We’ve lived in Georgia twice in six years, and we managed to visit all of the Georgia national parks during our time there. Most of the parks are easy day or weekend trips from the major Georgia cities. You can also find two bonus stamps not listed in the NPS app or in your Passport. Here’s my guide to the Georgia national parks.
North Georgia
Split between Georgia and Tennessee, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park can visited on trips from Atlanta or Chattanooga.
Atlanta
Located in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn neighborhood, the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Park celebrates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The complex consists of several buildings, any or all of which you can visit. From there, drive up to Kennesaw National Battlefield Park in the north side of Atlanta’s metro area in Kennesaw. Finally, relax at the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area and enjoy all that river has to offer.
Bonus stamp: You’ll find the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area on Atlanta’s eastern edge just off of I-20.
Middle Georgia
Explore the history of Ocumulgee National Monument located a stone’s throw from downtown Macon. This is also on I-75, so you can visit it with a trip to Atlanta or on your way to Andersonville and Jimmy Carter.
Southern Georgia
You’ll probably need to plan a trip to visit Andersonville National Historic Site and Jimmy Carter National Historic Site. They’re both located a short ways off of I-75 in the southwest corner of the state. You can also easily visit them in the same day since they’re about 40 minutes away from each other.
The Golden Isles
Fort Pulaski National Monument sits at the north end of the Golden Isles just outside Savannah and the South Carolina border. Fort Frederica and the Cumberland Island National Seashore are closer to Florida. Plan to spend most of a day at Cumberland Island. You reach Cumberland Island from a ferry in Saint Marys, Georgia, and the ferry doesn’t run every hour. But you can visit Fort Frederica and Cumberland Island in one day.
Augusta
Bonus stamp: Cruise down the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area near downtown Augusta. It’s not too far off the interstate if you are driving through on Interstate 20 and want to stop to stretch your legs.
