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 enormous 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 areas we’ve visited just lately is town of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It’s only some hours’ drive from the place we stay, making Chattanooga a simple 1- or 2-day journey. Jess had visited earlier than, however as a toddler, so didn’t have a lot reminiscence of it aside 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 received again to us and gave us some superior solutions.
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 town has to supply (which is quite a bit, by the way in which, there’s even a museum of Worldwide Towing and Restoration).
Nonetheless, in case you’re visiting town for a brief break, as we had been, it will 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 it’s essential plan your personal fast getaway to Chattanooga.
Let’s get began!
1 Day Chattanooga Itinerary
In the future in Chattanooga gained’t allow you to see the whole lot town has to supply, however you’ll have the ability to see most of the highlights. As all the time, be at liberty 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 points of interest can shut or change working hours for varied causes. For points of interest with tickets, a few of these can be cheaper if bought prematurely.
Breakfast: 9am
Should you’re lodge 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 Each day Ration within the Northshore a part of city.
Each supply an important collection of southern breakfast choices, with gadgets akin to Shrimp and Grits and Fried Hen and Waffles. Naturally they each even have a superb 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 palms you gained’t have time to go to all of the downtown points of interest, however it’s best to have the ability to embody not less than one in your go to. In fact, if you’re extra within the downtown points of interest than a number of the different areas we propose afterward within the day then you definitely would possibly contemplate switching a downtown attraction with one in all our later choices. You may additionally simply spend all day simply exploring the points of interest within the downtown!
By way of downtown points of interest, there are lots to select from. Among the foremost 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 important possibility in case you’re visiting Chattanooga with children.
When you’re executed exploring the downtown, it’s time to move out of city for the points of interest on Lookout Mountain.
Lookout Mountain Sights: from 12pm
Lookout Mountain is a mountain ridge a number of miles southwest of the Chattanooga metropolis middle. It’s dwelling to a few of Chattanooga’s hottest points of interest, in addition to strolling trails and viewpoints providing wonderful views of the encircling panorama. There are additionally a lot of locations to remain on the mountain itself.
A lot of Lookout Mountain is taken up by the Lookout Mountain Battlefield, which types part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Nationwide Navy Park. This was the situation of main occasions through the American Civil Warfare, and people focused on 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 embody it on our itinerary, however be at liberty to incorporate it in case you just like the sound of it fairly than one in all our different choices!
The remainder of the Lookout Mountain Battlefield space is free to go to and it’s dwelling to round 30 miles of trails. So if you wish to simply discover nature and do some mountaineering, that’s definitely an possibility. 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 predict they’re positively value it.
Incline Railway: 12pm
The primary cease we suggest in your Lookout Mountain journey is the Incline Railway. In-built 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 journey on this historic railway is effectively definitely worth the admission value.
The journey 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 number of eating choices across the decrease station. It’s additionally right here the place you’ll discover the subsequent cease on our itinerary, dwelling to a tasty deal with which can preserve you going along with your Chattanooga sightseeing journey!
You may e-book tickets for the Incline Railway right here. There’s a car parking zone on web site, which has a small payment for parking. Word that pets will not be allowed on the railway.
Ice Cream at Clumpies: 1pm
Clumpies Ice Cream was extremely really useful as a Chattanooga native favourite to strive from our readers, and we’re so glad that we took them up on that suggestion.
Based in Chattanooga in 1999, Clumpies deal with handmade ice cream made with recent elements in small batches. As of the time of writing, it’s out there in three areas. 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 that basic dish out.
Ruby Falls: 1.30pm
As I discussed firstly 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 some of the in style 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 certainly 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 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 study in regards to the historical past of how the attraction was developed, which is fairly fascinating.
The path is slightly below a mile spherical journey, and there are many fascinating cave formations to see on the way in which, which your information will level out. The path is straightforward to observe and pretty even, though this being a cave there are in fact 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 move.
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 completely different colours and there’s music as effectively.
For us all the 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 simply take pleasure in watching the water.
Now, you could be questioning if visiting Ruby Falls is value it. We personally loved it, however it’s clearly a reasonably busy attraction the place it’s important to observe a set path and itinerary.
I feel lots of how good your expertise can be will come all the way down to your information. The teams will not be enormous, however with 30 or so individuals stretched alongside a slim pathway, you’ll want 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 speak to you all, however there are additionally factors of curiosity alongside the way in which which you will miss in case you’re close to the again of the group.
Our information was okay, however we’ve 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 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 stated, in case 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 wonderful!
Guide 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 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 turned in style resulting from 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 adorned throughout 19 states, and it’s protected to say that this received the phrase out in regards to 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 in fact advanced a little bit over time. The principle attraction although are the strolling trails, which wend their approach across the attractive rock formations, main you to spectacular viewpoints.
From one in all these viewpoints it’s stated which you could see seven states, though you will want a really clear day to attain 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 underneath all of the rocks, and there actually is lots of element to see, from underground dioramas to a waterfall to swing bridges to these aforementioned views. It actually seems like of lots of love and a focus went into creating this attraction, with the identical household operating it immediately 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 very vital in case 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 pageant 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 e-book prematurely on-line fairly than purchase tickets in individual.
See extra and e-book 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 move for some meals!
There’s an enormous vary of eating choices to select from in Chattanooga, from quick informal via to upscale experiences. You’ll additionally discover a vary of cuisines to select from, operating the gamut from BBQ, hearty southern fare, via to world flavors.
