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 may be 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 we have now visited just lately is town of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It’s just a few hours’ drive from the place we dwell, 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 recommendations on what to see and the place to eat. Many Chattanooga locals bought again to us and gave us some superior strategies.
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 little thing town has to supply (which is quite a bit, by the best way, there’s even a museum of Worldwide Towing and Restoration).
Nevertheless, should you’re visiting town for a brief break, as we have been, it will cowl the must-see spots and highlights of Chattanooga. We’ll additionally provide our suggestions of the place to remain, and recommendations on getting round. Hopefully, every little thing it is advisable to plan your individual fast getaway to Chattanooga.
Let’s get began!
1 Day Chattanooga Itinerary
At some point in Chattanooga received’t allow you to see every little thing town has to supply, however you’ll have the ability to see lots of the highlights. As at all times, be happy to regulate this itinerary based mostly by yourself private preferences and pursuits!
We additionally advocate checking opening hours and pricing on the official web site earlier than setting out, as points of interest can shut or change working hours for numerous causes. For points of interest with tickets, a few of these will probably be cheaper if bought prematurely.
Breakfast: 9am
When you’re lodge or lodging doesn’t provide breakfast, otherwise you would merely desire to have breakfast on the town someplace, we have now two choices for you. These could be Frothy Monkey, within the Choo Choo District, or The Each day Ration within the Northshore a part of city.
Each provide an ideal collection of southern breakfast choices, with gadgets corresponding to Shrimp and Grits and Fried Hen and Waffles. Naturally they each even have espresso choice to begin your day proper.
Discover Downtown Chattanooga: 10am
After breakfast, we’d counsel getting down to discover town’s downtown. With restricted time in your arms you received’t have time to go to all of the downtown points of interest, however you need to have the ability to embrace a minimum of one in your go to. After all, if you’re extra within the downtown points of interest than a number of the different places we advise afterward within the day then you definitely would possibly think about switching a downtown attraction with one among our later choices. You may additionally simply spend all day simply exploring the points of interest within the downtown!
When it comes to downtown points of interest, there are a lot to select from. A number of the fundamental sights we advise trying out could be the Tennessee Aquarium, the Hunter Museum of American Artwork or the Inventive Discovery Museum. That final one could be an ideal possibility should you’re visiting Chattanooga with youngsters.
When you’re finished exploring the downtown, it’s time to go out of city for the points of interest on Lookout Mountain.
Lookout Mountain Sights: from 12pm
Lookout Mountain is a mountain ridge a couple of miles southwest of the Chattanooga metropolis middle. It’s house to a few of Chattanooga’s hottest points of interest, in addition to strolling trails and viewpoints providing glorious views of the encircling panorama. There are additionally quite a lot of 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 Army Park. This was the placement of main occasions throughout the American Civil Battle, and people occupied with army historical past could wish to go to the Level Park location for info on these occasions.
Level Park is a paid attraction, you may 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 moderately than one among our different choices!
The remainder of the Lookout Mountain Battlefield space is free to go to and it’s house to round 30 miles of trails. So if you wish to simply discover nature and do some climbing, that’s actually an possibility. Simply discover a parking spot, select a path, and get going. There’s path map on the Nationwide Parks web site right here.
Introduction to Lookout Mountain apart, let’s dive into the points of interest that we advocate you go to in your first journey to Lookout Mountain. These are paid, however we expect they’re undoubtedly price it.
Incline Railway: 12pm
The primary cease we advocate 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’re going to get nice views of town.
There’s a viewing platform on the higher station, and the experience on this historic railway is properly definitely worth the admission value.
The experience takes round 10 minutes every approach, and also you’ll wish 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.
When 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, house to a tasty deal with which is able to hold you going along with your Chattanooga sightseeing journey!
You possibly can guide tickets for the Incline Railway right here. There’s a parking zone on web site, which has a small price for parking. Observe that pets are usually not allowed on the railway.
Ice Cream at Clumpies: 1pm
Clumpies Ice Cream was extremely really useful as a Chattanooga native favourite to attempt from our readers, and we’re so glad that we took them up on that advice.
Based in Chattanooga in 1999, Clumpies give attention to handmade ice cream made with contemporary elements in small batches. As of the time of writing, it’s obtainable 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 advocate stopping off to do that basic 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 might see what it’s all about.
Ruby Falls has been one of the vital in style sights in Chattanooga because it opened to the general public in 1930. The primary 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 prematurely on their web site right here. All visits are by guided tour, with tour group sizes ranging as much as round 30 folks. On the tour time you’re 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 after all low factors, outcrops and a few steps to navigate. There are additionally occasions when you’ll have to let one other group going the opposite approach cross.
