11 Amazing Georgia Day Trips That Are Worth The Drive
Day trips from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), one of the busiest airports in the world, offer a variety of benefits for travelers. One significant advantage is convenience—Atlanta’s central location makes it easy to drive to many amazing Georgia day trips within a few hours. From scenic nature parks like the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Providence Canyon State Park to fun family attractions like Old Car City USA, Zoo Atlanta, and the Georgia Aquarium, day trips provide a refreshing escape from everyday life, allowing travelers to relax, recharge, and create memorable experiences.
Andersonville National Historic Site
During November, the month of remembrance, a somber and significant landmark worth visiting is the Andersonville National Historic Site, about 2.5 hours from the airport. The park has three main features: the National Prisoner of War Museum, the historic Camp Sumter Military Prison site, and the Andersonville National Cemetery. Designed to hold 10,000 prisoners captured by Confederate soldiers during the US Civil War, the prison once held more than 32,000. Nearly 13,000 soldiers died there and are buried in the cemetery where veterans continue to be buried today.
2024 marks the 160th Anniversary of the military prison, so the park will host a series of events from January 2024 through November 2025 at the historic prison, the war museum, and the cemetery—part of the Georgia World War II Heritage Trail. It is the only national park dedicated to remembering all Americans ever held as prisoners of war.
Old Car City USA, White
Car enthusiasts will want to step on the gas for the 60-minute drive from Atlanta Airport to Old Car City, USA. Reportedly the world's largest classic car junkyard, this automotive work of art contains 4,400 rusted vintage cars and trucks on permanent display in a beautiful forested landscape. Wander through six miles of trails where the Old South combines folk art and nature with thousands of American-made cars, trucks, vans, and a couple of school buses from the 70s.
Old Car City USA started as a small general store in 1931 and is still family-owned and operated by a man who calls himself the “Mayor” of Old Car City USA. Among the overgrown paths, photographers and motorheads can admire the last car Elvis Presley purchased in 1977, a few months before he died.
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
Only 30 miles from the airport, the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is perfect for hiking, fishing, kayaking, and picnicking along the 48 miles of the scenic Chattahoochee River. There are plenty of activities to indulge in, but the fall is the best time to enjoy hiking 66 miles of trails in the park. Pack a picnic lunch and plan to spend a few hours discovering this gorgeous oasis so close to the urban infrastructure of Atlanta.
Two popular trails to explore in the recreation area include the Palisades Trails, which are split into two sections, east and west. The 3.6-mile West Palisades Trail section has mostly paved and flat trails that follow the Rottenwood Creek with a few picturesque bridge crossings and is a good bet for families. The 3.4-mile East Palisades Trail section is more strenuous and less crowded; stroll through a bamboo forest with breathtaking river overlooks.
World of Coca-Cola, Atlanta
Less than 30 minutes from the airport, soft drink lovers will get a sugar high at World of Coca-Cola, one of the world’s famous brands. Visitors can learn about the history of Coca-Cola through interactive exhibits, including a Taste It! Exhibit with over 100 flavors from around the world, the Scent Library, and the Loft, home to nearly 200 historical and international artifacts.
Discover how Coca-Cola was invented in Atlanta from a pharmacist’s humble recipe into the worldwide icon it is today in its latest exhibit that features the Contour bottle, the Coca-Cola Polar Bear, and famous taglines. The exhibit is very Instagram-worthy, so be sure to bring along a camera or phone to take pictures.
Providence Canyon State Park
Known as "Georgia's Little Grand Canyon," Providence Canyon State Park is a two-hour drive from the airport until outdoor enthusiasts find themselves in a nature lover’s paradise. Plan a minimum of three hours to see the park, which is really full of geological formations, much of which was caused by erosion and poor agricultural practices during the 1800s. Regardless, it is a stunning area to explore with the colorful soil in shades of red, purple, orange, and pink, making the canyon resemble the canvas of a painting.
There are numerous trails to help visitors discover the nine canyons in the park, and all of them begin and end at the Visitor Center, where hikers can pick up a map. The White Blaze Canyon Loop Trail circles the canyons and is rated easy to moderate. It takes about two hours to complete, but add another hour for rest stops and photos.
Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta
Learning about the history of Zoo Atlanta is almost as fascinating as a day trip to this animal conservation organization less than 10 miles from the airport when a traveling animal menagerie went bankrupt during a stop in Atlanta in March 1889 and never left. Today, the zoo houses more than 1,300 animals representing more than 220 species and covers 40 acres of land in historic Grant Park.
The wildlife at Zoo Atlanta spans seven animal habitats and several aviaries that house exotic birds from around the world. Must-see habitats include the African lions in the African Savanna, the Bornean orangutans and Sumatran tigers in the Asian Forest, and the western lowland gorillas in the African Rainforest. The stars of the zoo were the giant pandas Lun Lun and Yang Yang, who joined the zoo in 1999. They produced seven giant panda cubs and, in October of 2024, returned to China, ending 25 years of giant pandas at the zoo.
