The 12 best day trips from Chattanooga, Tennessee

18.12.2024 - 15:03 / lonelyplanet.com / Martin Luther King-Junior

Dec 17, 2024 • 12 min read

Situated conveniently along the Tennessee River and numerous highways, Chattanooga's long been valued for its strategic importance (it was dubbed the "gateway to the Deep South" during the Civil War). After you've done the scenic walks along the Walnut Street Bridge, wandered the Arts District and other things to do in Chattanooga, it's time to explore beyond.

Tucked between the bluffs and mountains of the Cumberland Plateau, the city continues to be a convenient jumping-off point for various trips around the region. Just two hours from Atlanta, Nashville, Knoxville and Birmingham, not to mention countless other regional destinations, it's the perfect base for a winter holiday.

If you're wondering what the best day trips from Chattanooga might be, these are our top picks.

Travel time: 20 minutes

You don’t have to go far to have an adventure-filled day trip from Chattanooga. Home to sweeping views and historic sites, it’s easy to spend a day (or more) exploring Lookout Mountain.

Start on the Tennessee side with a breathtaking ride on the Incline Railway, a trolley-style car that makes a steep climb to the summit, where you’ll find observation decks and history exhibits. After returning to the base of the mountain and perusing the boutiques, coffee shops and cafés of St. Elmo, take a short drive south toward the Georgia side where even more adventures await in Rock City. 

Rock City is an intriguing mix of a scenic overlook, nature park, art installation and family attraction. Here, you can gaze at a 90-ft waterfall, trek across the Swing-A-Long suspension bridge, wander the Fairytale Caverns, spy familiar characters in Mother Goose Village and take in panoramic views from Lover’s Leap. On a clear day, it is said that you can see seven states from this vantage point: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Attraction tickets are sold separately but can be purchased in packages. 

How to get to Lookout Mountain: By car, take I-58 S toward the Tennessee/Georgia border. On CARTA, take the St Elmo/Incline Shuttle from Shuttle Park South to 56th & St Elmo Ave. Check the CARTA website for daily schedules, closures and holiday service.

Travel time: 2 hours

Georgia's capital offers shopping, live music, comedy, arts and culture without the need to overnight. You can easily pop down for dinner and drinks before a show and be home for a late bedtime or pick up a friend from the airport before hitting some boutiques. There are arts and crafts at the High Museum, Center for Puppetry Arts and SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film.

You can also learn about Black history at the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site, Ebenezer Baptist Church (New) and Center