Traveling via plane is fun — jet-setting over beautiful blue waters or rolling hills, taking in the cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours.

The whole navigating the airport part? Less exciting, and sometimes pretty stressful. To help make your time at the Chattanooga Airport as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to details on the airport’s nonstop flights.

What to know

TSA | According to the Chattanooga Airport’s website, it takes ~10 minutes to get through during off-peak hours and ~20 minutes during peak hours (5-8 a.m., Monday-Friday).
Map it out | If you’re like us and need to completely visualize a place before you set foot inside, these maps of the entire airport will be your saving grace.
Food and drink | Grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Tailwind Concessions or Skyline Views after clearing the security checkpoint.
Reminder | You will need a REAL ID to board commercial flights in the US.
Flight status | While we recommend staying updated via your respective airline, you can also check the airport’s dashboard for your flight status in a pinch.

Not the worst waiting room to be in. | Photo by Pascale H. (submitted in our 2023 Photo of the Year Contest)

Current airport updates

The Chattanooga Airport now offers valet parking right by the terminal’s ticketing area. It costs $25 per day, and your car will be waiting when you return.
A second parking garage is being built and is expected to open in early 2027. It'll be four stories and have 1,600 parking spaces. To make room for the new garage, the Long Term 1 parking lot closed, and an Economy lot (with a free shuttle) is now open at the corner of Rosedale Drive + Airport Road.
An aviation-themed park called BlueCross Healthy Place is set to open at the airport in early 2027. The 4.5-acre space will include an inclusive playground, walking trails, a World War II pilot memorial, and an observation deck where families can watch planes take off and land.
Allegiant Airlines stopped its twice-weekly direct flights to Las Vegas in May.

Parking and shuttles

The short-term lot, long-term lot, and parking garage offer 15 minutes of free parking, 16-30 minutes for $2, and each additional 30 minutes for $2. Beyond that, the price per day is as listed:

Valet parking | $25/day + one-time $1.50 transaction fee
Short term parking | $20/day
Parking garage | $15/day
Long term parking | $12/day
Economy (Rosedale Dr. + Airport Rd.) | $10/day

Bonus: Because the Chattanooga Airport has only one terminal, most of these parking options are within walking distance of the TSA and your gate.

Hate the thought of driving yourself? Try a shuttle or taxi service to get you to and from the terminal. These services are suggested by the Chattanooga Airport:

A-1 Taxi & Transportation | Taxi and shuttle — bonus: This service will also take you to and from Atlanta.
Ave Taxi | Taxi
CARTA GO | Shuttle — bonus: Get a connection to the #4 Eastgate/ Hamilton Place bus route where you can easily transfer to the downtown area.
Lookout Limousine | Premier shuttle — bonus: This service will also take you to and from surrounding airports in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama + there are no mileage fees or max stops.
Mercury Cab | Taxi
Nooga Shuttles | Shuttle
Nooga Taxi | Taxi
Bonus: You can also use Uber + Lyft ride share services

We're making your airport process *plane* and simple. | Photo by NOOGAtoday

Nonstop flights

Chattanooga currently offers more than a dozen nonstop flights. Remember that flight times and schedules will often change — you should rely on your respective airline for exact timing and to stay updated on any changes.

Atlanta, GA | Delta | Daily
Charlotte, NC | American Airlines | Daily
Chicago, IL | United + American Airlines | Daily
Dallas, TX | American Airlines | Sunday through Friday
Denver, CO | United | Saturdays | Seasonal service through October
Detroit, MI | Delta | Daily
Ft. Lauderdale, FL | Allegiant Air | Thursdays and Sundays
Houston, TX | United | Daily
Miami, FL | American Airlines | Saturdays | Seasonal service through September
New York, NY (LGA) | Delta | Daily
Newark, NJ (EWR) | United | Almost daily (five to seven days a week)
Orlando, FL | Allegiant Air | Two to four days a week; schedule changes frequently
Punta Gorda, FL | Allegiant Air | Up to three days a week; schedule changes frequently
Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL | Allegiant Air | Up to four days a week; schedule changes seasonally | Take note: This flight lands at the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE).
Washington, DC | American Airlines | Sunday through Friday

Fly comfortably

While we may not be able to offer solutions for crying babies or mysterious in-flight meals, we do have some tricks up our sleeves for upping your comfort while flying. Browse some of our favorite travel essentials:

The AirFly Pro | Make sure you can always access in-flight entertainment (while avoiding the wired headphones airlines pass out) by using an AirFly. It plugs into your seat’s headphone jack and connects to your earbuds or headphones via Bluetooth.
Trtl travel pillow | The Trtl pillow is scientifically designed to provide a better head position when sleeping upright, thanks to an internal support system comfortably cushioned in cozy fleece.
Bose Noise Canceling Headphones | These headphones are tried-and-true traveling companions, beloved for their crisp sound and ability to block exterior noise.
Cozy Earth joggers | These Oprah-approved joggers are polished enough to navigate the airport in, but comfy and stretchy enough for long flights.
Anti-nausea wristbands | Some simple anti-nausea wristbands might relieve a nervous stomach or sensitivity to turbulence while flying.