The Best Things to Do on Lookout Mountain Tennessee
Johnny Cash and June Carter. Elvis and Priscilla Presley. Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain Tennessee. What do these names have in common? They’re some of the most iconic duos to come out of Tennessee.
When it comes to visiting Chattanooga, everyone will tell you to head to Lookout Mountain and do the Holy Trinity: Ruby Falls, Rock City, and the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. I did all three in one day, plus a sleeper hit that ended up salvaging one of the stops.
In this Lookout Mountain Tennessee guide, I break down what you need to know before you go, as well as what’s worth your time and money.
Quick Answer: The Best Things to Do on Lookout Mountain Tennessee
Short on time? Here’s the rundown.
The biggest takeaway from this guide: don’t skip Point Park, even if the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway doesn’t make your list.
The Lookout Mountain Tennessee Basics Nobody Explains
Before you start booking tickets, there are a few things that would have saved me some confusion.
You need a car. Ruby Falls, Rock City, and the Incline Railway are separate attractions with separate tickets, parking lots, and entrances. They’re close together, but you’re not walking from one attraction to the next, especially in the Tennessee heat.
One mountain, two states. Rock City is actually across the state line in Georgia, but blink and you’ll miss it.
Parking varies by attraction. Ruby Falls and Rock City both have free parking, a concept that’s still wild to me as someone from Los Angeles. The Incline Railway is the only one that charges, with rates based on how long you stay.
Point Park is the wildcard. It’s not part of the “holy trinity,” but it’s only a few blocks from the Incline Railway and worth the detour. More on that later.
Why Ruby Falls Gets Panned (And Why I Think They’re Wrong)
Seeing Ruby Falls is basically a requirement for anyone visiting Chattanooga or Lookout Mountain. It’s one of the area’s biggest claims to fame. However, a lot of Chattanoogans will tell you this underground waterfall is a tourist trap.
As someone who wears their tourist badge with pride, I didn’t let that stop me. And it shouldn’t stop you either.
Is it touristy? Yes. Are there crowds? Yes, but those can be avoided if you go early. Will it make you “Oooh!” and “Aahh!”? Probably.
My verdict: Ruby Falls is worth it for first-time visitors. But you probably only need to do it once.
→ Read my full Ruby Falls review
Rock City Is Just the Right Kind of Weird
I’ll get this out of the way: Rock City Gardens is expensive. My dad actually said, “I can’t believe I paid $129 to see rocks.” And he’s not entirely wrong.
Rock City is a slow burn. The views are pretty. The waterfalls are waterfall-ing. But Fairyland Caverns is where things take a turn.
If satanic-looking garden gnomes under black lights, glow-in-the-dark nursery rhyme scenes, and a full Mother Goose Village are your thing, you won’t want to skip Rock City.
One thing I knew, but stupidly didn’t do: buy your tickets online. Pricing is dynamic, and showing up at the gate cost us way more than booking in advance would have.
My verdict: Expensive, but worth it. Just don’t pay full price like I did.
→ Read my full Rock City guide
Lookout Mountain Incline Railway: Cool Concept, Mixed Execution
I love a funicular, and I had really high hopes for the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. And how could you not when it’s billed as the steepest incline passenger railway in the world?
In reality, it’s loud. Or as my dad described it, it sounded like a school bus. And if you were hoping to learn something from the narration on the way up? Forget it.
Once you’re at the top, there’s not much to do besides buy Moon Pies and walk through a gift shop. And don’t get me started on the hallway that smelled like pee.
It’s also the only Lookout Mountain attraction where you have to pay for parking. It’s not expensive, but it was time consuming. Just be sure to leave your parking receipt on the dashboard of your car. Sometimes the license plate doesn’t register with the reader.
One good thing about the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway is that it’s close to a lot of restaurants. We ate at Mr. T’s Pizza, which is directly across the street. I was able to veganize one of their sandwiches, and I was pleasantly surprised to see they offered vegan cheese for their pizzas, too.
My verdict: While I can officially say I’ve ridden the steepest incline railway in the United States, I don’t think I’d do it again on its own. But if you pair it with Point Park, then it’s justified.
Point Park: The Real Reason to Go to the Top
The only reason I knew about Point Park was because of my Civil War history-loving dad. It’s located a few blocks away from the top of the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, and it’s well worth the detour.
Part of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Point Park is home to Civil War monuments and several short walking paths. And did I mention there were cannons?
Out of everything we did on Lookout Mountain, Point Park was the best value. It’s free with a National Park Pass, it’s not crowded, and you get some of the best views of Chattanooga. We spent 45 minutes wandering around, and as someone who is more “outsidey” than “outdoorsy,” I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
A note for people, like myself, who aren’t fans of danger noodles (snakes): someone pointed out to us that there was a copperhead hiding behind a rock on one of the marked paths. I never saw it, but it’s something to be aware of.
My verdict: Don’t skip Point Park. If I were doing it all over again, I’d skip the Incline Railway and drive straight to Point Park. And unlike the Incline Railway, parking is free.
How to Do Everything on Lookout Mountain Tennessee in One Day
You can see all the greatest hits on Lookout Mountain in one day, just know it will be a pretty long day. And if you visit in the late spring or summer, stay hydrated. The Tennessee heat and humidity will take it out of you.
This is exactly how I would structure your day on Lookout Mountain:
Morning: Ruby Falls Start with Ruby Falls, just make sure you book your tickets in advance. An early entry means you’ll avoid some of the biggest crowds and knock out Chattanooga’s most famous attraction first.
Afternoon: The Incline Railway and Point Park Next, head to the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway and pair it with Point Park. Since the two are only a few blocks apart, it makes sense to do them together. Afterwards, grab lunch at Mr. T’s Pizza or one of the local restaurants nearby.
Late Afternoon: Rock City Save Rock City for last. When I visited, afternoon ticket prices were cheaper than earlier in the day. And whatever you do, don’t make the same mistake I did: buy your tickets online instead of waiting until you get to the gate.
So, What’s Actually Worth It on Lookout Mountain?
Short on time? Make it Ruby Falls. It’s the one most people are searching for, and it earns the hype.
Got a full day? Rock City and Point Park both deserve a spot on your list. Rock City’s slow start pays off in a big way once you hit Fairyland Caverns, and Point Park is the kind of free, uncrowded stop that makes the whole day feel less like a tourist gauntlet.
The Incline Railway is the one I’d cut first. It’s not a bad experience, but driving straight to Point Park gets you the better payoff without paying $22.
Lookout Mountain gets sold as a package deal, but you don’t have to treat it like one. Pick what fits your time, your budget, and what you’re actually in the mood for, and build your day around that.
Planning a Trip to Chattanooga?
My Chattanooga travel guide covers the city’s top attractions, where to stay, and how to plan your itinerary.
Pin Now, Plan Later
Save this Lookout Mountain pin for your Chattanooga trip!
