{"id":3154,"date":"2019-06-05T13:09:43","date_gmt":"2019-06-05T13:09:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/com.sx-magazine-wp.sixt.io\/magazine\/?p=3154"},"modified":"2025-04-14T14:03:26","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T14:03:26","slug":"best-small-towns-near-atlanta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/travel\/best-small-towns-near-atlanta\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 Best Small Towns Near Atlanta"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beyond the city limits\u00a0of\u00a0Atlanta<\/a>,\u00a0Georgia is dotted with scenic small towns set in mountains and valleys\u00a0with vineyards. Escape the city for some authentic cuisine, southern hospitality,\u00a0and quaint architecture and get easy access to the region\u2019s impressive national parks. Here we give you a roundup of the best small towns near Atlanta where you can hike,\u00a0taste some wine,\u00a0and explore historic districts.<\/p>\n

Atlanta Car Rental<\/a><\/p>\n

1. Dahlonega<\/b><\/h2>\n

Dahlonega rose to prominence during the Georgia Gold Rush in the 1820s and is where M.F Stephenson famously tried to persuade miners not to join the California Gold Rush. These days, wine is the new gold in Dahlonega with tourists flocking to the area\u2019s wineries. The town has a large variety of gift shops and art galleries and we also recommend taking a trip out to Cane Creek Falls just 5 miles northwest. To reach Dahlonega from Atlanta take\u00a0Highway\u00a0US-19 north for 65 miles\u00a0and you\u2019ll be there in about an hour.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The lush area outside Dahlonega<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. Jackson<\/b><\/h2>\n

You might recognize some of Jackson from the hit\u00a0Netflix\u00a0series\u00a0\u201cStranger Things\u201d. The town is only\u00a045 minutes away from Atlanta, just\u00a0south on Interstate 75. There\u00a0are\u00a0many options for enjoying the great outdoors\u00a0just outside the town.\u00a0High Falls State Park and Indian Springs State Park both provide numerous trails and campsites. You can also enjoy watersports on Jackson\u2019s\u00a0lake. The charming downtown\u00a0has\u00a0a number of\u00a0delightful eateries and shops.<\/p>\n

3. Cumming<\/b><\/h2>\n

Cumming is another great destination if you\u2019re looking for a quick hiking escape near Atlanta. The town is only 40 minutes north on\u00a0Highway\u00a0US-19 and you can\u00a0hike on\u00a0trails in the\u00a0Sawnee\u00a0Mountain Preserve. The views from the top are incredible and there are\u00a0a number of\u00a0campsites nearby if you want to make a longer stop. While you\u2019re in the area it\u2019s worth taking a closer look at Lake Lanier,\u00a0known for its\u00a0beaches and scenic islands.<\/p>\n

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Lake Lanier near Cumming<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. Pine Mountain<\/b><\/h2>\n

Pine Mountain is\u00a0about\u00a0a one hour\u00a0drive from Atlanta on\u00a0I-85\u00a0south. The town is most popular for Callaway Gardens,\u00a0a 6,500-acre resort featuring walking trails, a butterfly center, a white sand beach,\u00a0and\u00a0several golf courses.\u00a0Lastly, there\u2019s the scenic F.D Roosevelt State Park where you can take the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail through pine forests with access to campsites along the way.<\/p>\n

5. Madison<\/b><\/h2>\n

Madison\u2019s main attraction\u00a0is its\u00a0beautiful neo-classical mansions such as the famous Barrington Hall. The town is a hot spot for antebellum architecture and has one of the largest historic districts in Georgia<\/a>. Madison is also home to the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, an important institution for the region that puts on a huge range of performing arts events as well as hosting a Chamber Music Festival.<\/p>\n

Find a car rental near me in Atlanta<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Beyond the city limits\u00a0of\u00a0Atlanta,\u00a0Georgia is dotted with scenic small towns set in mountains and valleys\u00a0with vineyards. Escape the city for some authentic cuisine, southern hospitality,\u00a0and quaint architecture and get easy access to the region\u2019s impressive national parks. Here we give you a roundup of the best small towns near Atlanta where you can hike,\u00a0taste some…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":3158,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3154","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel","8":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nThe 5 Best Small Towns Near Atlanta | SIXT rent a car Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Beyond the city limits\u00a0of\u00a0Atlanta,\u00a0Georgia is dotted with scenic small towns set in mountains and valleys\u00a0with vineyards.\" \/>\n<meta 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