Georgia Road Trip Ideas: Mountains to Coast

We found four Georgia road trip ideas for exploring the state’s varied landscapes, from pristine fairways to urban skylines, mountain waterfalls and sandy beaches.

If you do decide to travel, be sure to call ahead to the places you plan to visit to confirm their hours of operation. And thank you for continuing to follow all state travel guidelines.

Augusta

Legendary golf, soul music roots and presidential history await in Georgia’s second-oldest and second-largest city.

Augusta Aviation: Take off from the Daniel Field Airport for a 30-minute flight and get an aerial view of the famed Augusta National Golf Club’s course.

Gordon Lakes Golf Club: Augusta’s par-72 public course boasts 27 holes, a practice range, a putting course and chipping greens.

The Partridge Inn: Modern convenience meets historic charm in this renovated AAA Three Diamond inn that dates to 1910. (It’s a favorite of golf greats Paul Azinger and Curtis Strange.)

Augusta Museum of History: Explore the museum’s exhibition dedicated to James Brown—aka the Godfather of Soul—who spent most of his childhood in Augusta. Costumes, family photos, original vinyl albums and more are on display.

Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home: The 28th president lived in this Augusta home for a decade. Today, it boasts 13 original pieces of furniture and a window where Wilson started etching his name.

Georgia Guidestones: About an hour and a half northwest of Augusta, near Elberton, this mysterious monument features six slabs of Georgia-hewn granite inscribed with messages—in a dozen languages—that encourage conservation for the preservation of humankind.

North Georgia

Get outdoors for mountain vistas, waterfall hikes and sparkling lakes in Georgia’s lush northern region.

Mercier Orchards, Blue Ridge: From April to October, there’s always something fresh you can pick yourself—strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and apples. Munch on a cinnamon roll from the bakery or pick up some to-go treats from the market store.

Expedition: Bigfoot! The Sasquatch Museum, Cherry Log: Between Blue Ridge and Ellijay, this 7,000-square-foot museum displays items supposedly manipulated by the giants (such as “tree twists” and a mangled dog pen), hair samples, a tranquilizer gun used in a hunt, and gear from Tom Slick’s 1950s yeti expeditions to the Himalayas.

Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge, Dawsonville: This 829-acre state park is home to the tallest waterfall in Georgia. Walk the trails that lead past the falls and to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

Paul Thomas Chocolates, Dahlonega: Honor the town’s Georgia Gold Rush history with a signature Dahlonega Chocolate Gold Bar—milk or dark chocolate, golden raisins, and Georgia pecans.

North Georgia Wildlife & Safari Park, Cleveland: Choose from wildcats, kangaroos and primates when you opt for the two- or three-hour Ultimate Close Experience tour. The zookeepers at this preserve will personally introduce you to a few of your favorite animals.

Vogel State Park, Blairsville: Located 2,500 feet above sea level, the park features a sparkling 22-acre lake, complete with a sandy beach. Cool off in the lake’s swimming area, or splash around on a rented kayak.

Coastal Georgia

Head to the coast to discover adorable turtles, ocean waves and a city steeped in history with these Georgia road trip ideas.

Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island: Get up-close and personal with some of the state’s most fascinating reptiles in the interactive exhibit gallery at this state-of-the-art hospital for sea turtles.

Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island: At one of the island’s most photographed spots, visitors can’t resist walking among the eerie sun-bleached trees that lie on the barrier island’s north end. Visit at dusk, when sunsets tend to be spectacular.

East Beach, St. Simons Island: Enjoy sun, surf and sand along this wide beach. Not into the water? It’s an ideal spot for biking at low tide, too.

Savannah History Museum: Explore the city’s rich history, which dates back to 1733. Exhibits cover everything from the life of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low to the iconic bench from the movie Forrest Gump.

Leopold’s Ice Cream, Savannah: An institution since 1919, this scoop shop’s walls are lined with photos of famous fans like Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lopez and Sir Anthony Hopkins.

Pin Point Heritage Museum, Savannah: The museum celebrates the Gullah Geechee community, founded in 1896 by freedmen after the Civil War, by sharing insight about the community’s language, religion, stories and foodways.

Atlanta

Use Georgia’s capital city as a jumping-off point for civil rights and presidential history, plus one unbelievable natural wonder.

The National Center for Civil and Human Rights: Reflect on some of our country’s greatest human rights triumphs and take part in interactive exhibits, like the one re-creating a lunch-counter protest in a 1960s-era diner.

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park: Tour Dr. King’s birth home and visit other landmark sites, including Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he was a co-pastor with his father.

Sweet Stack Creamery: At this fun shop in the Sweet Auburn Historic District, doughnut ice cream sandwiches can be filled with activated charcoal- and coconut-infused Black Panther ice cream.

Georgia Aquarium: Snap a photo with one of the aquarium’s thousands of marine residents, including manta rays and whale sharks. (AAA Members can get discounted tickets at AAA.com/Fun.)

Smith Farm at the Atlanta History Center: At this 1840s farmhouse relocated to the Buckhead neighborhood, history comes alive with a blacksmith shop and thriving gardens.

Roosevelt’s Little White House State Historic Site, Warm Springs: After getting a polio diagnosis, our 32nd president found relief in Georgia’s natural warm springs—about an hour and a half south of Atlanta. Tour his home and see his 1938 Ford convertible with hand controls.

Providence Canyon State Park, Lumpkin: About an hour and a half south of Warm Springs, you’ll find one the state’s most Instagrammed places: a 150-foot-deep ravine, often called Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon.” Marvel at the pink, orange, red, blue and purple soil on the easy- to medium-difficulty hike to the bottom.