest level of Lookout Mountain (that honor belongs to Excessive Level, a approach additional south), it’s nonetheless fairly excessive up on the mountain, and you’ll get nice views of the town.
There’s a viewing platform on the higher station, and the trip on this historic railway is nicely well worth the admission value.
The trip takes round 10 minutes every approach, and also you’ll need to spend a while on the high having fun with the view, so we’d counsel planning to spend round 45 minutes to an hour visiting the Incline Railway.
Should you’re hungry, there are additionally a couple of eating choices across the decrease station. It’s additionally right here the place you’ll discover the subsequent cease on our itinerary, residence to a tasty deal with which is able to hold you going together with your Chattanooga sightseeing journey!
You’ll be able to guide tickets for the Incline Railway right here. There’s a parking zone on website, which has a small charge for parking. Observe that pets aren’t allowed on the railway.
Ice Cream at Clumpies: 1pm
Clumpies Ice Cream was extremely advisable as a Chattanooga native favourite to strive from our readers, and we’re so glad that we took them up on that advice.
Based in Chattanooga in 1999, Clumpies concentrate on handmade ice cream made with contemporary elements in small batches. As of the time of writing, it’s accessible in three places. There’s one within the Northshore space, one by the Chattanooga Choo Choo, and, conveniently for this itinerary, one proper by the bottom of the Incline Railway.
They’ve an enormous vary of scrumptious flavors to select from, and we extremely suggest stopping off to do this traditional dish out.
Ruby Falls: 1.30pm
As I discussed at first of this information, Jess visited Chattanooga when she was younger, and the one factor she actually remembers from that go to was that her household had a memento from Ruby Falls. So clearly we needed to return to refresh her reminiscence of what she noticed, and so I may see what it’s all about.
Ruby Falls has been one of the common sights in Chattanooga because it opened to the general public in 1930. The principle attraction is the 90ft excessive waterfall, named Ruby Falls, which is definitely discovered over 1,000ft underground. An underground waterfall is unquestionably a neat attraction!
The Ruby Falls expertise works as follows. You join a tour time, which is greatest if booked upfront on their web site right here. All visits are by guided tour, with tour group sizes ranging as much as round 30 individuals. On the tour time you are taking an elevator down 260ft into the mountain, after which your information will lead you alongside a path to the waterfall. There’s additionally a video close to the beginning of the tour the place you’ll be taught in regards to the historical past of how the attraction was developed, which is fairly attention-grabbing.
The path is slightly below a mile spherical journey, and there are many attention-grabbing cave formations to see on the best way, which your information will level out. The path is simple to comply with and pretty even, though this being a cave there are in fact low factors, outcrops and a few steps to navigate. There are additionally instances when you’ll have to let one other group going the opposite approach cross.
In fact, the spotlight of the journey is the waterfall, which is fairly spectacular. It cascades down round 90ft, and the chamber it’s in is lots massive sufficient for the group. It’s additionally illuminated with totally different colours and there’s music as nicely.
For us the complete underground expertise lasted round an hour, with the time on the falls lasting round 8 to 10 minutes. This was loads of time to get all of the photographs we wished and in addition to only take pleasure in watching the water.
Now, you is perhaps questioning if visiting Ruby Falls is price it. We personally loved it, however it’s clearly a reasonably busy attraction the place it’s important to comply with a set path and itinerary.
I feel numerous how good your expertise will probably be will come right down to your information. The teams aren’t large, however with 30 or so individuals stretched alongside a slim pathway, it would be best to attempt to be close to the entrance of your group to listen to every part your information has to say as you go. There are factors the place your group will cease and the information will discuss to you all, however there are additionally factors of curiosity alongside the best way which you’ll miss should you’re close to the again of the group.
Our information was okay, however now we have learn opinions the place individuals discovered the guides to be very entertaining and verbose, which wasn’t the case with our information. Nonetheless, we did benefit from the expertise general, which was fairly distinctive. It additionally has historic attraction curiosity – we all the time love to go to sights which were drawing a crowd for many years, because it seems like we’re following within the footsteps of many different vacationers.
That stated, should you want to have a bit extra time to discover at your leisure, are claustrophobic, or if the sound of an underground waterfall doesn’t float your boat, then that’s completely advantageous!
E-book your tickets on the official Ruby Falls web site right here. Parking at Ruby Falls is free.
