Tennessee Aquarium
Tennessee Aquarium
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
This aquarium has two buildings: River Journey, which showcases freshwater habitats from around the globe, and Ocean Journey, where travelers can view magnificent sea creatures. We recommend spending at least three hours at the aquarium as there are over 10,000 animals here. The little ones will especially love the cute macaroni penguins and mesmerizing sea jellies. Weekends are the busiest, so consider visiting on a weekday for a quieter and more intimate experience. There’s timed entry to the aquarium, so plan ahead when booking your tickets. And don’t forget to make use of the city’s free shuttle to get there. – Tripadvisor
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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See what travelers are saying
- MMS102 contributionsVery nice venuesWe only had one day here and the aquarium was on our list. Easy walk from the hotel. Nice venues, clean. Of course on a Friday there were many people and lots of strollers/wagons. Kind of a shame as in my opinion kids under about 3 or 4 are clueless. Managed to get a few nice photos. Only issue was the gift shop: about 2-3 doz high schl kids descended on it and they were unsupervised and a few very rude (line cutting, handling a lot of stuff). I wonder how much shop lifting occurs! Overall we enjoyed the visit. Gatlinburg aquarium is much nicer but also 2x cost. This one was very nice for the size. I would go back!Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 20, 2023
- CalmjohnLeavenworth, Kansas7,467 contributionsJust Too Hard To DescribeThis aquarium is an attraction that is not to be missed. Take the elevator up and start at the top and walk down the winding ramp down. There are two buildings and unless I misunderstood, all of the animals and fish are from the Chattanooga area. Do not plan to take less then 3 hours and preferably allow four. That will allow you to have a bite of foo to break up your adventure.Visited August 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 4, 2023
- phat_dawg_21Alpharetta, Georgia17,368 contributionsTwo Aquariums, one ticketThis was our second visit to the aquarium. The first time we spent all our time exploring the River Journey. This time we explored the Ocean Journey. One of the first things we encountered was the penguin exhibit. I never knew there were so many different species of penguins. The signage was very good and educational. If your time is limited, I would suggest you spend more of it in the River Journey building because it is unique. The Ocean Journey does not excite like other aquariums, for example the one in Atlanta.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 8, 2023
- Christine B9 contributionsPhenominalGreat informative, interactive, and wonderful aquarium experience. One of the new areas (to us) called the butterfly exhibit was really awesome as well. And the bathroom facilities were immaculate. Overall, it was the best experience of our trip to Chattanooga.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 13, 2023
- NorCal-traveler08Orangevale, California2,364 contributionsLoved it!One of the best aquariums we have been to. Loved that you get both the ocean creatures and the river experience. This is a two building aquarium. Lots of hands on things to touch and feel. My grandkids loved the "bubbles" that they could go up into to be right in the tanks. Lot of large tanks with amazing fish. Lots of picture places along the way. You go to the top floor first and work your way down seeing exhibits along the way. Nice paths to walk on. They have two gift shops and no food is allowed in the aquarium. There is a pay parking lot by the aquarium, it can be pricey by the hour. Just a few blocks away you can find cheaper parking.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten November 13, 2023
- mathstudMulberry, Florida549 contributionsGreat Fresh Water ExhibitsIt is one of the best fresh water aquariums. The newer salt water aquarium was good but needs more exhibits. We also got the IMAX package. The IMAX 3D movie was great. The total package was a little pricey but not too bad. We spent about 3.5 hours for the visit.Visited November 2023Traveled with familyWritten November 21, 2023
- loreeDestin, Florida39 contributionsWorth the price, huge variety of speciesHalf a day visit, hands on exhibits really added value for the kids. Very clean, good variety. Would be a bit better is there was more interaction with staff and a more educational angle. Highly recommended.Visited November 2023Traveled with familyWritten November 26, 2023
