11 Most Beautiful Small Towns In Georgia You Should Visit
The Peach State of Georgia might know a thing or two about living the sweet life, yet it is also an astoundingly beautiful state with a surprising variety of landscapes. From the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, visitors can try locally made wines, discover wondrous waterfalls, feast on farm-to-table excellence, and stroll some of the East Coast’s most scenic shores.
Whether looking for a relaxing beach vacation, a daring mountain adventure, or something in between, Georgia can make it happen. For anyone wanting to learn more and to find ideas for future trips, discover the most beautiful small towns in Georgia that you should visit.
Blue Ridge
Where the Blue Ridge Mountains reach the State of Georgia, the town of Blue Ridge is the ideal place to “get away from it all” and reconnect with Mother Nature. After all, this town opens up to some 106,000 acres of protected wilderness, 300 miles of hiking trails, and 100 miles of freshwater streams in the nearby lands of Chattahoochee National Forest. Or, for an easier journey into the mountains, visitors can go for a ride with Blue Ridge Scenic Railway and enjoy an epic round trip with a fun pit stop at Copperhill, Tennessee.
Back in Blue Ridge, Georgia, visitors can explore the local arts scene and discover the incredible array of locally made art and working studios at the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association’s Art Center. To experience new heights in Southern hospitality, guests can stay at The Dogwood Inn, a charming boutique hotel featuring spacious and elegantly appointed studio suites with gorgeous mountain and forest views.
Dillard
Just south of the North Carolina state line and about 79 miles west of Greenville (South Carolina) is the Georgia town of Dillard, a picture-perfect place to explore the region’s great Appalachian wilderness. Nearby is Black Rock Mountain State Park, Georgia’s highest state park (reaching an altitude of 3,640 feet above sea level) and one that provides exceptional mountain views along the Eastern Continental Divide. Meanwhile, for those wanting an easier ride into the backcountry, Dillard House Stables provides guided horseback riding excursions suitable for riders at all levels. And for visitors seeking maximum adrenaline rush, Highlands Aerial Park (in North Carolina) has ziplines, a tree-top adventure course, a giant mountain swing, and plenty more opportunities for heart-pounding experiences high up the mountain.
To complete “the perfect mountain getaway,” guests can stay at Andy’s Trout Farm (also in North Carolina). Not only does this family-run property have scenic off-grid cabins and campsites available to book, but it is also a great place to go fishing, hiking, and gem mining.
Tallulah Falls
Perched by the Tallulah River is Tallulah Falls, a town that dazzles with spectacular Appalachian scenery that might just compel someone to chase some waterfalls. Tallulah Gorge State Park is one prime location to see some of the local waterfalls, and to witness the unique grandeur of the nearly 1,000-foot deep Tallulah Gorge. For even more waterfall views, the Angel Falls Trailhead is a great spot to hike. And for a more serene experience on open water, Lake Tugalo, along the Georgia-South Carolina state line, makes for fantastic boating and fishing excursions.
When visitors are looking for a cozy and comfy place to stay in the area, they can look no further than the nearby Historic Lake Rabun Hotel & Restaurant. Since 1922, this hotel has offered the perfect place to house family trips, romantic getaways, corporate retreats, and simple escapes into North Georgia’s Appalachian paradise.
Dahlonega
Georgia State Route 400 might start in Atlanta’s bustling Buckhead district, but it ends about 53 miles northeast in the wine country hamlet of Dahlonega. Yes, this Georgia town is gaining a reputation for its fine wines, and Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery abounds in award-winning wines, including Méthode Champenoise sparkling wines, Rhone-style rosés, and unique Chardonnay-Viognier blends. In addition, one can taste the fascinating and delectable array of locally made meads (or wine made with fermented honey) at Etowah Meadery, and one can visit the beautiful and fruitful grounds of Doghobble Wine Farm.
There is even more beautiful scenery to enjoy at Long Mountain Lodge, a lovely boutique inn near Chattahoochee National Forest land sporting exceptional mountain views (especially at sunset!) and delightfully homestyle rooms and suites, many of which have special amenities like wood-burning fireplaces and jetted bathtubs.
Covington
Around 37 miles east of Atlanta is Covington, a historic town that is more recently reinventing itself as Hollywood’s go-to place to make movie and TV magic. Travelers can hop aboard with Main Street Trolleys Movie Tours to discover the sights made famous by shows like The Dukes of Hazzard, In the Heat of the Night, and The Vampire Diaries. Or, if one wants to explore on their own, it is easy to start at the historic and often-filmed Covington Square and wander into downtown’s exciting array of art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants.
Beyond the bright lights and famed landmarks in town, there is another side of Covington awaiting discovery at Lake Varner, a charming and tranquil spot for boating, fishing, and picnics. Whatever one decides to do in the area, The Twelve Oaks is an inviting option to stay in town with its award-winning hospitality, its whimsically themed and lavishly decorated rooms and suites, and its delicious Southern-style breakfasts served every morning.
Madison
About 27 miles south of Athens is Madison, a town that exudes classic charm with its stately architecture and bucolic, wide-open spaces. The Madison-Morgan Cultural Center makes a worthy starting point, as this 1895 Romanesque Revival Building now houses a local history museum, an auditorium that continues to host a number of great performances, and local art exhibitions. There is also the Morgan County African-American Museum (MCAAM), another museum housed in the circa 1895 Horace Moore House, which preserves the fascinating stories and incredible art of Madison’s Black community.