Rock Metropolis / Lookout Mountain: 4pm
The opposite common paid attraction on Lookout Mountain we suggest visiting is Rock Metropolis, which is definitely simply throughout the state line in Georgia. This has additionally been a well-liked attraction in Chattanooga for a few years, opening approach again in 1932.
It grew to become common on account of a advertising and marketing marketing campaign which contain portray the slogan “See Rock Metropolis” on the roofs and partitions of barns throughout the US. By 1969, over 900 barns had been embellished throughout 19 states, and it’s protected to say that this received the phrase out in regards to the attraction pretty comprehensively.
At present, Rock Metropolis affords an identical expertise to that which guests would have discovered again within the day, though it has in fact developed a bit over time. The principle attraction although are the strolling trails, which wend their approach across the beautiful rock formations, main you to spectacular viewpoints.
From considered one of these viewpoints it’s stated you could see seven states, though you will have a really clear day to realize that. Nonetheless, the view is spectacular, whatever the variety of states you really see.
We actually loved visiting Rock Metropolis, it was our favourite attraction on high of Lookout Mountain. It’s actually neat to have the ability to wander round and below all of the rocks, and there actually is numerous element to see, from underground dioramas to a waterfall to swing bridges to these aforementioned views. It actually seems like of numerous love and a focus went into creating this attraction, with the identical household operating it at this time who initially created it.
We’ve put your go to to Rock Metropolis later within the day so it’s a bit cooler, which is particularly necessary should you’re visiting Chattanooga in the summertime months. Nonetheless, it’s a year-round vacation spot, with themes all year long, together with an Irish competition in March, and lights for Christmas.
For this one we undoubtedly suggest reserving on-line upfront. Costs range relying on the time slot you select and the day you go to, and it’s normally cheaper to guide upfront on-line fairly than purchase tickets in individual.
See extra and guide your tickets on the official Rock Metropolis web site right here. We’d counsel round 90 minutes to 2 hours for this attraction. Parking is free.
Dinner: 6pm
In spite of everything that exploration, you’re certain to be hungry by now. So it is perhaps time to move for some meals!
There’s an enormous vary of eating choices to select from in Chattanooga, from quick informal by means of to upscale experiences. You’ll additionally discover a vary of cuisines to select from, operating the gamut from BBQ, hearty southern fare, by means of to world flavors.
There are undoubtedly too many choices to checklist, however some choices to think about embrace Barque for wonderful BBQ, St. John’s Restaurant for upscale eating, Elsie’s Daughter for a bistro eating expertise, Champy’s for wonderful fried rooster and the Bridgeman Chophouse for steaks and seafood.
In addition to eating choices, Chattanooga has some nice spots to drink. Whether or not you’re planning on watching the sundown with a cocktail (head to the rooftop Whiskey Thief) or need to go to an area brewery like Oddstory or Hutton & Smith, Chattanooga is certain to have one thing to sate your thirst. For mocktails, take a look at Sleepyhead Predominant+Dodds which has a everlasting alcohol-free cocktail menu.
Sundown: Lookout Mountain or Walnut Avenue Bridge
To spherical off your day in Chattanooga, we predict you would possibly need to take pleasure in watching the sundown. Though should you’d want to calm down or skip it and head to a bar, that’s completely advantageous too!
Nonetheless, should you do resolve to see the sundown, there are some good choices.
First, should you’re downtown, then we suggest heading out onto Walnut Avenue Bridge for a pleasant view of the sundown over the river. Courting from 1890, this pedestrian solely bridge is an iconic landmark within the metropolis and a very good place from the place to benefit from the sundown.
Should you’d want to look at the sundown from nature, or are nonetheless up on Lookout Mountain when the solar is setting, then the opposite location you would possibly contemplate is the aptly named Sundown Rock. That is discovered on the west facet of the mountain, and from right here you may get an excellent view throughout the encircling panorama from an elevated location.
There’s a small free parking zone simply close to the trailhead, and it’s solely about 200 yards from the parking location to the perspective. Simply remember that the parking zone solely has 9 spots and may refill.
Relying on the time of yr you go to, sundown will probably be at various instances. You should use this web site to verify when sundown will probably be throughout your go to, nevertheless it varies from round 5.30pm in mid-winter, by means of to 9pm in the summertime.
So if you wish to see the sundown, you would possibly have to plan your meal time round that relying on when you’re visiting.
