Scenic Byways​

From the Golden Isles to the Chattahoochee National Forest, from small-town main streets to the Atlanta skyline, Georgia is home to a remarkably diverse scenic heritage woven together by an extensive system of roads and highways. The Georgia Scenic Byways Program is a community-driven effort which seeks to preserve this legacy of treasured places in a way that enhances economic development.   ​

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FAQs
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Designation Guide
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Designation Process
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Intrinsic Qualities
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Corridors

There are 17​ corridors that have achieved Georgia Scenic Byways status as designated by the Georgia DOT.

Following State Route 99 and US 17, the Altamaha Historic Scenic Byway runs for 17 miles through McIntosh and Glynn Counties and the City of Darien.  Traveling from the Sapelo Island Visitors Center to the historic Needwood Church and School, the Byway passes Fort King George, Butler Island and Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantations, the Darien waterfront, sweeping marsh views, and majestic Live Oaks draped with Spanish Moss.  This Byway lets visitors explore both the rich cultural heritage and the diverse marsh ecosystems found along Georgia's coast.

Altamaha Scenic Historic Byway
 

Directions


I-95 to Exit 58

I-95 to Exit 49

I-95 to Exit 42

  • Turn east on SR 57
  • SR 57 will become SR 99
  • The byway begins at the Sapelo Island Visitors Center
  • Turn east on SR 251
  • Turn right on US 17
  • The byway begins at the intersection with SR 99
  • Turn east on SR 99
  • The byway will intersect at US 17

Beginning at historic Prater's Mill in Whitfield County, the Cohutta-Chattahoochee Scenic Byway follows State Route 2 past rolling pastoral lands into Murray County.  Breathtaking views of the Cohutta Mountains emerge as the route continues along US 41 and quiet county roads into the Chattahoochee National Forest.  The 54-mile route skirts the town of Chatsworth before traveling up State Route 52, passing Fort Mountain State Park and ending at a beautiful mountaintop overlook.  Spurs off the route take visitors to the Cohutta Fish Hatchery and to a Forest Service camp site along Holly Creek.

Cohutta - Chatahoochee Scenic Byway 

Directions


I-575/State Route 515 and State Route 52

I-75 Exit 341

  • Turn west on SR 52
  • The byway will begin at the overlook in Murray County
  • Turn north on SR 201
  • Turn right on SR 2
  • The byway will begin at Prater's Mill

The Enduring Farmlands Scenic Byway showcases routes through the historic towns of Hawkinsville, Pineview, Rochelle, and Abbeville as well as the surrounding countryside. In viewing the peaceful rural character and pastoral landscapes of this 65-mile byway in Pulaski and Wilcox Counties, travelers can observe the small town agricultural heritage still prevalent in this region of the state, and appreciate the efforts these cities and counties have made to maintain the character of their rural lifestyle while allowing a viable future for their residents.

Attractions of the byway include scenic pecan groves, horse and cattle pasture lands and farmland (corn, cotton, peanuts, soybeans, peaches, blueberries, and grapes), farmers markets and festivals, civil war heritage sites, and the Ocmulgee River, along with the historic architecture of Hawkinsville’s Old Opera House, the Lawrence Bennett Harness Horse racetrack, and several notable churches.

Enduring Farmlands   Enduring Farmlands

Note: Click on photos to download

Directions


I-75 to Exit 135, GA-127/GA-224/US-41 toward Perry/Larry Walker Parkway.

  • Turn left at the end of the exit ramp onto Larry Walker Parkway/Golden Isles Parkway (GA-127/GA-224/US-41).
  • Continue to follow GA-224 E/Golden Isles Parkway/Larry Walker Parkway for 8.7 miles.
  • This road becomes GA-11 S/US-341 S/Golden Island Pkwy/Main Street. Travel for 12.2 miles.
  • Turn left at Broad Street/State Route 26, travel 0.6 miles.
  • Turn left at N. Lumpkin Street; arrive at Old Opera House (on right). Byway begins at the Old Opera House, corner of N. Lumpkin and Broad Streets.

