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Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, Chattanooga, TN

Photo: Teke, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

AttractionsIconicFamily FavoriteOutdoor Adventure

Lookout Mountain Incline Railway

3917 St. Elmo Ave · Chattanooga, TN

Why you should go…

Running since 1895, this cable railway climbs about a mile from the St. Elmo neighborhood to the top of Lookout Mountain, with a maximum grade of 72.7 percent. The track is single except for a short passing loop at the midway point, where the two cars meet. The upper station has an observation deck, plus SoHi Pizza and the Mountain Top Bar. The line reopened in July 2025 after a December 2024 rockslide and wildfire damaged it.

  • #incline railway
  • #scenic views
  • #lookout mountain
  • #historic railway

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Attractions
    Iconic

    Ruby Falls

    $25–$50

    Underground waterfall inside Lookout Mountain reached by elevator, with cave tours and seasonal ziplining.

    0.8 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Iconic

    Rock City

    $25–$50

    Follow a garden trail through rock formations to Lover's Leap, a swinging bridge and Fairyland Caverns.

    2.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Chattanooga

    Free

    Official visitor site for Chattanooga, Tennessee, covering attractions, dining, hotels, and events.

    2.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Tours
    Quirky Fun

    Chattanooga Ghost Tours

    Under $25

    Guided walking ghost tours and cemetery ghost hunts through downtown Chattanooga's haunted history.

    3.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Tennessee Aquarium

    $25–$50

    Walk through two riverfront buildings, one following a river from mountains to delta and one devoted to the ocean.

    3.6 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

    Free

    Drive and walk Civil War battlefields lined with monuments and cannons, then take in Chattanooga from Point Park.

    6.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing