Day Trippin' › Georgia › From Atlanta › Best history spots
Our picks for the best history spots within 3 hours of Atlanta: 58 places, 4 under an hour away, 23 between 1 and 2 hours and 31 between 2 and 3 hours, counted by road time from ZIP 30303.
We put first the places with a real photo, a well-known name, a family-friendly note and an official site, then list the rest by drive time. The closest is Booth Western Art Museum, 45 min northwest of Atlanta.
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Photo: Bubba73, CC BY-SA 3.0
#1 · National park · 1 hr 22 min southeast
Ancient earth mounds in Macon, with trails along the river.
Heads-up: Mound stairs are steep. Bring bug spray in summer.
Photo: Ryan Cragun, Public domain
#2 · State park · 1 hr 41 min west
The highest point in Alabama at 2,407 feet, with rock overlooks, a lake, CCC history and access to the Pinhoti Trail.
Heads-up: The old hotel was torn down; a new one is planned. Dog park on site.
Photo: The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center from Columbus, GA, USA, CC BY 2.0
#3 · Museum · 1 hr 47 min south
A large museum honoring the US infantry soldier, near the Army post in Columbus.
Heads-up: Graduation days are busy.
Photo: Lestocq, CC BY-SA 4.0
#4 · Historic site · 1 hr 53 min southwest
Moton Field, where the first Black military pilots trained in World War II, with restored hangars and vintage planes.
Heads-up: Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Photo: Historic American Buildings Survey, Public domain
#5 · Museum · 2 hr 12 min west
A moving museum on the Birmingham civil rights campaign, across from 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park.
Heads-up: Hours change for big city events.
Photo: Chris Pruitt, CC BY-SA 3.0
#6 · Museum · 2 hr 12 min west
Four floors of hands-on science, an aquarium area and a giant screen theater downtown.
Heads-up: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Photo: Allen Patterson from Auburn, Alabama, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
#7 · Historic site · 2 hr 13 min southwest
The site of the 1814 battle that ended the Creek War, with a tour road, river views and trails.
Heads-up: Phone 256-234-7111 for current conditions.
Photo: Jud McCranie at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
#8 · National park · 2 hr 15 min south
A Civil War prison site and the National Prisoner of War Museum.
Heads-up: A sobering visit.
Photo: Ralph Daily from Birmingham, United States, CC BY 2.0
#9 · Museum · 2 hr 23 min southwest
A free art museum set in Blount Cultural Park, with American art, a hands-on kids gallery and lakeside grounds.
Heads-up: Guided tours are not included in free entry. Park grounds open dawn to dusk.
Photo: Soniakapadia, CC BY-SA 4.0
#10 · Museum · 2 hr 24 min southwest
A powerful museum on the history of slavery, lynching, segregation and mass incarceration in America, built on a site where enslaved people were once held.
Heads-up: Timed entries sell out; buy online ahead. Heavy subject matter for young kids.
Photo: Unknown, Public domain
#11 · National park · 2 hr 29 min south
The small-town home of the 39th president in Plains.
Heads-up: Visit the boyhood farm too.
Photo: Thomson200, CC0
#12 · Museum · 45 min northwest
A large museum of Western art, presidential letters and a kids' gallery in downtown Cartersville.
Heads-up: Pairs well with Tellus and Etowah Mounds on the same day.
Photo: Herb Roe, CC BY-SA 4.0
#13 · Historic site · 46 min northwest
Climb a large earthen mound built by Mississippian people and see artifacts from the town that stood here.
Heads-up: The big mound has steep stairs. Little shade on the grounds.
Photo: Jonathan Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0
#14 · Museum · 48 min northwest
Fossils, gems, a planetarium and a dig-for-fossils area in Cartersville. Great for curious kids.
Heads-up: Planetarium shows can cost extra.
Photo: Thomson200, CC0
#15 · State park · 53 min east
A lake park in Winder with a 1790s log fort, beach, mountain bike trails and paddling.
Heads-up: Swim beach is seasonal. Leash pets.
New Echota (1 hr 6 min), Dahlonega Gold Museum (1 hr 8 min), Dahlonega (1 hr 8 min), Georgia Museum of Art (1 hr 12 min), Jarrell Plantation (1 hr 18 min), The Allman Brothers Band Museum at the Big House (1 hr 18 min), Tubman Museum (1 hr 19 min), Roosevelt's Little White House (1 hr 19 min), Chief Vann House (1 hr 29 min), International Motorsports Hall of Fame (1 hr 33 min), Andalusia (1 hr 34 min), Watson Mill Bridge State Park (1 hr 39 min), Museum of Aviation (1 hr 39 min), Coca-Cola Space Science Center (1 hr 40 min), Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art (1 hr 42 min), Fort Mountain State Park (1 hr 42 min), Westville (1 hr 48 min), Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site (1 hr 56 min), Noccalula Falls Park (1 hr 57 min), Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum (2 hr 5 min), Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark (2 hr 10 min), Birmingham Museum of Art (2 hr 12 min), Augusta Canal National Heritage Area (2 hr 13 min), Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (2 hr 13 min), Vulcan Park and Museum (2 hr 14 min), Augusta Museum of History (2 hr 14 min), Georgia Veterans State Park (2 hr 21 min), Elijah Clark State Park (2 hr 23 min), Alabama State Capitol (2 hr 23 min), Dexter Parsonage Museum (2 hr 23 min), Old Alabama Town (2 hr 24 min), Rosa Parks Museum (2 hr 24 min), Freedom Rides Museum (2 hr 24 min), Hank Williams Museum (2 hr 25 min), Shorter Mansion (2 hr 25 min), National Memorial for Peace and Justice (2 hr 25 min), Montgomery Zoo (2 hr 27 min), Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park (2 hr 37 min), Georgia Museum of Agriculture (2 hr 40 min), Jefferson Davis Memorial (2 hr 43 min), Thronateeska Heritage Center (2 hr 49 min), Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail (2 hr 51 min), Russell Cave National Monument (2 hr 52 min)
Our top picks are Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park (1 hr 22 min), Cheaha State Park (1 hr 41 min), National Infantry Museum (1 hr 47 min), Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (1 hr 53 min) and Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (2 hr 12 min). The page lists 58 places in all.
58: 4 under an hour away, 23 between 1 and 2 hours and 31 between 2 and 3 hours, by road from ZIP 30303.
Booth Western Art Museum, about 45 min northwest of Atlanta.
11 need no pass or fee, including Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail and Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. Fees change, so check each place.
20 of the 58 list themselves as open year-round. Places with a season say so on their card; check hours before you go.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner); places under 25 minutes away count as in town. Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.