Will you be traveling to Chattanooga with your family? Whether you have a day or several days, Chattanooga is a beautiful town with incredible adventure for adults and kids alike. Keep reading for my complete guide to the top family-friendly Chattanooga attractions as well as my recommendations of restaurants sure to please every palate if you are planning a Chattanooga day trip.

One Day In Chattanooga

We recently took a six night road trip from Florida with stops in Tennessee, North Carolina, and finally Georgia. Our first stop was Chattanooga, Tennessee. After a nine hour drive, we planned one full day in Chattanooga before traveling to North Carolina. Here are my recommendations for fun, inexpensive family things to do in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

RECOMMENDED: Check out our Southern United States Road Trip Itinerary here

Things To Do In Chattanooga With Kids

Ruby Falls

If yo are planning a Chattanooga day trip, Ruby Falls should be on your list as a must see. Ruby Falls is the nation’s tallest and deepest underground waterfall. To get to the underground waterfall, you first must traverse through a cave founded by Leo Lambert in 1928. Marvel at the tunnel in which Leo first crawled to the falls. Witness cave formations which have been growing for millions of years to include stalactites and stalagmites. The tour is led by a guide who will point out formations as well as regale you with the history of the cave and falls. The cave tour lasts about 90 minutes. The Falls are lit with a fantastic light show.

In addition to a cave tour, you may also experience a lantern tour or zipline adventure of Lookout Mountain.

Tickets for Ruby Falls are approximately $22 per person for the cave tour, however a combo ticket can be purchased that includes entry to Ruby Falls, Rock City, and the Incline Railway for a reduced cost.

Rock City

An additional must see attraction on your Chattanooga day trip is Rock City Gardens. Also located on Lookout Mountain, Rock City Gardens is a self-guided walking tour of gardens, rock formations, and amazing panoramic views of seven states. Pinch between large rocks at Needles Eye and Fat Man’s Squeeze or take a breathtaking photo at Lover’s Leap.

You can spend as little or as long as you wish exploring this amazing garden which includes Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village.

Ticket prices are approximately $22 per person, however a combo ticket can be purchased for Ruby Falls, Rock City, and the Incline Railway for a reduced cost.

Incline Railway

The Incline Railway Lookout Mountain was not open when we visited. This attraction is seasonal and will close when the weather is too cold.

The Incline Railway is powered by two winches and the ride is one mile long. ” Sit back, and enjoy the scenic views of the mountains and valleys from the observation windows on the train as well as the panoramic views from the observation tower at the Incline’s top station.”

Additional Chattanooga Kid-Friendly Activities

If you still have time available while visiting Chattanooga, here are few other family-friendly attractions:

• Do you wish to see more caves and cave formations? Check out Raccoon Mountain Caverns. They have a Crystal Palace Walking Tour and for the more adventurous explorer the Wild Cave Expedition Tour.
• The Tennessee Aquarium is located on the Chattanooga’s riverfront and is home to ” feisty otters, colorful trout, alligators, giant catfish, tons of turtles and more freshwater animals”. Plan on at least two hours to visit this attraction.
• The Chattanooga Zoo: Visit Chattanooga’s own zoo. Learn fun and interesting facts about your favorite animals at the zoo with Keeper Chats or attend a storytime program called Zoo Tales.
• Creative Discovery Museum is a hands-on children’s museum with an array of education programs, a science theater, play gym, as well as temporary and permanent exhibits sure to thrill your youngsters.
• Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center: Visit animal ambassadors such as bobcat, lynx, owl, or reptiles. In addition, hiking trails and visit the arboretum that includes 140 identified and labeled tree species. 

Unique Places to Eat in Chattanooga

While in Chattanooga, we visited several restaurants. Here are my reviews:

Scottie’s On The River:

This restaurant is located within the Springhill Suites on the riverfront. Our table was on the river with fantastic views. The food was absolutely delicious. My husband had a bacon infused Bourbon Old-Fashion that was tasty and unique. The cornbread and hush puppies they bring for the table to share was amazing. I highly recommend the onion rings. The fish and chips was enough for both myself and my son to share with plenty of food.

Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant:

My husband and I first tried Puckett’s in Nashville, Tennessee. We loved it, so when we saw Chattanooga had a Puckett’s we jumped at the chance to go again. Do yourself a favor and get the Brisket Nachos. You will NOT be disappointed. We also had smoked wings that were very good. My husband and I both tried the Chattanooga Whiskey; mine on the rocks, he had the Old Fashion. We loved it.

Big River Grille and Brewing Works:

I would not recommend this restaurant for the food, however the craft beer was tasty. We got nachos, a burger, and a pizza. All were only fair.

The Maple Biscuit Company:

If you are looking for a fantastic breakfast, try the Maple Biscuit Company. The food was out of this world. The different breakfast sandwiches all on biscuits were so incredible and massive. My son had biscuits and gravy. The gravy is more like an Alfredo sauce because it is so creamy!

Hotel Near Lookout Mountain Tennessee

We checked into the Springhill Suites located on the Chattanooga Riverfront. The Springhill Suites is located within minutes of restaurants, downtown shops, and the attractions we wished to see. Our stay at the Springhill Suites was free. We received the stay for free using travel reward points from our Chase Sapphire credit card. For more tips on how to travel for free in 2024, check out my article by clicking here.

Disclaimer: I may earn a commission and/or points/incentives should you click on a link.

The Springhill Suites located on the Chattanooga Riverfront had rooms with a view of the river. Breakfast was included in our stay. Parking did cost a nightly fee.

The hotel has a restaurant on the property called Scottie’s On The River. As I stated before, the food was amazing and I highly recommended this as one of the restaurants to try when visiting Chattanooga.

In summary:

Are you seeking family-friendly adventure? Chattanooga will not disappoint! Ruby Falls and Rock City were highlights of our road trip of the Southern United States. Not only did my son enjoy Chattanooga, but myself and my husband loved every minute there. Even with limited time to visit, a Chattanooga day trip should be added to your itinerary!

Have you been to Chattanooga? What did you think? I would love to hear from you.