Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
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America's first and largest military park is located just over the border from Tennessee.
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83 within 3 miles
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70 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Rhonda R.Dahlonega, Georgia27 contributionsGreat Audio Driving TourWe started at the Visitor Center where there is a small museum. One part of the museum explains the start and details of the battle, then another part has a ton of military rifles, and then another part highlights important people during the Civil War. There is a bathroom and gift shop there. There are no maps. There is info about how to either call or go to a website to get a recorded tour that you follow as you drive around the battlefield. Follow the signs and the audio recording to go around to the various spots. The spots are marked with signs, memorial markers, and these huge, unsightly metal signs that are difficult to read. Just listen the audio. If you want, you can get out and walk around. We didn't because it was a rainy day. The story is cool. I would love to see them put like metal statues of people in the field to help us better picture the details of the battle and imagine how many people were actually involved and killed. There are other parts of Ft. Oglethorpe, like Point Park, that we didn't visit because I actually didn't know about it ahead of time. I guess this park is huge and there a lot of parts, so do your research to see which parts you want to go to.Visited March 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten April 1, 2023
- Donna MCleveland, Ohio167 contributionsAn important site for those interested in the Civil WarThe park includes the main battlefield at Chickamauga plus a park on Lookout Mountain and a few other small reservations on Missionary Ridge and Orchard Knob. We only visited the main battlefield and the small park on Lookout Mountain. The battlefield has a nice visitor center with maps and other information, a museum, a bookstore and a movie which explains the military situation and the battle itself. The movie is highly recommended before touring the rest of the battlefield. There are many monuments to various outfits throughout the park which are interesting, and excellent signage that details where outfits were situated during the battle, what part they played and often casualty counts. There is an excellent self-guided audio auto tour which can be downloaded (for free) to one's phone, and which details the actions which took place at each stop and their significance in the overall battle. The park on Lookout Mountain has some fantastic views (if the weather permits) which help to understand the movements during the November 1863 battles for Chattanooga. The small visitor center just outside the park entrance gate includes a small bookstore and a museum which also explains the military situation and battles which took place. There is a small entrance fee to enter the park, or entrance is covered if you have a national park pass.Visited April 2023Traveled with friendsWritten April 30, 2023
- Bowmanator22Charlotte, North Carolina5,046 contributionsWorth a quick stopNot that much to see from a military standpoint. Great overlooks. Not worth the entry fee in my opinion, but free for young kids and for me since I had a Natl Park Pass. Good Visitor Center and gift shop.Visited June 2023Traveled with familyWritten June 25, 2023
- Jonathan BColorado Springs, Colorado334 contributionsOne of the Best Battlefield ParksMy great grandfather served with one of the units that was in the battle, so I had a personal interest in walking the battlefield. But even without that, I think the plethora of monuments makes this park something special. You can see exactly where all the units were emplaced. I liked the ability to use my phone to get information at the seven stops. And the visitor center had a good movie explaining the battle. The trip was sobering, but something that everyone should make at some time.Visited June 2023Written June 27, 2023
- toslJersey City, New Jersey785 contributionsDawn at Chickamauga NPSI did not know this was the first Civil War battlefield that was preserved nor it was the 2nd bloodiest battle after Gettysburg. Very peaceful drive and visit. Hiking on the trails lends one to feel the confusion in the thick woods. Beautiful park filled with joggers and cyclists.Visited July 2023Written August 6, 2023
- CalmjohnLeavenworth, Kansas6,195 contributionsA Feeling of The PastIf you are a Civil War buff or just enjoy military museums or like history of the United States this is a stop that you should make if you are in the Chattanooga area. You can drive thru the park quickly and enjoy your time or you can take your time, stop at the designated stations and learn much mor than you ever did in school. I advise any and all to put this visit on your agenda and spend some enjoyable sights and learn more than you expected.Visited August 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 4, 2023
- jeffbeckincWest Des Moines, Iowa295 contributionsFree audio tour with good trails for hiking and bikingI will get the what we didn't like out of the way, being upfront that maybe it was an off day for the Visitor Center or maybe we were just clueless where to go. We couldn't fine any outdoor trash receptcles or brochures inside. That being said, the rest of the tour was wonderful. The road signs make navigating around quite easy and the audio tour was fantastic. Audio tour isn't something we usually do but it was a hot day, we had our dog with us and the park is large. You would be hard press to see everything in one day if you weren't in a car. The audio tour really helps help you move the park at a reasonable clip.Visited May 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten December 8, 2023
- Alicia_JA323 contributionsIncredible History PreservedI spent many more hours visiting than I had anticipated. There were so many gorgeous monuments, I frequently left my car to read inscriptions and take photographs. I also visited several sites that make up the military park in both TN & GA. I am so happy this history has been preserved. It is mind-blowing to think of the events that took place on these hallowed grounds.Visited December 2023Traveled soloWritten January 2, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
572 reviews
Excellent
460
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96
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4
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Steve D
Northern California234 contributions
Jul 2021
This was one of the highlights to my trip to Chattanooga. A great little visitors center which clearly highlights the importance of the location - but also the military tactics behind both Confederate & Union Generals.
There are monuments erected by the different states / units throughout the park (similar to Gettysburg) - which makes for an absolutely fantastic walk through the woods and fields.
The Rangers are Extremely knowledgeable about the battle, the men, and the military tactics. It showed a true passion for their park.
There are monuments erected by the different states / units throughout the park (similar to Gettysburg) - which makes for an absolutely fantastic walk through the woods and fields.
The Rangers are Extremely knowledgeable about the battle, the men, and the military tactics. It showed a true passion for their park.
Written July 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rhonda R.
Dahlonega, GA27 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
We started at the Visitor Center where there is a small museum. One part of the museum explains the start and details of the battle, then another part has a ton of military rifles, and then another part highlights important people during the Civil War. There is a bathroom and gift shop there. There are no maps. There is info about how to either call or go to a website to get a recorded tour that you follow as you drive around the battlefield. Follow the signs and the audio recording to go around to the various spots. The spots are marked with signs, memorial markers, and these huge, unsightly metal signs that are difficult to read. Just listen the audio. If you want, you can get out and walk around. We didn't because it was a rainy day. The story is cool. I would love to see them put like metal statues of people in the field to help us better picture the details of the battle and imagine how many people were actually involved and killed. There are other parts of Ft. Oglethorpe, like Point Park, that we didn't visit because I actually didn't know about it ahead of time. I guess this park is huge and there a lot of parts, so do your research to see which parts you want to go to.
Written April 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Calmjohn
Leavenworth, KS6,195 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
If you are a Civil War buff or just enjoy military museums or like history of the United States this is a stop that you should make if you are in the Chattanooga area. You can drive thru the park quickly and enjoy your time or you can take your time, stop at the designated stations and learn much mor than you ever did in school.
I advise any and all to put this visit on your agenda and spend some enjoyable sights and learn more than you expected.
I advise any and all to put this visit on your agenda and spend some enjoyable sights and learn more than you expected.
Written November 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Giles M
1 contribution
Oct 2021
Historian and guide Richard Marion spend the day with my dad and me touring three major pieces of geography in the Chattanooga campaign: the battlefield at Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. He was able to summarize a complex series of events in a way that made sense to an amateur student of history.
He has a vast knowledge of history, and I highly recommend his tour! Five stars
He has a vast knowledge of history, and I highly recommend his tour! Five stars
Written October 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather
Bloomington, IN7 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Beautiful place to visit. There were so many monuments it would be easy to spend all day there and still not read them all. The visitor center was closed as o no live tours but still well worth the trip.
Written July 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tosl
Jersey City, NJ785 contributions
Jul 2023
I did not know this was the first Civil War battlefield that was preserved nor it was the 2nd bloodiest battle after Gettysburg. Very peaceful drive and visit. Hiking on the trails lends one to feel the confusion in the thick woods. Beautiful park filled with joggers and cyclists.