Additionally, the region boasts a wealth of natural beauty. A short drive west of town, Hard Labor Creek State Park is a wooded wonderland that is ideal for hiking, horseback riding, boating, and birdwatching. And just to the east of town is The Farmhouse Inn, a 100-acre farm that now houses a boutique luxury resort with rustic chic rooms and suites, Pharmacopia bath products, gourmet coffee from Oconee Coffee Roasters, complimentary snacks and (non-alcoholic) drinks, and high-speed wifi internet.
Jackson
Roughly halfway between Atlanta and Macon is Jackson, a town that pairs the convenience of easy access to the I-75 freeway with the aesthetics of a secluded woodland oasis. Just off I-75 is High Falls State Park, a special place where the Towaliga River tumbles into multiple cascades, including the tallest cascading waterfall south of Atlanta. Also in the area is Indian Springs State Park, one of the United States’ oldest state parks, and a place that continues to flow with pristine spring water.
For even more quality time in Jackson’s great outdoors, one can head over to the Dauset Trails Nature Center for its extensive network of hiking and biking trails, and to spot local wildlife like bears, deer, falcons, and river otters. Whenever one is ready to call it a day, it is an easy journey to The Village at Indian Springs (in Flovilla), a welcoming local hub for shopping, dining, and accommodation with a lovely collection of spacious cottages available to book.
Milledgeville
Milledgeville might be situated between Macon (about 30 miles southwest) and Augusta (about 90 miles northwest), but this town offers much more than a mere pit stop. Milledgeville served as Georgia’s state capital from 1804 to 1868, and the Georgia Old Governor’s Mansion is the place to start exploring Georgia's history, from the early days of US independence to the Civil War. Also in town is Andalusia, the home of the Southern Gothic novelist Flannery O'Connor, where she wrote famed works like Wise Blood, A Good Man Is Hard To Find, and The Violent Bear It Away.
To see a greener side of Milledgeville, visitors can make their way to Lockerly Arboretum, a 50-acre campus full of gardens, walking trails, native trees like oaks, magnolias, and bald cypresses, and even the 1852 Greek Revival style Rose Hill historic home. And for another uniquely Milledgeville experience, guests can check into the Inn on North Jefferson, an 1820 historic home with an elegant collection of suites and easy access to downtown’s shops and restaurants.
Pine Mountain
Only about 39 miles north of Columbus, Pine Mountain combines historic grandeur, natural beauty, and a playful spirit. Right by town is FD Roosevelt State Park, Georgia’s largest state park (at 10,874 acres) with over 40 miles of trails that lead through the highest elevations found south of the Appalachians. In case anyone wonders why there are references to the 32nd President here and elsewhere in the region, it is a short drive over to Roosevelt's Little White House State Historic Site, the home where Franklin Delano Roosevelt frequently stayed throughout his presidency, and the place where FDR spent his final moments before his passing in April 1945.
For those who are still curious about Pine Mountain’s backstory, Chipley Historical Center is a great place to go to tour the original city hall and discover a fascinating collection of historic artifacts. And to experience contemporary local hospitality, it is hard to beat Callaway Resort & Gardens. This expansive resort complex has two fantastic golf courses, 13 well-stocked fishing lakes, a gorgeous array of gardens, and a wide selection of guest rooms, cottages, and deluxe villas.
Americus
Funny enough, Pine Mountain isn’t the Georgia town with a presidential pedigree. About 128 miles north of Tallahassee (Florida), Americus marks a welcoming launchpad to explore plenty more fascinating Georgia and US history. A short drive west leads to Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, which includes President Jimmy Carter’s childhood home, the high school where Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter graduated, and the train depot that later became Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign headquarters.
Meanwhile, back in town, Rylander Theatre is another historic treasure (first built in 1921) that now hosts a number of theatrical shows and music performances. Americus is also home to Thirteenth Colony Distilleries, Georgia’s oldest operating distillery and one that currently makes a tasty array of gins, vodkas, and whiskeys. And for a fully-immersive historic journey, travelers can stay at the Windsor Hotel, a 1892 historic landmark with rooms that offer antique furnishings alongside contemporary creature comforts like Keurig coffee machines and wifi internet.
Tybee Island
Just 20 miles east of Savannah is Tybee Island, Georgia’s easternmost point and a beach town that provides a more laid-back alternative to the Southeast’s more highly developed beach resort destinations. North Beach is perfect for experiencing Tybee’s Atlantic coast. A few steps inland, Tybee Island Light Station & Museum marks Georgia’s oldest lighthouse (since 1733), and the attached museum tells the stories of the Georgia coast from pre-colonization Native American settlement to World War II.
To see more of Tybee’s incredible coastal environment, travelers can book an excursion with Crab Creek Charters and sail away with Captain Seth Solomon to the deceptively named Little Tybee Island (it is actually geographically larger than the city!), or to the beautifully bucolic Daufuskie Island on the South Carolina side of the Tybee Roads. Once one has returned to town, it is an easy ride to Surf Song Bed & Breakfast, a 120-year-old Victorian manor that is only 300 steps to the beach.
Find Beauty, History, and Culture
Since Georgia is the Peach State, it is no wonder that life seems extra sweet out here. Up north, Blue Ridge and Tallulah Falls provide exceptional Appalachian wilderness scenery and solitude. Closer to Atlanta, Dahlonega marks Georgia’s own wondrous wine country, and Covington is a town so cute that Hollywood came calling (and filming). And down south, Americus has a fascinating treasure trove of historic landmarks, while Tybee Island makes for a relaxing coastal oasis. Whatever one decides to see and do, Georgia is a truly beautiful state to make it all happen.