I-75 to Exit 112, GA-27.

  • Turn right at GA-27E, travel for 21.6 miles (as you enter Hawkinsville city limits, this road becomes McCormick Avenue).
  • Turn right at Broad Street/State Route 129.
  • Take the third left onto N. Lumpkin Street; arrive at Old Opera House (on right). Byway begins at the Old Opera House, corner of N. Lumpkin and Broad Streets.

I-75 to Exit 101, US-280/GA-30/GA-90 toward Cordele/Abbeville.

  • Turn left (if traveling south from Macon on 75) or right (if traveling north from Valdosta) at GA-30 E/US-280 E/16th Avenue E. Travel 17.9 miles to downtown Rochelle.
  • Byway begins at the intersection of US 280 and Highway 112 in downtown Rochelle. Continue to follow US-280 to the City of Abbeville, or turn left onto Highway 112/Ashley Street, and follow Highway 112 to the City of Pineview.

The Historic Dixie Highway stretches through Dougherty, Mitchell and Thomas Counties, at a length of 62 miles. It passes through the towns of Albany, Baconton, Camilla, Pelham, Meigs, Ochlocknee and Thomasville, all of which contain sites of historical significance to the State of Georgia.

Natural attractions of the byway include scenic views of the Flint River, Live Oak trees, and Pecan Groves. Other points of interest include Radium Springs, the Bridge House and Riverfront Park in Albany, historic train depots, historic buildings spanning industrial uses, personal homes, and the Flint RiverQuarium.

 

 



Directions

I-75 SB (Cordele)

I-75 NB (Valdosta)

I-10 (Tallahassee)

I-185 (Columbus)

Traveling South from Macon/Atlanta

  • Exit 99 from I-75.
  • Turn west onto the GA-300 / Georgia Florida Parkway heading towards Albany.
  • Travel 35 miles on GA-300 / Georgia Florida Parkway.
  • Turn right on US-82 Business / East Oglethorpe Boulevard.
  • Turn right onto Front Street.
  • The Byway begins at the Albany Welcome Center at the corner of Front Street and Broad Avenue
  • Take I-75 to Exit 16 for US 84 / US 221 towards Valdosta/Quitman.
  • Turn west onto US-221 / US 84 towards Quitman.
  • Continue onto US 84 for 38 miles towards Thomasville.
  • Upon entering Thomasville, US 84 becomes US-84 Business/Smith Avenue.
  • Turn right onto Broad Street in downtown Thomasville.
  • Broad Street becomes the Byway at the intersection of Jackson Street in the heart of Downtown Thomasville and continues northwest from this point.
  • From I-10, take Exit 203 (US-319 or Thomasville Road).
  • Turn north onto US-319 or Thomasville Road and follow signs to Thomasville.
  • Continue north into Georgia on US-319 / Thomasville Road for 27 miles.
  • Upon entering Thomasville, US 319 becomes Jackson Street.
  • The Byway begins on Jackson Street at the intersection where US-319 turns off onto the Thomasville Bypass and South Pinetree Boulevard.
  • Follow I-185 south to Exit 1A US-280/SR 520 east towards Albany.
  • Follow US-280 /SR 520 east for 44 miles to Albany.
  • SR 520 becomes Dawson Road upon entering the Albany area and later becomes Pine Avenue in downtown Albany.
  • Stay on Pine Avenue until it ends at Front Street in downtown Albany, next to the RiverQuarium.
  • Turn right onto Front Street, the Byway begins at the Albany Welcome Center at the corner of Front Street and Broad Avenue.

The Historic Effingham-Ebenezer Scenic Byway, a 60-mile journey on state and local roads through the communities of Ebenezer, Guyton, Springfield, and Rincon, celebrates the beauty and history of one of Georgia’s eight original counties and of Ebenezer, founded by German Lutherans seeking religious freedom.  Travelers may recreate George Washington’s Southern tour of 1791, visit the sites of taverns dating back to the American Revolution, view ferries along the Savannah River, retrace General Sherman’s March to the Sea, explore the University of Georgia’s Forest Education Center, or visit the numerous historic churches of Effingham County, among many other sites and activities to be found on this southeastern Georgia Byway.

