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 just do that.

One of many places we’ve got visited lately is the town of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It’s only some hours’ drive from the place we stay, 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 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 ideas.

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 all the things the town has to supply (which is loads, by the way in which, there’s even a museum of Worldwide Towing and Restoration).

Nevertheless, in the event you’re visiting the town for a brief break, as we have been, this may 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, all the things it is advisable to plan your personal fast getaway to Chattanooga.

Let’s get began!

1 Day Chattanooga Itinerary

In the future in Chattanooga received’t allow you to see all the things the town has to supply, however you’ll be capable to see lots of the highlights. As all the time, be happy 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 will probably be cheaper if bought prematurely.

Breakfast: 9am

In case your resort or lodging doesn’t provide breakfast, otherwise you would merely choose to have breakfast on the town someplace, we’ve got two choices for you. These could be Frothy Monkey, within the Choo Choo District, or The Every day Ration within the Northshore a part of city.

Each provide an amazing choice of southern breakfast choices, with objects equivalent to Shrimp and Grits and Fried Hen and Waffles. Naturally they each even have a very good 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 received’t have time to go to all of the downtown points of interest, however it is best to be capable to embody no less than one in your go to. After all, if you’re extra within the downtown points of interest than among the different places we propose afterward within the day then you definitely would possibly think about switching a downtown attraction with one in every of 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. A few of the essential sights we propose testing could be the Tennessee Aquarium, the Hunter Museum of American Artwork or the Inventive Discovery Museum. That final one could be an amazing possibility in the event you’re visiting Chattanooga with youngsters.

When you’re performed exploring the downtown, it’s time to move 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 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 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 types part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Nationwide Navy Park. This was the situation of main occasions throughout the American Civil Warfare, and people curious about navy historical past could wish to go to the Level Park location for info on these occasions.

Level Park is a paid attraction, you’ll be able to see extra right here. We didn’t embody it on our itinerary, however be happy to incorporate it in the event you just like the sound of it relatively than one in every of 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 actually an possibility. Simply discover a parking spot, select a path, and get going. There’s a very good path map on the Nationwide Parks website 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 undoubtedly value 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 method 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 properly well worth the admission worth.

The trip takes round 10 minutes every method, 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.

In case 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 maintain 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 website, which has a small payment for parking. Notice that pets will not be 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 recent 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 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 some of the 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 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 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 straightforward 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 method 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 lots giant sufficient for the group. It’s additionally illuminated with completely different colours and there’s music as properly.

For us your 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 likewise to only get pleasure from watching the water.

Now, you is perhaps questioning if visiting Ruby Falls is value it. We personally loved it, however it’s clearly a reasonably busy attraction the place it’s a must to observe a set path and itinerary.

I feel a variety of how good your expertise will probably be will come right down to your information. The teams will not be enormous, 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 all the things 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 will miss in the event you’re close to the again of the group.

Our information was okay, however we’ve got 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 total, which was fairly distinctive. It additionally has historic attraction curiosity – we all the time love to go to points of interest which were drawing a crowd for many years, because it looks like we’re following within the footsteps of many different vacationers.

That stated, in the event you choose 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 high-quality!

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 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 method again in 1932.

It grew to become in style attributable to 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 protected to say that this received the phrase out in regards to the attraction pretty comprehensively.

At the moment, Rock Metropolis affords an identical expertise to that which guests would have discovered again within the day, though it has after all advanced a bit over time. The primary attraction although are the strolling trails, which wend their method across the attractive rock formations, main you to spectacular viewpoints.

From one in every of these viewpoints it’s stated which you can see seven states, though you have to a really clear day to realize 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 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 a variety of element to see, from underground dioramas to a waterfall to swing bridges to these aforementioned views. It actually looks like of a variety of love and a spotlight went into creating this attraction, with the identical household operating 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. 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 suggest reserving on-line prematurely. Costs fluctuate relying on the time slot you select and the day you go to, and it’s often cheaper to e book prematurely on-line relatively than purchase tickets in particular person.

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 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 to upscale experiences. You’ll additionally discover a vary of cuisines to select from, operating the gamut from BBQ, hearty southern fare, by to world flavors.

There are undoubtedly too many choices to record, however some choices to think about embody 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 certain to have one thing to sate your thirst. For mocktails, try Sleepyhead Most important+Dodds which has a everlasting alcohol-free cocktail menu.

Sundown: Lookout Mountain or Walnut Road Bridge

To spherical off your day in Chattanooga, we expect you would possibly wish to get pleasure from watching the sundown. Though in the event you’d choose to chill out or skip it and head to a bar, that’s completely high-quality 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 Road 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 case you’d choose 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 think about 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 point of view. Simply bear in mind that the car parking zone solely has 9 spots and might refill.

