2013 Fall Trip South – Days 18 & 19 Chattanooga, Tennessee

Holiday Trav-L-Park, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Holiday Trav-L-Park of Chattanooga is located less than a mile off I-75, Tennessee Exit 1 (it’s mailing address is actually Rossville, Georgia). Just 220 miles from our previous stop in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. Easy access off and on I-75. Approximately 200 sites mostly pull-thrus with FHU, free cable and reasonably good WiFi. It’s a well maintained park with cheerful and helpful hosts. That said we rate it as okay for a night or 2 but too crowded (to us) for an extended stay. We paid $35.10/night for 50A, FHU with Good Sam discount.

The RV Park is actually where an Indiana Regiment bivouacked before some fierce fighting on Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge back in 1863. There is a path to the stone marker proclaiming such within the Park.

There is much to see and do in Chattanooga, from Civil War Battlefields, to Lookout Mountain, Rock City, Tennessee River cruises on the Southern Belle, and we bet you didn’t know Chattanooga is also home for the International Towing and Recovery Museum (Tow trucks through the ages and it has excellent reviews).

Lookout Mountain, Georgia

We decided to travel to the top of Lookout mountain. Neither of us are especially fond of heights but usually end up at the top of something anyway. Lookout Mountain definitely qualifies as the top of a very beautiful view. Folklore maintains you can see 7 States on a clear day and the Mountain actually is partially within 3 States.

View from the top of Lookout Mountain

The road to the top is narrow and breathtaking (literally) at certain spots. We both were glad we weren’t towing the trailer, but then in the parking lot at the top we find all manner of motorhomes and rigs, so it can be done.

We rate Chattanooga as a great city to visit but were not overjoyed with the RV Park. The highlight of this stopover was when we asked the hostess what she would recommend as a local “Mom & Pop restaurant” with good homecooking.

Portofino’s Italian Restaurant, 6407 Ringgold Rd, East Ridge, TN 37412
Phone:(423) 499-9696

She recommended Portofino’s Italian Restaurant which we had passed on our way in from the Interstate. We loved the food and rate it as one of the 2 best local Italian restaurants we have found in our travels. If you happen to be traveling I-75, anywhere near Tennessee Exit 1 at mealtime, do yourself a big favor and stop into Portofino’s. It’s not the cheapest but we rate it a best value for the money spent and you will not be disappointed.

Our next stop down I-75 will be for 2 nights in Perry, Georgia.