The Stunning Georgia Drive That Is One Of The Best Road Trips You Can Take In America
By Lisa Sammons|Updated on April 19, 2024(Originally published May 10, 2022)
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Lisa Sammons
Author
Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence! Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby, and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand). You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
We may not technically have any National Parks in Georgia, but we’ve got some wonderful sites like National Historical Parks and National Battlefield Parks that are managed by the National Parks Service. Many of them are conveniently close together: did you realize you can visit five NPS-managed sites in Georgia in just one road trip? This is one of the best scenic drives in Georgia for anyone looking to learn more about history and see our state’s natural beauty.
The entire drive will only take you about three and a half hours in the car - not bad at all for so many beautiful sights! You can check out the customizable itinerary at Google Maps and add or remove stops if you like. Ready to embark on one of the best road trips in Georgia? Let's go!
1. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Kennesaw
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, 900 Kennesaw Mountain Dr, Kennesaw, GA 30152, USA
Your first stop on this Georgia scenic drive will be at the sprawling Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. It's one of 25 sites designated as such in the country. The park is massive, about 4.5 square miles in diameter, and lies between Kennesaw and Marietta. Did you know this is said to be one of the most haunted places in Georgia?
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2. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Atlanta
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, 450 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312, USA
The 35-acre Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park comprises a few areas throughout Atlanta that had significance to MLK's life. Not only is his grave here, but you can also see his boyhood home and the church where he preached. The on-site visitor center has some great information on King's life and legacy.
The Ocmulgee Mounds in Macon are a great place to learn about Native American history in Georgia. It's so easy to hear about colonial history and forget that people were living here for years before that era. The park has a great visitor center, seven ancient mounds, and eight hiking trails.
4. Andersonville National Historic Site, Andersonville
Andersonville National Historic Site, 760 POW Rd, Andersonville, GA 31711, USA
The Andersonville National Historic Site preserves the area that was once Camp Sumpter. The Civil War prisoner-of-war camp that was here was absolutely horrible. The prisoners were kept in deplorable, overcrowded conditions. Over 13,000 people are buried here.
5. Jimmy Carter National Historical Site, Plains
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, 300 N Bond St, Plains, GA 31780, USA
This area houses several buildings that played important roles in President Jimmy Carter's childhood. You can see the farm where he was raised, the school he attended, and more. This is such an interesting place where you can even hear recorded messages from Carter himself. Take a look at the National Park Service website for more on the Jimmy Carter National Historical Site.
Ready for one of the best scenic drives in Georgia? How many of these historic National Park sites in Georgia have you visited? Any you’d love to see featured in a future road trip? Share your thoughts in the comments!
If you plan on taking this road trip and need a place to stay along the way, check out the selection of available vacation rentals on Vrbo.
Want to check out another scenic place in Georgia? Take a look at this video on Tallulah Gorge from OnlyInYourState:
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