VISITING Chattanooga · The Scenic City
Visiting Chattanooga with toddlers and little kids: the plan.
Chattanooga is very walkable for a family trip. The Aquarium, the Creative Discovery Museum and the library are all downtown, and Coolidge Park is right across the river. Here’s how we’d spend one or two days with nap in the middle.
Top 5 can’t-miss spots
#1Riverfront, downtown
Tennessee Aquarium
Do River Journey first, then Ocean Journey. Kids 3 and under are free, and IMAX is a separate ticket.
Kids $29.95Adults $39.95Ages 3 and under freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#2Downtown
Creative Discovery Museum
Make it your first morning, and stay for lunch at Bean Sprouts Café inside.
$19.95 eachUnder 2 freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#3Lookout Mountain
Ruby Falls
About 90 minutes on foot, so carry little ones in a carrier. Book timed tickets online.
Kids $19.95Adults $29.95Ages 3 and under freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#4North Shore, 150 River St.
Coolidge Park
Ride the old carousel, then walk to Clumpies on Frazier Ave. The play fountain runs May through September.
Free
See it in the guide→
#5Warner Park
Chattanooga Zoo
Small and easy. In spring and fall, school groups come in the mornings, so afternoons are quieter.
See it in the guide→
Nap breaks built in
One day or two in Chattanooga
A couple of big stops, a real lunch and a nap in the middle. Tap a stop for the full listing.
If you have one day
MORNINGCreative Discovery MuseumGo at opening · Downtown · $19.95 per person
LUNCHBean Sprouts Café at Creative Discovery MuseumInside the museum · DowntownNAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPCoolidge ParkCarousel, then ice cream · North Shore, 150 River St. · FreeIf you have two days
Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:
MORNINGTennessee AquariumRiver Journey first · Riverfront, downtown · $29.95 kids, $39.95 adultsLUNCHCity Cafe DinerBroad Street · Broad Street, downtownNAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPChattanooga ZooQuieter in the afternoon · Warner ParkWhere to stay
Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions
Pick the area by the stops you’ll make most, then plan around nap.
BEST FOR FIRST-TIMERSDowntown riverfrontWalk to the Aquarium, the Creative Discovery Museum and the library.Near Tennessee Aquarium, Creative Discovery Museum, Downtown Library and City Cafe Diner
FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD FEELNorth ShoreNear Coolidge Park and Clumpies, a walk across the bridge to downtown.Near Coolidge Park and Clumpies Ice Cream Co.
FOR LOOKOUT MOUNTAINSt. Elmo and Lookout ValleyClosest to Ruby Falls and Reflection Riding.Near Ruby Falls and Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center
Eat
Easy restaurants near the big stops
Kids’ menus, quick service and a short drive from the attractions. Prices come from each restaurant’s own menu.
Plan B
Rainy-day backup plan
If the forecast turns, swap the outdoor stop for one of these. More options: indoor play places in Chattanooga.
Riverfront, downtownTennessee AquariumTwo buildings of indoor exhibits.Kids $29.95Adults $39.95Ages 3 and under freeIndoorDowntownCreative Discovery MuseumA big indoor museum downtown.$19.95 eachUnder 2 freeIndoorLookout MountainRuby FallsUnderground, so the weather doesn’t matter.Kids $19.95Adults $29.95Ages 3 and under freeIndoor
1001 Broad St.Downtown LibraryA free, warm stop downtown.FreeIndoorBefore you go
Practical tips
Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.
Parking
Tennessee Aquarium: Several paid lots sit near the Aquarium, and a free shuttle loops around downtown.
Creative Discovery Museum: There are several paid lots nearby, including one directly behind the museum. The free downtown electric shuttle stops close by.
Ruby Falls: Parking is free.
Chattanooga Zoo: Parking is free.
Creative Discovery Museum: There are several paid lots nearby, including one directly behind the museum. The free downtown electric shuttle stops close by.
Ruby Falls: Parking is free.
Chattanooga Zoo: Parking is free.
Strollers and accessibility
Tennessee Aquarium: Strollers are allowed inside, but there are no rentals. They aren’t allowed in the IMAX theater, which has stroller parking in the lobby.
