Frequently Asked Questions
Tickets
You can buy tickets in person at the River Place Ticketing Center in the Aquarium plaza (address is 1 Broad St., located across from the Aquarium with a blue awning above the doors).
However, please note: Due to capacity limits, ticket availability in person is not guaranteed. Some time slots may sell out—especially on weekends or holidays. We recommend purchasing tickets in advance to secure your preferred time.
Daily capacity is currently limited at the Tennessee Aquarium. To help manage the number of people entering our buildings at one time, tickets are sold in 30-minute entry blocks. Guests must arrive within their scheduled time block to be admitted. Once inside, guests can tour at their normal pace. It typically takes a total of 2 to 2 ½ hours to tour both Aquarium buildings.
Our updated ticketing system offers a self-service rescheduling option. Watch our video to learn how.
Please note: This option is only available until at least one day before your scheduled visit.
No. Our buildings remain open past the last entry time to accommodate our last groups of ticket holders. When you arrive, our Admissions or Visitor’s Services staff might suggest starting in either River Journey or Ocean Journey depending on the closing schedule for the day.
General admission tickets to the Tennessee Aquarium allow access to both the River Journey and Ocean Journey buildings and all exhibits and experiences on the main tour path.
If you cannot find your ticket purchase confirmation email, your tickets can still be looked up in person at our River Place ticketing center (located across from the Aquarium with a blue awning above the doors) when you arrive for your visit.
If you still want to find the confirmation email and get it resent before arriving, please call our admissions team and they can help you out during our operating hours. [Call Admissions]
If no one is available, leave a voicemail and an admissions staff will call you back.
The Tennessee Aquarium offers discounts on admission for the following individuals:
- Active Military/Veterans (must show military ID or DD214)
- First Responders (must show paystub/proof of employment)
- K-12 Educators, including certified Homeschool teachers (must show employee ID, paystub or certification)
*The discount equals 11% off adult and/or youth admission, and will be applied to everyone in the paying party.
*Discounted tickets are available onsite only.
If you have specific questions regarding these discounts, please email [email protected]
Planning Your Visit
Plan to enjoy at least two hours during your Aquarium visit.
Check the Explore section of our website to learn more about some of the animals you’ll meet at the Aquarium. While our living forests and other galleries are open throughout the year, some exhibits might require extra maintenance. In the rare case that an area temporarily closes, a notice is posted both on the Aquarium homepage and on Facebook.
There are several paid parking lots near the Aquarium and IMAX Theater and a free shuttle runs daily in downtown Chattanooga.
Parking for tour buses and school buses, RVs, campers and other oversized vehicles is available on the south side of Riverfront Parkway beneath the Olgiati Bridge.
Pricing* for our Primary lot (shown on the map below) is as follows:
- 0-3 Hours: $9
- 3-5 Hours: $12
- All Day: $14
- After 4 pm: $10
*Prices do not include tax and are subject to change during special events.
View the parking map below and learn more about navigation to the Aquarium on our Directions & Parking page.
In the River Journey building, you can find a newly-renovated restroom in the Ridges to River gallery (level 3). There is also a family restroom just outside the main lobby.
In the Ocean Journey building, you’ll find a restroom just to the right after your ticket is scanned and a second one on the 4th floor on the left just before the Butterfly Garden entrance.
Yes, Wi-Fi is available in both Aquarium buildings and IMAX 3D Theater.
The Tennessee Aquarium operates a refreshment center near the River Journey Gift Shop entrance. Beverages with a screw top lid and canned water can be carried into the Tennessee Aquarium. Additionally, the Aquarium has free water refill stations throughout. Coolers and outside food cannot be brought into the Aquarium buildings. Food and beverages may also be purchased at the IMAX 3D Theater Concession Stand and carried into the IMAX Theater.
Accommodations
Nursing mothers are welcome to nurse wherever they feel most comfortable. There is one private nursing room available to the left of the elevator on the A-level of the River Journey building; another one is located in the women’s restroom on the first floor of the IMAX building.
Strollers are permitted inside the Aquarium. We do not have any strollers available for rent. Strollers are not permitted inside the IMAX theater, however, a stroller parking area is provided in the lobby.
All exhibit galleries are fully accessible. Thanks to a partnership with Morning Pointe Senior Living, wheelchairs are available for complimentary use on a first-come, first-served basis. A driver’s license is required to hold until the unit is returned. Wheelchair rentals are located at the Guest Services Information Desk at the River Journey exit.
The Aquarium’s primary lot has a four designated handicap spots close to the buildings; however, these spots do require payment for parking, and we cannot guarantee availability. There are a few handicap spots in surrounding parking lots as well.
In Chattanooga, anyone with a valid handicap placard or tag can park for free at any on-street metered space throughout the city.
Yes, the Tennessee Aquarium is a participant in Museums for All, allowing guests who receive SNAP benefits to visit the Aquarium at $5 per ticket for the cardholder and up to three of their guests. WIC, Pandemic-Era EBT (P-EBT), Medicaid, and other programs not specifically designated as SNAP Programs are NOT included. Learn more about the Museums for All prgram at the Tennessee Aquarium.
There are no guest lockers or coat check areas available at the Aquarium.
Membership
Members do not need reservations/timed entry tickets.
The person who is named on the membership account will need to show their digital membership card along with an ID when they enter whichever building they are visiting first (River Journey or Ocean Journey). Please log in to your member account to access additional discounted guest tickets to the Aquarium.
Yes, you have up to 7 days following your visit to upgrade your admission tickets to a membership. Learn more about upgrading your ticket.
