Methods to Spend a Day in Chattanooga

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 areas we’ve got visited not too long ago is town of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It’s only some 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 tips about what to see and the place to eat. Many Chattanooga locals acquired 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 rather a lot, 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 provide our suggestions of the place to remain, and tips about getting round. Hopefully, the whole lot you want to 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 be capable to see lots of the highlights. As at all times, 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 sights can shut or change working hours for numerous causes. For sights with tickets, a few of these shall 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 can be Frothy Monkey, within the Choo Choo District, or The Day by day Ration within the Northshore a part of city.

Each provide an amazing choice of southern breakfast choices, with gadgets akin to Shrimp and Grits and Fried Rooster and Waffles. Naturally they each even have a superb espresso choice to start out your day proper.

Discover Downtown Chattanooga: 10am

After breakfast, we’d recommend getting down to discover town’s downtown. With restricted time in your arms you gained’t have time to go to all of the downtown sights, however it’s best to be capable to embody at the least one in your go to. In fact, if you’re extra within the downtown sights than a number of the different areas we advise afterward within the day then you definately may think about switching a downtown attraction with one in all our later choices. You might additionally simply spend all day simply exploring the sights within the downtown!

By way of downtown sights, there are a lot to select from. A few of the important sights we advise trying out can be the Tennessee Aquarium, the Hunter Museum of American Artwork or the Inventive Discovery Museum. That final one can be an amazing possibility in case you’re visiting Chattanooga with youngsters.

When you’re executed exploring the downtown, it’s time to go out of city for the sights on Lookout Mountain.

Lookout Mountain Points of interest: from 12pm

Lookout Mountain is a mountain ridge a couple of miles southwest of the Chattanooga metropolis heart. It’s house to a few of Chattanooga’s hottest sights, in addition to strolling trails and viewpoints providing wonderful views of the encompassing panorama. There are additionally quite a few locations to remain on the mountain itself.

A lot of Lookout Mountain is taken up by the Lookout Mountain Battlefield, which kinds part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Nationwide Navy Park. This was the situation of main occasions in the course of the American Civil Struggle, and people fascinated about navy historical past could need 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 embody it on our itinerary, however be at liberty to incorporate it in case 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 house 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 superb path map on the Nationwide Parks web site right here.

Introduction to Lookout Mountain apart, let’s dive into the sights that we suggest you go to in your first journey to Lookout Mountain. These are paid, however we predict they’re undoubtedly price it.

Incline Railway: 12pm

The primary cease we suggest in your Lookout Mountain journey is the Incline Railway. 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 method additional south), it’s nonetheless fairly excessive up on the mountain, and you’ll get nice views of town.

There’s a viewing platform on the higher station, and the trip on this historic railway is effectively well worth the admission value.

The trip takes round 10 minutes every method, and also you’ll need to spend a while on the prime having fun with the view, so we’d recommend planning to spend round 45 minutes to an hour visiting the Incline Railway.

Should you’re hungry, there are additionally a couple of eating choices across the decrease station. It’s additionally right here the place you’ll discover the following cease on our itinerary, house to a tasty deal with which is able to maintain you going together with your Chattanooga sightseeing journey!

You’ll be able to e-book tickets for the Incline Railway right here. There’s a 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 advisable as a Chattanooga native favourite to strive from our readers, and we’re so glad that we took them up on that advice.

Based in Chattanooga in 1999, Clumpies give attention to handmade ice cream made with contemporary elements in small batches. As of the time of writing, it’s accessible 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 this traditional 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 one of the 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 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 be taught in regards to the historical past of how the attraction was developed, which is fairly fascinating.

The path is just 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 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 method 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 a lot 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 pictures we needed and likewise to only get pleasure from watching the water.

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

I feel a number of how good your expertise shall be will come all the way down to your information. The teams usually are not enormous, however with 30 or so individuals stretched alongside a slender 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 discuss 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 got learn critiques 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 at all times love to go to sights which have been drawing a crowd for many years, because it appears like we’re following within the footsteps of many different vacationers.

That mentioned, in case 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 effective!

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 preferred attraction in Chattanooga for a few years, opening method again in 1932.

It turned standard on account 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 protected to say that this acquired the phrase out in regards to the attraction pretty comprehensively.

As we speak, Rock Metropolis affords 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 principle attraction although are the strolling trails, which wend their method across the attractive rock formations, main you to spectacular viewpoints.

From one in all these viewpoints it’s mentioned you could see seven states, though you will have a really clear day to realize that. Nonetheless, the view is spectacular, whatever the variety of states you 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 underneath all of the rocks, and there actually is a number of element to see, from underground dioramas to a waterfall to swing bridges to these aforementioned views. It actually appears like of a number 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 particularly 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 undoubtedly suggest reserving on-line prematurely. Costs differ relying on the time slot you select and the day you go to, and it’s normally cheaper to e-book prematurely on-line moderately than purchase tickets in individual.

See extra and e-book your tickets on the official Rock Metropolis web site right here. We’d recommend 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 go for some meals!

There’s an enormous vary of eating choices to select from in Chattanooga, from quick informal by way of to upscale experiences. You’ll additionally discover a vary of cuisines to select from, operating the gamut from BBQ, hearty southern fare, by way of to world flavors.

