A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Atlantic City vs. Chattanooga for Nightlife, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit Atlantic City or Chattanooga?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Atlantic City and Chattanooga. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Atlantic City

Atlantic City is a party-oriented, colorful, and glitzy city. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and nightlife.

Chattanooga

Chattanooga is a outdoorsy, thriving, and bustling city. It's also known for food, hiking, and shopping.

Atlantic City and Chattanooga: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Atlantic City or Chattanooga?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Atlantic City than Chattanooga, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Atlantic City is better known for its nightlife, resorts, and beaches, while Chattanooga is more popular for its museums and hiking. Atlantic City is more touristy than Chattanooga and is known for its casinos, gambling culture, nightlife scene, and wild personality Also, Atlantic City is famous for Steel Pier and the Boardwalk. Chattanooga is well known for it's hikes, railways, and nearby natural areas.

How is Atlantic City different from Chattanooga?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Chattanooga and Atlantic City. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Atlantic City or Chattanooga?

Chattanooga is a good destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Atlantic City is not particularly known for its historical sights.

Chattanooga is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It's a thriving city and there are a number of museums to explore. The Hunter Museum of American Art is great for art enthusiasts. There's also the Creative Discovery Museum, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, and the 6th Cavalry Museum, as well as several smaller museums that you can visit.

While most people don't head to Atlantic City specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. While most people don't spend their time in museums, there is the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, the African American Heritage Museum, and the Noyes Museum Galleries.

Is the Food Better in Atlantic City or Chattanooga? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Atlantic City and Chattanooga both to be notable destinations.

Atlantic City offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are budget buffets around town as well as seafood restaurants and even some fine dining. Salt water taffy is a local specialty that you should pick up while you're in the area.

Chattanooga has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a growing number of restaurants that range from local dives to fine dining. Fried food is common, but you'll also find Mexican and classic hamburgers. Popular dishes that are local to the area include catfish, southern barbecue, and hush puppies.

Is Atlantic City or Chattanooga Better for Nightlife?

Atlantic City is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. Also, Chattanooga is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

The nightlife in Atlantic City is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. This is a city that is all about its nightlife scene. Many visitors come here just to party, and you'll find clubs with DJs or bands playing from sunset to sunrise. There are glitzy lounges and dive bars with everything in between. As a gambling town, there are casinos and all-night activities that keep the energy going round the clock.

If you're looking for night time activities Chattanooga has a few options to choose from. You'll find plenty of bars and clubs around town. There are also a number of comedy and improv clubs that are fun to check out.

Is Atlantic City or Chattanooga Better for Resorts?

Atlantic City is a great destination for its resorts. However, Chattanooga is not a resort destination.

Atlantic City is known as a popular and fun resort destination. The beach and boardwalk are lined with casinos and resorts. There are many recognizable names such as Harrah's, Bally's, Caesars, Hard Rock, and the Tropicana.

Chattanooga is not a resort destination.

Is Atlantic City or Chattanooga Better for Beaches?

Atlantic City is a popular place for the beach. However, Chattanooga is not a beach destination.

Atlantic City is a good option for a beach vacation. There's a Boardwalk that runs along the beach and is lined with piers and hotels. The Downtown Beach is the most accessible, and where most tourists hang out. If you're willing to travel a little further, there are some nice beaches nearby such as Margate Beach and Brigantine Beach.

Chattanooga is not a beach destination.

Is Atlantic City or Chattanooga Better for Hiking?

Chattanooga is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Atlantic City is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Chattanooga. It's proximity to the mountains means that you don't have to go far to find good hiking. Within a half hour of town there are more than 50 trailheads. Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain are both hiking destinations. Several trails have swimming spots and many pass through nice forests or head to impressive viewpoints.

Atlantic City is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Atlantic City or Chattanooga?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Chattanooga and Atlantic City.

Atlantic City is a great destination for shopping. You'll find many souvenir shops along the boardwalk. There's also a Tangier Outlet Mall in the area. Some of the hotels such as the Tropicana have their own shopping areas as well.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Chattanooga. Head downtown for local shops or to the larger malls if you want mainstream stores. Many visitors enjoy antiquing while they're in town, but there are also farmer's markets and thrift stores.

Is Atlantic City or Chattanooga Better for Families?

Chattanooga is a good destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Atlantic City is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Chattanooga. Many people enjoy a visit to the Tennessee Aquarium, which has a touch tank and a butterfly exhibit, among other things. Near downtown, Coolidge Park is a great place for kids to get their energy out. There's also the popular Lookout Mountain Incline Railway as well as many hiking trails in the area.

For families, Atlantic City is not always the best place to visit. Most families avoid this area for more family-friendly beaches, but if you find yourself in the area, you can check out Ripley's Believe It or Not or go on a dolphin cruise. Also popular is Steel Pier, which has rides for all ages.

Is Atlantic City or Chattanooga Better for Couples?

Atlantic City and Chattanooga both notable destinations for a couple.

Atlantic City is a nice destination for couples. It's not exactly known for its romance, but there are casinos, hotels, and a beaches that are fun to visit. You'll also find several spas and sunset cruises in the area.