Effingham-Ebenezer Scenic Byway 

Directions


I-95

I-16

  • Take Exit 109 and proceed north on GA Highway 21 through Rincon to the viaduct.
  • Turn right at Fourth Street; the Byway begins here.
  • Take Exit 148, Old River Road, towards Meldrim and US-80.
  • Upon exiting the interstate, you will be on the Byway.

Traveling through Putnam and Hancock Counties, the Historic Piedmont Scenic Byway stretches for 82 miles, following State Highways 15, 16 and 77, and rural county roads which link the county seats of Eatonton, Sparta and the communities of Linton, Culverton, and Jewell.

From the Rock Hawk effigy, built by Native Americans thousands of years ago, to Glen Mary Plantation and other antebellum homes, this route reveals a region of Georgia that is rich in historic and cultural qualities.  The scenic and natural beauty of the Piedmont is also on display as the byway travels through the Oconee National Forest, across the Oconee and Ogeechee Rivers, and past acres of rolling farmland.

Historic Piedmond Scenic Byway

Directions


I-20 Exit 113

I-20 Exit 114

I-20 Exit 130

  • Turn south on SR 83
  • Turn left on SR 142
  • The byway will intersect at SR 16
  • Turn south on US 441
  • The byway will intersect at SR 16
  • Turn south on SR 44
  • The byway will intersect at SR 16

I-20 Exit 138

I-20 Exit 148

  • Turn south on SR 77
  • The byway will intersect where SR 77 turns right off SR 15
  • Turn south on SR 22
  • The byway will intersect at SR 15

The I-185 Scenic Byway provides travelers with a view of gently undulating, mixed pine forest terrain as well as numerous opportunities for exploration of the intrinsic qualities found in the local region beyond the limits of the interstate route.  Rich cultural and natural attractions may be found in the vicinity of the Byway, such as Pine Mountain and Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Park.

I-185 Scenic Byway 

Directions


The I-185 Scenic Byway consists of 38 miles of Interstate 185 in Troup, Harris, and Muscogee Counties, from I-85 to Exit 12, Williams Road, just north of the City of Columbus.


This 55-mile route begins at Warm Springs, Georgia on SR 85.  It continues north to Gay and then moves west on the SR 109 spur back to Gay.  From Gay, the route extends eastbound along Flat Shoals Road across the Flint River and turns southwest on SR 18 to Molena.  The route follows SR 18 back to SR 85 south of Woodbury to Manchester and proceeds to follow SR 190 back to Warm Springs.

The Meriwether-Pike Scenic Byway celebrates the unique legacy of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  During the 1920s, '30s, and '40s, President Roosevelt came to Warm Springs in hopes that the therapeutic warm springs would help improve his polio-stricken legs.  He built a home in Warm Springs, the Little White House, which is now operated as a state historic site.

The Meriwether-Pike Scenic Byway offers several other attractions including the Red Oak Covered Bridge, the Oakland Baptist Church, and Jones Mill, where a large grist mill and mill pond are the only reminders of a once-thriving farm community.  In May and October, the Cotton Pickin' Fair and the Great Gay Marketplace attract thousands from around the Southeast.

Meriwether-Pike County Scenic Byway 

Directions


I-85 to Exit 41

I-85 to Exit 51

  • South on US 27-Alt (Roosevelt Highway)
  • Byway begins at intersection with SR 85
  • East on SR 154
  • Turn right onto SR 54
  • Turn left onto SR 16
  • Turn right (south) onto SR 85
  • Turn left onto SR 16
  • Byway begins at the intersection with Massengales Mill Rd

I-85 to Exit 18

I-75 to Exit 235

  • East on SR 109
  • Make a slight left onto SR 18/109 going east
  • Byway begins at intersection with SR 85
  • South on Tara Boulevard/SR 7
  • Road becomes US 19/SR 3
  • Turn east onto SR 109
  • Byway begins at intersection with SR 18

