Photo: public domain
Chickamauga, fought September 18 to 20, 1863, was the largest battle in Georgia and the biggest Confederate victory in the Western Theater, with more than 34,000 casualties. The battlefield became the country’s first national military park in 1890, and it anchors a cluster of Civil War sites in northwest Georgia, from Ringgold Gap to the railroad tunnel at Tunnel Hill. It is about 2 hours 7 minutes from downtown Atlanta. Here are the sites to visit.
- From AtlantaAbout 110 miles to the Chickamauga visitor center, 2 hours 7 minutes without traffic
- AdmissionChickamauga Battlefield is free
- DatesChickamauga, September 18–20, 1863; Ringgold Gap, November 27, 1863
- NearbyLookout Mountain and Chattanooga, Tennessee, part of the same national military park
Chickamauga Battlefield
1. Chickamauga Battlefield visitor center
Start at the visitor center in Fort Oglethorpe for the film and museum, then follow the tour road through fields and woods lined with hundreds of monuments. Free.
2. Snodgrass Hill
Where Union Gen. George H. Thomas held on through the afternoon of September 20 while the rest of the Union army fled to Chattanooga, earning the name “the Rock of Chickamauga.”
3. Davis’s Cross Roads
Ten days before Chickamauga, on September 10 and 11, Bragg had a Union division trapped in McLemore’s Cove and let it escape. The quiet valley is a scenic drive today.
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Ringgold, Tunnel Hill and Dalton
4. Ringgold Gap
After the Confederate defeat at Missionary Ridge, Patrick Cleburne’s division held this gap on November 27, 1863, saving the army’s wagons and artillery.
5. The end of the Great Locomotive Chase
On April 12, 1862, the Andrews Raiders’ stolen locomotive, the General, ran out of steam just north of Ringgold. The General itself is on display at the Southern Museum in Kennesaw.
6. Tunnel Hill
The 1,477-foot railroad tunnel, finished in 1850, with a heritage center and tours. The raiders sped through it in 1862, and Sherman massed his armies here in May 1864.
7. Rocky Face Ridge and Dalton
Johnston’s winter camp and his first line against Sherman. Dalton saw fighting in February 1864 and again in August 1864, when Confederate cavalry raided the railroad.
Plan Your Trip
From Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Point Park in Chattanooga are about 20 minutes north, and Cloudland Canyon State Park makes a scenic overnight. For every battle in the state, see our guide to all 27 Georgia Civil War battles. The story continues south with the Atlanta Campaign sites and the March to the Sea sites. To string the sites together, follow the perfect 3-day Georgia Civil War sites itinerary, and browse our Civil War sites directory.
Common Questions
Is Chickamauga Battlefield free?
Yes. There is no entrance fee for Chickamauga Battlefield or the visitor center, which are part of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.
Why was Chickamauga important?
Chickamauga was the largest Confederate victory in the Western Theater and drove the Union army back into Chattanooga. Union forces broke the siege two months later at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, opening the way into Georgia in 1864.
How long does it take to see Chickamauga Battlefield?
Allow about half a day: an hour at the visitor center and two or three hours for the tour road, with stops at Snodgrass Hill and the monuments.
Sources we checked
Facts on this page were checked against official sources and our own detailed pages. Drive times are from downtown Atlanta (Five Points) using OpenStreetMap routing and do not include traffic. Hours, fees and event dates change, so confirm before you go:
- National Park Service: Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
- National Park Service, American Battlefield Protection Program: battle dates and summaries
- Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History: the General and the Great Locomotive Chase
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.