Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Chattanooga?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Chattanooga?

Many visitors spend two to three days in Chattanooga during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This city offers a number of attractions to explore, including the hiking, the museums and landmarks, the restaurant scene, and the nightlife.

Chattanooga is a city that's located on the Tennessee River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It's surrounded by beautiful natural areas and nice hiking trails. You should also experience the Incline Railway that climbs Lookout Mountain. In town, there are museums and a growing food scene, as well as a pedestrian-friendly downtown area.

Do you have one or two days to visit Chattanooga? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Chattanooga?

With only one day, you might feel a bit pressed for time when exploring the main attractions. After all, Chattanooga is a fun city that is somewhat popular with tourists because of its great list of sights and attractions. To fully embrace Chattanooga, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to allocate two to three days to discover the nearby hiking trails, browse the museums, taste delicious cuisine, and take advantage of the local nightlife. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.

How to spend a day in Chattanooga

Don't miss Rock City during your trip to Chattanooga, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. 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.

A few tour suggestions include:

Downtown Chattanooga Food Tour ($119)
Historic Southside Food Tour in Chattanooga ($99)
ChattaBrunch Food Tour ($99)

Chattanooga is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. The city has put a lot of effort into improving its walkability. In particular, the downtown is nice to explore on foot.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Chattanooga?

To do everything that Chattanooga has to offer, you'll need more than a weekend, but two or three days does allow you a bit more time to explore. You'll have a chance to experience at least some of the highlights. In addition to the great hiking and fun museums and landmarks, visitors can enjoy the nightlife, shopping, and local culture. By staying a night or two, you'll be able to take advantage of the most interesting activities found here, and we have some suggestions below.

Chattanooga, Tennessee

How to spend 2 days in Chattanooga

With a weekend (two to three days) in Chattanooga, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.

Known for it's hiking, Chattanooga sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. 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.

A few tour suggestions include:

Amish Community Visit:swimming, Hiking , lite lunch, Winetasting ($154)

This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. 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.

Public transit in Chattanooga is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite 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.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Chattanooga, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.