11-Day RV Trip Through Georgia

Before collecting your RV and hitting the road, we suggest spending a few days in the great city of Atlanta. A half-day alone could be spent at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park with its myriad of interesting exhibits focusing on Atlanta's most famous son. Just a mile or so away is the equally impressive Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum.

When you are ready, head northeast into the Georgia mountains and the southern tip of the great Appalachian Mountain range. Your stop for the next two nights is only about 75 miles north in the small and charming mountain town of Helen. Set up camp at Unicoi State Park & Lodge.

On the way, stop in Dahlonega to pan for gold in the town that was the site of the first gold rush in the United States in 1828. Spend the next full day exploring the rugged mountain scenery, including Vogel State Park, one of the oldest and dramatic in Georgia, and Toccoa Falls, one of the highest east of the Mississippi and even higher than Niagara Falls! Don't miss Tallulah Gorge State Park, one of the most spectacular canyons in the Eastern U.S. at nearly 2 miles long and 1,000 feet deep.

Another great new North Georgia mountain park is Talona Ridge RV Resort in Ellijay. It is a “luxury” RV park.

Head out of the mountains and across the heartlands of Georgia. Your stop for the night is 160 miles away in the city of Augusta (famous as the home of the Masters golf tournament).

Along the way, stop in the lively college town of Athens, home to the University of Georgia and a thriving music scene that gave birth to names such as R.E.M and the B-52’s. While in Athens, check out the gorgeous State Botanical Garden of Georgia with its amazing collection of plants and woodland trails. Also visit the very popular Georgia Museum of Art.

Your campground for the night is set on Clarks Hill Lake. With more than 1,000 miles of coastline, Clarks Hill Lake is one of the largest lakes in the Southeast United States. Elijah Clark State Park, also on the lake, has RV sites, as well.

Continue your journey south largely following the Savannah River 122 miles to the beautiful and charming city of Savannah. It is one of the best walking cities in the country, so we suggest driving to the Red Gate Farms campground first and then picking up the Old Town Trolley service and make your way into the city. You might also choose to park your RV and camp at CreekFire Resort.

While there are many things to do in Savannah, one of the most enjoyable is to just walk the many squares that dot the city and simply take in the Southern charm, amazing architecture and rich history dating back to 1733. Explore Forsyth Park and its iconic fountain. Book a guided walking tour or spend time at the picturesque and atmospheric Laurel Grove Cemetery.

After some time learning about culture and history in Savannah, it's time to explore some of the stunning Atlantic coastline that Georgia is rightly famous for. There are a number of options as you head south, including the nearby and very popular Tybee Island, but our suggestion for the next two nights is the magnificent Jekyll Island, approximately 95 miles from Savannah.

Much of Jekyll Island is protected, so there is a great balance between activities for all the family and just relaxing and exploring the many miles of untouched white sand beaches. The campground is within walking distance to famous Driftwood Beach, making it very popular, so it's wise to book a campsite as early as possible.

Visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center to see the work done to protect these beautiful creatures. Rent bikes and explore more than 20 miles of cycle-friendly paths and trails around the island. Book a ranger walk to learn about the island's diverse wildlife.

Another short drive today as you leave the island and head 64 miles to a real national gem, the wonderfully named Okefenokee (o-key-fen-o-key) Swamp. Encompassing more than 650 square miles, this ecological wonder is one of the largest intact freshwater wetlands in the world and home to up to 15,000 alligators along with hundreds of species of reptiles and mammals, including black bears, turtles and raccoons.

There are three different entrances, but we recommend the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area, which is the east entrance of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. It’s the easiest to access from the coast, and gator sightings are a near certainty. Take the self-guided 7.5-mile wildlife drive through the park leading to the Chesser Homestead. Boat tours and kayak and bike rental can be prearranged inside the park at the Suwannee entrance.

Set up camp at Okefenokee Pastimes Campground.

This will be the longest drive of the itinerary, so we suggest you start early on your 243-mile journey across the state to Columbus. As you drive west across the state, you will pass rural farmlands where crops like peanuts, peaches, and blueberries grow. Break up the drive to sample some of the wonderful delicacies on offer, found at one of the many roadside stands.

Stop at Providence Canyon, known as "Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon" with its otherworldly rock formations and deep treelined gullies.

Once in Columbus, set up camp at Lake Pines RV Park and Campground before exploring the riverside city. For those adventurous enough, book a rafting trip with Whitewater Express for some of the best urban rapids in the country, and take a zipline all the way to Alabama and back! If traveling with a pet, you MUST check out Fetch Columbus, a great dog park (with a bar for humans)!

Pine Mountain RV Resort is another campground option approximately 40 miles from Columbus and close to Callaway Resort & Gardens.

This is your last full day and after your long drive yesterday, we suggest spending the morning in Columbus and visiting the fantastic Coca-Cola Space Science Center. This place is a space-themed wonderland with mission and launch simulators, a space observatory and a giant planetarium among many other interactive exhibits.

In the afternoon, head 120 miles toward Atlanta to spend your last night at Stone Mountain Park, a 3,200-acre park and Georgia’s most-visited tourist attraction. The campground within the park gives you the ultimate access to the variety of attractions and entertainment available. Check out Sky Hike, the nation's largest family treetop adventure course and the Lasershow Spectacular, the world’s longest-running nightly laser show.

After your 11-day, 904-mile adventure around Georgia, today's the day to return home. Drive just a very short 25 miles from Stone Mountain to the Cruise America depot in Duluth to return your motorhome.