Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, this is the best tour available right now:

• Derailed Adventure – Chattanooga Trolley & Train Combo Tour

The popular Missionary Ridge Local Train Ride is the shortest and most affordable option—tickets are US$26 for passengers 13 and older, and US$17 for kids aged 2–12, for a 1-hour ride. Longer trips through the Hiwassee River Gorge start at about US$60, or up to US$125 for special holiday experiences that include a multicourse meal. Upgrades to premium rail cars cost extra.

Buying train tickets in advance is highly recommended—and may be needed for some of the most in-demand rides, such as the holiday lights tours. That said, you can try your luck with a walk-up ticket for the core train rides. You can also buy tickets in person for the museum exhibition only (no train ride included).

Most train rides leave from Chattanooga and board at Chattanooga Grand Junction Station. On-site parking is available. On weekdays, you can skip the drive and take public transit Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) bus route #19 instead. (Note that the bus doesn’t run on the weekends.) Fewer trips leave from Delano Station, about an hour northeast of Chattanooga.

You can bring your own food and drinks on board, with the exception of alcohol. For some rides you can make a food purchase when booking, and some trips include dinner service and have alcohol available at an extra cost, so check the details. Service animals are allowed to accompany you, but leave pets at home.

No, unfortunately, due to their historic nature, the rail cars and stations are not wheelchair accessible. You must be able to walk up stairs and navigate narrow aisles in order to ride the train. That said, if you can board the train yourself and use a standard passenger seat, it is possible, and encouraged by the museum, to experience the trip.