Chattanooga, Tennessee

Getting Around in Chattanooga

The revitalized area of Downtown Chattanooga (near the Tennessee Aquarium) is very walkable with lots of shops and restaurants. The easiest way to reach this part of town is via the FREE Downtown Electric Shuttle. These buses run daily (except major holidays) between the Chattanooga Choo-Choo and the Aquarium with multiple stops in between.

The city shuttle is a super easy way to get around town. We never waited more than just a few minutes at any of the stops. And the buses are wheelchair accessible. Park in the public parking garage next to the Chattanooga Choo-Choo. During our visit, we paid $7 to park all day.

Do Not Miss!

Do Not Miss the Trolley Tour! Chattanooga's Trolley Tour is a one-man operation. Craig is a wealth of knowledge on the history, buildings and stories of Chattanooga. His trolley is enclosed, air conditioned and heated and he offers a variety of tours to choose from.

This tour was a perfect way for us to start our Chattanooga experience, introducing us to other things to do and restaurants to try.

Unique Attractions

While you are exploring the city, don't forget to visit Lookout Mountain. The attractions on top of the mountain are some of the most unique places we've found anywhere on our travels.

You can travel between the city and Lookout Mountain via the historic Incline Railway. But, you'll need your vehicle to get to Ruby Falls or Rock City. They aren't within walking distance of the Incline.

However, it looks the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is less than a 10 minute walk from the Incline Station at the top of the mountain. And looking at the Google satellite view, there appears to be a good sidewalk that connect the Incline and the battleground.

We had planned to ride the Incline to the top and walk to the historical site, but unfortunately the Incline closed earlier in the day than we expected. Plan to do this in the morning so you have plenty of time for the round trip.

How Long Should You Stay in Chattanooga?

Plan to spend at least a week in Chattanooga. There is a lot to do in and around town, and you don't want to rush. Some of these attractions take the better part of a day to fully experience. Even with a week, we were not able to see and do everything that we wanted to do while still having time to relax.

For a Complete Change of Pace

For a relaxing break from all of the tours on a beautiful day, take the short drive to Lookout Mountain Flight Park. Sit on the side of the ridge and watch hang gliders and paragliders take off and float above the valley.