The National Park System includes nine national military parks, and the oldest preserves battlefields that may not be as well known unless you’re super into Civil War history: Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, in Georgia and Tennessee. That’s right, two states.
The park includes Chickamauga Battlefield in Georgia, part of Lookout Mountain and several other sites around Chattanooga, which makes a convenient base for exploring the area.
Chattanooga’s Civil War history
In 1863, Union and Confederate forces fought to control Chattanooga, a major railroad hub. Confederate forces won the Battle of Chickamauga in September, but the tide turned in November when Union forces took Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. Those victories helped open the way for Union Gen. William T. Sherman’s campaign toward Atlanta in 1864.
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park was established in 1890, five years before Gettysburg became a national military park.
To explore more of Chattanooga’s military history, visit the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center and Chattanooga National Cemetery. If you have time for all three, I recommend starting at the heritage center, exploring the park next and finishing at the cemetery.
Exploring the park and Lookout Mountain
While the park is an obvious choice for history buffs, Lookout Mountain’s trails and scenic overlooks make it enjoyable for anyone seeking outdoor time.
Chickamauga Battlefield and Lookout Mountain Battlefield have separate visitor centers, with exhibits that provide context on the respective battles. Chickamauga’s visitor center also shows an orientation film.
There are more than 80 miles of trails throughout the park. Use the Lookout Mountain Battlefield trail map and Chickamauga Battlefield trail map to plan your walk.
Beyond the national military park, Lookout Mountain attractions include Ruby Falls, an underground waterfall reached by guided cave tour, and Rock City, a mountaintop attraction with gardens, rock formations and an overlook advertised as offering views of seven states.
The Incline Railway climbs the mountain at grades reaching 72.7%, making it one of the world’s steepest passenger railways.
For a fun way to explore, park at the railway’s lower station in St. Elmo and ride to the top. From there, it’s a short walk to Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center and Point Park. Check the railway’s operating schedule before planning your visit.
What visitors need to know
Downtown Chattanooga has free electric shuttles, but a car makes it easier to explore the park’s scattered sites and other Lookout Mountain attractions.
Both visitor centers are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Christmas and New Year’s Day. Outdoor areas are generally open during daylight hours; Point Park’s main entrance opens at 8:30 a.m. Check the park’s hours before visiting.
Chickamauga Battlefield and other park units are free to enter. Point Park on Lookout Mountain charges $10 per person for visitors 16 and older; children 15 and younger enter free. See the park’s fees and passes page for details.
Stay, eat and drink
Downtown’s Waymark Hotel, part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection, occupies the former Chattanooga Savings Bank and Trust Company building and retains many of its architectural details. The basement speakeasy in the former vault is particularly fun.
If you want to lean into Chattanooga’s ghost stories, book a stay at the Read House and ask for a tour of room 311. The hotel promotes the room as haunted and offers overnight stays on select October dates. Tours are available on request, subject to guide availability.
Chattanooga has a varied food scene, but here are some of my favorites:
- Purple Daisy Picnic Cafe: Located at the base of Lookout Mountain, this is the perfect spot for a quick bite. Get the Rainbow Sandwich, with chicken salad, pimento cheese and cucumber spread.
- Stir: Located at the Chattanooga Choo Choo, this restaurant specializes in oysters and other seafood but also offers a varied menu. If you like cocktails, stop at nearby Gate 11 Distillery.
Explore Chattanooga
Battlefields, mountain views and stops worth making along the way.
Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center
Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia
Start with exhibits and an orientation film, then walk the battlefield’s wooded trails.
The map and filters need JavaScript. Explore the park on its official site: Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (opens in a new tab).
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Visitor note and sources
The park’s sites are spread out, so a car makes exploring easier. Check official websites for current hours, tickets and access.
Park planning
Sources
- Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (NPS) (opens in a new tab)
- Visitor centers (NPS) (opens in a new tab)
- Park hours (NPS) (opens in a new tab)
- Park fees and passes (NPS) (opens in a new tab)
- Lookout Mountain trail map (NPS) (opens in a new tab)
- Chickamauga Battlefield trail map (NPS) (opens in a new tab)
- Directions to the park’s sites (NPS) (opens in a new tab)
- Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center (opens in a new tab)
- Chattanooga National Cemetery (VA) (opens in a new tab)
- Ruby Falls (opens in a new tab)
- Rock City (opens in a new tab)
- Incline Railway (opens in a new tab)
- The Waymark Hotel (opens in a new tab)
- The Read House (opens in a new tab)
- Purple Daisy Picnic Cafe (opens in a new tab)
- Stir (opens in a new tab)
- Gate 11 Distillery (opens in a new tab)
Map credits
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors, drawn with Leaflet. The locator shown when the map cannot load is schematic.
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