It’s mid-summer and everyone’s looking to make the best of blue skies and golden sunshine! If you’re from Atlanta, chances are that you can’t run out of summer activities to do. Nevertheless, you can always do with a change in scenery! If you’re a resident looking to escape for a weekend trip from Atlanta, we’ve got you sorted.
Here are 5 amazing locations just a one or two-hour flight away from Atlanta – perfect for a vacation not too far from home. You can choose to make it a weekend trip from Atlanta if you’re short on time or take an extended vacation if that’s how you roll!
The Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Tennessee: A weekend trip from Atlanta into nature
The cool reaches of the Smoky Mountains are the perfect place to beat the heat. If you’re tired of the bustling Atlanta city life, why not retreat into the greenery and forests of this natural wonder? It’ll be perfect for a weekend trip from Atlanta.
The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is part of the Appalachian Mountain range and consists of some of the oldest forests in the country. In terms of visitors, it receives twice as many as the Grand Canyon! Be sure not to miss the Appalachian hiking trail that runs through the park, and the Alum Cave Trail. For a picture-perfect spot, head to the peaks of Mount Guyot, Clingman’s Dome, and Mount Le Conte. There are also several scenic camping points along the trail from where you can branch out to other activities like fly-fishing.
The closest airport near the national park is McGhee Tyson Airport, a few miles south of Knoxville. It is barely an hour’s flight time from Atlanta Airport. Before flying out, make sure to find affordable Atlanta Airport parking nearby using Way.com.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
If you’d rather be a beach bum on your weekend trip from Atlanta, Myrtle Beach is your best option! So pack your shorts and beachwear because that’s the best way to spend your escapade here.
A vibrant, growing city by the sea, Myrtle Beach has everything you’d expect from a coastal community. The best way to experience Myrtle Beach is to laze around near the water, have a frisbee game with friends on the sands, or make sandcastles with the kids. The more adventurous can try out some water sports like surfing, scuba-diving, or para-sailing.
Once you’re done soaking up the sun, you can spend evenings at the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, the local promenade. It’s also where you can get a vibe of the local community through the many arcades, music stages, and concerts that regularly happen. If you’re planning a weekend trip from Atlanta, try to time it with the Carolina Country Music Festival or the Myrtle Beach Food Festival.
The flight from Atlanta Airport to Myrtle Beach Airport lasts less than 90 minutes. But first, ensure your car is parked at a safe Atlanta Airport parking lot using Way.com!
Jacksonville, Florida
It would be a shame if Atlantans didn’t spend their summer in some part of Florida – it’s the best state to get some sun, sand, and surf! Jacksonville is one of the closest cities to Atlanta to get the whole ‘summer-by-the-beach’ experience. The ease of access makes it perfect for a weekend trip from Altanta.
With its unique mix of cultural heritage and modernity, Jacksonville is known as a famous river city. The St. Johns River runs through it, making a romantic walk along its banks a must for couples on a weekend trip from Atlanta. The Kingsley Plantation offers you the chance to see how a 19th-century Southern mansion was like from the pre-Civil War days. For a more immersive outdoor experience, head over to the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can come face-to-face with endangered big cats of the wild. A curious stop you shouldn’t miss is Amelia Island – the only place in the country where eight different flags have flown!
New Orleans, Louisiana
Steeped in history, culture, and music, New Orleans is close enough for a weekend trip from Atlanta but far enough to provide a distinctive experience. The city’s historical background includes French, Spanish, and Creole cultures, which means there’s something for everyone’s taste.
The French Quarter is arguably New Orleans’ biggest attraction. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city and has well-preserved buildings that showcase French and Spanish architecture styles. A walk through the French Quarter can easily take up an entire day if you allow it to! Visitors eager to participate in the vibrant community can head to Bourbon Street. With its many restaurants, breweries, and bars, we guarantee that you’ll be pub-hopping well into the night!
Other activities you can catch up on are exploring the National World War II Museum, sampling culinary history at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, or just spending a worthwhile afternoon cocktail tasking at Sazerac House. Talk about pampering yourself on your weekend trip from Atlanta!
New Orleans is a short 90-minute flight from Atlanta. Make sure to park your car at a safe Atlanta Airport parking lot using Way.com.
Nashville, Tennessee: A weekend trip from Atlanta to Music City
Good food, country music, and good vibes are the hallmarks of Nashville! Better known as Music City, it is just an hour’s flight away, and perfect for a weekend trip from Atlanta so that you can drown yourself in some tunes.
Broadway in downtown Nashville is the heart of the city. Straddling it are many ‘honky-tonk’ bars and pubs with live country music. Music Row is where you can find many famous music studios and performance centers. The main nightclub district is also a hotspot for visitors – it is so famous that it’s just called ‘The District.’ It’s the perfect place to down a few drinks, sing some karaoke and even ride a mechanical bull, perhaps!
Another common nickname of the city is ‘Athens of the South’ for its many colleges and universities. A prominent landmark is the full-scale replica of the Greek Parthenon, which functions as a cultural museum. It also doubles up as a setting for many theatre troupes performing Greek plays for visitors. Once you’ve taken in the sights, you can unwind at Cumberland Park, a lively urban park with gardens and walking paths.
No matter how long your weekend trip from Atlanta is, it doesn’t start until you’ve ensured your car is parked safely. Don’t let airport parking woes trouble you – Peachy Parking in Atlanta offers some of the best services at affordable rates through Way.com. With contactless parking and guaranteed spots, your vacation can start as soon as you get out of your house and into the car. Book with us to get affordable Atlanta Airport parking!
Check out more blogs on the best parking spots in your city, the most affordable insurance for your car, and top-rated car washes near you.