Chattanooga makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Many couples enjoy staying at a local inn and then dining in a nice restaurant or visiting a winery. There's an eclectic art district to explore as well as horse drawn carriages and plenty of nearby hiking trails.

Is Atlantic City or Chattanooga Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Atlantic City is a popular place for backpackers. However, Chattanooga is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Atlantic City. There is a hostel in the area. You'll also find a younger crowd and plenty of partying.

Chattanooga is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's proximity to the mountains and diverse outdoor activities make this an under-rated destination for many backpackers.

Is Atlantic City or Chattanooga Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Chattanooga is well known for its public transit. Also, Atlantic City is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Chattanooga is fairly effecient and thorough. The city has a convenient and free electric shuttle service. It travels through the downtown and has stops at many points of interest such as the Chattanooga Choo Choo and the Tennessee Aquarium.

While Atlantic City offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The Jitney are shuttle buses that runs from one end of the city to the other. They pass by most of the hotels and casinos along Pacific Avenue.

Is Atlantic City or Chattanooga a more walkable city?

Atlantic City and Chattanooga both are superb when exploring on foot.

Atlantic City is very walkable. Many of the hotels are walkable and located near the boardwalk.

Chattanooga is a very walkable city. The city has put a lot of effort into improving its walkability. In particular, the downtown is nice to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Atlantic City Worth Visiting? and Is Chattanooga Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Chattanooga or Atlantic City?

How long in Atlantic City or Chattanooga?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Atlantic City and Chattanooga. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Atlantic City, and 2-3 days is enough time in Chattanooga.

Families should spend more time in Chattanooga than Atlantic City. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Chattanooga, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Atlantic City than Chattanooga if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Atlantic City.

One day in Atlantic City or Chattanooga?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the flashy city of Atlantic City. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Most people visit for the nightlife. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the thriving destination of Chattanooga. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Atlantic City or Chattanooga?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the glitzy destination of Atlantic City. It's also a relaxing resort destination. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Chattanooga. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in Atlantic City or Chattanooga?

The party-oriented city of Atlantic City offers shopping and nightlife. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the outdoorsy destination of Chattanooga. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

A week in Atlantic City or Chattanooga?

Many people enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting Atlantic City. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Most people visit for the nightlife. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Chattanooga. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Historical Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Atlantic City and Chattanooga, we can see that Chattanooga is more expensive. And not only is Atlantic City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Atlantic City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Atlantic City and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Chattanooga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chattanooga than you might in Atlantic City.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Atlantic City Expensive? and Is Chattanooga Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Atlantic City or Chattanooga?

Chattanooga has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Atlantic City. When comparing the sizes of Atlantic City and Chattanooga, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Atlantic City or Chattanooga?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Atlantic City or Chattanooga in the Summer?

Both Chattanooga and Atlantic City are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Atlantic City this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Chattanooga for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Atlantic City is generally cooler than Chattanooga. Daily temperatures in Atlantic City average around 75°F (24°C), and Chattanooga fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).

It's quite sunny in Chattanooga. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Atlantic City. Atlantic City usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chattanooga during summer. Atlantic City gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Chattanooga receives 265 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Chattanooga. It's quite rainy in Atlantic City. In July, Atlantic City usually receives less rain than Chattanooga. Atlantic City gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Chattanooga receives 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Atlantic City or Chattanooga in the Autumn?

Both Chattanooga and Atlantic City during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Atlantic City for the shopping scene. Furthermore, many visitors come to Chattanooga in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

Atlantic City is cooler than Chattanooga in the autumn. The daily temperature in Atlantic City averages around 56°F (13°C) in October, and Chattanooga fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

In Chattanooga, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Atlantic City often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Chattanooga. Atlantic City gets 197 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chattanooga receives 211 hours of full sun.

Atlantic City usually gets less rain in October than Chattanooga. Atlantic City gets 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain, while Chattanooga receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Atlantic City or Chattanooga in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Atlantic City and Chattanooga. Many visitors come to Atlantic City in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Chattanooga for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Chattanooga can be very cold during winter. Atlantic City can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Atlantic City is much colder than Chattanooga. Typically, the winter temperatures in Atlantic City in January average around 31°F (-0°C), and Chattanooga averages at about 40°F (5°C).

Atlantic City usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chattanooga during winter. Atlantic City gets 146 hours of sunny skies, while Chattanooga receives 145 hours of full sun in the winter.

Chattanooga receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Atlantic City usually receives less rain than Chattanooga. Atlantic City gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Chattanooga receives 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Atlantic City or Chattanooga in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Atlantic City as well as Chattanooga. Most visitors come to Atlantic City for the beaches during these months.

In April, Atlantic City is generally much colder than Chattanooga. Daily temperatures in Atlantic City average around 51°F (10°C), and Chattanooga fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chattanooga. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Atlantic City this time of the year. In the spring, Atlantic City often gets less sunshine than Chattanooga. Atlantic City gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chattanooga receives 243 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Chattanooga. Atlantic City usually gets less rain in April than Chattanooga. Atlantic City gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Chattanooga receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Chattanooga and Atlantic City