This 35-mile Scenic Byway begins in the Downtown Millen Historic District.  Its railroad depots date from the early 1900s.  The Millen-Jenkins County Museum features local histories, Native American Indian artifacts, tools, and cotton mill equipment.  Proceeding to SR 23 and Perkins Green Fork Road, scenic character is exhibited by woodlands, pasturelands, and historic farmhouses in small and scattered communities.  Varied and distinctive viewsheds are found on Herndon Road, along with several historic churches. SR 17, heading back to Cotton Avenue, is characterized simply by wide-open farmland stretching for miles.

Magnolia Springs State Park is located three miles from the intersection of SR 17 and US 25.  It features crystal clear springs, hiking/biking trails, and the Historic Fort Lawton-- an 1864 prisoner-of-war camp.  The Fort Lawton Historic Trail and the Bo Ginn Aquarium are also found in the park.

Millen-Jenkins County Scenic Byway 

Directions


From the north (Augusta or I-20), take I-520 to US 25

From the south, take I-16 to SR 121 near Metter

  • Head south on US 25 to Big Buckhead Church Road (near the town of Perkins).
  • Turn either way on Big Buckhead Church Road. The byway is a loop, and this is its northernmost point.
  • OR, travel to the intersection of SR 17 and SR 25 in Millen, and take a left at the traffic light and a right onto Cotton Avenue.
  • Take SR 121 north to Millen (SR 121 turns into US 25).
  • In Millen, either turn left (east) onto SR 17, or turn right (west) on SR 17 and then north on SR 23.

Pine forests and rolling pastures dominate the views along the Monticello Crossroads Scenic Byway as it runs through Jasper County.  This 29-mile Byway emphasizes the rural and historic qualities of the area as it follows State Highways 11 and 83 heading north from the town of Monticello.

Native Americans as well as evangelical Methodist Circuit Riders once used these routes as they crossed the state.  Highway 83 was also part of the Seven Island Stage Coach Road that ran from Augusta to New Orleans and the Natchez Trace.  Several individual structures as well as the central business district of Monticello have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Monticello Crossroads 

Directions


I-20 to Exit 98 

I-20 to Exit 113

I-75 Exit 187

  • Turn south on SR 11
  • The byway begins at the Jasper County line
  • Turn south on SR 83
  • The byway begins at the Jasper County line
  • Turn north on SR 83
  • The byway begins at the southern Monticello city limit

The Ocmulgee-Piedmont Scenic Byway begins in downtown Gray on Highway 11.  The route continues north on Highway 11 for approximately nine miles, where it passes through the communities of Bradley, Wayside, and Round Oak.  It next turns west on Round Oak – Juliette Road, proceeding for approximately 12 miles before ending at the Ocmulgee River in Juliette.

The Ocmulgee-Piedmont Scenic Byway traverses 200 years of Jones County history as well as the pre-historic and historic sites of the Creek Indians that lived there in the 17th and 18th centuries.  What is now SR 11 was formerly an Indian trail and a major north-south route between Hillsboro in Jasper County and Clinton, Jones County’s 19th century county seat.

In 1864, during the Civil War, opposing forces met along this road at the Battle of Sunshine Church and later that year General Sherman followed this route through Jones County on his “March to the Sea”.

The Round Oak-Juliette Road portion of the Byway was originally an Indian trail and now travels through the pristine pine forests of the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, which is inhabited by several species of endangered wildlife.  East Juliette, the endpoint of the byway, is a small late 19th/early 20th century mill village community located on the Ocmulgee River.  The town of Juliette, on the other side of the river, was the setting for the 1991 film Fried Green Tomatoes.

