Tennessee Welcome Center

I’ve been stopping at this rest stop for years. As a college student driving back and forth between Atlanta and Huntsville, AL, I took the circuitous route through Chattanooga (better roads, fewer turns to remember, more traveled in case I broke down, better cell service). This was always a stop for me on the way back to Atlanta. I know you’re thinking that’s only a 3 hour drive, how could you possibly need to stop? Well, when you’re a sleep-​deprived college student, who drinks 8 – 10 caffeinated beverages a day, the stuff only lasts about an hour. And then you need to pull over again for another Mountain Dew Code Red (I honestly think those things did more damage to my liver than the alcohol that I’ve consumed over the years).
This rest stop has more charm than the gas stations of the area. It’s been recently renovated and expanded, but still has the same charming mosaic statues. There’s a manned welcome desk that can tell you about the attractions in the area (and the rest of Tennessee). And it’s got a great vending section that includes coffee, drinks, snacks, and even ice cream. There are some picnic tables.
The only bummer — there aren’t any trees, so there’s no shade to park in. That’s a problem in the summer heat in the middle of the day.
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