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 we’ve visited not too long ago is the 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 publication subscribers for recommendations on what to see and the place to eat. Many Chattanooga locals obtained 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 the whole lot the town has to supply (which is lots, by the way in which, there’s even a museum of Worldwide Towing and Restoration).
Nonetheless, in the event 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 recommendations on getting round. Hopefully, the whole lot you want 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 the whole lot the town has to supply, however you’ll be capable of see most of the highlights. As at all times, be at liberty to regulate this itinerary primarily based by yourself private preferences and pursuits!
We additionally suggest 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 varied causes. For points of interest with tickets, a few of these might be cheaper if bought prematurely.
Breakfast: 9am
In case your resort or lodging doesn’t supply breakfast, otherwise you would merely favor to have breakfast on the town someplace, we’ve two choices for you. These can be Frothy Monkey, within the Choo Choo District, or The Every day Ration within the Northshore a part of city.
Each supply an amazing choice of southern breakfast choices, with objects reminiscent of 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 fingers you received’t have time to go to all of the downtown points of interest, however it’s best to be capable of embrace at the very least one in your go to. After all, if you’re extra within the downtown points of interest than a few of the different places we propose in a while within the day then you definately would possibly contemplate switching a downtown attraction with one in all our later choices. You can additionally simply spend all day simply exploring the points of interest within the downtown!
When it comes to downtown points of interest, there are loads to select from. A number of the important sights we propose trying out can be the Tennessee Aquarium, the Hunter Museum of American Artwork or the Artistic Discovery Museum. That final one can be an amazing choice in the event you’re visiting Chattanooga with youngsters.
When you’re accomplished exploring the downtown, it’s time to go out of city for the points of interest 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 heart. It’s residence 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 various locations to remain on the mountain itself.
A lot of Lookout Mountain is taken up by the Lookout Mountain Battlefield, which kinds part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Nationwide Navy Park. This was the placement of main occasions in the course of the American Civil Conflict, and people all in favour of army historical past might need to go to the Level Park location for data 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 at liberty to incorporate it in the event you just like the sound of it moderately than one in all 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 mountaineering, that’s actually an choice. Simply discover a parking spot, select a path, and get going. There’s a superb 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 suggest you go to in your first journey to Lookout Mountain. These are paid, however we expect they’re positively 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 means additional south), it’s nonetheless fairly excessive up on the mountain, and you’re going to get nice views of the town.
There’s a viewing platform on the higher station, and the experience on this historic railway is effectively well worth the admission value.
The experience takes round 10 minutes every means, and also you’ll need to spend a while on the prime having fun with the view, so we’d counsel planning to spend round 45 minutes to an hour visiting the Incline Railway.
In the event 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 maintain you going along with your Chattanooga sightseeing journey!
You may guide tickets for the Incline Railway right here. There’s a car parking zone on web site, which has a small charge for parking. Word that pets usually are not allowed on the railway.
Ice Cream at Clumpies: 1pm
Clumpies Ice Cream was extremely beneficial 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 deal with handmade ice cream made with contemporary components in small batches. As of the time of writing, it’s out there 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 basic dish out.
Ruby Falls: 1.30pm
As I discussed in the beginning 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 crucial standard 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 finest 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 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 concerning 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 way in which, which your information will level out. The path is simple to observe 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 means go.
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 loads giant sufficient for the group. It’s additionally illuminated with completely different colours and there’s music as effectively.
For us your entire 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 wished and in addition to only get pleasure from watching the water.
Now, you could be questioning if visiting Ruby Falls is price it. We personally loved it, however it’s clearly a reasonably busy attraction the place you need to observe a set path and itinerary.
I believe a variety of how good your expertise might be will come right down to your information. The teams usually are not large, however with 30 or so folks stretched alongside a slender pathway, it would be best to attempt to be close to the entrance of your group to listen to the whole lot 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 way in which which you’ll miss in the event you’re close to the again of the group.
Our information was okay, however we’ve 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 general, which was fairly distinctive. It additionally has historic attraction curiosity – we at all times love to go to points of interest which were drawing a crowd for many years, because it appears like we’re following within the footsteps of many different vacationers.
That stated, in the event you favor 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 fantastic!
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 standard 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 means again in 1932.
It grew to become standard because of a advertising 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 secure to say that this obtained the phrase out concerning the attraction pretty comprehensively.
In the present day, Rock Metropolis provides an identical expertise to that which guests would have discovered again within the day, though it has after all advanced just a little over time. The principle attraction although are the strolling trails, which wend their means across the attractive rock formations, main you to spectacular viewpoints.
From one in all these viewpoints it’s stated you could see seven states, though you’ll need a really clear day to attain that. Nonetheless, the view is spectacular, whatever the variety of states you truly see.
We actually loved visiting Rock Metropolis, it was our favourite attraction on prime of Lookout Mountain. It’s actually neat to have the ability to wander round and beneath all of the rocks, and there actually is a variety of element to see, from underground dioramas to a waterfall to swing bridges to these aforementioned views. It actually appears like of a variety of love and a spotlight went into creating this attraction, with the identical household working it at the moment 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 in the event 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 positively suggest reserving on-line prematurely. Costs range relying on the time slot you select and the day you go to, and it’s normally cheaper to guide prematurely on-line moderately than purchase tickets in particular person.
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 any case that exploration, you’re certain to be hungry by now. So it could 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, working the gamut from BBQ, hearty southern fare, by means of to world flavors.
