Six years after moving to East Tennessee, I finally visited Rock City.

Six years of spotting “See Rock City” advertisements painted on random barns. Six years knowing Rock City is less than two hours south of Knoxville. Six years of curiosity before I finally “saw” Rock City.

Wanna know the first thing that surprised me? Rock City isn’t actually located in Tennessee. Silly me spent six years associating Rock City with Chattanooga, TN. And, to be fair, I was close. But no. Rock City is a roadside attraction on Lookout Mountain, Georgia—just across the state line from Chattanooga.

What Is Rock City?

As I mentioned, Rock City is a roadside attraction, and an old one at that, hence the grassroots barn ads that first appeared as part of a 1935 campaign.

Experience Rock City

While I’m sure Rock City has evolved over the past 90-ish years, the view remains central to the entire experience. In fact, on a clear day, seven states are supposedly visible from the vantage point of Lover’s Leap. What are those seven states? Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Getting to Lover’s Leap requires walking single-file along a stone path that winds through various natural rock formations and plant life, with manmade gnome and fairytale themed installations throughout. The path also takes you over stone and swinging bridges, inside caves, and through narrow passageways.

Rock City is ideal for both kids and adults, and even has an ADA compliant path to Lover’s Leap so everyone can safely enjoy the view.

Do You Have to Pay to See Rock City?

Yes, there is an entry fee; however, parking is free! You can check the website here for current ticket pricing, along with hours and dates of operation.

I recommend purchasing tickets in advance, if you know what time you plan to visit. While advanced tickets are not required, purchasing online before you arrive will save you money. We bought our tickets while driving to Rock City and saved $8 per adult.

Is Rock City Worth the Visit?

Great question.

In my opinion, yes, it is worth the visit—and I say this as someone who LOVES a bird’s eye panoramic view. Lover’s Leap was, for me, the highlight of the entire experience.

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting more than that, so the walk around the grounds made getting to the view that much more of an adventure. That said, be prepared to walk SLOWLY on a busier day. The narrow path tends to bottleneck in certain areas where passing the people ahead of you is not an option. Still, it was a chance to slow down and enjoy the surrounding beauty.

Personally, I was more than happy to have more time outdoors on a partly sunny, 70+ degree day in December. Yes, please!

Other Attractions on Lookout Mountain

Incline Railway Up Lookout Mountain

Getting to the top of Lookout Mountain is possible by driving or by incline railway. Of course, the railway is not free, but I imagine the views are spectacular. I’ve experienced a few incline rails—aka. funicular railways—in Europe and they are fun if you enjoy heights!

Learn more here.

Ruby Falls

Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to visit Ruby Falls AND Rock City. But, in case you’re wondering, Ruby Falls is the tallest underground waterfall open to the public in the United States, according to the Visit Chattanooga website.

In addition to the waterfall cave adventure, Ruby Falls also offers ziplines, incredible views, and luxury treehouse accommodations.

Visit the Ruby Falls website to learn more.

Point Park Battlefield

During the Civil War, several battles took place at Lookout Mountain, including the Battle of Lookout Mountain. Located on the Tennessee side of the mountain, Point Park is home of the 16-acre Lookout Mountain Battlefield, where you’ll find cannons, monuments, and more scenic overlooks of the surrounding area.

Back when my husband was a kid, admission was free, so we ventured over expecting to pay nothing for a quick wander around. Unfortunately for us, admission is now $10 per adult—unless you have a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, which we don’t—so we opted not to venture inside the park gates.

Visit the National Park Service website to learn more.

Massey’s Kitchen in Lookout Mountain

We grabbed a late lunch at Massey’s Kitchen, located in the town of Lookout Mountain. Food options are limited, outside of Rock City and Ruby Falls and the menu at Massey’s looked good, so we gave it a try.

Overall, I’d say it was a 4-star experience. Maybe 4.5. The food was enjoyed by all and we were able to sit outside and enjoy the unseasonably warm day.

If you’re planning a trip to Lookout Mountain, I hope you found this helpful! Feel free to ask questions in the comments or share your own experience.