It doesn’t have to be fall or spring to enjoy the best scenic drives in Georgia. There are so many great back roads and country roads in Georgia that sometimes all you want to do is hop in your car and blast some of your favorite music while enjoying the drive. Time to hit the road (with the family or alone!) and enjoy these daytime adventures. Don’t forget to snap a few pictures!
- Cohutta Wilderness Loop
Flickr John P. This is one of our favorite Georgia day trips. You’ll go on a full 75-mile trek through the entire Cohutta Wilderness Area. You’ll start in Chatsworth and continue on through the Chattahoochee National Forest. There’s some amazing hiking in this area if you want to get out and explore a few trails.
- South Fulton Scenic Byway 120
Flickr sporadic This winding loop drive will give Georgians a chance to escape some of the most heavily-congested traffic spots in Atlanta. You’ll stat in Campbellton and drive for about 30 miles. The scenery is beautiful, with wooded landscapes, pastures, and rolling hills. This is one beautiful drive in Georgia you won’t soon forget! A drive down South Fulton Scenic Byway 120 will take you miles and miles away from it all.
- U.S. Highway 17/Coastal Highway
Flickr Doug Kerr You’ll start your drive in the beautiful city of Savannah on U.S. Highway 17. Taking that road all the way through Townsend, Darien, and Brunswick will give you a real treat. You’ll go from the coast to small town life in just a few miles, and there’s so much local cuisine in this area. Originally, parts of this highway were the Ogeechee Road. Construction on the road began in 1735 and it is thought that this was Georgia’s first real road! Check out this Atlanta Magazine article on the Coastal Highway.
- Russell Brasstown Scenic Byway
Flickr Stephen Rahn The 50-mile drive through Helen to Brasstown Bald is a regular contender for the title of best scenic drive in Georgia. This one is great for those who can pack a picnic and make stops along the route. There are a lot of neat little towns along this path that make for great Georgia day trips. See more photos on Explore Georgia.
- Georgia Highway 15
Flickr Patrice M. Christian This scenic back road journey will take you through a few charming Georgia towns. From Sparta to Wrightsville, you’ll be able to see some really great little communities. Stop by a few of the mom and pop shops and make sure to admire the old architecture. This route goes all the way from the northern border of the Peach State down to the south, just east of the center line.
- Georgia Foothills Loop
Flickr TranceMist One of the most scenic roads in Georgia, you’ll travel over 100-miles down paved roads and on major highways, yet riding through the ridges of Georgia mountainsides is probably the best scenery you’ll see yet.
- Georgia Highway 177 from Fargo to Okefenokee Swamp
Flickr Phil Oswald Christano Driving by the largest blackwater swamp in the United States is something to marvel over. If you get to take Georgia Highway 177 from Fargo to Okeefenokee Swamp, you’ll be able to see just that. This drive will give you beautiful, unobstructed views of the swamplands like you couldn’t imagine.
- Columbus to Providence Canyon
Flickr Shelby Bell A drive from Columbus to Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon is always a treat. This 68-mile trek through secondary roads is probably the best way to do it. You’ll travel south through the forested parts of the state and end up at one of Georgia’s best hidden attractions. Providence Canyon is one of the greatest natural wonders in Georgia.
- Armuchee, Georgia Valley Drive
Thomson20192 The Armuchee Byway is a bit of a lesser-known country road in Georgia. It passes through some truly stunning spaces. You’ll be privy to some of the most fertile farmlands in the state, and you’ll wind up at John’s Mountain Overlook. This gives you one of the most beautiful panoramic views in the state, making it one of the best scenic drives in Georgia!
- Rabun County Loop
Flickr Thompson20192 This one is a definite doozy. It takes you through some truly fascinating towns in Georgia. It’s a 42-mile trip that winds in and out of North Carolina. You’ll see some of the most stunning mountain towns in this area. Did you know Rabun County has 33 waterfalls?
Let’s keep this list going! What are some of your personal best scenic drives in Georgia? Add them in the comments and get started planning your next road trip!
Flickr John P.
This is one of our favorite Georgia day trips. You’ll go on a full 75-mile trek through the entire Cohutta Wilderness Area. You’ll start in Chatsworth and continue on through the Chattahoochee National Forest. There’s some amazing hiking in this area if you want to get out and explore a few trails.
Flickr sporadic
This winding loop drive will give Georgians a chance to escape some of the most heavily-congested traffic spots in Atlanta. You’ll stat in Campbellton and drive for about 30 miles. The scenery is beautiful, with wooded landscapes, pastures, and rolling hills. This is one beautiful drive in Georgia you won’t soon forget! A drive down South Fulton Scenic Byway 120 will take you miles and miles away from it all.
Flickr Doug Kerr
You’ll start your drive in the beautiful city of Savannah on U.S. Highway 17. Taking that road all the way through Townsend, Darien, and Brunswick will give you a real treat. You’ll go from the coast to small town life in just a few miles, and there’s so much local cuisine in this area. Originally, parts of this highway were the Ogeechee Road. Construction on the road began in 1735 and it is thought that this was Georgia’s first real road! Check out this Atlanta Magazine article on the Coastal Highway.
