Chattanooga, TN Road Trips

Chattanooga played an important role during the American Civil War, when it was a major railroad hub and one of the most industrialized parts of the Confederacy along with the nearby city of Atlanta, resulting in Chattanooga and being at the center of numerous pitched battles. Many of the tourist attractions center around Civil War history such as numerous battlefield parks in and around the city. It is less prominent today because of the decline of its famed railroad, made famous by the popular song "Chattanooga Choo Choo", which is also commemorated in numerous tourist attractions and the popular Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. In 2020, the city was home to about 185,000 people. The racial makeup of the city is 62% White and 31% African American, with the remainder being other races or mixed-race. Despite its economic loss and a small population, the city has become notably modernized, urbanized, and economically revitalized, receiving nationally recognition for the renaissance of its once-dilapidated, post-Industrial downtown, redevelopment of its riverfront, and the fastest Internet in the world. Within the last ten years the city has won three national awards for outstanding "livability", and nine Gunther Blue Ribbon Awards for excellence in housing and consolidated planning. An early cornerstone of this project was the restoration of the historic Walnut Street Bridge, which is now the world's longest pedestrian bridge.

1 Rock City, 1400 Patton Road (Located approximately 6 miles from downtown), ☏ +1-800-854-0675. Located on Lookout Mountain, Rock City has been an attraction in some form or another since 1823. However, when Garnet Carter, inventor of Miniature Golf, and his wife opened Rock City Gardens in 1932 it became a huge draw. Carter hired Clark Byers to travel the nation's highways, offering to paint farmer's barns in exchange for letting them paint "See Rock City" on them. Rock City Gardens features a 4100 ft walking trail, a 90-foot waterfall, a 180-foot-long suspension bridge, and Lover's Leap where you can "see seven states." Open year round, except Christmas Day, at 8:30AM. From the middle of November until the end of the year, they have the "Enchanted Garden of Lights" from 6PM-9PM which features local school/church groups performing and the entire gardens decorated in holiday lights. Adult admission is $45, children ages 3 – 12 are $35. (updated Dec 2025) 2 Ruby Falls, 1720 South Scenic Highway, ☏ +1 423 821-2544. 8AM–8PM (except Christmas Day). This thundering 145-foot waterfall inside Lookout Mountain has been a popular attraction since 1929. Named after the founder's wife, Ruby Falls was found by Leo Lambert in 1923 as he and his corporation were drilling a shaft to open the historic Lookout Mountain Cave to the public. During the drilling, a small opening was located and after a 17-hour trip, Leo emerged with tales of beautiful rock formations and a spectacular waterfall. Parking is on-site, attended and free. Allow approximately two hours for your visit.

Climb the Walnut Street Bridge Climbing Wall (The Adventure Guild), ☏ +1 423 266-5709. Inside Coolidge Park, (The Adventure Guild). From April through November, the wall is open F 6PM-9PM, Sa 1-9PM, and Su 1-5PM. Climb on one of the limestone towers that supports the Walnut Street Bridge. Located within Coolidge Park, the wall is open seasonally to the general public and for groups on a reservation basis. There are as many as 30 distinct climbing routes perfect for novices to experienced climbers. All equipment is provided! The price for open climbing $5 per-hour-per-person with a three climb minimum or $15 for the entire day, with the capability to come and go as you'd like. Ride the Carousel in Coolidge Park. All of the various animals represented on the carousel were hand carved in St. Elmo, a historic neighborhood in Chattanooga. The carousel is 50 cents for children 12 or under and Seniors 55 or over. There are no wet clothes allowed on the carousel since it is all hand carved wood. Play in the fountain at Coolidge Park. If you've got kids, be sure to bring them either a change of clothes or a swimsuit as the fountain is nearly irresistible. If they are still in diapers, swim diapers are required. Water spouting animals ring the fountain area and are fair game for climbing. Adults have been known to thoroughly enjoy playing in the water as well. Walk the Riverwalk. Enjoy the natural beautiful of Chattanooga's riverfront by taking a walk down its linear greenspace. This project has drawn and inspired civic leaders from around the country.

