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

Should you visit Chattanooga or Reno?

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

Should I visit Chattanooga or Reno? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Chattanooga

Chattanooga is a bustling, outdoorsy, and thriving city. It's also popular because of the hiking, shopping, and museums.

Reno

Reno is a energetic, growing, and vibrant city. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Chattanooga and Reno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chattanooga or Reno?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Chattanooga than Reno. While Reno is larger than Chattanooga, Chattanooga has more sights and attractions for tourists. Chattanooga is very popular for its hiking, while Reno attracts visitors for its nightlife. Chattanooga is famous for it's hikes, railways, and nearby natural areas. It is also well known for Rock City. Reno is famous for its casinos and nightlife scene.

How is Chattanooga different from Reno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Chattanooga or Reno?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Chattanooga or Reno.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Chattanooga. 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.

Reno is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Museums in town range from art and history to local or quirky. The National Automobile Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, Fleischmann Planetarium, and the Anthropology Museum are some of the favorites.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Chattanooga and Reno can be an enjoyable experience.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Chattanooga area. 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.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Reno. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.

Is Chattanooga or Reno Better for Nightlife?

Reno is a great destination for its evening party scene. Also, Chattanooga is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

The people in Reno know how to have a good time. There's a big nightlife scene with a huge number of bars and entertainment options. There are also a growing number of breweries in town.

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 Chattanooga or Reno Better for Hiking?

Chattanooga is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Reno is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting 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.

Reno is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Chattanooga or Reno?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Reno and Chattanooga.

Many visitors go to Chattanooga to go shopping. 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Reno. In addition to your standard suburban shopping malls and strip malls, there's the Midtown District, which has local retail shops and an eclectic and alternative vibe. The area has thrift shops, music vendors, and more.

Is Chattanooga or Reno Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Chattanooga or Reno.

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.

Reno offers lots of family activities. You'll find some arcades and entertainment options for kids in some of the casinos. There's also the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, which has kid-friendly, hands-on exhibits, and the largest zoo in Nevado, the Sierra Nevada Zoological Park.

Is Chattanooga or Reno Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Chattanooga and Reno make for a nice place to visit.

Chattanooga is a good city for couples to visit. 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.

Reno is a nice destination for couples. There are outdoor parks and scenic walks like the Truckee River Walk or the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. There's also several great museums and some interesting restaurants.

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

Chattanooga is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Reno is lacking in options for its public transit.

The public transit in Chattanooga can get you to most places easily. 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.

Public transit is generally limited in Reno. There's a public bus system with routes around town.

Is Chattanooga or Reno a more walkable city?

Chattanooga is an excellent place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Reno is lacking in options for its walkability.

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

Reno is generally not very walkable. While there are some reasonably walkable neighborhoods, you really need a car to get around town.

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

Should I spend more time in Reno or Chattanooga?

How long in Chattanooga or Reno?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Chattanooga and Reno. In our opinion, Chattanooga has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Chattanooga than Reno. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Chattanooga, and 1-3 days is enough time in Reno.

Families should spend more time in Chattanooga than Reno. 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.

Couples should spend more time in Chattanooga than Reno. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Chattanooga that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Chattanooga than Reno 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 Chattanooga.

One day in Chattanooga or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Chattanooga. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the vibrant city of Reno. 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.

A weekend in Chattanooga or Reno?

Chattanooga is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the growing destination of Reno. 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.

Five days in Chattanooga or Reno?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the thriving destination of Chattanooga. This city offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The vibrant city of Reno offers shopping and museums. 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.

A week in Chattanooga or Reno?

The outdoorsy city of Chattanooga offers nightlife and food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Reno. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chattanooga and Reno, we can see that Chattanooga is more expensive. And not only is Reno much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Reno would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Reno 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 Reno.

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

Which is Bigger, Chattanooga or Reno?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 30% larger than the population of Chattanooga. When comparing the sizes of Chattanooga and Reno, 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.