Chattanooga
Chattanooga is a city in southeastern Tennessee known for Lookout Mountain, Civil War battlefields and a riverside trail of about 13 miles.
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Chattanooga is a city in Hamilton County in southeastern Tennessee, near the Georgia border, and it is the county seat. It sits on the Tennessee River, where the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians meet the Cumberland Plateau. Its official nickname is the Scenic City, a nod to the surrounding mountains, ridges and valleys. It is Tennessee's fourth-largest city.
Visitors come for Lookout Mountain, the Civil War battlefields where Union troops won in November 1863, and a downtown waterfront with the Tennessee Aquarium and a Riverwalk of about 13 miles. Native peoples lived in the area for thousands of years, and Ross's Landing was one of three emigration depots used in the 1838 forced removal of Cherokee people on the Trail of Tears. Spring and fall suit hiking and time outdoors. Summers are hot and humid, and rain falls in every season.
Chattanooga in five
- Base downtown or on the North ShoreDowntown has the aquarium and riverfront, and the North Shore has restaurants across the Walnut Street Bridge. Both are walkable and close to the sights.
- Choose your Lookout Mountain stopsLookout Mountain has several paid attractions, such as caverns, a railway and a rock garden. Pick one or two, because the full set adds up and takes a day.
- Walk the Walnut Street BridgeThe pedestrian bridge links downtown and the North Shore and is free to cross. Go at sunset for the river views.
- Add a hike or a paddleChattanooga is known for outdoor recreation, with trails on Lookout and Signal Mountains and paddling on the Tennessee River. Pack for a half day outdoors.
- Pair it with Nashville or the SmokiesNashville and Atlanta are about 2 hours away by car, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park about 2.5–3 hours.Great Smoky Mountains travel guide
Things to do in Chattanooga
See all attractions in Chattanooga
Need to know
- Airport
- Chattanooga Metropolitan (CHA); Nashville and Atlanta are about 2 hours away
- Getting around
- Walk downtown; car for Lookout Mountain
- Best base
- Downtown or the North Shore
- Time needed
- 2 days
- Time zone
- Eastern, UTC−5; UTC−4 in summer
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryRain10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low0°Cool, quietJanuaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 152 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh13°Low4°Cool, mildFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 185 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, mild
- MarchRain12 rainy daysHigh17°Low6°Spring, dogwoodsMarchRain
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 187 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, dogwoods
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low10°Warm, greenAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 143 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Warm, greenMayRain
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 150 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JuneRain14 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh29°Low19°Hot, humidJuneRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 168 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, humid
- JulyRain17 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low21°Hot, stormsJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 148 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, storms
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh30°Low20°Hot, humidAugustRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 140 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°WarmSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 128 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- OctoberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh23°Low12°Fall colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 142 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall color
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Cool, clearNovemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, clear
- DecemberRain11 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Cool, lightsDecemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 165 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, lights
Average daily high and low in Chattanooga, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Chattanooga
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
23
- Feels like
- 20°
- Humidity
- 50%
- Wind
- 18 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 3%
Chattanooga
03:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today23°10°3%Monday: Fog. High 23°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Tue24°12°7%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Wed20°16°88%Wednesday: Rain. High 20°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Thu21°12°72%Thursday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 72%.
- Fri20°9°7%Friday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Sat19°7°1%Saturday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Sun17°7°9%Sunday: Drizzle. High 17°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 9%.
Updated 01:12 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Lookout Mountainabout 15–25 minutes by carViews, caverns and a historic railway.
- Nashvilleabout 2 hours by carMusic city; better as a stop.Read the guide
- Atlantaabout 2 hours by carA big city on the same highway.Read the guide
Before you go to Chattanooga
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Rules for Chattanooga, checked
- Visa Waiver Program travelers need an approved ESTA before flying to the U.S. Check current entry rules on the State Department site (travel.state.gov).Source
- The Walnut Street Bridge closed for renovation in March 2025. Check its current status with the City of Chattanooga before you plan a river walk over it.Source
- Tornadoes are a real risk here. An EF3 tornado struck southeastern Chattanooga on April 12, 2020. Follow National Weather Service alerts for Hamilton County during your stay.Source
Plan around Chattanooga
Music city, about 2 hours west
Read the guideAtlanta travel guideGeorgia's hub, about 2 hours south-east
Read the guideGreat Smoky Mountains guideThe national park, about 2.5–3 hours
Read the guideAsheville travel guideBlue Ridge city, about 3.5 hours
Read the guideESTA explainedWho needs it and how to apply
Read the guideAll of the USAParks, cities and road trips
Read the guideChattanooga FAQ
Is Chattanooga worth visiting?
Yes, for outdoor activities, the aquarium and Lookout Mountain. It is a good stop between Nashville and Atlanta.
How many days do you need in Chattanooga?
Two days covers downtown, the aquarium and Lookout Mountain. Add a day for hiking or paddling.
How far is Chattanooga from Nashville and Atlanta?
About 2 hours by car from each, which makes it an easy stop on a drive between the two.
Do you need a car in Chattanooga?
Not downtown, which is walkable. For Lookout Mountain, trails and other sights, a car or rideshare helps.
What is the best time to visit Chattanooga?
Spring and fall give the best hiking and paddling weather. Summer runs hot and humid, so keep water days for the afternoon, and winter is mild with the quietest trails.