Some road trips lead to mountain views or landmarks, but this Georgia adventure comes with overflowing bookshelves, warm pastries, and walkable streets.
It connects seven towns and cities across the state, taking you from the North Georgia mountains all the way toward the coast and South Georgia.
At each stop, you might leave with a new novel tucked under your arm, a box of fresh cookies riding in the passenger seat, or maybe a little of both.
And that’s only part of the fun, so keep reading because the places on this Georgia road trip are every bit as exciting as the drive itself.
1. Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge is a small mountain town in Fannin County, about 1.5 hours from Atlanta, with a walkable downtown centered on Main Street and its historic depot.
It’s best known for the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, which follows the Toccoa River on a 26-mile round trip through the North Georgia countryside to McCaysville.
If you’d rather stay downtown, stop at Blue Ridge Booksellers, a small independent shop filled with rare books, historical works, fiction, nonfiction, and more.
Save room for The Sweet Shoppe of the South, a bakery known for cupcakes, cookies, donuts, and other sugary treats that make Blue Ridge a seriously fun stop.
2. Dahlonega
From Blue Ridge, drive about an hour to Dahlonega, a Lumpkin County town with a historic public square where you can easily park and explore on foot.
The star here is the Dahlonega Gold Museum, housed in the 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse and filled with gold nuggets, coins, and equipment from the area’s gold rush.
After exploring the museum, walk 2 minutes to Bear Book Market for new and used books, then stop by Picnic Cafe and Dessertery for homemade cakes, pies, and quiches.
Before heading out, wander the surrounding streets to explore locally owned shops, tasting rooms, restaurants, and 19th-century buildings that reflect the town’s history.
3. Decatur
After Dahlonega, drive roughly 70 minutes to Decatur in DeKalb County, where restaurants, shops, and public art fill the streets around Decatur Square.
Book lovers should visit Charis Books & More, an independent feminist bookstore founded in 1974, with feminist books, LGBT titles, and reads by local authors.
Next, stop by B-Side, a neighborhood cafe from the team behind The Deer and the Dove, serving wood-fired bagels, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and coffee.
Once you’re fueled up, explore the 15-block square, admire the old DeKalb County Courthouse, and browse the surrounding gift shops, boutiques, and restaurants.
4. Milledgeville
Next up, drive about 2 hours from Decatur to Milledgeville, which served as Georgia’s capital from 1804 to 1868 and still has several landmarks from that era.
Start your visit at Barnes & Noble at Georgia College, set inside the historic Campus Theatre downtown and stocked with textbooks, college apparel, and gifts.
Then satisfy your sweet tooth at Coasties Bakery, a local stop where the display cases tempt you with freshly baked sugar cookies, cakes, and gluten-free cupcakes.
Afterward, take the self-guided Historic Walking Tour along oak-lined streets and past impressive architecture before touring the 1839 Old Governor’s Mansion.
5. Macon
Just 40 minutes from Milledgeville is Macon, where the streets are filled with colorful murals, historic buildings, and reminders of the city’s deep musical history.
Here, you can dig through the shelves at Golden Bough Bookstore, an independent shop carrying used and new books on everything from literature to local history.
If you need a tasty excuse to take a break, head to Sweet Eleanor’s Divine Desserts for muffins, brownies, gelato, cheesecakes, and other freshly made goods.
Before hitting the road again, check out famous landmarks like the Tubman Museum and The Big House Museum, where members of the Allman Brothers Band lived.
6. Savannah
A 2.5-hour drive from Macon brings you to Savannah, where 22 public squares, towering live oaks, and historic streets make exploring downtown especially scenic.
At Madison Square, step inside E. Shaver Booksellers, operating since 1975, with room after room of new and vintage books and resident cats roaming the shelves.
Make your next stop Byrd’s Famous Cookies, a favorite since 1924, where you can sample flavors like Key Lime Coolers, Scotch Oatmeal, and more before choosing a box.
Round out your visit with a walk past Forsyth Park’s famous 1858 white fountain and River Street’s former cotton warehouses filled with shops and restaurants.
7. Thomasville
For the final stop, drive 4 hours from Savannah to Thomasville, a charming town with brick-paved streets lined with locally owned shops and restaurants.
First, stop at The Bookshelf on South Broad Street, an independent bookstore open since 1984 with poetry, nonfiction, thrillers, and thoughtful gifts lining the shelves.
From there, head to Q Café for made-from-scratch Southern comfort food, including biscuits, omelettes, pancakes, French toast, sandwiches, and Angus burgers.
Walk it all off around downtown, then check out Thomasville’s famous Big Oak, a massive 337-year-old live oak with limbs spanning more than 165 feet.
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