Take a Scenic Drive

Blackhawk Fly Fishing, Soque River

Go leaf peeping on these drives in and around Georgia.

South Fulton Scenic Byway
Travel along the South Fulton Scenic Byway to see historic communities and farmhouses, hills, forests, pastures, Cochran Mill Park, the Chattahoochee River and more.
Drive: 29 miles
Worth a Stop: Cochran Mill Park has 18 miles of multiple-use trails for hikers, horseback riders, mountain bikers and trail runners.

Cohutta Chattahoochee Scenic Byway
Featuring amazing views of the Cohutta Mountains, this route travels up State Route 52 for views of Chatsworth, Fort Mountain State Park, Prater’s Mill Site and the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Drive: 54 miles
Worth a Stop: Ending with a Scenic Overlook, enjoy the sights of the northwest Georgia mountains.

Historic Piedmont Scenic Byway
Following State Highways 15, 16 and 77, this byway shows the natural beauty of the Piedmont with the Oconee National Forest, a 60-acre forest with 1.5 miles of trails, the Oconee River and the Ogeechee River.
Drive: 82 miles
Worth a Stop: See the Rock Hawk Effigy, built by Native Americans more than 5,000 years ago.

Meriwether Pike Scenic Byway
This scenic byway travels from Gay to Warm Springs to celebrate the legacy of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who would travel to Georgia in the 1920s to 1940s to improve his polio-stricken legs.
Drive: 55 miles
Worth a Stop: Tour the Little White House, a state historic site, which was built by FDR.

Monticello Crossroads Scenic Byway
Running through Jasper County and following State Highways 11 and 83, this drive features the rural and historic parts of the area, such as the Seven Island Stage Coach Road that ran from Augusta to New Orleans and the Natchez Trace.
Drive: 29 miles
Worth a Stop: Drop by the 6,400-acre Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center for public fishing and beautiful woods.

Ridge & Valley Scenic Byway
Experience the varied terrain of northwest Georgia with this drive with mountain overlooks, farmlands, wildlife, farmhouses and the history of the Cherokee Indian Nation.
Drive: 51 miles
Worth a Stop: Enjoy Keown Falls Scenic Area for a hike atop Johns Mountain.

Russell Brasstown Scenic Byway
This route includes the Bavarian-themed town of Helen, Wildlife Management Areas, the Chattahoochee River and a section of the Appalachian Trail.
Drive: 41 miles
Worth a Stop: Check out Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia, rising 4,784 feet above sea level.

Scenic Highway 197
Enjoy the mountains and lakes of northeast Georgia on this highway with views of Lake Burton, Lake Rabun, Lake Seed and Alpine Helen. Stop to experience fine dining, go trout fishing, shop for regional arts and crafts, see flowers and native plants and more.
Drive: 33 miles
Worth a Stop: Blackhawk Fly Fishing provides private fly fishing along two miles of the Soque River.

Georgia Mountain Parkway
Enjoy the views of the North Georgia Mountains from Gilmer, Fannin, Union and Towns Counties, along with outdoor activities and gorgeous scenery. The North Georgia Farm Trail is also part of the drive, and the map features arts and crafts, farm foods, farm-to-table dining, farmers markets, lodging, history and heritage and more.
Drive: 76 miles
Worth a Stop: Take a ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway alongside the Toccoa River for a roundtrip journey through the North Georgia countryside.

Road Trips

Blue Ridge Parkway
Spanning the southern and central Appalachians, this gorgeous parkway has overlooks, outdoor adventures, wildflowers, waterfalls and more. See Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain peak in the eastern U.S.; New River, the oldest river in North America; Linville Gorge, the deepest gorge east of the Grand Canyon; and Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall east of the Rockies. Check out the site’s interactive map for drive times and places to spend the night.
Starting Point: Cherokee, North Carolina
Drive: 469 miles
Worth a Stop: If you want to stay close to home, attractions in North Carolina include Oconaluftee Indian Village, Biltmore Estate, North Carolina Arboretum, Linville Caverns and Grandfather Mountain.

Southern Highroads Trail
This scenic route covers 13 counties in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee with antique shops, arts, entertainment, dining, lodging, outdoor activities and more. Attractions and stops include Dry Falls in North Carolina and Lake Jocassee and Licklog and Pigpen Falls in South Carolina.
Starting Point: Alto, Georgia or Ellijay, Georgia
Drive: 364 miles
Worth a Stop: If you want to stay in Georgia, stop at Falls Branch Falls in Blue Ridge for a series of cascades that lead to a single drop of 30 feet.