- sher2929Chicago Heights, Illinois6 contributionsFamily Fun at the Aquarium!We visited the Chattanooga Aquarium in Feb. 2024 on a Wednesday. It wasn't busy and we were able to walk around without being rushed. The buildings were clean and the employees we encountered were very friendly and knowledgeable. The displays and enclosures were very animal friendly and true to their environments. I bet it looks really nice in the summer when the outside fountains are on. Visit this place, you won't be disappointed!Visited February 2024Traveled with familyWritten March 6, 2024
- jlgourleyNashville, Tennessee67 contributionsFantastic way to see the day! Too many great exhibits to count!Had a fabulous time visiting! There are a total of two buildings - one dedicated to fresh water and one dedicated to the oceans. Both are great! The layout is unique and the exhibits are exceptionally well done. We also purchased the IMAX add-on. Watched a movie about blue whales - very interesting and engaging.Visited March 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 14, 2024
- Justin PColumbia, South Carolina23 contributionsNice afternoon visitThis is a great aquarium. My son is a teenager. He loved sharks and whales as a little kid and loves fishing now. He's seen pretty much everything in the aquarium in other locations, but still enjoyed how the route flowed. The river side is better than the ocean side. Give yourself a couple of hours. We went on a Sunday afternoon and it was busy but not so bad that we felt rushed or crowded. It was$70 for two people (with military discount). If my son didn't enjoy fishing, I'm not sure it works be worth it for usVisited April 2024Traveled with familyWritten April 22, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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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
4.5
7,116 reviews
Excellent
5,110
Very good
1,546
Average
379
Poor
58
Terrible
24
Jake T
Pontotoc, MS13 contributions
Mar 2021
I love aquariums and had wanted to visit the Tennessee Aquarium for several years. Be sure you buy tickets well in advance, as we had a very difficult time getting tickets even a day in advance. Tickets are also very expensive. Around $30 for an adult and $15 for kids when you include taxes. The prices seem a bit extreme, in my opinion, and it would be hard for me to justify paying to see this aquarium again in the future.
Overall we had a great time. The area outside the building is very cool, and the building is a beautiful, well-designed facility. Most areas were designed to allow for plenty of foot traffic so that everyone could see the fish easily. Be prepared to deal with kids, even if you don't take kids with you. There was one family that let their kids run wild, and they were constantly in everyone's way and made a lot of noise.
I was also disappointed at how strict the aquarium staff was about enforcing us to wear masks, despite the fact that we were perfectly healthy when we visited the aquarium, and despite the lack of scientific evidence to support how effective masks are at preventing spread of covid. We were asked to put on masks when entering, and I was harassed by employees on four separate occasions to make sure that my mask fully covered my nose.
Overall we had a great time. The area outside the building is very cool, and the building is a beautiful, well-designed facility. Most areas were designed to allow for plenty of foot traffic so that everyone could see the fish easily. Be prepared to deal with kids, even if you don't take kids with you. There was one family that let their kids run wild, and they were constantly in everyone's way and made a lot of noise.
I was also disappointed at how strict the aquarium staff was about enforcing us to wear masks, despite the fact that we were perfectly healthy when we visited the aquarium, and despite the lack of scientific evidence to support how effective masks are at preventing spread of covid. We were asked to put on masks when entering, and I was harassed by employees on four separate occasions to make sure that my mask fully covered my nose.
Written March 22, 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.
Jorge G
Chihuahua, Mexico122 contributions
Dec 2021 • Couples
Amazing, a must-see if you are in the area. The museum is divided in two buildings, one for sea water and the other one for fresh water.
Currently visits are timed and tickets must be pre-purchased online. My recommendation is to try to get tickets for entry before 3pm, because it takes a bit more than 2 hours to visit all the museum (and it closes at 5pm).
Currently visits are timed and tickets must be pre-purchased online. My recommendation is to try to get tickets for entry before 3pm, because it takes a bit more than 2 hours to visit all the museum (and it closes at 5pm).
Written January 1, 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.