Creative Discovery Museum: Stroller parking is very limited. Borrow a free umbrella stroller at Guest Relations with an ID.
Ruby Falls: The cave isn’t stroller accessible because of steps and narrow passages. Park the stroller in the elevator boarding area.
Chattanooga Zoo: Rent single ($10) or double ($12) strollers in the gift shop.
Creative Discovery Museum: Stroller parking is very limited. Borrow a free umbrella stroller at Guest Relations with an ID.
Ruby Falls: The cave isn’t stroller accessible because of steps and narrow passages. Park the stroller in the elevator boarding area.
Chattanooga Zoo: Rent single ($10) or double ($12) strollers in the gift shop.
Changing tables
Tennessee Aquarium: There are family restrooms on Level 1 of River Journey. There’s also a private nursing room to the left of the elevator on River Journey’s A-level.
Creative Discovery Museum: There’s a nursing room and a universal changing table in the First Aid room.
Chattanooga Zoo: There’s a private Mamava nursing station in the Gombe Interpretive Center.
Creative Discovery Museum: There’s a nursing room and a universal changing table in the First Aid room.
Chattanooga Zoo: There’s a private Mamava nursing station in the Gombe Interpretive Center.
Use the free shuttle
A free electric shuttle loops around downtown and stops near the Aquarium and the Creative Discovery Museum.
Bring a carrier
Ruby Falls and parts of downtown are hilly or have steps, so a carrier beats a stroller.
Visiting in November or December?
Santa and Christmas lights in Chattanooga
If your trip lands in the holiday season, these two pages have the dates, prices and booking links.
On a budget
Free and cheap wins for visitors
Spend less without skipping the good stuff.
This week
Happening while you’re here
This week’s top events in Chattanooga. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.
#1Fri & Sat 4–8pm
Boo in the Zoo
Candy stations, a scavenger hunt, costume shows at 5, 5:30, 6, 6:30 and 7, a bounce house and character meet-and-greets around the zoo. Online timed tickets only; last entry 7pm.
$17.95 ages 3–12
Hours, food & parking→
#2Daily 10am–10:30pm (last entry 9:45pm)
Enchanted Pumpkin Patch at Rock City
Lighted jack-o’-lantern displays fill the Enchanted Trail, spooky but never scary, with four themed trails, hidden surprises and the Swing-A-Long Bridge. Included with regular admission; book a day ahead to save.
Window $33 ages 3–12
Hours, food & parking→
#3Sat 2pm
Underwater Pumpkin Carving at the Tennessee Aquarium
A diver carves a pumpkin underwater at 2pm in the River Giants gallery, part of the aquarium’s ODDtober month. Ask for a free ODDtober sticker in the gift shops.
Included with aquarium admissionIndoor
Hours, food & parking→
#4Sun 11am–4pm
Chattanooga Market: Bluegrass Sunday
The big Sunday market with produce, local eats and makers, plus two free sets from the Redbud Bluegrass Band on the Sunday Funday Stage. Free admission; pay lot parking.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
#5Fri 5:30–7:30pm
Hamilton YMCA Fall Fest & Trunk or Treat
A free family fall festival with trunk or treat, food trucks, inflatables, face painting and a fall market. Open to members and non-members.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
Good questions
Visiting Chattanooga with toddlers: the FAQ
Is Chattanooga kid-friendly?
For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Chattanooga guide lists 11 places we checked for little kids, plus 2 free places and 3 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 3 easy restaurants near the big stops and free storytimes at 1 library system. This week’s list has 25 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Chattanooga and this weekend’s list.
Where should we stay in Chattanooga with little kids?
Downtown near the riverfront. You can walk to the Aquarium and the Creative Discovery Museum, and Coolidge Park is across the river.
How many days do you need in Chattanooga with a toddler?
Two days: the Creative Discovery Museum and Coolidge Park on one day, and the Aquarium and the Zoo on the other. Add Ruby Falls if you have a third morning.
Is there free parking in downtown Chattanooga?
The Downtown Library gives out 40 free two-hour passes a day for the EPB garage. Ruby Falls and the Zoo have free lots.
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