Plenty of fast food restaurants litter the town, although not as many in the downtown area. Clumpie's, 26B Frazier Avenue, ☏ +1 423 267-5425. A great little ice cream shop on Frazier Avenue in the heart of the Northshore. Bea's Restaurant, 4500 Dodds Avenue, ☏ +1 423 867-3618. A little off the beaten path, Bea's offers real home cooking. Take a seat at a table, any table, occupied or not, and start grabbing what you'd like off the lazy susan in the center of the table. Zarzour's Restaurant, 1627 Rossville Avenue (off Main Street), ☏ +1 423 266-0424. This fabulous "meat and 3" defines down-home atmosphere. Established in 1918, it's certainly one of Chattanooga's oldest establishments. The menu changes daily, but you can always get the best burger in town. Featured in Gourmet magazine and the book "Road Food". Lee's Armandos, 4767 highway 58, ☏ +1 423 894-1413. These are the best burgers you will ever eat.a great place to order in or carry out, a true mom and pop joint.it also has various other locations throughout Chattanooga. Marsha's Backstreet Cafe, 5032 Brainerd Road, ☏ +1 423 485-7911. Local home cookin' - every day a different set of main courses. Everything from turnip greens, to fried okra and meatloaf. When you think of homestyle southern cookin', you'll think of Marsha's. Sushi Nabe of Kyoto, ☏ +1 423 634-0171. Open 7 days. Some of the best Sushi in Chattanooga. Located inside Coolidge Park, this restaurant is extremely convenient and serves fantastic food.

Bud's Sports Bar, 5914 Lee Highway, ☏ +1 423 499-9878. Bud's is probably the best place in town to grab a beer and watch a game on the television. The lively crowd will keep you entertained even when, man, when the television doesn't.oh and not to mention the best wings in town! Chattanooga Billiards Club, 1/2 Cherry Street, ☏ +1 423 267-7740. 725. Climb the tall flight of stairs to enter the downtown location of CBC is the original and has the classic pool hall environment. Friendly bar staff, plenty of pool tables, and a bunch of smoke. 21 and up after 6PM nightly. Serving a range of bar foods. Their second location is near Hamilton Place Mall at 110 Jordan Dr, +1 423 499-3883. Go there for more billiards, live music, and a cigar lover's heaven. Riverside Wine and Spirits, ☏ +1 423 267-4305. 600 Manufacturer's Road. An excellent liquor store only a few blocks from the Northshore heart of Frazier Avenue. Wines and spirits from around the world. From Old Crow Whiskey to the best of wines. Beer, including kegs also available. Velo Coffee Roasters, 509 E Main Street, 8AM-5PM. An institution of Chattanooga coffee that serves traceable, light roast, single-origin coffees that are roasted within this space. Location includes roasting space and full service espresso bar, including a garden patio seating. Goodman Coffee Roasters, 1110 Market Street, 8AM - 5PM. Goodman Coffee is in the upscale Warehouse Row shopping center and is largely known for its wide selection of light to medium roasts of single origin coffees. Tea, pastries, and eggs are also available.

The Crash Pad, 29 Johnson St (at Baldwin St, one block off E Main St), ☏ +1 423 648-8393. Chattanooga's only hostel, located on the Southside. Free parking, free wifi, free breakfast. Restrooms located in the hallways on each floor. Security lockers provided in the dorms. 24 hour access. Dorms $27, privates $70. Hotel Bo, a Days Inn by Wyndham, 901 Carter St, ☏ +1 423 208-9227. Centrally located between the tourist attractions such as the Aquarium and the Convention Center, just off of US 27. Rates start at $60 per night. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Chattanooga - East Ridge, 6650 Ringgold Road, ☏ +1 423 894-1860. Travelodge Chattanooga/Hamilton Place, 2361 Shallowford Village Dr, ☏ +1 423 855-2090. Wingate by Wyndham Chattanooga, 7312 Shallowford Rd, ☏ +1 423 893-7400. Sonesta Select Chattanooga Hamilton Place, 2210 Bams Drive, ☏ +1 423 499-4400. Located just outside Hamilton Place Mall off of Interstate 75. Free high-speed Internet access available. Rates start at $94 per night. Doubletree Hotel Chattanooga, 407 Chestnut Street, ☏ +1 423 756-5150. Suites and rooms available, rates vary so check site for details. Newly remodeled with a nice contemporary style. Saltwater Pool is an unexpected plus as well. Hampton Inn, 1920 Hamill Rd, ☏ +1 423 877-3100. This is in the northeast or Hixon area. Rates around $100 per night. Free High-Speed Internet access in the rooms. Free hot breakfast - actual hot food, not just a waffle maker and a toaster. Has a pool and an exercise room. Hilton Garden Inn, 311 Chestnut St, ☏ +1 423 308-9000.