After all, the spotlight of the journey is the waterfall, which is fairly spectacular. It cascades down round 90ft, and the chamber it’s in is a lot giant sufficient for the group. It’s additionally illuminated with totally different colours and there’s music as properly.
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 images we needed and in addition to simply get pleasure from watching the water.
Now, you is likely to be questioning if visiting Ruby Falls is price it. We personally loved it, however it’s clearly a reasonably busy attraction the place you must comply with a set path and itinerary.
I feel quite a lot of how good your expertise will probably be will come all the way down to your information. The teams are usually not large, however with 30 or so folks stretched alongside a slender pathway, you’ll want to attempt to be close to the entrance of your group to listen to every little thing 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 we have now learn evaluations the place folks discovered the guides to be very entertaining and verbose, which wasn’t the case with our information. Nonetheless, we did benefit from the expertise total, which was fairly distinctive. It additionally has historic attraction curiosity – we at all times love to go to points of interest which have been drawing a crowd for many years, because it seems like we’re following within the footsteps of many different vacationers.
That mentioned, should you desire 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 wonderful!
Ebook your tickets on the official Ruby Falls web site right here. Parking at Ruby Falls is free.
Rock Metropolis / Lookout Mountain: 4pm
The opposite in style paid attraction on Lookout Mountain we advocate visiting is Rock Metropolis, which is definitely simply throughout the state line in Georgia. This has additionally been a preferred attraction in Chattanooga for a few years, opening approach again in 1932.
It turned in style as a consequence 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 adorned throughout 19 states, and it’s protected to say that this bought the phrase out in regards to the attraction pretty comprehensively.
Right now, Rock Metropolis gives the same expertise to that which guests would have discovered again within the day, though it has after all advanced just a little over time. The primary attraction although are the strolling trails, which wend their approach across the beautiful rock formations, main you to spectacular viewpoints.
From one among these viewpoints it’s mentioned that you may see seven states, though you will want 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 quite a lot of element to see, from underground dioramas to a waterfall to swing bridges to these aforementioned views. It actually seems like of quite a lot of love and a spotlight went into creating this attraction, with the identical household operating it as we speak 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 vital should you’re visiting Chattanooga in the summertime months. Nevertheless, it’s a year-round vacation spot, with themes all year long, together with an Irish pageant in March, and lights for Christmas.
For this one we undoubtedly advocate reserving on-line prematurely. Costs range relying on the time slot you select and the day you go to, and it’s often cheaper to guide prematurely on-line moderately 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 sure to be hungry by now. So it is likely to be time to go 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 glorious BBQ, St. John’s Restaurant for upscale eating, Elsie’s Daughter for a bistro eating expertise, Champy’s for superb fried hen 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 wish to go to a neighborhood brewery like Oddstory or Hutton & Smith, Chattanooga is sure to have one thing to sate your thirst. For mocktails, try Sleepyhead Foremost+Dodds which has a everlasting alcohol-free cocktail menu.
Sundown: Lookout Mountain or Walnut Avenue Bridge
To spherical off your day in Chattanooga, we expect you would possibly wish to get pleasure from watching the sundown. Though should you’d desire to loosen up or skip it and head to a bar, that’s completely wonderful too!
Nonetheless, should you do resolve to see the sundown, there are some good choices.
First, should you’re downtown, then we advocate 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.
When you’d desire to observe the sundown from nature, or are nonetheless up on Lookout Mountain when the solar is setting, then the opposite location you would possibly think about is the aptly named Sundown Rock. That is discovered on the west facet of the mountain, and from right here you may get an ideal 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 point of view. Simply bear in mind that the parking zone solely has 9 spots and might refill.
Relying on the time of yr you go to, sundown will probably be at various occasions. You should use this web site to verify when sundown will probably be throughout your go to, however 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 must plan your time for dinner round that relying on when you’re visiting.
After all, there are many different locations you may watch the sundown from. I noticed a stunning 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 ideas that will help you plan your go to.
How one can Get to Chattanooga
You may have a couple of choices for attending to Chattanooga.
First, Chattanooga has an airport, code CHA, which is served by quite a lot of American carriers and gives direct flights to many cities, together with main airport hubs like Atlanta, Dallas and Charlotte. So whether or not you might be visiting Chattanooga from the USA or abroad, you need to have the ability to fly right here comparatively simply.
You may as well drive to Chattanooga after all, which is how we often 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 may see, there are many different attention-grabbing cities inside simple driving distance, which means you could possibly simply embrace Chattanooga on a street journey of the US south.