Ocmulgee-Piedmont Scenic Byway 

Directions


I-75 North to Juliette Road in Forsyth

I-75 South to Gray Highway in Macon

  • Turn east on Juliette Road
  • The byway begins at the Ocmulgee River in Juliette
  • Take Gray Highway (SR 129) north; it will turn into Denmark Gover Jr. Highway, Rock Creek Road, and W. Clinton Street
  • In Gray, take a left on Atlanta Road, Highway 11
  • The byway begins at the Gray Depot in downtown Gray

The Ocmulgee-Piedmont Scenic Byway begins in downtown Gray on Highway 11.  The route continues north on Highway 11 for approximately nine miles, where it passes through the communities of Bradley, Wayside, and Round Oak.  It next turns west on Round Oak – Juliette Road, proceeding for approximately 12 miles before ending at the Ocmulgee River in Juliette.

The Ocmulgee-Piedmont Scenic Byway traverses 200 years of Jones County history as well as the pre-historic and historic sites of the Creek Indians that lived there in the 17th and 18th centuries.  What is now SR 11 was formerly an Indian trail and a major north-south route between Hillsboro in Jasper County and Clinton, Jones County’s 19th century county seat.

In 1864, during the Civil War, opposing forces met along this road at the Battle of Sunshine Church and later that year General Sherman followed this route through Jones County on his “March to the Sea”.

The Round Oak-Juliette Road portion of the Byway was originally an Indian trail and now travels through the pristine pine forests of the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, which is inhabited by several species of endangered wildlife.  East Juliette, the endpoint of the byway, is a small late 19th/early 20th century mill village community located on the Ocmulgee River.  The town of Juliette, on the other side of the river, was the setting for the 1991 film Fried Green Tomatoes.

Ocmulgee-Piedmont Scenic Byway 

Directions


I-75 North to Juliette Road in Forsyth

I-75 South to Gray Highway in Macon

  • Turn east on Juliette Road
  • The byway begins at the Ocmulgee River in Juliette
  • Take Gray Highway (SR 129) north; it will turn into Denmark Gover Jr. Highway, Rock Creek Road, and W. Clinton Street
  • In Gray, take a left on Atlanta Road, Highway 11
  • The byway begins at the Gray Depot in downtown Gray

As the name implies, the Ridge & Valley Scenic Byway provides a chance to experience the varied terrain of northwest Georgia.  Mountain overlooks and fertile farmlands border the 51-mile Byway as it travels US 27, State Highways 156 and 136, and rural county roads.

Enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, picnicking, fishing, and hunting at the Keown Falls Scenic Area, the Pocket, and John's Mountain Overlook and Wildlife Management Area.  The surrounding countryside holds the histories of the native Cherokee Indian Nation, Civil War battles, and early settlers whose 1800's farmhouses still stand.

Ridge and Valley 

Directions


I-75 to Exit 306

I-75 to Exit 320

  • Turn west on SR 140
  • Turn north on US 27
  • The byway begins at SR 156
  • Go west on SR 136
  • The byway begins at CR 723

Located within the Chattahoochee National Forest in northeast Georgia, the Russell Brasstown Scenic Byway is a 41-mile loop revealing some of the most dramatic scenery in the state.

The Russell-Brasstown route was awarded National Scenic Byway Designation on June 15, 2000.

This route includes Brasstown Bald, Georgia's highest mountain.  Located near the byway is the Bavarian-themed town of Helen.  Following State Highways 348, 180, and 17/75, the loop encircles Wildlife Management Areas, the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River, and a section of the Appalachian Trail.  Nearby Vogel and Unicoi State Parks offer numerous recreational opportunities in addition to the camping, fishing and hiking facilities found along the Byway.

Russel-Brasstown Scenic Byway 

Directions


I-985 North

  • Take I-985 North which becomes US 23
  • North on US 23 to SR 384
  • North on SR 384 to SR 75
  • North on SR 75
  • The byway begins at the intersection of SR 17/75 and SR 75 Alternate

Following State Route 166, the South Douglas Scenic Byway runs for approximately 19 miles starting from the Carroll-Douglas Countyline to the intersection of State Route 166 and Highway 92. The corridor travels through the communities of Fairplay and McWhorter. This Byway is characterized by its wooded and rural viewsheds, agricultural, rural-residential, and recreational qualities.