Laura C
Bakersville, NC32 contributions
Aug 2020
Wonderful visit in the middle of a pandemic. The facility was clean and not crowded. They have timed entry, so they are limiting the number of people that can enter at one time. We arrived around 3 p.m. and it was not crowded at all. The facility was very clean, staff were friendly and helpful, and we enjoyed seeing all of the fish and other creatures. There are two buildings and they suggest that you do the river animals first and then visit the ocean one (it closes later). If you’ve been to other aquariums, this one is by far superior.
Written August 4, 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.
Corey
8 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
The Tennessee Aquarium is excellent. The price of admission is quite high at $35 a person, so you should consider whether you are someone who would enjoy a slow trip through an aquarium. If you are a zoo/aquarium/museum kind of person, then you must stop here on a visit to Chattanooga. Both buildings (the ocean and freshwater buildings) are formidable aquariums in their own right, but the ticket gets you into both. Freshwater animals are not always as visually striking as the saltwater ones, but the aquarium did a fantastic job of creating true-to-life exhibits to show off some of the freshwater diversity present in Tennessee and beyond. Many of the exhibits were truly impressive.
Written May 13, 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.
Dale
Marietta, GA2 contributions
Oct 2021 • Family
We came to the aquarium primarily to see the butterfly exhibit. We were charged full price for three people and entered only to find out that the butterfly exhibit was closed and had apparently been closed for a significant period of time. This is one of the major exhibits at this aquarium and in our opinion is about 1/3 of the experience of visiting. When 1/3 of your major exhibit area is not available to the public there should be some warning and or notification prior to ticket purchase. We were very disappointed.
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.
Shannon K
Knoxville, TN193 contributions
Nov 2020 • Couples
They’ve laid out this aquarium very well, which makes for a smooth journey through both buildings. The place is clean with a lot of aquatic animals visible, including sharks, sting rays, jellyfish, turtles, penguins, etc. Staff is friendly.
The butterfly exhibit was closed. They’re ensuring social distancing with timed entries, masks required, and letting families on the escalators one at a time. However, once in the actual aquarium, people are being their typical close proximity selves, standing really close and letting their kids push right in front of you, when you’re taking your turn looking at specific sections.
The butterfly exhibit was closed. They’re ensuring social distancing with timed entries, masks required, and letting families on the escalators one at a time. However, once in the actual aquarium, people are being their typical close proximity selves, standing really close and letting their kids push right in front of you, when you’re taking your turn looking at specific sections.
Written November 22, 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.
Alain G
Boston, MA76 contributions
Jan 2020
My wife and I were in Chattanooga for a Wrestling tournament and had a day to spare. Unfortunately it was pouring rain so we decided to hit the aquarium for a few hours before checking out a movie.
This place was surprisingly pretty and well laid out. The highlight for me was the massive tanks that held sharks and a host of other fish. You can tell from the pictures that the lighting of these tanks was surprisingly cinematic.
Just an overall lovely way to spend a morning.
This place was surprisingly pretty and well laid out. The highlight for me was the massive tanks that held sharks and a host of other fish. You can tell from the pictures that the lighting of these tanks was surprisingly cinematic.
Just an overall lovely way to spend a morning.
Written January 11, 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.
DanielleIvy
Plainfield, IL103 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
My entire family thought the TN Aquarium was only ok, but admittedly we are spoiled by the much larger, historical, and nicer Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. We enjoyed the unique layout of the River area and the river giants housed in that area, as well as the jellies and the large tank with sharks, giant sea turtle, and other creatures in the Ocean area. Because much of what you’re seeing are the same aquaria from different vantage points, we were able to get through this relatively quickly in just over an hour. For the price of admission, it isn’t worth it. Had the entry fees been priced commensurate with the size and quality of the aquarium, I would have rated this more stars, as value would have been there for the dollar. The building itself is beautiful from the outside and we really enjoyed the outside park around the buildings.
Written June 12, 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.
Andy McIntire
Stone Mountain, GA1 contribution
Oct 2020
The Tennessee Aquarium is an amazing experience in terms of value, collection, presentation and layout, as well as the surrounding area. If you live in Atlanta, drive two hours north on 75, easily park and fall in love with the Tennessee Aquarium, and enjoy walking around scenic and charming downtown Chattanooga by the river.