Flickr Stephen Rahn
The 50-mile drive through Helen to Brasstown Bald is a regular contender for the title of best scenic drive in Georgia. This one is great for those who can pack a picnic and make stops along the route. There are a lot of neat little towns along this path that make for great Georgia day trips. See more photos on Explore Georgia.
Flickr Patrice M. Christian
This scenic back road journey will take you through a few charming Georgia towns. From Sparta to Wrightsville, you’ll be able to see some really great little communities. Stop by a few of the mom and pop shops and make sure to admire the old architecture. This route goes all the way from the northern border of the Peach State down to the south, just east of the center line.
Flickr TranceMist
One of the most scenic roads in Georgia, you’ll travel over 100-miles down paved roads and on major highways, yet riding through the ridges of Georgia mountainsides is probably the best scenery you’ll see yet.
Flickr Phil Oswald Christano
Driving by the largest blackwater swamp in the United States is something to marvel over. If you get to take Georgia Highway 177 from Fargo to Okeefenokee Swamp, you’ll be able to see just that. This drive will give you beautiful, unobstructed views of the swamplands like you couldn’t imagine.
Flickr Shelby Bell
A drive from Columbus to Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon is always a treat. This 68-mile trek through secondary roads is probably the best way to do it. You’ll travel south through the forested parts of the state and end up at one of Georgia’s best hidden attractions. Providence Canyon is one of the greatest natural wonders in Georgia.
Thomson20192
The Armuchee Byway is a bit of a lesser-known country road in Georgia. It passes through some truly stunning spaces. You’ll be privy to some of the most fertile farmlands in the state, and you’ll wind up at John’s Mountain Overlook. This gives you one of the most beautiful panoramic views in the state, making it one of the best scenic drives in Georgia!
Flickr Thompson20192
This one is a definite doozy. It takes you through some truly fascinating towns in Georgia. It’s a 42-mile trip that winds in and out of North Carolina. You’ll see some of the most stunning mountain towns in this area. Did you know Rabun County has 33 waterfalls?
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Address: Cohutta Wilderness, 2694 Old Hwy 2, Cisco, GA 30708, USAAddress: Georgia 17, GA-17, Thomson, GA, USAAddress: Russell–Brasstown Scenic Byway, Helen, GA 30545, USAAddress: Georgia 15 Alternate, GA-15 Alt, Athens, GA, USAAddress: Fargo, GA 31631, USAAddress: Providence Canyon State Park, 8930 Canyon Rd, Lumpkin, GA 31815, USAAddress: Armuchee, GA 30105, USAAddress: Rabun County, GA, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Georgia Day Trips July 07, 2021 Lisa Sammons What are some great Georgia day trips? There are so many day trips in Georgia that one can take! One that we love in particular is the charming little town of Helen. It might just be the most unique town in Georgia! And if you want to make a whole weekend out of it, we’ve got a great North Georgia road trip planned out. What are some natural wonders in Georgia? There are a number of beautiful natural wonders in Georgia that are worth crossing the state for. Anna Ruby Falls is a short hike with a beautiful payoff. Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon is incredible. What are some interesting museums in Georgia? We’re loaded down with great museums! Graveface Museum in the beautiful city of Savannah has all kinds of oddities, with a focus on true crime. The Southeastern Quilt & Textile Museum is one of the largest quilt museums in the southeast.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Georgia Day Trips
July 07, 2021
Lisa Sammons
What are some great Georgia day trips? There are so many day trips in Georgia that one can take! One that we love in particular is the charming little town of Helen. It might just be the most unique town in Georgia! And if you want to make a whole weekend out of it, we’ve got a great North Georgia road trip planned out. What are some natural wonders in Georgia? There are a number of beautiful natural wonders in Georgia that are worth crossing the state for. Anna Ruby Falls is a short hike with a beautiful payoff. Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon is incredible. What are some interesting museums in Georgia? We’re loaded down with great museums! Graveface Museum in the beautiful city of Savannah has all kinds of oddities, with a focus on true crime. The Southeastern Quilt & Textile Museum is one of the largest quilt museums in the southeast.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
There are so many day trips in Georgia that one can take! One that we love in particular is the charming little town of Helen. It might just be the most unique town in Georgia! And if you want to make a whole weekend out of it, we’ve got a great North Georgia road trip planned out.
What are some natural wonders in Georgia?
There are a number of beautiful natural wonders in Georgia that are worth crossing the state for. Anna Ruby Falls is a short hike with a beautiful payoff. Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon is incredible.
What are some interesting museums in Georgia?
We’re loaded down with great museums! Graveface Museum in the beautiful city of Savannah has all kinds of oddities, with a focus on true crime. The Southeastern Quilt & Textile Museum is one of the largest quilt museums in the southeast.