I-75 (North-South) and I-24 (East-West) intersect in Chattanooga. I-75 - Easy access from Atlanta and Knoxville. Begins in Hialeah, Florida and ends in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan at the Canadian border. If coming this way from the south, consider making a detour to take the Cohutta Chattahoochee Scenic Byway, a Georgia-designated scenic route that includes some beautiful mountain views and charming historic sites. I-24 - Easy access from Murfreesboro, Nashville and Kentucky. I-59 - Connects to I-24 just Southwest of Chattanooga, gives access to Birmingham, Alabama, Southeast Mississippi and ends near New Orleans. 1 Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA IATA)) (The airport is east of downtown Chattanooga and you can easily get transportation from the airport to local hotels). It is serviced by: American Eagle; Delta Connection Carriers; Allegiant Air (nonstop service only from Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale; no onestops or connections). There are non-stop flights to Chattanooga: Atlanta, GA Charlotte, NC Chicago, IL (service from O'Hare International Airport) Dallas, TX (service from Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport) Detroit, MI (service from Detroit Wayne County International Airport) New York City, NY (service from LaGuardia Airport) Orlando, FL (service from Orlando Sanford Airport) Philadelphia, PA Tampa Bay, FL (service from St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport) Washington, D.C. (service from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, otherwise known as National Airport, and Dulles Airport) 2 Greyhound, 960 Airport Rd, ☏ +1-800-231-2222.

When a speed limit is not posted, assume that it is 35 mph (56 km/h), especially when downtown or in a residential area. National Car Rental, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, +1 423 855-2229. Dollar Rent A Car, +1 423 855-2232. Avis Rent A Car, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, +1 423 855-2232. Enterprise Rent A Car, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, +1 423 296-9902. Donna's Rent A Car, 1419 South Moore Road, +1 423 899-5621. Thrifty Car Rental, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, +1 423 892-8983. Access Car Rental, 2114 Chapman Rd, +1 423 894-3833. Access Car Rental, 3150 Broad Street, +1 423 634-7771. Hertz Rent a Car, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, +1 423 855-8131. The Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority, better known as CARTA, provides one of the easiest way to move around downtown Chattanooga via a free electric shuttle that operates between the Holiday Inn Choo-Choo and Tennessee Aquarium, along with new service to Chattanooga's North Shore shops and Coolidge Park. There are also buses serving the remainder of the city. As of 2025, the fares are: Adult - $1.50 Seniors - $.75 Persons with Disability - $.75 Students - $.75 Children 5 and under are free with a paying passenger Special reduced fares require a photo ID issued at the CARTA bus depot. CARTA schedules are available at many of the local banks, shopping malls, social service agencies, hospitals, colleges, universities, the downtown post office, libraries and through CARTA. There are bike sharing services in Chattanooga.

The Chattanooga Police Department's Traffic Division uses patrol cars without emergency lights on their roof. Instead they have numerous blue lights mounted in the front grill and rear window. In September 2006 the police department announced increased speed limit enforcement due to numerous recent speed-related fatal accidents. The City of Red Bank, which is very close to the North Shore district, employs photo enforced traffic lights. A rolling right turn on red will very likely result in a citation.