There are undoubtedly too many choices to listing, 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 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 an area brewery like Oddstory or Hutton & Smith, Chattanooga is certain to have one thing to sate your thirst. For mocktails, try Sleepyhead Fundamental+Dodds which has a everlasting alcohol-free cocktail menu.

Sundown: Lookout Mountain or Walnut Avenue Bridge

To spherical off your day in Chattanooga, we predict you may need to get pleasure from watching the sundown. Though in case you’d choose to calm down or skip it and head to a bar, that’s completely effective 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 Avenue Bridge for a pleasant view of the sundown over the river. Courting from 1890, this pedestrian solely bridge is an iconic landmark within the metropolis and a very good place from the place to benefit from the sundown.

Should you’d 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 may 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 encompassing 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 remember that the parking zone solely has 9 spots and might replenish.

Relying on the time of yr you go to, sundown shall be at various occasions. You should use this web site to test when sundown shall be throughout your go to, nevertheless it varies from round 5.30pm in mid-winter, by way of to 9pm in the summertime.

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

In fact, there are many different locations you may watch the sundown from. I noticed a beautiful sundown from simply exterior 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 take a look at some sensible suggestions that will help you plan your go to.

Methods to Get to Chattanooga

You’ve gotten a couple of choices for attending to Chattanooga.

First, Chattanooga has an airport, code CHA, which is served by quite a few American carriers and affords direct flights to many cities, together with main airport hubs like Atlanta, Dallas and Charlotte. So whether or not you might be visiting Chattanooga from the USA or abroad, it’s best to be capable to fly right here comparatively simply.

You can even 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 fascinating cities inside simple driving distance, that means you may simply embody Chattanooga on a highway 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 town heart.

Methods to Get Round Chattanooga

You’ve gotten a couple of choices for getting round Chattanooga.

First, if you’re staying downtown, then lots of the downtown sights shall be inside simple strolling distance. Chattanooga is a pleasant metropolis to stroll round and we are able to undoubtedly suggest taking a stroll round.

There’s additionally a public transit system managed by the Chattanooga Space Regional Transportation Authority, or CARTA. This features a bus community which covers most of Chattanooga, together with the Incline Railway. Nonetheless, this doesn’t 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 useful 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 also be an possibility in Chattanooga, however do remember that many trip sharing platforms have restrictions on working in a distinct state, particularly round selecting up individuals. This is able to be a difficulty for someplace like Rock Metropolis, which is in Georgia. So, you may 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 exterior of Chattanooga, significantly these on Lookout Mountain, the simplest option to get round goes to be to drive your self. This gives you probably 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 plenty of choices for lodging, starting from extra finances pleasant choices by way of to high-end and boutique inns.

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 exterior of city on the chain inns you normally 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 sights. There are additionally some very nice distinctive lodging choices. The draw back can be that these inns are usually dearer, and parking normally carries a charge, which you’ll must issue into your finances.

The Choo Choo district could be 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 inns will nonetheless be on the pricier aspect with an extra charge for parking generally.

Lastly, you may choose 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 value. The draw back is that you just’ll possible must drive a bit extra, however as many sights require a automotive anyway, this possible gained’t be a giant deal.

Should you do determine to remain just a little out of city, we’d recommend the inns off I-24 round exit 174 or exit 175 can be the best choice. There are additionally choices round exit 178, that are nearer to downtown, however are likely to obtain extra combined critiques.

We at all times recommend studying latest critiques previous to reserving any resort as issues can change.

Listed here are some choices to think about on your go to. These are ordered roughly by value, however after all value can differ so we at all times suggest checking and evaluating costs on your dates to get the most effective deal.

Downtown Chattanooga / Choo Choo Lodge Suggestions:

• Lodge Bo Days Inn – It is a well-reviewed possibility providing good worth within the downtown space. Rooms have tea/espresso making amenities, and meals can be found. Parking is out there on-site for an inexpensive 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 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 out there for a charge.
• The Learn Home Lodge – this luxurious historic resort in downtown Chattanooga affords Nineteen 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 charge) and two wonderful eating places. One to think about in case you’re after a conventional 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, house 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 quite a few bars and eateries. Uniquely, you may choose to remain in a transformed railway carriage, which is fairly neat, however word that some reviewers famous these could be a little noisy.
• The Dwell Lodge – It is a beautiful luxurious boutique resort which dates from 1909. It solely has 16 rooms and frequently 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 out there. Parking is out there close by for a charge.

Exterior Chattanooga Suggestions

These inns are discovered just a little exterior of city on the main interstate exits. You’ll be able to 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 finances 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 identify is just a little deceptive as it is a couple of miles from downtown. Nonetheless, it places you conveniently between downtown and the Lookout Mountain sights, so is perhaps a superb possibility. Breakfast is included and there’s free parking on web site. This resort tends to get the most effective critiques of the choices on this freeway exit.

You’ll be able to see many extra choices for lodging throughout a variety of value factors on reserving.com right here, together with inns and condo 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 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? Try our information to how a lot it prices to journey within the USA that will help you plan your journey finances.
• I’ve written a information that includes a few of my prime suggestions for driving within the USA to assist get you occurring the highway!
• We’ve visited a number 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 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 case you’re on the lookout for 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 comfortable 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 are able to.