Chattanooga

Around Chattanooga

Photo: Imilious · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Metro area · Tennessee · 588k people

Chattanooga

“Scenic City”, “Gig City”, “River City”

Where the mountains meet the river, and everyone feels at home.

Mocs NavyMocs GoldRidge Green

Join the room Ask the neighbours

Welcome to Chattanooga, the Scenic City, where the river bends through the mountains and the outdoors is your backyard. Whether you're here for the trails, the food, or the friendly vibe, you'll find a community that loves to share its home.

Clubs for Chattanooga

No clubs for Chattanooga yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Chattanooga. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.

Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Chattanooga. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Tennessee Aquarium Large freshwater and ocean aquariums on the riverfront.
  • Hunter Museum of American Art American art collection in a mansion overlooking the river.
  • Coolidge Park Riverfront park with a carousel, splash pad, and concert lawn.
  • Walnut Street Bridge Historic pedestrian bridge across the Tennessee River, connecting downtown to the North Shore.
  • Chattanooga Choo Choo Historic railway station and hotel with a preserved locomotive and gardens.
  • Rock City Garden and lookout point atop Lookout Mountain with famous rock formations.
  • Outdoors Hike to the top of Lookout Mountain
  • Outdoors Kayak on the Tennessee River
  • With kids Visit the Tennessee Aquarium
  • With kids Ride the Incline Railway
  • Evenings Catch a show at the Tivoli Theatre
  • Evenings Bar hop on Station Street
  • Locals love Riverfront parks
  • Locals love Mountain overlooks

Through the year

  • Riverbend Festival June Multi-day music festival on the riverfront with national and local acts.
  • Chattanooga Film Festival April Independent and cult films screened at the Tivoli Theatre and other venues.
  • Head of the Hooch November One of the largest rowing regattas in the country, held on the Tennessee River.
  • Chattanooga Marathon March Full and half marathon through downtown and across the river.
  • Ironman Chattanooga September Full and half iron-distance triathlon with a swim in the Tennessee River.

Chattanooga has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and cool, mild winters. The best times to be out are spring and fall, when the weather is comfortable and the scenery is at its peak. Best: Spring and fall are the best times to be outside, with mild temperatures and lower humidity.

Talk like a local

“Scenic City”
Nickname for Chattanooga, referencing its scenic mountain and river views.
“The River”
The Tennessee River, which flows through the city.
“Choo Choo”
Short for the Chattanooga Choo Choo, often used to refer to the city's railroad heritage.
“Lookout”
Short for Lookout Mountain, a major landmark.

Getaways

  • Cleveland Visit the Museum Center at Five Points and the Red Clay State Historic Park.
  • Dalton Explore the Dalton Greenway and the historic downtown square.
  • Summerville Drive to the foothills of the Appalachians and hike at James H. Floyd State Park.
  • Calhoun Check out the New Echota Historic Site, the former capital of the Cherokee Nation.

Local flavour

Teams

  • Chattanooga Lookouts Double-A South
  • Chattanooga FC MLS Next Pro
  • Chattanooga Mocs NCAA Division I

Eat and drink

  • MoonPie Invented and still produced in Chattanooga by the Chattanooga Bakery; a local icon.
  • Krystal burger The square, steamed burger chain was founded in Chattanooga in 1932 and remains a local comfort food.
  • RC Cola Often paired with MoonPies in the South; a nostalgic regional drink.

Where people go

  • Mountain overlooks Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain offer sweeping views of the river valley.
  • Riverfront parks The Tennessee Riverwalk and Coolidge Park anchor a network of green spaces along the water.
  • Historic railway station
  • Outdoor recreation areas Rock climbing at Sunset Rock, hang gliding at the flight park, and kayaking on the river.

Heritage and traditions

Chattanooga is proud of its stunning natural scenery, its revitalized riverfront, and its deep Civil War history, all wrapped in a friendly Southern Appalachian character.

This time of year in Chattanooga

  • Chattanooga Market Spring through fall (April-December) Open-air market with local produce, crafts, and food.
  • Chattanooga Film Festival Fall (October) Independent films and panels.
  • Head of the Hooch Fall (November) One of the largest rowing regattas in the country.
  • Chattanooga Jewish Food Festival October Jewish cuisine and cultural activities.

Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — About to do something.

Festivals

  • Chattanooga Greek Festival May Greek food, music, and dancing at the Greek Orthodox Church.
  • Chattanooga Celtic Festival September Celebrates Celtic music, dance, and heritage.
  • Chattanooga St. Patrick's Parade March A community parade with Irish music and floats.
  • Chattanooga Jewish Food Festival October Jewish cuisine and cultural activities.
  • Chattanooga African American Heritage Festival June Celebrates local Black history and culture.

Landmarks with a story

  • Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Preserves the battlefields of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, key Civil War sites.
  • Chattanooga National Cemetery Final resting place for veterans, including many from the Civil War.
  • Tivoli Theatre A restored 1920s vaudeville and movie palace in downtown.
  • First Baptist Church Historic church in downtown Chattanooga with a long community history.
  • St. Paul's Episcopal Church A historic Episcopal church known for its architecture.
  • Mizpah Congregation A historic Jewish synagogue, a landmark of the local Jewish community.

Food traditions

  • MoonPie and RC Cola at a Lookouts game The MoonPie was invented in Chattanooga, and fans toss them when the home team hits a homer.
  • Krystal burgers after a night out Krystal, a Southern fast-food chain, was founded in Chattanooga and is a late-night favorite.
  • Meat-and-three lunch counters A Southern tradition of choosing a meat and three side dishes at local diners.
  • Sunday fried chicken dinner A family tradition after church, often with mashed potatoes and gravy.
  • Chow chow and pickled vegetables Appalachian heritage of preserving vegetables with a tangy relish.

Music and arts

  • Blues heritage Bessie Smith's legacy is celebrated at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center.
  • Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Professional orchestra and opera company performing throughout the year.
  • Indie music scene Venues like the Signal and various bars host local and touring bands.
  • Appalachian folk art and crafts Traditional crafts like quilting and woodworking are valued.

A little history

  • 1863 Battle of Chickamauga
  • 1863 Battle of Chattanooga
  • 1839 Incorporation of Chattanooga
  • 1895 Incline Railway built
  • 1941 The Chattanooga Choo Choo song popularized

Rivalries

  • Chattanooga Mocs vs. ETSU Buccaneers College football rivalry between the two Tennessee schools.
  • Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Montgomery Biscuits Southern League baseball rivalry with frequent competitive games.
  • Game day MoonPie toss at Lookouts games
  • Game day Chattanooga FC supporter culture
  • Outdoors Paddleboarding on the Tennessee River
  • Outdoors Fishing for bass on Chickamauga Lake
  • With kids Visit the Chattanooga Zoo
  • With kids Ride the Chattanooga Ducks

Locals speak with a Southern Appalachian accent, often dropping 'g's and using 'y'all'. You'll hear 'fixin' to' for about to and 'bless your heart' as a polite interjection.

Only here

  • The MoonPie was invented in Chattanooga.
  • Krystal burgers were founded in Chattanooga.
  • The Chattanooga Choo Choo is both a song and a historic train station.
  • The Incline Railway is one of the steepest passenger railways in the world.
New here? A few tips
  • Pronounce it 'Chat-uh-NOO-guh' – locals will appreciate the effort.
  • Be ready for humid summers and mild winters; pack layers for spring and fall.
  • Traffic on I-24 and I-75 can be heavy during rush hour; consider the free electric shuttle downtown.
  • Try a MoonPie and RC Cola at a Lookouts game – it's a local tradition.
  • Explore the Riverwalk and the Bluff View Art District for scenic views.

Make this page better

Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.

Sign in and join a club here to suggest.

Part of Chattanooga area

Nearby

Every area
ClevelandTennesseeWhere the mountains meet the river.DaltonGeorgiaWhere the mountains meet the millsGrundy CountyTennesseeMountain air, small-town heart.DaytonTennesseeWhere the plateau meets the riverSummervilleGeorgiaWhere the river runs through the hillsCalhounGeorgiaWhere the mountains meet the valleyWinchesterTennesseeWhere the mountain meets the valleyFort PayneAlabamaWhere the canyon sings

Chattanooga, TN-GA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

Join the conversationFree, with just an email.

Sign in