There are positively too many choices to checklist, however some choices to think about embody Barque for wonderful BBQ, St. John’s Restaurant for upscale eating, Elsie’s Daughter for a bistro eating expertise, Champy’s for superb 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 a neighborhood brewery like Oddstory or Hutton & Smith, Chattanooga is certain to have one thing to sate your thirst. For mocktails, take a look at Sleepyhead Essential+Dodds which has a everlasting alcohol-free cocktail menu.
Sundown: Lookout Mountain or Walnut Road Bridge
To spherical off your day in Chattanooga, we predict you would possibly need to take pleasure in watching the sundown. Though in case you’d favor to chill out or skip it and head to a bar, that’s completely wonderful too!
Nonetheless, in case you do determine to see the sundown, there are some good choices.
First, in case you’re downtown, then we suggest heading out onto Walnut Road Bridge for a pleasant view of the sundown over the river. Relationship 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 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 facet of the mountain, and from right here you may get an important 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 point of view. Simply bear in mind that the car parking zone solely has 9 spots and may replenish.
Relying on the time of yr you go to, sundown can be at various occasions. You should utilize this web site to test when sundown can be throughout your go to, but it surely varies from round 5.30pm in mid-winter, via to 9pm in the summertime.
So if you wish to see the sundown, you would possibly must plan your meal time round that relying on if you find yourself visiting.
In fact, there are many different locations you possibly can 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 take a look at some sensible suggestions that will help you plan your go to.
Easy methods to Get to Chattanooga
You’ve got a number of choices for attending to Chattanooga.
First, Chattanooga has an airport, code CHA, which is served by a lot of 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 have the ability to fly right here comparatively simply.
You may as well 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 fascinating cities inside simple driving distance, that means you would simply embody Chattanooga on a street journey of the US south.
By way of 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 presently in Wildwood, GA, which is about 10 miles southwest of town middle.
Easy methods to Get Round Chattanooga
You’ve got a number of choices for getting round Chattanooga.
First, if you’re staying downtown, then most of the downtown points of interest can 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 embody different Lookout Mountain areas 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 case 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.
Experience sharing can be an possibility in Chattanooga, however do bear in mind that many journey sharing platforms have restrictions on working in a unique state, particularly round selecting up individuals. This could be a difficulty for someplace like Rock Metropolis, which is in Georgia. So, you would possibly have the ability to get a journey 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, significantly these on Lookout Mountain, the best approach to get round goes to be to drive your self. This gives you essentially the most flexibility on your go to. There’s usually loads of parking, which is both free or pretty low price.
The place to Keep in Chattanooga
Chattanooga has numerous choices for lodging, starting from extra price range pleasant choices via to high-end and boutique lodges.
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 lodges you normally discover round interstate exits.
There are professionals and cons to each choices. With the downtown lodges, 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 lodges are usually dearer, and parking normally carries a payment, which you’ll need to issue into your price range.
The Choo Choo district generally is a good possibility as effectively, it’s a historic district with good eating and lodging choices, and you’ll simply attain the downtown space by way of the free electrical shuttle bus. However lodges will nonetheless be on the pricier facet with a further payment for parking normally.
Lastly, you possibly can decide to remain at one of many many chain lodges close to the Interstate exits. These usually include advantages like free parking and a few additionally embody a free breakfast, all at a extra pockets pleasant value. The draw back is that you simply’ll seemingly need to drive a bit extra, however as many points of interest require a automotive anyway, this seemingly gained’t be an enormous deal.
Should you do determine to remain a little bit out of city, we’d counsel the lodges off I-24 round exit 174 or exit 175 can be your only option. There are additionally choices round exit 178, that are nearer to downtown, however are likely to obtain extra blended opinions.
We all the time counsel studying current opinions 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 in fact value can range so we all the time suggest checking and evaluating costs on your dates to get the perfect 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 services, and meals can be found. Parking is obtainable on-site for an affordable payment.
- 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 possibility. It’s simply throughout from the Aquarium and inside a simple stroll of nearly all of downtown sights. Breakfast is included, on-site parking is obtainable for a payment.
- The Learn Home Resort – this luxurious historic lodge in downtown Chattanooga provides Nineteen Twenties type 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 payment) and two wonderful eating places. One to think about in case you’re after a conventional upscale lodge expertise.
- The Resort 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, dwelling 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 a lot of bars and eateries. Uniquely, you possibly can decide to remain in a transformed railway carriage, which is fairly neat, however word that some reviewers famous these generally is a little noisy.
- The Dwell Resort – It is a beautiful luxurious boutique lodge which dates from 1909. It solely has 16 rooms and repeatedly books out, so that you’ll need to e-book effectively prematurely for this one. Every room is individually designed with a retro really feel. There’s a full-service bar and a light-weight continental breakfast is obtainable. Parking is obtainable close by for a payment.
Exterior Chattanooga Suggestions
These lodges are discovered a little bit outdoors of city on the most important interstate exits. You may 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 – 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 a little bit 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 possibility. Breakfast is included and there’s free parking on web site. This lodge tends to get the perfect opinions 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 lodges and condo leases.
Additional Studying
That’s it for our information to easy methods 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 town, and journey within the USA basically.
- 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 lots 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’d like 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 in case you’re searching for inspiration for the remainder of the USA, take a look at our USA part, which has heaps extra inspiration
Do you’ve 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.
