Travel & Guides12 Best Day Trips from Chattanooga Worth the Drive (2026)
From thundering waterfalls and gorge hikes to whiskey distilleries and scenic mountain drives, these are the best day trips within two hours of Chattanooga.
· 16 min read
Day Trips
Things to Do
7 places
01
Ocoee River Whitewater Rafting
Class III-IV rapids on the 1996 Olympic whitewater course
~1 hour
02Cloudland Canyon State Park
3,500 acres with 1,000-ft deep canyons, waterfalls, and 64 miles of hiking trails
~30 min
03Fall Creek Falls State Park
One of Tennessee's largest state parks with a 256-foot waterfall and 56+ miles of trails
~1.5 hours
04Foster Falls
Waterfall hike in South Cumberland State Park, popular for swimming and rock climbing
~45 min
05Jack Daniel's Distillery
Tour America's oldest registered distillery in charming Lynchburg
~1 hr 40 min
06Cherohala Skyway
43-mile National Scenic Byway through Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests
~2 hours
07Amicalola Falls State Park
729-foot cascading waterfall, tallest in the Southeast
~2 hours
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From the Guides
Travel & Guides
Travel & GuidesThe Complete Guide to Lookout Mountain: Everything to See and Do (2026)
From Rock City to Ruby Falls, the Incline Railway to Point Park: everything you need to plan a day (or weekend) on Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga.
· 16 min read
Outdoor & Recreation10 Best Waterfall Hikes Near Chattanooga (2026)
From the 256-foot plunge at Fall Creek Falls to the underground wonder of Ruby Falls, these are the best waterfall hikes within 90 minutes of Chattanooga - with trail details, difficulty ratings, and tips for every skill level.
· 16 min read
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We're always looking to add more great spots. If you know somewhere that should be on this list, let us know.