Scenic Georgia Raod Trips To Take From Atlanta

Scenic Georgia Road Trips For Day Trips from Atlanta

Road trips are one of the best ways to explore a small area or even an entire region. If you want to have fun, you should think about exploring the various attractions and magnificent locations around Atlanta. The area is truly breathtaking and undoubtedly worth exploring.

You could choose a romantic getaway in places around Atlanta or visit various small urban centers hosting thriving museums, cultural centers, and many other attractions. No matter which places you visit on a short road trip from Atlanta, the surroundings have so much to offer and will leave you thoroughly excited and satisfied.

Flickr by: Steve Shook

Below are some of the great road trips you could enjoy from Atlanta:

A visit to Helen, Georgia

The picturesque town of Helen is a distance of about 87 miles away from Atlanta and it will take you approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes to get there. The town is in Northeast Georgia and is known for its mountains and Bavarian-styled buildings. The town’s design is reminiscent of a charming Bavarian alpine village.

The best time to visit Helen is during the warmer months, from May to September, when tourists travel there to enjoy tubing down the great Chattahoochee River. However, even during the rest of the year, you can have fun with lots of other exciting outdoor activities. These include hiking through Helen’s numerous picturesque hiking trails such as Anna Ruby Falls, Raven Cliff Falls Trail, Yonah Mountain Hiking Trail, etc.

Moreover, Helen hosts two state parks, Smithgall Woods State Park and Unicoi State Park and Lodge. Outdoor fun activities include zip-lining, camping, and kayaking to name a few. Most importantly, the most exciting fall activity in this Georgia town is the annual Oktoberfest celebration. Due to all these activities, Helen should definitely be on the top of your list of places to take a road trip or vacation from Atlanta.

A road trip to Lake Oconeey

If you are looking for an exciting summer Atlanta Road trip, you need to give Lake Oconee or Greene County, GA, a thought. Georgia Power created the reservoir during the construction of the Wallace Dam in 1979. Since then, the dam has become a top destination for jet skiing, boating, wakeboarding, waterskiing, fishing, and lots of other fun water activities.

Wikimedia Commons by: Jim Mandeville

It is only an 84-miles drive and it should take you about 1 hour and 25 minutes from Atlanta. If you are a lover of outdoor activities, you will undoubtedly have fun hiking and camping all over the Oconee National Forest. Greene County also has several golf communities that take pride in the best lakefront homes such as Reynolds Lake Oconee, Harbor Club, and Cuscowilla. Besides, Lake Oconee is home to one of the best luxury resorts, The Ritz-Carlton Reynold, an excellent romantic getaway.

A drive to Dahlonega, Georgia

Are you looking for a shorter drive destination from Atlanta? Then you need to consider a road trip to Dahlonega. This is an excellent destination for road trips in the fall. One of the main reasons for the popularity of this small urban center is that it is the place that witnessed the first gold rush in the US. As a result, one of the most popular activities in Dahlonega is to explore the Consolidated Gold Mine. As an explorer, you will learn about the miners who uncovered the gold and learn about panning for treasure. You should not miss a visit to the mines if you’re visiting with kids.

Image Source: dahlonega.org/wineries/

Additionally, Dahlonega has become famous as the center of North Georgia’s Wine Country. So, you could take an adult holiday in Dahlonega and while the time in some of Georgia’s most prestigious vineyards, for example, Cavender Creek Vineyards, Three Sisters Vineyards, Kaya Vineyard and Winery, and others. You may also have lots of fun on the great hiking trails in the Amicalola Falls State Park nearby.

A trip to Stone Mountain Park

Wikimedia Commons by: MARELBU

Even with only a little time available for you, a road trip to Stone Mountain Park will take about 30 minutes from Atlanta and can offer you lots of fun stuff to enjoy. This is one of the most visited attractions in Georgia and is situated a short drive from Atlanta. Stone Mountain is one the world’s biggest granite formations. The most exciting thing is that the faces of prominent persons from the South are carved into this granite formation. These famous figures include Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, and Robert E. Lee. Besides the historical exhibits, the park also hosts amusement activities, offering several thrilling rides for visitors of all ages.

As you can see, you can never run out of fantastic destinations for Georgia road trips from Atlanta. You can have so much fun exploring cultural places, natural attractions, hiking, and doing many other activities.