Whether you have a marine animal lover in your family or you simply find yourself in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and looking for a way to spend a day, the Tennessee Aquarium is a delightful destination to while away a few hours. A recent visit introduced me and my family to an underwater lesson in Tennessee’s rich biodiversity as well as species that live in waters beyond the Volunteer State.
About the Aquarium
The Tennessee Aquarium opened its doors in 1992 and was a key component in the reimagining of downtown Chattanooga. Now, more than three decades later, this bustling Southern city attracts visitors from far and wide — and the aquarium is a big reason why. With two impressive buildings packed with educational exhibits, fascinating marine life, and ample room to wander, the aquarium is a family-friendly destination that attracts countless visitors year after year. In fact, it recently welcomed its 29 millionth guest!
What’s more, the aquarium is adding on to its Ocean Journey building to incorporate 12 new exhibits in a brand-new saltwater gallery called Scuttlebutt Reef, which is set to open in Spring 2026.
For now, though, let’s take a peek at how to spend a day at the Tennessee Aquarium.
Start by purchasing your tickets online. Adults are $39.95, ages 5-17 are $29.95, and ages 4 and younger get in free. From there, you can choose your own path, starting in one of the two buildings — Ocean Journey or River Journey.
The Tennessee Aquarium is located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, TN.
©Tennessee Aquarium
Under the Sea
We started in the Ocean Journey building, where we were captivated by the lemurs in Tropical Cove. Collared, red ruffed, and ring-tailed lemurs all climb about high above the fascinated onlookers below. Bold guests can roll up their sleeves and enjoy a hands-on experience in the “touch tank,” which houses sharks and sting rays.
We moved on to the butterfly garden, where these beautiful and vibrantly colored creatures flittered about, landing on the lush vegetation and even a few lucky visitors.
The butterfly garden had countless creatures flying about and sometimes even landing on lucky guests.
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Another fascinating component of the Butterfly Garden was the display of pupae. We even spotted a butterfly emerging from one.
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The penguins await just beyond the butterfly garden. Gentoo and Macaroni penguins inhabit the exhibit, which is quite chilly even on the human side of the glass. These playful birds waddle about, diving in and out of the water and awaiting their next feeding. (See for yourself on the livestream here.)
The temperature drops significantly when you enter the penguin exhibit, where these playful birds feel right at home.
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You’ll be glued to the glass as you marvel at all the creatures swimming about in the Secret Reef. Everything from sandbar sharks to green sea turtles happily co-mingle in the salty waters within. Keep your eyes peeled for cownose rays, sergeant majors, southern stingrays, yellowtail snapper, and so much more.
Stewy the Green Sea Turtle swims in the Secret Reef.
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All ages are happily captivated by the marine life that swims about in the Secret Reef.
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River Journey
When we’d wrapped up in the Ocean Journey, my crew was famished, so we ducked into Puckett’s next door for a quick and tasty bite. With bellies full, we embarked on part two of our Tennessee Aquarium visit: the River Journey. This building is filled with even more water dwellers that call the region’s rivers home. Turtles, otters, alligators, snakes, ducks, and fish species galore!
As you work your way through the building, there are ample opportunities to pause and learn more about the species on display; some are more well-known than others. Sturgeon, for example, are massive and widely recognized, while smaller species like the Saffron Shiner provide a chance to dig deeper and learn more.
Rivers of the World was of particular interest to my crew as it offered a global view of the fascinating animals that reside all over the earth. From puffers to piranha, the creatures showcased in this section provided a great opportunity to slow down and do some reading up. Piped-in sound effects of water flowing add to the immersive experience.
RELATED: Tennessee Aquarium Celebrates 25 Years of Lake Sturgeon Conservation
Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) is one of the largest freshwater fish in North America.
©Tennessee Aquarium
You can spot blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) in the Tennessee Aquarium’s Tennessee River exhibit.
©Tennessee Aquarium
Final Thoughts
Start to finish, it takes about 2.5 hours to tour both buildings, but if your family likes to linger, you may spend even longer. Build in time to explore the outdoor surroundings, too, where ample space invites kids to play and parents to rest for a spell.
Timed-entry tickets are required; you’ll pick a 30-minute entry block when you buy online. Consider arriving early for your timed entry as crowds build quickly.
If you have the time, definitely spring for IMAX tickets. The films are always changing, so something new is always on tap.
There’s ample parking in the areas around the aquarium, which is located at One Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402. Learn more and purchase tickets at tnaqua.org or 800-262-0695. Hours are Sunday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the last entry at 5 p.m.