Written August 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
melwashere81
Cleveland, TX1,206 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
There are 2 sections to this park. One is in Tennessee and the other is in Georgia. We went to both. The one on the Tennessee side has an admission charge and you have to pay to park BUT the views are amazing!! Called point park...you can see the whole city of Chattanooga from here! Definitely worth a stop but not sure it's worth the admission price.
The Georgia side is free and has so much more. There are 8 stops along the scenic drive and so much to see at each stop. Our favorite was stop 6...we were able to hike to the top of a tower that overlooked the Battlefield. Such a great experience! Allow half a day to a whole day to experience both sections. I will definitely be back!
The Georgia side is free and has so much more. There are 8 stops along the scenic drive and so much to see at each stop. Our favorite was stop 6...we were able to hike to the top of a tower that overlooked the Battlefield. Such a great experience! Allow half a day to a whole day to experience both sections. I will definitely be back!
Written May 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Will S
2 contributions
Aug 2020
I live minutes away so I tend to visit the park regularly. This park has some of the best monuments that I have seen. The staff here at the park are friendly and willing to go out of their way to give you information and help you have a good time.
Not to get into a big lecture but this sight was the biggest fight between the North and the South. I know people think it was Gettysburg but it wasent.
Anyway, this park you can ride you bike, walk your dog, ride your horse , fly a kite, have a softball game, get a tour, watch reenactments and again see some really great monuments!
This park is also haunted. Yes haunted. I myself have witnessed on several occasions different things that just cannot be explained by science. There are several " ghost stories " that will make you sit back and wonder. One of these stories is about a lady in white that can be seen walking down the road. Some have stopped and asked her if she needed a ride. When she never answers they drive off to look in the mirror and find her gone from sight. There's also a " green eyed monster" that people have seen since the Civil War.
But don't be miss guided because I go there regularly and have only seen a few unexplained phenomena.
This park is huge. You can have a nice Picnic and be totally alone. People go there and spend hours enjoying the scenery.
Did I mention that the park is free? No admission what do ever!
One of the coolest things there are the " hospitals " where they actually did the care of wounded soldier's. They are not what you think because they are very small and look like a log cabin.
There is a whole lot of history there and if you are ever in the area this is a place to bring a Picnic basket, cooler of Pepsi and maybe a kite and just spend the day relaxing!
Not to get into a big lecture but this sight was the biggest fight between the North and the South. I know people think it was Gettysburg but it wasent.
Anyway, this park you can ride you bike, walk your dog, ride your horse , fly a kite, have a softball game, get a tour, watch reenactments and again see some really great monuments!
This park is also haunted. Yes haunted. I myself have witnessed on several occasions different things that just cannot be explained by science. There are several " ghost stories " that will make you sit back and wonder. One of these stories is about a lady in white that can be seen walking down the road. Some have stopped and asked her if she needed a ride. When she never answers they drive off to look in the mirror and find her gone from sight. There's also a " green eyed monster" that people have seen since the Civil War.
But don't be miss guided because I go there regularly and have only seen a few unexplained phenomena.
This park is huge. You can have a nice Picnic and be totally alone. People go there and spend hours enjoying the scenery.
Did I mention that the park is free? No admission what do ever!
One of the coolest things there are the " hospitals " where they actually did the care of wounded soldier's. They are not what you think because they are very small and look like a log cabin.
There is a whole lot of history there and if you are ever in the area this is a place to bring a Picnic basket, cooler of Pepsi and maybe a kite and just spend the day relaxing!
Written August 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ManningAvenger
Sellersburg, IN1,490 contributions
Sep 2020
Due to COVID 19 our visit to the visitors center was limited to being outside. That's where the gift shop was placed outside the door. Our drive through the park was nice, with all the monuments and memorials .Gives us an appreciation of the Civil War history that occurred here.
Written September 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hatzlacha
Virginia909 contributions
Nov 2022
Clearly controlling the vantage point from Chickamauga was important during the war. In present day, it was amazingly crowded for such a small area. If you like heights and a stunning city / river views, this is the place for you. If I visited again, I'd be tempted to park at the bottom, take the rail car up (for the views), and make the small walk over to the park.
