Chatta-noooooooo-ga! Isn’t that just fun to say!?!
Truthfully, Chattanooga is one of those places that I never intentionally planned to visit but when it popped up as a stop on our Houston to Maine road trip, I got excited about seeing this outdoorsy city for the first time.
While I had a few ideas of things to do, I was surprised by how much I was charmed by this scenic dog-friendly city. Even if you have less than 1 day, you have plenty of time to cover these must-dos in Chattanooga. Bonus: most of them are free!
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Table of Contents
Chattanooga In 1 Day
Start the morning at Lookout Mountain and finish the day in downtown Chattanooga.
1 – Ruby Falls
1720 S. Scenic Hwy
Ruby Falls is the only underground waterfall tour in the USA. And it has dog kennels!
While Ruby Falls doesn’t typically max out on dog kennels, book an early morning tour to secure a kennel if you need one for your pup.
Ruby Falls is only 15 minutes from downtown Chattanooga located on Lookout Mountain. You need approximately 2 hours to complete the underground waterfall tour and climb Lookout Mountain Tower.
A 2-minute light show illuminates the only underground waterfall tour in the USA!
2 – Chattanooga Choo Choo Railroad Facility
1400 Market Street
At the Chattanooga Choo Choo Railroad Facility you’ll find a replica of the first passenger train that became the first link of public transportation from the North to the South in 1880; named the “Choo Choo”. The entire facility is train themed and fun to wander. You can even rent a train car sleeper!
Wander shops, restaurants and the train-themed hotel – it’s a 24-acre complex so don’t miss it!
The Choo Choo complex is a Chattanooga highlight!
3 – Chattanooga Wings by Kelsey Montague
1501 Long Street
If you love the matching Nashville mural in the Gulch, you must go to the #whatliftsyou mural in Chattanooga to add to your Kelsey collection. There isn’t a line for this one!
Windsor’s 2nd #whatliftsyou mural in the South🖤🤍
4 – USA flag mural on Market Street
Between King & Choo Choo Ave on Market Street
This USA flag totally stands out on Market Street. You have to walk through some grass but otherwise a great location to photograph. Great spot for dogs to have a break from pavement too!
This is a GREAT location for a group photo – especially if you’re visiting from another country
5 – Walnut Street Bridge
1 Walnut Street
This is one of the longest pedestrian bridge’s in the world. It connects the Tennessee Riverwalk on the south side of the river to Coolidge Park on the north.
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6 – Williams Stairway
10 Bluff View Avenue
While near the Walnut Street Bridge, check out the Williams Stairway. For walker and hiker enthusiasts, it’s like a gnarly pedestrian version of San Francisco’s Lombard Street.
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7 – Umbrella Alley
816 Chestnut Street – across the street from Peet’s Coffee
On your walk to or from the Walnut Street Bridge, take a detour to Umbrella Alley. This is a fun colorful spot in Chattanooga for a photo op!
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8 – STIR
1444 Market Street – right next door to the Choo Choo RR Facility
For an amazing meal with cool craft cocktails, end your evening in Chattanooga at STIR. The restaurant has a dog-friendly patio and the menu includes tasty dishes from parmesan white truffle fries to lobster and shrimp white cheddar mac and cheese.
Because we stretched both ends of our day in Chattanooga before continuing our Houston to Maine road trip, we appreciated STIR’s longer hours. They stay open until midnight!
Celebratory drinks on the dog & kid-friendly patio @STIR
Tip: Another dog-friendly restaurant in Chattanooga to add to your list is Feed Table & Tavern. I’m all for a pub and this place looks amazing! We opted for STIR since we arrived after 9pm.
Where To Stay In Chattanooga
While The Edwin Hotel was my first hotel choice, only dogs up to 40 lbs are allowed.
With the Edwin not being an option for our 60+ lbs labradoodle, we opted for the Moxy Chattanooga Downtown and could not have been happier.
The Moxy has pretty hang out spaces, a bar, coffee shop & loads of dog treats
The Moxy Chattanooga is a fun dog-friendly hotel within walking distance to most of the activities in this post. Its superb location offers excellent restaurants nearby and easy access to Chattanooga sights. This is a major requirement after a 14 hour road trip from Houston!
The Moxy rooms are configured unlike any layout I’ve ever seen – this made it extra interesting and a fun hotel for our teen kids!
Back to back Queen headboards – a unique hotel in Chattanooga!
Final Thoughts For 1 Day In Chattanooga
While this visit was in summer, Chattanooga would be absolutely beautiful in fall!
If you have more time, combine Rock City Gardens with your Ruby Falls Tour. We opted for a blend of Tennessee’s beautiful mountainside and southern city vibes for our 1 day in Chattanooga. You need at least another 2 hours to add Rock City Gardens to this list.
If you’ve been to Nashville and Asheville and loved both, go to Chattanooga. Asheville and Chattanooga have similar vibes – art, dogs, nature and a heavy brew/cocktail craft scene. Where Nashville and Chattanooga are similar in soul, art, parks/bridges, and the foodie scene. Dogs totally welcome at all 3!