CARTA runs 13 bus routes and a free downtown electric shuttle. Downtown meters run 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday, with a 2-hour limit.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts come from CARTA, CARTA’s parking site, the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, the City of Chattanooga’s Parking Authority and parks pages, and TDOT.

Chattanooga’s transit agency is CARTA, the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority. It runs 13 bus routes, a free electric Downtown Shuttle, the downtown parking meters and the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. Plan trips with CARTA’s trip planner and Transit app from gocarta.org, or call the CARTA Information Line at 423-629-1473.

Who to call

Roads

Chattanooga sits where Interstate 24 and Interstate 75 meet; the two split in the city. I-75 runs north past Hamilton Place, where TDOT is rebuilding the interchange, and State Route 153 meets I-75 at Exit 4. State Route 8 runs through the Bachman Tubes toward East Ridge and up Signal Mountain Road. State routes and interstates are TDOT’s; city streets are the city’s. Report problems on city streets to 311.

Buses and the free shuttle

  • Fixed routes: 13 CARTA routes serve Chattanooga. Buses are wheelchair accessible, announce each stop and carry free Wi-Fi; the CARTA Bus Tracker shows arrival times. Bikes can ride on buses; see CARTA’s bikes on buses page.
  • Downtown Shuttle: free, electric and wheelchair accessible, about every 15 minutes between the Chattanooga Choo Choo and the Tennessee Aquarium, stopping every block:
Day Hours
Monday to Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Park and ride, travel training and CARTA GO are described on CARTA’s rider information pages.
  • Incline Railway: CARTA manages the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway from St. Elmo. With a Chattanooga Public Library card you can check out a free family pass at the Downtown Library. ridetheincline.com.

The airport

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) is on Airport Road. It lists nonstop flights to Atlanta and Detroit (Delta); Charlotte and Dallas (American); Denver and Houston (United); Chicago and New York (United and American, Delta to LaGuardia and United to Newark); and Fort Lauderdale, Orlando Sanford, Punta Gorda and Tampa (Allegiant). American’s Miami flights return in February 2027.

By bus: CARTA route 19 (Cromwell Road) serves the airport, and route 5, North Brainerd dial-a-ride, runs every 30 minutes, 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays, between the airport and the Brainerd Walmart, where you transfer to route 4 (Eastgate/Hamilton Place) for downtown. Book route 5 at least 30 minutes ahead at 423-629-1487. The airport stop is on Airport Road in front of the terminal. Short-term airport parking is free for the first 15 minutes.

Downtown parking

CARTA manages all on-street meters and pay stations. The rules, from chattanoogaparking.org:

Side of the river Meter hours Limit
South (downtown) 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Saturday 2 hours
North (North Chattanooga) 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Saturday 2 hours
  • Parking is free outside posted meter hours unless a sign says otherwise, which includes Sundays.
  • Pay at a multi-space kiosk (coins or card; put the receipt face up on the dash), at a single-space meter, or by phone with the parking app.
  • The City of Chattanooga’s Parking Authority issues neighborhood parking permits for Fort Wood and Fort Negley and manages accessible parking spaces. Apply for a parking permit.

Biking and walking

  • The Tennessee Riverwalk is a 13-mile paved greenway from downtown to Chickamauga Dam and St. Elmo, open to walkers, runners, cyclists and skaters.
  • Bike Chattanooga rental stations sit along it, including the Hubert Fry Center, Coolidge Park, Renaissance Park and the Blue Goose Hollow and Wheland Foundry trailheads. bikechattanooga.com.
  • The Walnut Street Bridge is a pedestrian bridge between downtown and Coolidge Park on the North Shore.

More in our parks and trails guide.

What this means for you

  • Downtown, park once and ride the free shuttle between the Choo Choo and the Aquarium.
  • Meters are free on Sundays and after 6 p.m.
  • Check TDOT SmartWay before driving I-75 near Hamilton Place.

Related guides: road construction and closures, moving to Chattanooga and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chattanooga downtown shuttle free?

Yes. CARTA’s electric Downtown Shuttle is free and runs about every 15 minutes between the Chattanooga Choo Choo and the Tennessee Aquarium, 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, to 11 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

When do you have to pay for parking downtown Chattanooga?

On-street meters south of the river (downtown) run 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday; on the North Shore, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The limit is 2 hours on both sides, and parking is free outside posted hours unless signs say otherwise.

How do I get to the Chattanooga airport by bus?

CARTA’s route 19 (Cromwell Road) serves the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, and route 5, a weekday dial-a-ride, links the airport with the Brainerd Walmart, where route 4 continues downtown. Call 423-629-1487 to book route 5.

Where can I fly nonstop from Chattanooga?

The airport lists nonstop service to Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, New York and four Florida cities, on Delta, American, United and Allegiant.