Written November 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marissa J
Acworth, GA54 contributions
We have a 2 year old.. is this kid friendly & stroller friendly?
shareneva
Texas89 contributions
We have a 9 year old and 6 year old, so with short attention spans we will probably only spend a few hours at the park. What are the highlights/must sees? Is there a touring order that works best? Thanks for the input!
DarleneChicago
Chicago42 contributions
I agree with the other comments. 2 hours is plenty of time. We saw lots of people on bicycles. The terrain is fairly level so riding is easy. And safe on the one way loop road.
parraboy
Sydney, Australia670 contributions
Hi , Australian family travelling from Nashville to Townsend. Would like to stop here on route. Would 3 hours be enough time to see and appreciate it ? We will be in our hire car....
Thanks
Jef N
Chattanooga, TN228 contributions
In three hours you could see a few of the main attractions, such as Wilder Tower and Snodgrass hill. The park is about 30 minutes from Chattanooga.
parraboy
Sydney, Australia670 contributions
Hi , Australian family travelling from Nashville to Townsend. Would like to stop here on route. Would 3 hours be enough time to see and appreciate it ? We will be in our hire car....
Thanks
wmsolywa
Olympia, WA630 contributions
I was there in January and spent about 3 hours in the park.. t is possible to spend a lot more time, but 3 hours gave plenty of time to see the park and reflect upon what went on here. Stop at the visitor's center to get oriented.
MountainCityMater
mountain city27 contributions
can I walk my dog in that Park
Jef N
Chattanooga, TN228 contributions
Yes, but you have to clean up after them.
Michele Villafa... S
Corona, CA1 contribution
What are the best monuments and historical buildings to see? We will most likely spend most of the day there. My son is a history major and loves the civil war period. I plan to take him to Lookout Mountain as well when he visits.
PeachBelle8288
Atlanta, GA47,641 contributions
You can either take the audio CD tour or the ranger led tour. If you do the audio CD tour then just follow the directions and you can stop for how long you like. We enjoyed the museum, film and the mill area. Lookout Mountain is nice as well.
fozzie555
uk463 contributions
How long do you need to spend at the visitor centre and doing the driving tour, I have a real interest in the civil war so want to allocate enough time here?
seva392015
Chattanooga, TN65 contributions
If you want to visit the museum that might take an hour. If you just want to drive and see the monuments there is no charge. You can do that in an hour or two depending on how many times you stop and how many pictures you take. It is not as big as Gettysburg if you have been there.
Chuck B
Cornell, MI235 contributions
How much time should be figured to experience this properly? We've done Vicksburg with a similar self guided driving tour.
Deborah C
Tennessee, United States47 contributions
To do the self-guided tour only, I would say 2-3 hours, but if you want the full experience it would take a few days. Spending the day there would be a good compromise to see the highlights and some of the extras, etc.
KRC
Indianapolis, IN1 contribution
I drive for a local Assisted Living Facility, I'm needing to know if the museum is wheelchair accessable, are the restrooms wheelchair accessable, what's the cost to visit the museum, what times are the movies shown, and is there a narrator in the museum ? Thank you so very much. Kim Cofer
lockrey
Michigan51 contributions
Not sure about the wheel chair accessible. I would guess yes, but call to find out. Movie runs on a loop every 30 minutes or so. There is a guide, 3 the day we were there, to answer questions. Again, I would guess yes on the restrooms. It was a nice museum and would be easy to get around although the gun exhibit aisles were pretty small. The battlefield tour itself is done from your own car with a smartphone.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
- Hotels near Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park:
- (0.54 mi) Super 8 by Wyndham Ft. Oglethorpe GA/Chatt TN Area
- (0.45 mi) Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Chickamauga Battlefield
- (5.44 mi) Chanticleer Inn Bed and Breakfast
- (7.21 mi) Hotel Clemons
- (4.28 mi) Hampton Inn Chattanooga East Ridge
- Restaurants near Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park:
- (0.03 mi) Krystal
- (0.09 mi) Ming Moon Chinese Restaurant
- (0.17 mi) Donut Palace
- (0.17 mi) Arby's
- (0.18 mi) Del Taco