Northeast Georgia to the Coast Electric Vehicle Road Trip
Charge up your electric vehicle and recharge your mental battery on an environmentally friendly road trip from the mountains to the coast.
Not only is Georgia home to stunning waterfalls, cosmopolitan cities, and 100 miles of sandy shores, but it is also a hub for the country’s rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) industry. Both Rivian Automotive and Hyundai Motor Group are building new manufacturing facilities in the state, which has more than 30,000 EV drivers and more than 1,300 public charging stations.
Whatever kind of EV you drive, we’ve got you covered when you need to recharge the batteries — be it yours or your car’s — with an EV-oriented road trip across the state from the North Georgia mountains to the Atlantic Coast.
START: Clayton
Start your journey in Clayton, nestled in the Appalachian foothills and in the farm-to-table capital of Georgia. Plug in to charge up at the public charging ports downtown while you visit Wander North Georgia to stock up on outdoor gear before hiking through dense forests and to tumbling waterfalls at nearby Black Rock Mountain State Park.
Head back into town for a meal at Fortify Kitchen & Bar, which specializes in farm-to-fork fare like a Carolina mountain rainbow trout battered with Sylvan Falls Mill cornmeal crust. Grab an espresso and locally made snacks, such as jams and pickles, at White Birch Provisions, and a sandwich or cheese plate at Fromage & Other Fine Foods, which has an onsite EV charger.
From there, head west to the sandy shores of Timpson Cove Beach at Lake Burton — perfect for a family picnic or quick swim — or south to Tallulah Gorge State Park to view one of the most dramatic canyons in the eastern United States. While you hike the scenic trails, charge your vehicle at the park's EV chargers.
Stay overnight in Clarkesville at the Glen-Ella Springs Inn & Restaurant, which has 16 rooms decorated with antiques and locally-made furniture and features covered porches outfitted with rocking chairs to take in the serene surroundings. Fully charge your vehicle overnight with the inn's charging station.
STOP: Atlanta
Continue on your trip two hours south to The Battery, one of Atlanta’s top entertainment and dining districts. The area’s eight parking lots have several fast-charging EV stations that are also open to guests staying at Aloft at The Battery Atlanta and Omni Hotel at The Battery. Power up while dining on gourmet sandwiches at Savi Provisions, shopping for wellness-centric gifts like bath salts and soaps at Sugarboo & Co., or free falling at iFly Atlanta, an indoor skydiving facility.
Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground? Explore the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, which has a sprawling network of walking, hiking, and mountain-biking trails that wind along calm riverbanks and through shady woodlands. Or take part in an Atlanta tradition: Shoot the ’Hooch with a kayak, tube, or stand-up paddleboard (SUP) rental from Nantahala Outdoor Center, which has outposts at Powers Island and Johnson Ferry.
END: Tybee Island
For more water-based adventures, drive the nearly 300 miles to Tybee Island, your last stop on this road trip. Named one of the country’s best beaches by Travel + Leisure, Tybee’s North Beach has three EV stations for recharging. Plug up while taking a SUP yoga class or nature tour with Sea Kayak Georgia, or explore nearby attractions like the Tybee Island Lighthouse and Museum.
It’s not a trip to the coast without seafood. Dine on shrimp and grits and pan-seared scallops at Sundae Cafe, an upscale restaurant that sources most of its dishes from nearby purveyors and uses only biodegradable products. Another sustainably minded local spot is Sea Wolf Tybee, which serves oysters, mussels, and hot dogs, including a vegan Sonoran-style brat so tasty you won’t even miss the beef.
Stay in one of the rooms or suites at the Surf Song Bed & Breakfast, a fully renovated Victorian home with an on-site swimming pool and wraparound porch just one block from the beach. Other accommodation options include the intimate Tybee Island Inn, and Mermaid Cottages, which has several pet- and group-friendly homes available for rent.