Relying on the time of 12 months 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, nevertheless it varies from round 5.30pm in mid-winter, by to 9pm in the summertime.

So if you wish to see the sundown, you would possibly have to plan your time for supper round that relying on when you find yourself visiting.

After all, there are many different locations you’ll be able to watch the sundown from. I noticed a beautiful 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 will help you plan your go to.

Find out how to Get to Chattanooga

You have got a number of choices for attending to Chattanooga.

First, Chattanooga has an airport, code CHA, which is served by various 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 is best to be capable to fly right here comparatively simply.

You may also 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’ll be able to see, there are many different attention-grabbing cities inside simple driving distance, which 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 at the moment in Wildwood, GA, which is about 10 miles southwest of the town middle.

Find out how to Get Round Chattanooga

You have got a number 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 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. Nevertheless, this doesn’t embody 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 every of our visits to Chattanooga. We took the bus proper to the Aquarium, which was actually handy.

Journey sharing can be an possibility in Chattanooga, however do bear in mind that many trip sharing platforms have restrictions on working in a unique state, particularly round selecting up individuals. This may be a problem for someplace like Rock Metropolis, which is in Georgia. So, you would possibly be capable to get a trip share to Rock Metropolis for instance, however then not be capable to discover one to take you again!

For the sights outdoors of Chattanooga, notably these on Lookout Mountain, the simplest solution 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 price.

The place to Keep in Chattanooga

Chattanooga has plenty of choices for lodging, starting from extra funds pleasant choices by to high-end and boutique inns.

We’d suggest first deciding the place you wish 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 inns you often discover round interstate exits.

There are execs and cons to each choices. With the downtown inns, 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 inns are usually dearer, and parking often carries a payment, which you’ll should issue into your funds.

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 by way of the free electrical shuttle bus. However inns will nonetheless be on the pricier aspect with an extra payment for parking typically.

Lastly, you’ll be able to decide to remain at one of many many chain inns 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 worth. The draw back is that you just’ll doubtless should drive a bit extra, however as many points of interest require a automotive anyway, this doubtless received’t be an enormous deal.

In case you do resolve to remain a bit out of city, we’d counsel the inns off I-24 round exit 174 or exit 175 could be your only option. There are additionally choices round exit 178, that are nearer to downtown, however are inclined to obtain extra combined opinions.

We all the time counsel studying latest opinions previous to reserving any resort as issues can change.

Listed below are some choices to think about in your go to. These are ordered roughly by worth, however after all worth can fluctuate so we all the time suggest checking and evaluating costs in your dates to get one of the best 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 offered on-site for an inexpensive payment.
• Residence Inn Chattanooga Downtown – if you wish to be proper within the coronary heart of downtown Chattanooga however at a extra value-oriented worth level, this Residence Inn is a superb possibility. 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 offered for a payment.
• The Learn Home Resort – this luxurious historic resort in downtown Chattanooga affords Twenties model with modern-day facilities. Count on wooden clad partitions, checkered flooring and dramatic chandeliers, alongside modern-day comforts like A/C, on-site parking (for a payment) and two glorious eating places. One to think about in the event you’re after a conventional upscale resort expertise.
• The Resort Chalet at The Choo Choo – We stayed right here on one in every of our visits to Chattanooga and actually loved it. It’s discovered within the Choo Choo district, dwelling 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’ll be able to 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 pretty luxurious boutique resort which dates from 1909. It solely has 16 rooms and commonly books out, so that you’ll wish to e book 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 offered. Parking is offered close by for a payment.

Exterior Chattanooga Suggestions

These inns are discovered a bit outdoors of city on the key 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 – it is a funds pleasant possibility 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 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 bit deceptive as it is a couple of miles from downtown. Nevertheless, it places you conveniently between downtown and the Lookout Mountain points of interest, so is perhaps a very good possibility. Breakfast is included and there’s free parking on website. This resort tends to get one of the best opinions of the choices on this freeway exit.

You may see many extra choices for lodging throughout a variety of worth factors on reserving.com right here, together with inns and condo leases.

Additional Studying

That’s it for our information to the way to spend a day in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Earlier than you head off although, I simply needed 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 a little? Take a look at our information to how a lot it prices to journey within the USA that will help you plan your journey funds.
• I’ve written a information that includes a few of my high ideas for driving within the USA to assist get you occurring the street!
• 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 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 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 could have any questions on visiting Chattanooga? As all the time, we’re blissful to reply any questions you might need, simply pop them within the feedback under and we’ll get again to you as quickly as we will.