When it comes to bus and practice, 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 present in Wildwood, GA, which is about 10 miles southwest of town middle.
How one can Get Round Chattanooga
You may have a couple of choices for getting round Chattanooga.
First, if you’re staying downtown, then lots of the downtown points of interest will probably be inside simple strolling distance. Chattanooga is a pleasant metropolis to stroll round and we are able to undoubtedly advocate taking a stroll round.
There may be 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. Nevertheless, 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 helpful should you’re staying within the Choo Choo district, as we did on one among our visits to Chattanooga. We took the bus proper to the Aquarium, which was actually handy.
Trip sharing can be an possibility in Chattanooga, however do bear in mind that many experience sharing platforms have restrictions on working in a distinct state, particularly round selecting up folks. This might be a problem for someplace like Rock Metropolis, which is in Georgia. So, you would possibly have the ability to get a experience share to Rock Metropolis for instance, however then not have the ability to discover one to take you again!
For the sights outdoors of Chattanooga, notably these on Lookout Mountain, the best technique to get round goes to be to drive your self. This will provide you with probably the most flexibility on your go to. There may be usually loads of parking, which is both free or pretty low price.
The place to Keep in Chattanooga
Chattanooga has a lot of choices for lodging, starting from extra price range pleasant choices by means of to high-end and boutique motels.
We’d advocate first deciding the place you wish to keep. We’d advocate selecting both downtown, the Choo Choo district (which supplies you quick access to downtown with the free shuttle), or simply outdoors of city on the chain motels you often 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 points of interest. There are additionally some very nice distinctive lodging choices. The draw back could be that these motels are usually dearer, and parking often carries a price, which you’ll must issue into your price range.
The Choo Choo district could be a good possibility as properly, 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 price for parking most often.
Lastly, you may decide 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 simply’ll probably must drive a bit extra, however as many points of interest require a automotive anyway, this probably received’t be an enormous deal.
When you do resolve to remain just a little out of city, we’d counsel the motels off I-24 round exit 174 or exit 175 could be the best choice. There are additionally choices round exit 178, that are nearer to downtown, however are inclined to obtain extra blended evaluations.
We at all times counsel studying latest evaluations previous to reserving any lodge as issues can change.
Listed below are some choices to think about on your go to. These are ordered roughly by value, however after all value can range so we at all times advocate checking and evaluating costs on your dates to get the most effective deal.
Downtown Chattanooga / Choo Choo Resort Suggestions:
- Resort Bo Days Inn – It is a well-reviewed possibility providing good worth within the downtown space. Rooms have tea/espresso making amenities, and meals can be found. Parking is accessible on-site for an affordable price.
- 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 superb possibility. 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 accessible for a price.
- The Learn Home Resort – this luxurious historic lodge in downtown Chattanooga gives Twenties model 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 price) and two glorious eating places. One to think about should you’re after a conventional upscale lodge expertise.
- The Resort Chalet at The Choo Choo – We stayed right here on one among our visits to Chattanooga and actually loved it. It’s discovered within the Choo Choo district, house 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 lot of bars and eateries. Uniquely, you may decide 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 Resort – It is a beautiful luxurious boutique lodge which dates from 1909. It solely has 16 rooms and recurrently books out, so that you’ll wish to guide properly prematurely 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 accessible. Parking is accessible close by for a price.
Exterior Chattanooga Suggestions
These motels are discovered just a little outdoors of city on the main interstate exits. You possibly can generally save by being out of city, with the comfort of free parking. Many even have breakfast included.
- Howard Johnson by Wyndham Chattanooga Lookout Mountain – this can be a price range pleasant possibility 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 possibility 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 just a little deceptive as this can be a couple of miles from downtown. Nevertheless, it places you conveniently between downtown and the Lookout Mountain points of interest, so is likely to be possibility. Breakfast is included and there’s free parking on web site. This lodge tends to get the most effective evaluations of the choices on this freeway exit.
You possibly can see many extra choices for lodging throughout a variety of value factors on reserving.com right here, together with motels and house leases.
Additional Studying
That’s it for our information to spend a day in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Earlier than you head off although, I simply needed to share some extra sources we’ve put collectively that will help you plan your journey to town, and journey within the USA normally.
- Questioning how a lot a go to to Omaha may cost? Take a look at 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 ideas for driving within the USA to assist get you happening the street!
- We’ve visited quite a lot of 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
- In order for you 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, try our USA part, which has heaps extra inspiration
Do you’ve gotten any questions on visiting Chattanooga? As at all times, we’re blissful 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 are able to.
