The Creative Discovery Museum is an interactive children’s museum located in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport or parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips. This guide was updated in April 2026 and includes the current general admission price of $19.95 alongside updated sensory-inclusive event details.
Quick facts
| Fact | Details |
| Opening hours | Sunday to Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Ticket prices | Adult and Child: $19.95, Senior (65+): $17.95 |
| Address | 321 Chestnut Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402 |
| Nearest public transport or parking | CARTA Free Electric Shuttle or CARTA North Garage |
| Typical time needed | 2 to 3 hours |
Creative Discovery Museum opening hours
The Creative Discovery Museum is open seven days a week throughout the year. From Sunday through Friday, the museum operates from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. On Saturdays, it opens one hour earlier, running from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Opening hours remain largely consistent, but the facility closes entirely on major holidays including Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. The museum occasionally hosts extended evening hours for free family nights and private, sensory-friendly community events.
5 great Chattanooga experiences to book
- 🦇 Pay a visit to the Nickajack bat cave on a guided kayaking adventure.
- 🍴 Take a Southside food tour – and get a history lesson while feasting at multiple stops.
- 🚁 See the city, river and mountains on a sights-packed helicopter ride.
- 👻 On an after-dark ghost tour, uncover murders and mysteries.
- 🌊 Tackle the whitewater on an Ocoee River rafting trip.
Creative Discovery Museum ticket prices
General admission tickets cost $19.95 for both adults and children. Seniors aged 65 and over can purchase tickets for $17.95, while military personnel and law enforcement officers receive a discounted rate of $16.95 with valid identification. Children under two enter for free, and discounted $5.00 tickets are available for EBT cardholders through the national Museums for All initiative.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in April 2026.
How to get to the Creative Discovery Museum
The museum is centrally located in downtown Chattanooga, one block from the riverfront. It is highly accessible via the city’s public transport network, with the free CARTA Electric Shuttle stopping directly outside the museum on its route between the Choo Choo complex and the Tennessee Aquarium.
Visitors driving into the city centre can easily reach the site via US-27, taking the 4th Street exit and turning onto Chestnut Street.
Why book the Derailed Trolley Tour and Train Ride?
- 🚋 Guided City Trolley Tour: Board a vintage-style trolley for a narrated journey through downtown and the Southside, uncovering the fascinating history of Chattanooga’s transformation from a rail hub to a vibrant modern city.
- 🚂 Missionary Ridge Local Train: Experience a nostalgic ride on a historic locomotive operated by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, traveling along authentic tracks that have served the region for generations.
- 🧱 Pre-Civil War Tunnel Passage: Feel the history as your train passes through the Missionary Ridge Tunnel, a remarkable piece of engineering completed in 1858 that remains a centerpiece of the local rail line.
- 🔄 Historic Turntable Demonstration: Watch a live demonstration of the massive mechanical turntable used to rotate locomotives, and enjoy a guided peek into the active restoration shops where vintage railcars are brought back to life.
- 📜 The Chattanooga Choo Choo Legacy: Begin your adventure at the iconic 1909 terminal station and learn the stories behind the world-famous song and the legends of the “Scenic City” transport era.
Parking at the Creative Discovery Museum
The museum does not have a dedicated on-site parking lot. Visitors driving to the attraction can use the CARTA North Garage located across the street or the nearby Aquarium Plaza Parking Garage on Chestnut Street.
Both facilities charge hourly rates that cap at a daily maximum. Metered street parking is also available on the surrounding roads, which is typically free on Sundays but strictly enforced during the rest of the week.
How long to spend at the Creative Discovery Museum
A standard visit to the Creative Discovery Museum requires two to three hours. This timeframe provides sufficient opportunity to interact with the core hands-on exhibits across the two primary floors.
Families with toddlers may spend less time, while those participating in scheduled art classes, science demonstrations in the auditorium, or taking a break in the museum café should allocate three to four hours.
Accessibility at the Creative Discovery Museum
The facility is fully accessible for wheelchair users and those with pushchairs, with lifts connecting the floors and ramps integrated into outdoor exhibits like the TreeHouse Adventure.
The museum is a certified sensory-inclusive site through KultureCity. Visitors can borrow sensory bags equipped with noise-cancelling headphones at the ticketing desk, and a detailed sensory map is available online to identify predictably loud zones, such as the STEM Zone and UnEarthed exhibits.
Inside / what to see at the Creative Discovery Museum
The museum features a variety of permanent, hands-on galleries designed to engage children in science, art, and music. The Tennessee RiverPlay exhibit is a large, interactive water table that mimics the locks and dams of the local river system, complete with waterproof smocks for younger guests.
The STEM Zone allows children to test engineering principles, featuring robotics, wind tunnels, and a workshop where they can use real tools under staff supervision. Nearby, the UnEarthed gallery focuses on earth sciences, letting kids dig for dinosaur fossils in the sand and experience a simulated volcano.
On the rooftop, the TreeHouse Adventure offers a multi-pod wooden climbing structure. It includes an observation nest with views of downtown and a sensory-friendly relaxation pod featuring natural curio boxes.
For younger visitors, the Little FarmHouse is an enclosed exhibit specifically designed for children aged four and under, featuring safe, soft-play activities and a miniature pretend kitchen.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip Category | Advice |
| Timing | Arrive early on weekday mornings to avoid the highest crowd levels and large school groups. |
| Crowds | The museum is busiest on weekends and during local school holidays; plan visits accordingly. |
| Layout | Bring a change of clothes for younger children, as the RiverPlay exhibit often leaves them wet despite the provided smocks. |
| Entry process | Purchase tickets online in advance to streamline check-in, though walk-up tickets are available at the front desk. |
| On-site logistics | Tickets are valid for all-day play; you can leave for lunch and re-enter later by requesting a hand stamp at Guest Relations. |
Frequently asked questions about the Creative Discovery Museum
| Question | Answer |
| Is the Creative Discovery Museum suitable for children? | Yes, the entire facility is a dedicated children’s museum featuring hands-on, educational play zones. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Creative Discovery Museum? | Advance booking is not strictly required, but it is encouraged to ensure a smooth check-in process. |
| Is the Creative Discovery Museum open on Sundays? | Yes, the museum is open every Sunday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm. |
| Are bags allowed at the Creative Discovery Museum? | Yes, day bags and rucksacks are permitted, though large items may be cumbersome in the busy exhibit halls. |
Things to do near the Creative Discovery Museum
- Tennessee Aquarium: A major dual-building aquarium focusing on freshwater and saltwater marine life, located just one block away.
- Walnut Street Bridge: One of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world, connecting downtown Chattanooga to the North Shore over the Tennessee River.
- Coolidge Park: A popular waterfront park featuring an interactive play fountain and a restored 1894 antique carousel.
- High Point Climbing and Fitness: A premier indoor and outdoor rock climbing facility featuring transparent climbing walls on its exterior.
- Hunter Museum of American Art: An art museum perched on an 80-foot bluff overlooking the river, housing an extensive collection of American artworks.
More Chattanooga travel
Other Chattanooga travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- How to ride the incredibly steep Lookout Mountain Incline Railway in Chattanooga.
- Visiting Ruby Falls and Rock City Gardens from Chattanooga.
- What to expect at Moccasin Bend National Archaeological District in Chattanooga.
- Getting to Chattanooga: The best stops on the Nashville to Chattanooga drive.
- Road trips from Chattanooga: What to see on the Chattanooga to Sevierville drive.