In fact, there are many different locations you possibly can watch the sundown from. I noticed a beautiful sundown from simply outdoors our lodge within the Choo Choo district for instance!
That wraps up our information to what to do in a day in Chattanooga! Let’s now have a look at some sensible suggestions that will help you plan your go to.
The right way to Get to Chattanooga
You’ve gotten a couple of choices for attending to Chattanooga.
First, Chattanooga has an airport, code CHA, which is served by quite a few American carriers and affords direct flights to many cities, together with main airport hubs like Atlanta, Dallas and Charlotte. So whether or not you’re visiting Chattanooga from the USA or abroad, it’s best to be capable of fly right here comparatively simply.
You too can drive to Chattanooga in fact, which is how we normally go to. It’s round 2 hours drive northwest of Atlanta, Georgia; 2 hours’ drive southwest of Knoxville, Tennessee; two hours’ drive southeast of Nashville, Tennessee; or 2 hours’ drive northeast of Birmingham, Alabama.
As you possibly can see, there are many different attention-grabbing cities inside simple driving distance, which means you possibly can simply embrace Chattanooga on a street journey of the US south.
When it comes to bus and prepare, Chattanooga is sadly not on the passenger rail community within the USA, with the closest main Amtrak stations being Birmingham and Atlanta.
As of 2023, Chattanooga now not has a Greyhound cease within the metropolis both. The closest Greyhound cease is at the moment in Wildwood, GA, which is about 10 miles southwest of the town middle.
The right way to Get Round Chattanooga
You’ve gotten a couple of choices for getting round Chattanooga.
First, in case you are staying downtown, then lots of the downtown sights will probably be inside simple strolling distance. Chattanooga is a pleasant metropolis to stroll round and we will undoubtedly suggest taking a stroll round.
There’s additionally a public transit system managed by the Chattanooga Space Regional Transportation Authority, or CARTA. This features a bus community which covers most of Chattanooga, together with the Incline Railway. Nonetheless, this doesn’t embrace different Lookout Mountain places like Rock Metropolis or Ruby Falls.
CARTA additionally run the free downtown shuttle service, which is a free electrical shuttle which runs between the Choo Choo district and downtown. This has been in operation since 1992, and is especially useful should you’re staying within the Choo Choo district, as we did on considered one of our visits to Chattanooga. We took the bus proper to the Aquarium, which was actually handy.
Experience sharing can be an choice in Chattanooga, however do remember that many trip sharing platforms have restrictions on working in a special state, particularly round selecting up individuals. This could be a difficulty for someplace like Rock Metropolis, which is in Georgia. So, you would possibly be capable of get a trip share to Rock Metropolis for instance, however then not be capable of discover one to take you again!
For the sights outdoors of Chattanooga, significantly these on Lookout Mountain, the best solution to get round goes to be to drive your self. This provides you with probably the most flexibility on your go to. There’s usually loads of parking, which is both free or pretty low value.
The place to Keep in Chattanooga
Chattanooga has numerous choices for lodging, starting from extra price range pleasant choices by means of to high-end and boutique motels.
We’d suggest first deciding the place you need to keep. We’d suggest selecting both downtown, the Choo Choo district (which provides you quick access to downtown with the free shuttle), or simply outdoors of city on the chain motels you normally discover round interstate exits.
There are professionals and cons to each choices. With the downtown motels, you get the benefit of being within the coronary heart of the motion, and it is possible for you to to stroll to many sights. There are additionally some very nice distinctive lodging choices. The draw back can be that these motels are typically costlier, and parking normally carries a charge, which you’ll need to issue into your price range.
The Choo Choo district could be a good choice as nicely, it’s a historic district with good eating and lodging choices, and you’ll simply attain the downtown space through the free electrical shuttle bus. However motels will nonetheless be on the pricier facet with a further charge for parking usually.
Lastly, you possibly can choose to remain at one of many many chain motels close to the Interstate exits. These usually include advantages like free parking and a few additionally embrace a free breakfast, all at a extra pockets pleasant value. The draw back is that you just’ll probably need to drive a bit extra, however as many sights require a automobile anyway, this probably gained’t be a giant deal.
Should you do resolve to remain a bit out of city, we’d counsel the motels off I-24 round exit 174 or exit 175 can be your best choice. There are additionally choices round exit 178, that are nearer to downtown, however are likely to obtain extra combined opinions.