The Tennessee Aquarium offers a 20% discount on Aquarium Membership levels for the following individuals:
- Active Military/Veterans (must show military ID or DD214)
- First Responders (must show paystub/proof of employment)
- K-12 Educators, including certified Homeschool teachers (must show paystub/proof of employment)
*Discounted memberships are available onsite only.
If you have specific questions regarding these discounts, please email [email protected]
Your membership is valid one full year from the date of purchase. For example, if you purchase a membership on August 1, 2024, your membership will expire August 31, 2025.
Please visit our Memers page to learn about membership categories and our Member Benefits page for more details on what is included with your membership.
General Questions
Lost and found items are stored with the Aquarium’s security team. Contact them at (423) 785-4032 to help retrieve your lost items.
Yes. However, please be mindful of signage on exhibits where flash photography is prohibited. We encourage our guests to share their favorite pictures on the Tennessee Aquarium Facebook page and on Instagram with #TennesseeAquarium. You may also find tips for taking pictures inside the Aquarium in this article.
Our current job listings can be found on the Jobs page of our website.
The Tennessee Aquarium is a private not-for-profit organization. Our annual funding comes from admission and membership fees, gift shop sales, business sponsorships, grants and individual donations. Visit the About Us section of our website to learn more about our community impact.
Showtime Pictures is a separate company which handles the group photos available for purchase at the Aquarium. For more information on contacting Showtime, visit support.showtimepictures.com. For additional assistance, call (423) 785-3021.
Aquarium Policies
The safety and well-being of our visitors, staff and animals is always our highest priority. The following policies help us to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone.
The following items/activities are prohibited inside the Tennessee Aquarium:
- Tobacco use – cigarettes and e-cigarettes
- Outside food or drink (including alcoholic beverages)
- Weapons, including firearms, knives, blades, mace or pepper spray
- Pets (see service animal policy below)
- Clothing with offensive or vulgar language
- Laser pens and pointers
- Noise-making devices
- Balloons
- Flower bouquets
- Any other items deemed dangerous or inappropriate
All purses, backpacks, packages and other personal items are subject to inspection upon entry.
Please note: Costumes are not allowed inside the Aquarium or IMAX 3D Theater except for the Aquascarium Family Halloween special event.
Code of Conduct
Unauthorized distribution of propaganda, flyers, pamphlets, or other literature is not allowed on Aquarium property. Courteous behavior is expected of all visitors. Unruly or unsafe behavior that endangers people or animals or disrupts the experiences of other guests can result in ejection from the premises.
Social Media Policy
The Tennessee Aquarium is committed to maintaining a safe and enjoyable experience within our buildings and on our social media channels.
We have a zero-tolerance policy for disrespectful or dangerous conduct online.
We reserve the right to delete any content and/or block any users who post any content that is determined to be:
- hateful, insulting or life-threatening language toward other users, as well as Aquarium staff members, volunteers or guests
- violent, abusive, or pornographic content
- comments or content that suggest or encourage dangerous or illegal activity
- misleading or false statements; as a trusted, science-based organization we do not support spreading misinformation
- posts or messages generated by bots or anonymous/fake accounts
- unproven or inaccurate accusations against individuals or organizations
- copyright infringement
- advertisement
- links to external websites
Additionally, our social media followers should be aware that Aquarium tickets, Aquarium memberships, IMAX tickets, and special event tickets are non-transferrable. We will remove posts from anyone who attempts to re-sell tickets or memberships. Only purchase tickets through the Tennessee Aquarium’s website, on-site ticketing center, or IMAX box office.
We monitor our social media accounts Monday-Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET. Any comments or concerns posted outside these times are addressed as needed as soon as relevant staff members are available.
Service Animal Policy
Service animals (defined as dogs or miniature horses trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities) are welcome at the Aquarium. Learn more about accessibility at the Aquarium.
Our Butterfly Garden’s inhabitants include free-roaming birds and reptiles. Please refrain from entering if you believe your service animal could pose a risk to the inhabitants of this exhibit. We reserve the right to monitor service animal interactions in this area and can restrict any service animals that display aggressive behavior.
Pets Left in Cars
The temperature inside a car can be influenced by various factors, even when the outside temperature is below 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, the Tennessee Aquarium prohibits and does not endorse leaving pets unattended in vehicles, irrespective of the external temperature.
Photography
Amateur photographers should be mindful of exhibit signage and avoid using flash where prohibited. Our Cuttlefish and Octopus are especially sensitive to flash photography. Tripods are acceptable as long as they do not interfere with the experience for other guests.
Location Guidelines:
Guidelines and agreement for location shooting at the Tennessee Aquarium. Permission for filming at the Aquarium can be obtained only from the public relations department.
The Aquarium sometimes photographs and records visitors for educational and promotional purposes. Entry to the Aquarium’s facilities grants permission for the Aquarium to use these images and recordings. Ticket bearers irrevocably consent that any photographs, videos, voice recordings or similar materials taken of the bearer by the Aquarium or any modification of the same may be used by the Aquarium or any parties permitted by the Aquarium for the purposes of illustration, promotion, advertising, video presentation or publication in any manner deemed appropriate by the Aquarium. The bearer agrees that all such materials shall be the sole property of the Aquarium.
Drones
In accordance with Federal Aviation Administration Small Unmanned Aircraft System Rule (14 CFR part 107), Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drones) may not be flown directly over people. Therefore, drones may not operate in the airspace around, or over, the Tennessee Aquarium and Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater.
Commercial operators with remote pilot certification must request permission from the Aquarium before flying near or over the Tennessee Aquarium and Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater.