6 Scenic Drives in Macon, GA

July 13th, 2023 by

Georgia is a beautiful state. If you take the time to get off the main highway and make your way over some of the back roads, you’ll see some of the state’s most scenic roads and byways. These scenic drives offer some beautiful scenery and interesting places to stop along the way, from small towns to historic sites and wildlife preserves. Here are a few of the scenic drives you can take that are not far from Macon, Georgia.

Meriwether-Pike County Scenic Byway

The Meriwether-Pike County Scenic Byway is a 55-mile drive. You can start your trip in Gay, Georgia, and head east across the Flint River and then southwest to Molena. It then follows State Route 18 to State Route 85 to Manchester and State Route 190 back to Warm Springs.

This scenic route celebrates the legacy of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He went to Warm Springs during the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, hoping that the warm springs could help his legs paralyzed by polio. His home in Warm Spring was called the Little White House and is now a state historic site. It was built in 1932 when he was governor of New York. Make sure to stop by when you’re driving the byway and take a tour of the home.

Monticello Crossroads Scenic Byway

State Route 11 is the longest route in the state of Georgia, running through the entire length of the state. The entire route is a great way to see all the sites in Georgia, but you can pick and choose certain parts if you don’t have time for the entire 376 miles.

The Monticello Crossroads Scenic Byway section of State Route 11 is a 29-mile route. This section takes you through forests, past farmlands, and through the historic town of Monticello. This small town has a population of 2,500 and is named after Thomas Jefferson’s home.

You’ll come across some interesting sites along this route, one of which is the roadside Dow’s Pulpit monument. This large rock is naturally shaped like a pulpit and was the location of the first gospel sermon in the county in 1805.

Historic Piedmont Scenic Byway

If you’re a history lover, you’ll enjoy the Historic Piedmont Scenic Byway. This 21-mile route takes you through 200 years of Georgia history. In addition to showcasing the state’s history, it also traverses through the prehistoric and historic areas originally occupied by the Creek Indians.

Some of the sites you can see along this scenic route include the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, which spans 35,000 acres and includes the Little Rock Wildlife Drive and the Jarrell Plantation. There’s a state historic site with buildings and artifacts that date back to the early 1800s, including a plantation house, cotton gin, and blacksmith shop.

This drive travels along the Ocmulgee River, which provides many activities during the summer months. You can stop for some fishing, bring your kayaks and canoes to get out on the water or haul your larger motorboat for some sightseeing from the river.

Millen-Jenkins County Scenic Byway

The Millen-Jenkins County Scenic Byway is a 35-mile route that starts in the Downtown Millen Historic District. This historic town has a railroad depot that dates back to the early 1900s. It’s also home to the Jenkins County Museum, which offers information and exhibits showcasing the area’s history. From downtown Millen, you’ll head down State Route 23 and Perkins Green Ford Road. This road takes you through pasturelands and woodlands, where you’ll drive by old farmhouses and through small Georgia towns.

The drive continues on Herndon Road, where you’ll pass by some historic churches and then on to State Route 17. This will take you back to Cotton Avenue, where there’s farmland for as far as the eye can see. A short detour to Magnolia Springs State Park is worth the extra time. It’s just three miles from where State Route 17 meets U.S. 256 and features hiking and biking trails, clear spring water pools, and Camp Lawton — a former prisoner-of-war camp that dates back to 1864.

The Historic Old Dixie Highway

The Historic Old Dixie Highway is one of the longer scenic drives in Georgia. It stretches for 62 miles, bringing you through several towns, including Albany, Baconton, Camilla, Meigs, and Thomasville. It’s a little bit of a drive from Macon, so you might want to make a weekend of it, but it’s worth the trip for the beautiful scenery and sites along the way.

When the highway was first constructed, Miami was the ultimate destination for travelers. The Historic Old Dixie Highway was the first paved north-south interstate in the U.S. and has earned an official Georgia Scenic Byway designation. The route follows Old Highway 3/U.S. Route 41, starting in Albany and taking you through several historic downtown areas, corridors of tree canopies, and farmlands. Along the way, you’ll have views of the Flint River, and you can even find some places to stop if you want to get a closer look.

The 62 miles of this highway that runs through Georgia is only a small part of the 4,000-mile highway that runs from the Michigan/Canadian border through Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee and then Georgia to Florida.

I-185 Scenic Byway

The  I-185 Scenic Byway runs for 38 miles of I-185 through Troup, Harris, and Muscogee County. This route rewards travelers with views of pine forests and takes them near Pine Mountain State Resort Park and F. D. Roosevelt State Park. Whether you start on the north end or on the southern part of this route, you’ll see more trees than you ever imagined.

Need A Ride For Your Scenic Drive?

There are several places to go when you want to take a drive and make a day of it, with scenic byways offering beautiful views, unique roadside attractions, and lots of history. These are some of our favorite Georgia drives at Riverside Ford. If you have a favorite drive we missed, contact us online or give us a call and tell us about it. Or, if you need a new ride to take your next adventure, take a look at our sprawling new and used inventory to find the car of your dreams.

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