Directions


I-70 to Highway 92 (southbound)

I-70 to Highway 92 (northbound)

US-27 Alt to State Route 166 (northbound)

  • Turn right onto Highway 92
  • Turn left onto State Route 166
  • Use the first right at the roundabout
  • Continue along State Route 166 towards Carroll County
  • Turn left onto Highway 92
  • Turn left onto State Route 166
  • Use first right at the roundabout
  • Continue along State Route 166 towards Carroll County
  • Turn right onto Jones Mill Road
  • Turn right onto State Route 166
  • Continue along State Route 166
  • Use the second right at the roundabout
  • Continue along State Route 166 towards Highway 92

This 29-mile loop in south Fulton County highlights the rural character and lifestyle of the surrounding area.  Situated among rolling hills, forested ridges, and serene pastures, the South Fulton Scenic Byway uses Cochran Mill Road, Hutcheson Ferry Road and State Highway 70 to guide visitors through this quiet corner of metropolitan Atlanta.

In addition to the historic communities and farmhouses found along the Byway, visitors can enjoy Cochran Mill Park, Cochran Mill Nature Center, and the nearby Chattahoochee River, which provide many recreational opportunities.

South Fulton Scenic Byway 

Directions


I-20 to Exit 49

I-85 to Exit 56

I-85 to Exit 69

  • South on SR 70 (Fulton Industrial Boulevard)
  • Byway begins at intersection with SR 92
  • North on Collinsworth Road
  • Collinsworth Road becomes Fayetteville Road
  • Fayetteville Road becomes Toombs Road
  • Turn right onto Hutcheson Ferry Road
  • The byway begins at intersection with Cochran Mill Road
  • Turn South on South Fulton Parkway (SR 14 Spur)
  • Turn right onto Rivertown Road
  • The byway begins at intersection with Cochran Mill Road

Travelling along US 80, the Tybee Road Scenic Byway runs 11-miles from Turner’s Creek – east of Bryan Woods Road – to the end of US 80 on Tybee Island. The corridor is represented by its unique identity and historic characteristic of Victory Drive, A War World I memorial highway including marsh and water qualities.

Directions


I-95 to US-80 (southbound)

I-516 to US-80 (northbound)
  • Turn right onto the State Route 204 ramp
  • Turn left onto State Route 204
  • Turn left onto US-17 / US-80
  • Continue along US-80 into downtown Tybee Island
  • Turn right onto the US-80 ramp
  • Continue along US-80 into downtown Tybee Island

The Warren County-Piedmont Scenic Byway Extension serves as a continuation of the Historic Piedmont Scenic Byway (located in Putnam and Hancock counties). The route was once part of the old Native American Okfuskee Trail, which connected what is now Augusta with the Mississippi River.

The Byway traverses eleven miles of gently rolling hills on State Route 16 from the Hancock/Warren County line to the intersection of State Route 12 in the City of Warrenton, passing a wildlife management area, farmland, rivers, and historic properties. This Byway includes the cities of Jewell and Warrenton, both listed as districts in the National Register of Historic Places. The Byway has been featured on the Tour de Georgia race route two times and offers ample opportunity for recreation such as cycling, golfing, boating, fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, and equine activities.

Warren County-Piedmond Scenic Byway 

Directions


I-20 to Exit 148

I-20 to Exit 154

I-20 to Exit 165

  • Turn south on SR 22.
  • Take a left onto Union Church Road in Powellton.
  • Take right onto Jewell Road, follow into the City of Jewell.
  • Take a left on SR 16.
  • Turn south on Highway 278 (Atlanta Highway, also called Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway).
  • Continue on 278 South to the City of Warrenton.
  • Take a left on W. Main Street. The Byway will intersect at SR 16. Turn right.
  • Turn south on SR 80 (Washington Highway, turns into N. Legion Drive).
  • Take a right on E. Main Street.
  • The Byway will intersect at SR 16. Turn left.

Scenic Byways Map​​

Corridor Map

Scenic Byways Map


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