Callaway Resort & Gardens, Pine Mountain
Callaway Gardens embraces 14,000 acres of gardens, woodlands, and lakes, with wildlife and outdoor activities, and it is only about a 90-minute drive from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. While it is a resort, it does offer regular-day admission for families who love spending the day in the great outdoors. Entrance to Gardens includes access to the Callaway Discovery Center and its auditorium, art exhibits, and Crawleseum; the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center and its 1,000+ free-fluttering butterflies; 10 miles of bicycle trails; and more.
For the perfect fall day trip, visit the Garden of Giants, a 2,500-acre harvest haven packed with some of Georgia's biggest pumpkins, discover fields of sunflowers, explore Cason's Corn Maze, and relax with fall-inspired refreshments in family-friendly Cason's Beer & Wine Garden. At night, the gardens transform into an enchanting garden full of fog-filled bubbles and holographic displays of woodland critters.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta
The Fernbank Museum of Natural History opened its doors to the public in 1992, but the idea of the museum began in the late 1800s when a forward-thinking naturalist set out to preserve 65 acres of forest she named “Fernbank.” Fast forward to today. Fernbank is a much-loved day trip for adults and children less than 30 minutes from ATL.
One of the biggest draws to the museum is its exhibit on dinosaurs in the Giants of the Mesozoic Hall, where wannabe paleontologists can stand under some of the world’s largest dinosaurs and watch a dinosaur battle. In A Walk Through Time in Georgia, visitors can explore the sights and sounds of the state’s main geographic regions, from Piedmont through the Appalachian Mountains to the Okefenokee Swamp to Georgia's coastal and barrier islands. Finally, head outside to find more than 2 miles of paths winding through Fernbank Forest, a 65-acre old-growth forest.
Stone Mountain Park
Tucked in 3,200 acres of natural beauty, Stone Mountain Park features outdoor recreational activities and family-friendly attractions only 30 minutes from downtown Atlanta. For families who love spending time outdoors together, this is the perfect day trip with 15 miles of walking and hiking trails with varying degrees of difficulty. Fishing enthusiasts can rent a boat or bring their own and fish for bass, carp, crappie, catfish, and bream on the 363-acre Stone Mountain Lake. Pack a picnic and have lunch at the century-old Grist Mill, one of the most picturesque spots in the park; visit the Covered Bridge or see the Songbird Habitat.
Other attractions in the park include a Summit Skyride on a high-speed Swiss cable car to the top of Stone Mountain or a visit to Historic Square at Stone Mountain Park—a collection of original buildings from around the State of Georgia, built between 1793 and 1875. Seasonal events are held year-round at the park. In the fall, visitors can enjoy the park’s Pumpkin Festival with pie-eating contests, whimsical fairy tale scenes, and fairy tale character meet and greets.
Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta
Located in downtown Atlanta, less than 30 minutes from ATL, it's one of the largest aquariums in the United States, with more than 500 species and thousands of animals, from friendly sea otters to majestic beluga whales. It is also one of only five in the world (and the only one in the US) that houses whale sharks. The aquarium opened in 2005 and, since then, has welcomed over 42 million guests, and it’s pretty easy to see why. It is a world-class aquarium where families can easily spend a whole day discovering galleries, must-see dolphin and sea lion shows, touch pools, fascinating exhibits, and more.
The aquarium offers one-on-one encounters and interactions for that extra special visit. These types of add-ons include encounters with beluga whales, harbor seals, and penguins, or visitors can suit up and swim with whale sharks and manta rays or book a “Behind the Seas Tour” to learn more about marine conservation and how the aquarium cares for the animals there.
Amicalola Falls State Park
Amicalola Falls State Park is a nature lover’s wonderland, just under two hours from the airport. The park is in the Chattahoochee National Forest, eight miles from the Appalachian Trail. Its name comes from its most treasured feature, Amicalola Falls—a magnificent 729-foot waterfall, the third-highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. Make no mistake about reaching the falls; a lot of walking up a set of stairs is required. At the top, the vistas are worth it, as is the walk over the grate across the waterfall.
Start early for a great day trip with a stop at the Visitor’s Center for a trail map. There are many options for hiking up to the falls, depending on how much time hikers want to spend. Park near the trailhead of the Creek Trail and hike just to the falls and back, or continue up the stairs to the left of the waterfall before looping back on the 2.2-mile East Ridge Trail. Another option is to drive to the top of the waterfall by following Amicalola Park Road and pick up a trail to hike from there.
There are so many amazing day trips from Atlanta to explore that are more than worth the drive, all under three hours from the airport. The historic Andersonville National Historic Site, featuring the National Prisoner of War Museum and the landmark Camp Sumter Military Prison, is just 2.5 hours away. In contrast, Old Car City USA, showcasing 4,400 vintage vehicles in a beautiful forested setting, is only an hour from the airport. For outdoor lovers, the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area provides scenic trails and picnic spots just 30 minutes away, and so is the World of Coca-Cola, where soda lovers can sample over 100 flavors of Coke. No matter where the road from ATL leads, these day trips blend history, nature, and fun, making them memorable for any traveler looking for that picture-perfect day trip.