Tennessee Aquarium ($29 per person online, NO MASK REQUIRED, 130k sq. ft., more than 12,000 animals representing almost 800 species)
The aquarium is non-profit, funded by Lyndhurst Foundation, designed by University of Tennessee's urban design program and Cambridge Seven Associates, which had previously designed the National Aquarium in Baltimore and the New England Aquarium in Boston. It includes two separate buildings for fresh and salt water exhibits, and the presentation feels like a science museum to keep the emphasis on what’s in the tank. The atmosphere created by the lighting and ambient music surrounding the displays is subtle and unobtrusive - it’s gorgeous. The entire structure is carefully designed to be naturalistic and afford optimal viewing. The collection is extensive, and though it’s smaller by square footage, it feels greater than the Georgia collection and actually features more species. The flow of people is well managed by design. Substantial variety of jellyfish and ocean life, wide range of freshwater life including reptiles and amphibians, a butterfly house and lemurs.
Tennessee Aquarium ($29 per person online, NO MASK REQUIRED, 130k sq. ft., more than 12,000 animals representing almost 800 species)
The aquarium is non-profit, funded by Lyndhurst Foundation, designed by University of Tennessee's urban design program and Cambridge Seven Associates, which had previously designed the National Aquarium in Baltimore and the New England Aquarium in Boston. It includes two separate buildings for fresh and salt water exhibits, and the presentation feels like a science museum to keep the emphasis on what’s in the tank. The atmosphere created by the lighting and ambient music surrounding the displays is subtle and unobtrusive - it’s gorgeous. The entire structure is carefully designed to be naturalistic and afford optimal viewing. The collection is extensive, and though it’s smaller by square footage, it feels greater than the Georgia collection and actually features more species. The flow of people is well managed by design. Substantial variety of jellyfish and ocean life, wide range of freshwater life including reptiles and amphibians, a butterfly house and lemurs.
Written September 22, 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.
Thank you very much for such an in-depth and positive review of our Aquarium. We take great care in providing an excellent experience for visitors, by doing our best to manage visitor traffic and offering various vantage points to view our exhibits from. We hope you'll come visit us again soon!
Written September 23, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
GooseTroop
Chattanooga, TN37 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
My kids are grown, and I have a 1 year old grandbaby, and ended up back at the aquarium after not visiting for several years. Very enjoyable. It can be crowded with field trips, or on weekends but these winter months are wonderful. My tiny grand daughter loved watching the fish. And I had forgotten how much fun I used to have visiting with my boys when they were young. Because you are visiting the animals & fish, you always notice something new. Alligators toe nails painted so they can study them, figuring out which otter is which, long legged crabs, penguins & butterflies, I feel like a one time visit is kinda expensive, but if there is any chance you will visit again the membership makes it very reasonable and really encourages me to take advantage of it and visit often .
Written February 27, 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.
Yes, they do. If the sponsor of the family is on active duty the discount applies to his family. If a veteran the discount only applies to the veteran. I am not sure about retired personnel if they only get the discount for the veteran or if they get the family discount.
Written May 7, 2024
$2 discounts off price for active military and everyone on their party.
Written March 24, 2024
So it says the Tennessee aquarium closes at 5pm but there’s a booking option for 4:30 pm. That would only be 30 mins? Or would they allow us the amount of time we’re supposed to get to see both buildings??
Written May 14, 2023
They do close at 6: 00 PM. for both buildings. They stop letting people in at 5:00 PM. Some displays do not take much time to visit and others take more. Enjoy. I would go back.
Written May 15, 2023
Can you use a wagon type set up like a veer instead of a stroller? I have 2 kids.
Written January 22, 2023
Can you use a wagon type set up like a beer instead of a stroller? I have 2 kids.
Written January 22, 2023
Yes but times might have limited choice
Written January 24, 2023
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