Kids' activities in Chattanooga: playgrounds, story times, rainy days

Last checked Oct. 18, 2026. Facts come from the City of Chattanooga’s parks directory and park pages, the Chattanooga Public Library, and each attraction’s own website. Hours change by season; check before you go.

Chattanooga is built for kids within a few blocks of the river. The aquarium, the Creative Discovery Museum, the Coolidge Park carousel and fountain and the Walnut Street Bridge are all downtown or on the North Shore, and the city runs 40 parks with playgrounds across its neighborhoods. Library cards for children are free, and card holders can borrow passes to the big attractions. City parks questions: Parks and Outdoors, 423-643-7866.

What this means for you

• Free: playgrounds, story times, the Coolidge Park fountain (May to September) and library family passes.
• Rainy day: Creative Discovery Museum, the aquarium, Ruby Falls or a library branch.
• Cheap: the Coolidge Park carousel, $1 a ride.
• Summer: pools, splash pads and camps are on our summer page.

Playgrounds

The city’s parks directory lists 40 parks with playgrounds. Some favorites:

• Ross’s Landing, 101 Riverfront Parkway: a handicapped-accessible playground, a river pier and an interactive system of wading pools and streams on the plaza by the Tennessee Aquarium.
• Warner Park, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave.: the Miracle Playground, next to the Chattanooga Zoo, Warner Park Pool and Frost Stadium, on a major bus route with plenty of parking.
• Tennessee Riverpark, 4301 Amnicola Highway: a playground, pavilion and fishing piers on the 13-mile Riverwalk.
• Neighborhood parks with playgrounds include North Chattanooga Park (406 May St.), Riverview Park (1000 Barton Ave.), St. Elmo Park (4909 St. Elmo Ave.), Jack Benson Heritage Park (1428 Jenkins Road) and Shepherd Park (2124 Shepherd Road).

Fountains, carousel and riverfront

• Coolidge Park, 150 River St.: an interactive water fountain ringed by hand-carved stone animals, open May through September, and the Bud Ellis Carousel, a restored 1894 Dentzel in a glass pavilion, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily (closed Christmas Day), $1 a ride for adults, free under 2 with a paying adult (Coolidge Park).
• Walnut Street Bridge: walk the 2,376-foot pedestrian bridge from Coolidge Park to the aquarium side.

Story times and the library

All five Chattanooga Public Library locations run early literacy programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, among them Baby Bounce, Toddler Time and Preschool Storytime, and K-12 programs in STEAM, art, music, theater and cooking. Dates are on the library events calendar; Downtown youth staff: 423-643-7730.

• Free cards: children 0 to 5 living anywhere in Hamilton County get a free youth card (the child must come along to apply); Hamilton County Schools students get a free card through their school library. Youth materials have no overdue fines.
• Family passes: card holders can check out passes to the Tennessee Aquarium (2 adults and up to 5 children ages 5 to 17), the Chattanooga Zoo, the Creative Discovery Museum, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and others, once a year per person (family passes).
• Hours: Downtown, Eastgate, Northgate and South Chattanooga, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday; Avondale, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. All closed Sundays (locations).

Rainy-day picks

Creative Discovery Museum has museum spaces designed for children, plus break camps for kindergarten through fifth grade timed to the Hamilton County Schools calendar. The Tennessee Aquarium has two buildings, River Journey and Ocean Journey, and an IMAX theater; call 800-262-0695.

Outdoors and animals

• Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave.: more than 500 animals of over 150 species, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (last admission 4:30 p.m.); closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Active-duty military and veterans get in free (hours and admission), 423-697-1322.
• Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, 4119 Cromwell Road: the Missionary Ridge Local train ride, for all ages, about 65 minutes, through a pre-Civil War tunnel (train rides).
• Greenway Farm in Hixson: 6 miles of trails and canoe access on North Chickamauga Creek, with monthly Outdoor Chattanooga programs (Greenway Farm).

Related: free things to do, spring break, walking and biking trails and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do with kids in Chattanooga on a rainy day?

The Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St., the Tennessee Aquarium, One Broad St., the cave tour at Ruby Falls and the five Chattanooga Public Library branches are all indoors. The Coolidge Park carousel sits in a glass pavilion and runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Does the Chattanooga library have story time?

Yes. All five Chattanooga Public Library locations run early literacy programs for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, including Baby Bounce, Toddler Time and Preschool Storytime. Times are on the library’s events calendar; Downtown youth staff: 423-643-7730.

Can I get free tickets to the aquarium or zoo with a library card?

Chattanooga Public Library card holders can check out family passes to the Tennessee Aquarium, the Chattanooga Zoo, the Creative Discovery Museum and other attractions, first come, first served, once a year per person.

Where is the best playground in Chattanooga?

The city lists 40 parks with playgrounds. Ross’s Landing on the riverfront has an accessible playground and wading streams, Warner Park has the Miracle Playground next to the zoo and pool, and the Tennessee Riverpark has a playground along the Riverwalk.

How much is the Coolidge Park carousel?

$1 a ride for adults; riders under 2 ride free with a paying adult. It runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily and closes Christmas Day.