Lookout Mountain Incline Railway in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Chattanooga, Tennessee · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesDaily rides; hours posted through October 31 are 9 am to 6 pm weekdays, 9 am to 7 pm weekends

The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway is a cable-hauled funicular that has carried riders up the face of Lookout Mountain from Chattanooga's St. Elmo neighborhood since 1895, billed as America's Most Amazing Mile.

  • Opened November 16, 1895
  • About one mile of track
  • One of the world's steepest
  • Counterbalanced cars pass midway
  • Wheelchairs welcome in new cars
  • Teddy Roosevelt rode in 1905

Lookout Mountain Incline Railway at a glance

Hours
Through October 31: Mon to Fri 9 am to 6 pm, Sat and Sun 9 am to 7 pm; last car leaves 40 minutes before close
Admission
Round trip: adults and seniors $24.99, ages 3 to 12 $12.99, 2 and under free
Train rides
Funicular rides about a mile up Lookout Mountain, departing from both the lower and upper stations
Plan for
About 1 to 2 hours with time at the top
Best for
Families, first-time Chattanooga visitors, anyone who loves a view
Best ages
All ages
Accessibility
The Incline says it is handicap accessible, and its new car design permits wheelchairs on board.

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Lookout Mountain Incline Railway? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Chattanooga.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

America's Most Amazing Mile, rebuilt after fire more than once

Lookout Mountain has drawn visitors to its views for centuries, and by the late 1800s businessmen were building hotels on top and railways to reach them. The first incline opened in 1887, running from the 38th Street area of St. Elmo to just below the Point. A second incline, engineered by John Crass, opened on November 16, 1895, and it proved so successful that the first closed in 1899. That second line is the one still running today.

Its first cars were wooden and pulled by large coal-burning steam engines. Electric power took over after 1911, and today two 100 horsepower motors turn the drums that wind the cable, which comes from the same company that supplied cable for the Brooklyn Bridge. On March 19, 1919, an accidental fire destroyed the upper station and one car, closing the line for two years. It reopened with new 32-passenger cars that had heaters under the seats.

Famous riders have included President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905 and actress Elizabeth Taylor in the 1950s. In 1974 the line was honored as a national historic site, recognizing Jo Conn Guild Sr. and Linn White, the designers credited with today's Incline.

Its newest chapter began on December 7, 2024, when a wildfire on Lookout Mountain severely damaged the railway. Its owner, the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA), moved quickly to restore it, and riders are again making the climb in brand new railcars.

From St. Elmo to the brow of the mountain

The ride begins at St. Elmo Station at the foot of the mountain, a historic neighborhood with shops, coffee, ice cream, restaurants and even an indoor climbing wall. From there the track climbs about a mile up the face of Lookout Mountain on a single line with a passing loop in the middle, where the two counterbalanced cars meet and slip past each other. Views open up over Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley as you rise.

At the top, Lookout Mountain Station sits at 827 East Brow Road, where SoHi Pizza and the Mountain Top Bar offer food and drinks with panoramic views. The Incline's website also tells the story of the grand hotels that once stood nearby, including the Lookout Inn, which opened in 1889 across from the incline and burned in 1908, and the 1928 Lookout Mountain Hotel, known as the Castle in the Clouds, which became part of Covenant College in 1964.

Don’t miss

  1. The passing loopMidway up the single track, the two counterbalanced cars meet and pass, the moment that shows how a funicular works.
  2. The new railcarsIntroduced in the Incline's recent rebuild, their design allows wheelchairs on board.
  3. The steepest stretchThe Incline calls itself one of the world's steepest passenger railways, and the climb near the top proves it.
  4. Views from the top stationLook out over Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley from the brow of Lookout Mountain.
  5. St. Elmo neighborhoodThe lower station sits in a historic neighborhood with shops and food for before or after the ride.

A ride that tilts the whole world

Kids tend to love the feeling of the car tipping up the mountain and the moment the other car glides past at the passing loop. The ride is short enough for small children, and children 2 and under ride free with a paying passenger, while ages 3 to 12 pay a child fare.

At the bottom, St. Elmo has hand-dipped ice cream and an indoor climbing wall; at the top, SoHi Pizza makes an easy lunch. The new cars allow wheelchairs, which also makes life easier for families with strollers to ask about.

Plan your visit: tips for Lookout Mountain Incline Railway

  • Buy tickets online or at either station; you can start from the top or the bottom.
  • The last car leaves 40 minutes before closing.
  • Seniors over 65 with Medicare or qualifying ID ride for $11 from December through February.
  • Groups of 20 or more paying together get $20 adult and $10 child round trips.
  • Ask about the combo package with the Southern Belle Riverboat.

Owned by the city's transit authority

The Incline is owned and operated by CARTA, the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority, which restored it after the 2024 fire. Riders support it simply by riding, and frequent visitors can buy an annual pass with unlimited rides for a year.

Chattanooga's other train stops

The Chattanooga Choo Choo Historic Terminal Station is about 3 miles away, and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, with vintage train rides through a Civil War era tunnel, is about 8 miles away. The Historic Summerville Depot in Georgia is about 37 miles out. Browse Tennessee train museums for more.

