Georgia is a beautiful Southern state with landscape that includes beaches, mountains and farmland make road trips a magical experience you won’t forget in a hurry.
The beauty is that with so much different scenery to discover, there is a drive that suits everybody. These include short spins that you can do in half a day, all the way up to road trips that are a proper vacation where you can spend a long weekend exploring stops along the way. Either way, you won’t want to be in a hurry to rush through the quaint towns here…
So, pack up the car and make sure you bring the camera to snap some iconic photos along the way.
The Best Georgia Road Trips
1. Georgia Waterfalls Road Trip
Explore the beauty of Georgia’s waterfalls on this scenic roundtrip from Atlanta. You’ll stop off at the 100-foot, stair-stepping falls of Minnehaha Falls in Tallulah Falls, cross a suspension bridge swaying 80 feet above the gorge floor and see beautiful views of Dodd Creek.
Distance: 200 miles
Route highlights: Toccoa Falls, Tallulah Falls, Raven Cliff Falls, Anna Ruby Falls, Helton Creek Falls, Desoto Falls
When to do it: May, June or September
Photo Cred: IG waterfallsingeorgia
2. Atlanta to Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
Grab your hiking shoes and pack a picnic for this pretty drive that will lead you to Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. There’s plenty of great stopping points along the way, but set off early to time to explore the park and its hundreds of miles of clear-running streams and rivers.
Distance: 95 miles
Route highlights: Canton, Lake Lanier, Amicalola Falls
When to do it: April-November
Photo Cred: IG atlantatrails
3. Georgia Lighthouse Road Trip
The Georgia Coast has some seriously spectacular lighthouses that deserve a road trip themselves. It’s possible to drive it in a couple of hours, but you should take your time to explore scenic towns and beaches from Savannah to Cumberland Island. Be sure to snap some photos at Driftwood Beach and climb 129 steps to the top of St. Simons Lighthouse Museum.
Distance: 108 miles
Route highlights: Tybee Island Lighthouse Station, Sapelo Island, St Simmons Island Lighthouse
When to do it: Spring, Summer, and Fall
Photo Cred: IG georgia_coast
4. Covered Bridge Road Trip
From the northeast mountains to the southwest corner of Georgia, these covered bridges make for a fascinating road trip across the state. Highlights on the route include the Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge in Woodbury, which stretches for 391 feet, making it the longest wooden bridge in Georgia.
Distance: 309 miles
Route highlights: Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge, Howards Covered Bridge, Watson Mill Covered Bridge, Hurricane Shoals
When to do it: Spring and Summer
5. Enduring Farmlands Scenic Byway
This countryside byway includes scenic pecan groves, horse and cattle pasture lands and farmland (corn, cotton, peanuts, soybeans, peaches, blueberries, and grapes), farmers markets and festivals, civil war heritage sites, and the Ocmulgee River, along with the historic architecture of Hawkinsville’s Old Opera House, the Lawrence Bennett Harness Horse racetrack, and several historic churches.
Distance: 65 miles
Route highlights: Hawkinsville, Pineview, Rochelle, and Abbeville.
When to do it: Year-Round, but summer is best for farm produce
Photo Cred: IG austioren
6. The Cohutta Wilderness Loop
It’s technically not a ‘loop’, more like a jumble of connecting roads, but this route is heaven for outdoorsy folk. With more than 40,000 acres in Georgia and Tennessee (where its known as Big Frog Wilderness Area), the Cohuttas comprise the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi. You can see more info here.
Distance: 87 miles
Route highlights: Mercier Orchard, Watson Gap, Dyer Gap, Jacks River Fields, Three Forks Mountain, Mountaintown Creek Overlook, Chestnut Lead Trail
When to do it: Spring & Summer
Photo Cred: IG rally.rav
7. Woodpecker Trail
Travelling along Georgia State Route 121 and named for the abundant woodpeckers inhabiting the nearby pine forests, the Georgia portion of the drive is 204 miles (it stretches from Charlotte, N.C, to St. Petersburg, Fl), passing through such charming towns as Folkston, Metter, Waynesboro, and Augusta.
Distance: 26 miles
Route highlights: Folkston, Metter, Waynesboro, and Augusta.
When to do it: Spring, Summer & Fall
Photo Cred: IG mayfayre
If you are spending time in the state check out The 25 Best Places For Chicken Wings In Georgia.
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