We all the time counsel studying current opinions previous to reserving any lodge as issues can change.
Listed here are some choices to think about on your go to. These are ordered roughly by value, however in fact value can range so we all the time suggest checking and evaluating costs on your dates to get the most effective deal.
Downtown Chattanooga / Choo Choo Lodge Suggestions:
- Lodge Bo Days Inn – It is a well-reviewed choice providing good worth within the downtown space. Rooms have tea/espresso making amenities, and meals can be found. Parking is obtainable on-site for an affordable charge.
- Residence Inn Chattanooga Downtown – if you wish to be proper within the coronary heart of downtown Chattanooga however at a extra value-oriented value level, this Residence Inn is a good choice. It’s simply throughout from the Aquarium and inside a straightforward stroll of nearly all of downtown sights. Breakfast is included, on-site parking is obtainable for a charge.
- The Learn Home Lodge – this luxurious historic lodge in downtown Chattanooga affords Twenties fashion with modern-day facilities. Anticipate wooden clad partitions, checkered flooring and dramatic chandeliers, alongside modern-day comforts like A/C, on-site parking (for a charge) and two wonderful eating places. One to think about should you’re after a conventional upscale lodge expertise.
- The Lodge Chalet at The Choo Choo – We stayed right here on considered one of our visits to Chattanooga and actually loved it. It’s discovered within the Choo Choo district, residence of the previous railway station. The lodge has a pool and on-site parking, a wonderful on-site restaurant, and is inside strolling distance of quite a few bars and eateries. Uniquely, you possibly can choose to remain in a transformed railway carriage, which is fairly neat, however be aware that some reviewers famous these could be a little noisy.
- The Dwell Lodge – It is a pretty luxurious boutique lodge which dates from 1909. It solely has 16 rooms and recurrently books out, so that you’ll need to guide nicely upfront for this one. Every room is individually designed with a retro really feel. There’s a full-service bar and a lightweight continental breakfast is obtainable. Parking is obtainable close by for a charge.
Outdoors Chattanooga Suggestions
These motels are discovered a bit outdoors of city on the most important interstate exits. You’ll be able to typically save by being out of city, with the comfort of free parking. Many even have breakfast included.
- Howard Johnson by Wyndham Chattanooga Lookout Mountain – it is a price range pleasant choice providing free parking and an inclusive breakfast on the base of Lookout Mountain. Breakfast is included.
- Days Inn by Wyndham Chattanooga Lookout Mountain West – one other good worth choice close to Lookout Mountain, this has an indoor pool in addition to free parking and breakfast. Rooms even have a microwave and fridge.
- Consolation Inn Chattanooga Downtown Southside – the title is a bit deceptive as it is a couple of miles from downtown. Nonetheless, it places you conveniently between downtown and the Lookout Mountain sights, so is perhaps a superb choice. Breakfast is included and there’s free parking on website. This lodge tends to get the most effective opinions of the choices on this freeway exit.
You’ll be able to see many extra choices for lodging throughout a spread of value factors on reserving.com right here, together with motels and condo leases.
Additional Studying
That’s it for our information to the right way to spend a day in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Earlier than you head off although, I simply wished to share some extra assets we’ve put collectively that will help you plan your journey to the town, and journey within the USA generally.
- Questioning how a lot a go to to Omaha may cost? Try our information to how a lot it prices to journey within the USA that will help you plan your journey price range.
- I’ve written a information that includes a few of my high suggestions for driving within the USA to assist get you happening the street!
- We’ve visited numerous different cities within the USA! See our guides to issues to do in Las Vegas, issues to do in Huntsville, issues to do in Savannah, issues to do in Charleston, issues to do in Albuquerque, visiting New Orleans throughout Mardi Gras, issues to do in Cambria, issues to do in Houston, issues to do in Dallas, issues to do in Omaha, and issues to do in Santa Fe
- If you need some USA street journey inspiration, see our itineraries for a USA Deep South street journey, California Street Journey, Route 66 Street Journey and Pacific Coast Freeway Street Journey
- And should you’re in search of inspiration for the remainder of the USA, take a look at our USA part, which has tons extra inspiration
Do you have got any questions on visiting Chattanooga? As all the time, we’re joyful to reply any questions you may need, simply pop them within the feedback under and we’ll get again to you as quickly as we will.