There are positively too many choices to record, however some choices to contemplate embrace Barque for glorious BBQ, St. John’s Restaurant for upscale eating, Elsie’s Daughter for a bistro eating expertise, Champy’s for wonderful 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 need to go to a neighborhood brewery like Oddstory or Hutton & Smith, Chattanooga is certain to have one thing to sate your thirst. For mocktails, try Sleepyhead Principal+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 need to get pleasure from watching the sundown. Though in the event you’d favor to chill out or skip it and head to a bar, that’s completely fantastic too!
Nonetheless, in the event you do resolve to see the sundown, there are some good choices.
First, in the event 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.
In the event you’d favor 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 aspect of the mountain, and from right here you may get an amazing view throughout the encircling panorama from an elevated location.
There’s a small free car parking zone simply close to the trailhead, and it’s solely about 200 yards from the parking location to the perspective. Simply bear in mind that the car parking zone solely has 9 spots and may refill.
Relying on the time of 12 months you go to, sundown might be at various occasions. You need to use this web site to test when sundown might 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 must plan your time for supper round that relying on if you end up visiting.
After all, there are many different locations you may watch the sundown from. I noticed a stunning sundown from simply outdoors our resort 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 can assist you plan your go to.
How you can Get to Chattanooga
You’ve a couple of choices for attending to Chattanooga.
First, Chattanooga has an airport, code CHA, which is served by various American carriers and provides 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 can too drive to Chattanooga after all, 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 may see, there are many different attention-grabbing cities inside simple driving distance, which means you might simply embrace Chattanooga on a highway 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 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 heart.
How you can Get Round Chattanooga
You’ve a couple of choices for getting round Chattanooga.
First, if you’re staying downtown, then most of the downtown points of interest might be inside simple strolling distance. Chattanooga is a pleasant metropolis to stroll round and we will positively 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 helpful in the event you’re staying within the Choo Choo district, as we did on one in all our visits to Chattanooga. We took the bus proper to the Aquarium, which was actually handy.
Trip sharing can also be an choice in Chattanooga, however do bear in mind that many experience sharing platforms have restrictions on working in a special state, particularly round selecting up folks. This might be a problem for someplace like Rock Metropolis, which is in Georgia. So, you would possibly be capable of get a experience share to Rock Metropolis for instance, however then not be capable of discover one to take you again!
For the sights outdoors of Chattanooga, notably these on Lookout Mountain, the simplest technique to get round goes to be to drive your self. This gives you probably the most flexibility in 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 plenty of choices for lodging, starting from extra funds 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 supplies 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 execs 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 can be that these motels are typically costlier, and parking normally carries a charge, which you’ll must issue into your funds.
The Choo Choo district could be a good choice as effectively, it’s a historic district with good eating and lodging choices, and you may simply attain the downtown space through the free electrical shuttle bus. However motels will nonetheless be on the pricier aspect with an extra charge 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 just’ll possible must drive a bit extra, however as many points of interest require a automobile anyway, this possible received’t be an enormous deal.
In the event 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 can be your best choice. There are additionally choices round exit 178, that are nearer to downtown, however are likely to obtain extra blended evaluations.
We at all times counsel studying latest evaluations previous to reserving any resort as issues can change.
Listed here are some choices to contemplate in your go to. These are ordered roughly by value, however after all value can range so we at all times suggest checking and evaluating costs in your dates to get the very best 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 services, and meals can be found. Parking is on the market 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 the vast majority of downtown sights. Breakfast is included, on-site parking is on the market for a charge.
- The Learn Home Lodge – this luxurious historic resort in downtown Chattanooga provides Nineteen 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 glorious eating places. One to contemplate in the event you’re after a standard upscale resort expertise.
- The Lodge Chalet at The Choo Choo – We stayed right here on one in all our visits to Chattanooga and actually loved it. It’s discovered within the Choo Choo district, residence of the previous railway station. The resort has a pool and on-site parking, a superb on-site restaurant, and is inside strolling distance of various bars and eateries. Uniquely, you may decide to remain in a transformed railway carriage, which is fairly neat, however notice that some reviewers famous these could be a little noisy.
- The Dwell Lodge – It is a pretty luxurious boutique resort which dates from 1909. It solely has 16 rooms and usually books out, so that you’ll need to guide effectively 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 on the market. Parking is on the market close by for a charge.
Exterior Chattanooga Suggestions
These motels are discovered just a little outdoors of city on the main interstate exits. You may 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 funds pleasant choice on the base of Lookout Mountain providing free parking and an inclusive breakfast
- 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 identify is just a little deceptive as this can be a couple of miles from downtown. Nonetheless, it places you conveniently between downtown and the Lookout Mountain points of interest, so could be a superb choice. Breakfast is included and there’s free parking on web site. This resort tends to get the very best evaluations of the choices on this freeway exit.
You may see many extra choices for lodging throughout a variety of value factors on reserving.com right here, together with motels and condominium leases.
Additional Studying
That’s it for our information to how one can 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 can assist you plan your journey to the town, and journey within the USA generally.
- Questioning how a lot a go to to Omaha may cost a little? Take a look at our information to how a lot it prices to journey within the USA that can assist you plan your journey funds.
- I’ve written a information that includes a few of my prime ideas for driving within the USA to assist get you occurring the highway!
- We’ve visited a variety 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
- If you would like some USA highway journey inspiration, see our itineraries for a USA Deep South highway journey, California Street Journey, Route 66 Street Journey and Pacific Coast Freeway Street Journey
- And in the event you’re in search of inspiration for the remainder of the USA, try our USA part, which has tons extra inspiration
Do you will have any questions on visiting Chattanooga? As at all times, we’re glad to reply any questions you may need, simply pop them within the feedback beneath and we’ll get again to you as quickly as we will.
