East Brainerd and Hixson are Chattanooga’s suburban edges. East Brainerd lies to the southeast along the Georgia line, and Hixson lies to the north, between the Tennessee River and Walden’s Ridge. You’ll drive for most errands in both.
East Brainerd: shopping and creekside green space
The city’s plan calls East Brainerd the region’s primary retail destination. Hamilton Place Mall opened in 1987 with more than 200 stores and was Tennessee’s largest mall until 1998. Gunbarrel Road has more shopping centers, including Hamilton Crossing, Hamilton Village, the Overlook, the Terrace, and Waterside.
For green space, Audubon Acres is a large natural area along South Chickamauga Creek that locals call a wildlife sanctuary. Residents name Heritage Park as their favorite for being kid-friendly and walkable, and the Don Eaves Heritage House is the area’s arts and civic center.
Expect traffic near the mall; most commuter traffic from farther east uses Shallowford Road and East Brainerd Road. Bus service is limited, but CARTA Go, an on-demand shared ride you book by phone or app, covers the East Brainerd area Monday through Saturday from 5 AM to 8 PM and connects to Route 4, which serves Eastgate and Hamilton Place.
Hixson: creeks, parks, and dog parks
Hixson covers about 38 square miles of mostly suburban and rural land. The North Chickamauga Creek Greenway follows the creek toward the Tennessee River, with water access points along the way. Residents’ two favorite parks are Greenway Farm Park, which has a conference center and a dog park, and White Oak Park; people like both for their dog parks, open space, and wildlife.
Hixson Pike, Highway 153, and Dayton Boulevard are the main roads. CARTA Route 16 runs along Hixson Pike, and there’s a park-and-ride lot at Northgate Mall, the city’s first fully enclosed mall, which opened in 1972. Few places in Hixson are practical to reach on foot.
Transit times and fares come from the city’s 2024 transit study, and places come from the Plan Chattanooga planning documents. Schedules change, so check CARTA before you ride.