Every train museum in Tennessee

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

On a ride like the Incline, the window is everything: the city drops away and the valley spreads out below. In our book, Rally gets his own window moment, looking out an arched train window at the ocean and greeting a white bird as the Pacific Surfliner rolls along. A climb up a mountain is a different view, but the same wide-eyed wonder. You can color Rally at his window on our coloring pages.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Lookout Mountain Incline Railway?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Lookout Mountain Incline Railway: 20 questions riders ask

What is the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway?

The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway is a funicular, a cable-hauled railway with two counterbalanced cars, that climbs about a mile up Lookout Mountain from the St. Elmo neighborhood of Chattanooga. The current line opened in 1895, and the Incline calls itself one of the world's steepest passenger railways and America's Most Amazing Mile.

How much are Lookout Mountain Incline Railway tickets?

As of October 2026, round trip tickets are $24.99 for adults and seniors and $12.99 for children ages 3 to 12. Children 2 and under ride free with a paying passenger. Tickets are sold online at ridetheincline.com and at both the lower and upper stations.

Does the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway have a senior discount?

Yes, seasonally. As of October 2026, seniors over 65 can ride for $11, a half-price fare, from December through February only. You must show a Medicare card, an ADA eligibility card, or a state or federal ID showing your date of birth. The rest of the year, adults and seniors pay the same fare.

Does the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway offer a military discount?

The Incline does not post a military discount on its ticket page. Posted savings include the winter senior fare, group rates for 20 or more, an annual pass, and a combo package with the Southern Belle Riverboat. Call (423) 821-4224 to ask whether a military rate is available.

What are the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway hours?

As of October 2026, the Incline runs Monday through Friday from 9 am to 6 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 7 pm, with these hours posted through October 31. The last car leaves 40 minutes before closing. Check ridetheincline.com for hours after October.

Is the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway open after the fire?

Yes. A wildfire on December 7, 2024 severely damaged the railway, and CARTA moved quickly to restore it. The Incline has reopened and is carrying riders in brand new railcars. Check ridetheincline.com or call (423) 821-4224 for the current schedule before you go.

How long is the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway?

The track is about one mile long, a single line except for a passing loop in the middle that lets both counterbalanced cars run at the same time. The Incline does not post an exact ride time, so plan an hour or two for the round trip plus time at the top.

How long does the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway take?

The ride itself covers about a mile each way, and the Incline does not publish a set ride time. Most visitors should allow one to two hours for parking, the round trip, the views and a snack at the top station. Remember that the last car leaves 40 minutes before closing.

Where do you board the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway?

You can board at either end. St. Elmo Station, at the bottom, is at 3917 St. Elmo Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37409. Lookout Mountain Station, at the top, is at 827 East Brow Road, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350. Tickets are sold at both stations and online.

Where do you park for the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway?

The Incline does not describe parking on its main pages. Its annual pass includes free transportation from the lower station to Shuttle Park South, which suggests nearby shuttle parking. Call (423) 821-4224 to ask about the best parking at either station before your visit.

Can I buy Lookout Mountain Incline Railway tickets online?

Yes. Tickets can be bought online through ridetheincline.com or in person at the St. Elmo or Lookout Mountain station. Annual pass holders can reserve rides online with their membership number. Groups of 20 or more should use the Group Reservation Form.

Is the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway worth it?

For most families it is a memorable ride: one of the world's steepest passenger railways, with wide views over Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley and more than 130 years of history. Pair it with lunch at SoHi Pizza at the top or the shops in St. Elmo to make an outing of it.

Is the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The Incline says it is handicap accessible, and thanks to its new car design, wheelchairs are permitted on board. If you have specific needs, call (423) 821-4224 before your visit to confirm boarding arrangements at your chosen station.

Who owns the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway?

The Incline is owned and operated by CARTA, the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority. CARTA led the restoration after the December 2024 wildfire. Group sales are handled through a team that also works with the Southern Belle Riverboat, which offers a combo package with the Incline.

When did the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway open?

The current Incline, engineered by John Crass, opened on November 16, 1895. An earlier incline opened in 1887 but closed in 1899 after the new line proved more popular. Its cars were first pulled by coal-burning steam engines, with electric power used after 1911.

Who famous has ridden the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway?

President Theodore Roosevelt rode the Incline in 1905 while in office, and actress Elizabeth Taylor rode it in the 1950s. Millions of other riders have made the trip since 1895, and the line was honored as a national historic site in 1974.

Does the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway offer group rates?

Yes. As of October 2026, groups of 20 or more paying in one transaction ride for $20 per adult (13 and up) and $10 per child (3 to 12), round trip. Use the Group Reservation Form on ridetheincline.com or email jon@chattanoogariverboat.com to book.

Is there an annual pass for the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway?

Yes. As of October 2026, an annual pass costs $75 for adults and $40 for children 12 and under, with unlimited rides for a year from purchase. Reservations and ID are required, and passes are sold at the Upper Incline Station, 827 East Brow Road.

Where can I eat at the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway?

At the top station, SoHi Pizza serves handcrafted pizza and the Mountain Top Bar offers drinks with panoramic views. At the bottom, the St. Elmo neighborhood has coffee, hand-dipped ice cream, outdoor dining and other shops, so you can eat before or after your ride.

What train attractions are near the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway?

The Chattanooga Choo Choo Historic Terminal Station is about 3 miles away, and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, with vintage train rides, is about 8 miles away. The Historic Summerville Depot in Georgia is about 37 miles out, and the Cowan Railroad Museum is about 40 miles away.

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