The Most Charming River Towns In Georgia

There's no denying that Georgia's best small towns come with a river running through them. Each of the seven that follow combines a walkable historic district with riverbanks made for leisure. Some sit where two or three rivers meet and others grew up around a single working waterway. A few invite you onto the water itself by kayak or tube. Here's a closer look at each, along with ideas and inspiration for making the most of a visit.

Rome

The town of Rome sits at the spot where the Etowah and Oostanaula rivers meet and form the Coosa, the confluence that led to it becoming a trading center in 1834. Named for its resemblance to the seven hills of its Italian namesake, the river still defines this riverside place. Follow the pleasant, paved Rome Riverwalk along the Oostanaula through the downtown core and you'll find yourself passing the boat dock at Heritage Park, where you can hop aboard a riverboat for a cruise on the water.

The three rivers are also ideal for kayaking, canoeing, and tubing, as well as for wildlife spotting, especially at the Rome-Floyd ECO Center at Ridge Ferry Park. From here, you're also just a short hike from the picture-worthy Rome Clocktower, built as the town's water tower in 1871. Free climbs to the observation gallery offer superb views over the town and its rivers.

Head downtown and you'll find yourself in the Between the Rivers Historic District. The largest intact Victorian-era neighborhood in Georgia, here you can wander through blocks of 1800s houses sandwiched between the Etowah and Oostanaula rivers. Afterward, check out the large murals that depict scenes from the town's past.

Milledgeville

Once the state capital (1804 to 1868), Milledgeville was laid out in 1803 along the Oconee River in central Georgia. The grid pattern of its wide streets and public squares remains largely intact, as does much of its early architecture. You'll get a real sense of the community's small-town character by following the Oconee River Greenway, a three-mile-long route with paved paths, boardwalks, scenic overlooks, and fishing stations.

For a truly authentic experience, local companies like Oconee Outfitters rent kayaks for river trips. When you go, keep an eye out for the ruins of a grist mill from the 1890s. You can even paddle up to Lake Sinclair, a large 15,300-acre body of water known for its fishing.

Darien

The town of Darien is set on a bluff above the Altamaha River near the Georgia coast. The second-oldest planned town in Georgia, it was founded as a river port in 1736, and the waterfront still serves as the town's focal point nearly 300 years later. Darien Waterfront Park is home to a pleasant boardwalk and a paved path that leads past the remains of old buildings made from a mix of oyster shells, lime, and sand.

The river also provides access to one of the state's last truly wild places: the Altamaha River BioReserve. Heralded as one of 'The World's Last Great Places' by conservation groups, the river feeds a 138-mile-long water trail that's ideal for outdoor adventurers. Outfitters such as Altamaha Coastal Tours run first-rate guided kayak and canoe trips that take in the marsh creeks where dolphins, manatees, and even alligators appear.

St. Marys

A personal favorite, St. Marys is located on the north bank of the St. Marys River at Georgia's southern tip, just short of the state border with Florida. Known as the gateway to Cumberland Island, the passenger ferry from the town dock at Howard Gilman Memorial Waterfront Park crosses seven miles of water in 45 minutes to offload tourists at the Cumberland Island National Seashore. The state's largest barrier island, Cumberland Island, features 18 miles of undeveloped beach, more than 50 miles of trails, and a herd of wild horses.

Even if you don't make it to the island, the town's waterfront park is a pleasant place to hang out, with palm-lined brick walkways and benches perfect for just sitting and watching the boats come and go. A little to the north, Crooked River State Park, with its riverside trails and campsites, is also worth visiting.

St. Marys also has a naval link through the nearby Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, a fact that's celebrated on the riverfront at the St. Marys Submarine Museum. This great little museum tells the story of the U.S. submarine force across two floors of models, photographs, and naval memorabilia. There's even a working periscope mounted on the roof that looks out over the water.

Cartersville

Founded in 1832 on the banks of the Etowah River north of Atlanta, Cartersville is certainly scenic. The river runs along the south edge of town, where you'll find the Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site. Spread across 54 acres, including a stretch of the riverbank, these striking mounds were the work of people of the Mississippian culture, an early Native American society.

Built between 1000 and 1550 AD, the site preserves some of the most intact mounds in the country, the tallest more than 60 feet in height. A fascinating museum displays artifacts recovered from the grounds, and the river is open for kayaking from there. A little to the east of town is Lake Allatoona and Red Top Mountain State Park, both formed by a dam on the Etowah.

Helen

Few American towns have managed to embrace their river the way Helen has. Set on the Chattahoochee River in the North Georgia mountains, this former logging town remade itself in the late 1960s as a Bavarian alpine village. It was a tactic that worked, turning Helen into a must-visit for travelers. The river runs straight through the center of the community, giving local businesses like the Troll Tavern an excuse to open riverside patios with a distinct European flavor.

In the warmer months, when the river is at its gentlest, grabbing a tube and floating downstream is the thing to do. Outfitters such as Cool River Tubing and Helen Tubing & Waterpark rent tubes and even run shuttles for those looking to try the ultimate lazy river experience.

For an altogether wilder section of water, head to Anna Ruby Falls. Walkable along a paved trail in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, this pair of waterfalls drops 153 feet and is especially impressive in spring.

McCaysville

Established in 1904 on the Toccoa River, McCaysville started off as a copper-mining community and still bears signs of the wealth the regional mines produced. It's also a little offbeat, sharing a downtown core with its sister town of Copperhill, Tennessee. More unusual still, the river changes names, becoming the Ocoee the moment it crosses the state line.

The town's most photographed feature is The Blue Line, a painted stripe marking the Georgia-Tennessee border. It's easy to spot as it runs across the main street toward the river, and you'll no doubt encounter visitors having their photos taken standing with one foot in each state. The calm river also makes McCaysville a popular tubing and kayaking base. Toccoa River Tubing Company and Rolling Thunder River Company run float and paddle trips and can also arrange whitewater rafting on some of the country's top rapids.

Where Georgia Meets the Water

Whether it's the three-river junction at Rome or the Toccoa running through McCaysville, these seven towns show just how big an impact a river can have on a community. Each grew up around its river, with its historic districts adding to the appeal. Whether you pick one for a weekend getaway or string a few together for a road trip, these river towns in Georgia are worth getting to know.