Family-friendly Itinerary for Chattanooga, TN in 3 Days

  • Day 1: Tennessee Aquarium
    7 minutes (0.5 miles) from Holiday Inn Chattanooga Downtown

    The Tennessee Aquarium is an attraction in downtown Chattanooga for families to explore the wonders of the aquatic world. The aquarium has two buildings - the Ocean Journey and River Journey - where visitors can see penguins, butterflies, turtles, alligators, and sharks among other marine life.

  • Day 2: Lookout Mountain
    14 minutes (6 miles) from Tennessee Aquarium

    Lookout Mountain is a scenic mountain that offers a variety of family-friendly activities such as hiking, rock climbing, and zip-lining. You can also experience panoramic views of Chattanooga and the surrounding area from the observation deck on the top of the mountain.

  • Day 3: Creative Discovery Museum
    9 minutes (4.4 miles) from Lookout Mountain

    The Creative Discovery Museum is a fun and educational museum for children and families. The museum offers interactive exhibits and hands-on experiences, including art, science, music, and more.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • Tennessee Aquarium (2-3 hours, $35 per adult and $21 per child)
  • Lookout Mountain (3-5 hours, $20 per adult and $15 per child)
  • Creative Discovery Museum (2-4 hours, $14.95 per adult and child over 2)
  • Total Estimated Costs: $186.90 for a family of four

Transportation

Traveling by car is the best way to get around Chattanooga, especially for families. The city is easy to navigate, and most attractions are within a short driving distance. You should expect to pay for parking at most attractions. A rental car from Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) will cost about $180 to $250 for a three-day rental, depending on the car model and rental company.

Useful Tips

If you have more time, you can visit other attractions, such as Rock City Gardens, Ruby Falls, or the Chattanooga Zoo. On the other hand, if you have less time, you can skip some of the less interesting exhibits at the museums or shorten your visit at Lookout Mountain to fit everything into two days.

Airports

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) is the closest airport to the city, located just 7 miles east of downtown Chattanooga. It is served by major airlines such as Delta, American, and United, with non-stop flights to several major cities, including Atlanta, Charlotte, and Chicago. Ride-sharing services and rental cars are available at the airport, and the drive to the city center takes approximately 15 minutes.

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