8 Family Road Trips from Atlanta
When the world is no longer on lockdown and people are free to start traveling again, I don’t expect they’ll want to go very far at first. I predict the first family vacation many of us will take will be a short road trip that lets us get comfortable being away from home without too much risk to our health and wallets. For Atlantans, there are plenty of great options within a five-hour drive. Here are eight of my favorite Atlanta road trips for your post-quarantine consideration.
At the time of publication, most of the accommodations and attractions listed in this post are closed due to COVID-19. Before taking any trips, contact the destination to confirm reopening. This post contains an affiliate link, which means, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Amelia Island, Florida
Amelia Island is a barrier island off the east coast of Florida about 350 miles from Atlanta. It boasts two great beach resorts, the Omni Amelia Island Resort and the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.
The Omni Amelia Island Resort has a range of family-friendly resort amenities such as tennis, golf, paddle boarding, kayaking, and fishing. You can spend the day on the expansive beachfront pool deck or along miles of white sandy beach.
While the Omni Amelia Island offers several options for onsite dining, you can try the restaurants in historic Fernandina Beach or splurge on the Ritz-Carlton’s five-star restaurant, SALT. If you’re looking to explore further off-property, consider a day trip to Cumberland Island, a national park accessible via ferry from St. Mary’s, Georgia.
Drive time from Atlanta: 5 hours and 15 minutes
Jekyll Island, Georgia
Jekyll Island is another barrier island on the Georgia coast, 62 miles north of Amelia Island and about 320 miles from Atlanta. Its notable resorts include The Westin Jekyll Island and the Jekyll Island Club Resort.
Built in 1887, the Jekyll Island Club was originally a private club with members including the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Pulitzers. Today, you can step back in time with a stay in the historic hotel or cottages, which sit along the East River among Spanish moss-draped trees.
Although the historic buildings aren’t on the beach, guests can enjoy beachfront activities at the resort’s Jekyll Island Ocean Club, a contemporary boutique all-suite hotel located a mile and a half away. If you go, don’t miss Driftwood Beach at the northern end of the island, where the weathered remains of eroded trees create a dramatic display.
Drive time from Atlanta: 5 hours
Looking for more info on Georgia’s Golden Isles? Check out “First-Timer’s Guide to Beautiful Jekyll Island, Georgia.”
Savannah, Georgia
Whether you’ve never visited or you’ve been a dozen times, Savannah, Georgia, deserves a place on your Atlanta road trip list.
For first time visitors, a guided city tour is a must. Hop on/hop off trolley tours provide an overview of some of the city’s most popular sights, including Forsyth Park and the bustling riverfront. Or try a 90-minute walking tour through the quaint city squares, past Savannah’s many historic homes.
If you have more time, venture outside of the historic district to the famous Bonaventure Cemetery or picturesque Wormsloe Historic Site.
For accommodations, Savannah has a great selection of charming boutique inns and bed and breakfasts. Depending on your choice, you may wind up in one of Savannah’s haunted hotels.
Drive time from Atlanta: 3 hours and 45 minutes
Charleston, South Carolina
The model of Southern charm, Charleston has been ranked among the world’s best cities to visit.
Like Savannah, Charleston has a walkable downtown district filled with historic buildings, making a guided tour a must. History lovers will also enjoy stops at Fort Sumter, the site of the start of Civil War, and Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, which features a World War II aircraft carrier, the USS Yorktown.
Outside of Charleston are several plantation properties where you can tour antebellum homes and gardens, including Drayton Hall, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, and Middleton Place. If you’re craving salt air and sand, head to the nearby beaches of South Carolina’s coastal islands.
Drive time from Atlanta: 4 hours and 40 minutes
Read more about things to do in Charleston in “See the Best of Charleston: A 3 to 5-Day Itinerary.”
Chattanooga, Tennessee
At less than two hours away, Chattanooga, Tennessee, can easily be a day trip from Atlanta. But Chattanooga offers so many fun activities that it’s a perfect place to spend a few nights.
In downtown Chattanooga, kids will love exploring the aquatic habitats of the Tennessee Aquarium and splashing around in the fountains of the Riverwalk. Other top attractions include an interactive science museum called the Creative Discovery Center, the Chattanooga Zoo, and the Hunter Museum of American Art.
Just outside the city are also several worthwhile stops, including Rock City Gardens, Ruby Falls, and Incline Railway. And only a 30-minute drive from Chattanooga is one of Georgia’s loveliest state parks, Cloudland Canyon. The park has 64 miles of trails featuring waterfalls and stunning canyon views.
Drive time from Atlanta: 2 hours
Asheville, North Carolina
If you’ve never been to Asheville, North Carolina, you’re missing out on one of the hippest vacation destinations in the Southeast. Asheville has a cool downtown with eclectic restaurants and craft breweries, all set against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge mountains.
Asheville has several standout hotels and resorts, including the Inn at Biltmore Estate, the Grand Bohemian Hotel, and the Omni Grove Park Inn. The Grove Park Inn is also known for its spa, which comes with the perk of admission to the resort’s subterranean mineral pools.
As for Asheville attractions, schedule an afternoon to a full day to see Biltmore Estate, a Gilded Age mansion built for George Vanderbilt in the 1890s. The ornate 178,926 square-foot home and its Olmstead-designed gardens are located on 8,000 acres. In addition to touring the property, you can go horseback riding, learn fly-fishing, or try your hand at falconry.
Drive time from Atlanta: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers more than 800 square miles of North Carolina and Tennessee and is the most visited national park in the United States. Scenic drives and impressive hikes make it a top choice for an Atlanta road trip.
Popular hikes in the park include paved trails to Laurel Falls, an 80-foot-tall waterfall, and Clingman’s Dome, a circular observation platform atop the park’s highest point. Grotto Falls, another popular waterfall, can be accessed via the Trillium Gap Trail off the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
At the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, you can visit the Mountain Farm Museum and Mingus Mill. Or drive the 11-mile loop road to see the churches, barns and log cabins of Cades Cove, a popular area for wildlife-viewing.
While you’ll find plenty of hotel and motel accommodations in towns like Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, consider renting a cabin near one of the six park entrances for the complete mountain experience.
Drive time from Atlanta: Between 3 and 4 hours depending on where you enter the park
For advice on planning a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you might also like this article with Smoky Mountain tips!
Callaway Gardens
For a long weekend getaway, Callaway Resort & Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, offers a wide variety of outdoor activities. On the 6,500-acre resort, you’ll find golfing, tennis, ziplines, a lake, hiking, biking, and more.
The resort gardens showcase native plants like azaleas, hydrangea, dogwood trees, mountain laurel, and holly. Visit the garden’s website for a printable guide to the monthly blooms. The Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center is also a must-do. Thousands of butterflies alight on tropical plants and feast on fruit in the lush glass-paned center.
Callaway normally features annual events such as the Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament, a hot air balloon festival, and a steeplechase. During the summer, Florida State University’s Flying High Circus performs under the resort’s big top.
Accommodations at Callaway range from hotel rooms and suites to cottages and villas with fully-equipped kitchens. Near the resort are several family-friendly attractions, including FDR’s Little White House, Hills and Dales estate, and Wild Animal Safari, a drive-thru animal park with more than 75 species, including giraffe, elk and water buffalo.
Drive time from Atlanta: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Headed to Callaway Gardens during the winter holidays? You might like “Everything You Need to Know about Callaway Gardens Fantasy in Lights.”
