Cruising From Chattanooga: The Ports You Can Drive To, and When to Fly Instead
Cindi Sanden
One of the first questions I get from Chattanooga clients who want to cruise is "Where do we leave from?" There is no cruise port in Tennessee, but there are five you can drive to in a day, and a big airport two hours away for the rest.
Here is how I help people choose.
The ports you can drive to
Drive times are from downtown Chattanooga with normal traffic, from Google Maps in October 2026. Plan on extra time for stops, and for traffic around Atlanta.
| Port | Drive from Chattanooga | Cruise lines that sail from there |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile, Alabama | About 5 hours 45 minutes (400 miles) | Carnival |
| Jacksonville, Florida | About 7 hours 10 minutes (473 miles) | Carnival, plus Norwegian from November to April |
| New Orleans, Louisiana | About 7 hours 15 minutes (492 miles) | Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean |
| Tampa, Florida | About 8 hours 30 minutes (574 miles) | Carnival, Celebrity, Margaritaville at Sea, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean |
| Port Canaveral, Florida | About 9 hours (608 miles) | Carnival, Celebrity, MSC, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean and more |
Miami and Fort Lauderdale are more than 11 hours by car, and Galveston, Texas is about 12 and a half. For those ports, most of my clients fly.
Mobile: the closest port
Mobile is the easy one. It is under 6 hours, mostly on I-59 and I-65, and the cruise terminal is right downtown.
Carnival sails from Mobile now, and Carnival has announced year-round sailings there on Carnival Valor starting in May 2027. Sailings run from 6 to 16 days.
Parking is in the garage at the terminal. When I checked in October 2026 it was $23 a day for a regular car. Several Mobile hotels also offer park and cruise packages.
Jacksonville: short cruises to the Bahamas
Jacksonville is about 7 hours, mostly on I-75. Carnival sails from here all year, with 4 and 5 day cruises to the Bahamas. Norwegian sails from Jacksonville from November through April, with 4 and 5 day cruises to the Bahamas and Key West.
Short sailings make Jacksonville a good fit for a first cruise or a long weekend.
Parking at the terminal is $17 a day. You pay by card when you arrive, and the port no longer takes parking reservations.
New Orleans: a city worth a night
New Orleans is about 7 hours 15 minutes, mostly on I-59. Carnival sails from the Erato Street terminal, and Norwegian and Royal Caribbean sail from the Julia Street terminal, so check which one your ship uses before you set the GPS.
Cruising From Chattanooga: The Port Guide
Every port you can drive to on one printable guide: drive times, which cruise lines sail from each one, parking prices, when to fly from Atlanta instead, and a checklist for the day before you sail.
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Parking is priced by the length of your cruise. When I checked in October 2026, a 7-day cruise was $180 at the garage for either terminal, paid by card.
I have sailed out of New Orleans myself, and I always suggest coming in the night before. You get a relaxed dinner in the French Quarter and no stress about making the ship.
Tampa and Port Canaveral: the most ships to choose from
These are the longest drives, about 8 and a half hours to Tampa and 9 hours to Port Canaveral, both mostly on I-75. They also have the most choice. Port Canaveral is home to seven major cruise lines, and Tampa has five.
Port Canaveral parking is $20 a day plus tax. You pay by card when you arrive. Parking at the Tampa port is paid ahead online, and you see the price when you reserve.
With drives this long, most people go down the day before and stay near the port.
When to drive to Atlanta and fly instead
The Atlanta airport is about 2 hours from downtown Chattanooga, and from there you can fly nonstop to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa and Houston.
Fly when:
- Your cruise leaves from Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Galveston
- You only have a week off and don't want to spend 2 days of it in the car
- You are traveling with little ones, or with anyone who doesn't do well on a long drive
- Your cruise is in Alaska, Europe or anywhere farther away
Drive when:
- Your ship sails from Mobile, Jacksonville or New Orleans
- There are 4 or more of you, since one car can cost less than 4 plane tickets
- You want to pack what you like without counting bags
Chattanooga's own airport has had nonstop flights to Florida too, so ask us what is flying on your dates.
Arrive the day before
This is the one rule I give every cruise client. A cruise ship will not wait for a late flight or a traffic jam, and if you miss it, getting to the next port is on you.
The same goes for the long drives. If your port is more than about 6 hours away, drive down the day before and spend the night.
Parking and hotel tips
- Check your terminal. Some ports have more than one cruise terminal. Your cruise documents name yours.
- Check how parking is paid. Some port garages take cards only, like Jacksonville and Port Canaveral. In Mobile you can pay ahead online, by text, in the parking company's app or at a kiosk. If you pay cash at a kiosk, bring the exact amount: it gives no change and takes no bills over $50.
- Look at park and cruise hotels. Many hotels near the ports sell a night's stay with parking for the length of your cruise, and some include a shuttle to the terminal. Ask the hotel to confirm the shuttle runs on your sailing day.
- Parking prices change. The prices here are what the ports listed in October 2026. Check the port's own parking page the week you go, or ask us and we will check for you.
Not sure which ship or port fits?
Tell us the cruise you have in mind in one sentence, and an advisor will email you 3 picks that fit, with prices. Send us your cruise.
Ready to start?
If you would rather give us the full picture, tell me about your trip. You can also email [email protected] or call our office at (423) 401-9997.
Talk soon,
Cindi
