Southeast Appalachian Road Trips

With Atlanta’s skyscrapers in your rearview mirror, head for the hills of northeast Georgia and western North Carolina on this scenic route. You’ll get a taste of the Blue Ridge Mountains—and their signature bluish haze—while passing through quaint mountain towns and gorgeous national forests on the way to Asheville.

South of Blairsville, Ga., the highway is encompassed by the Chattahoochee National Forest and runs through rolling mountains dense with green trees or speckled with orange and yellow as summer fades to fall. The route ends in Helen, a town that celebrates its Bavarian heritage in specialty shops and architecture reminiscent of an Alpine village.

The Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway offers glimpses of Kentucky's mountains and winding waters along the 29-mile route. Within the heavily wooded Daniel Boone National Forest portion, drivers also can access hiking trails, natural rock formations and other amenities just off of the parkway.

Enjoy an easy drive on this winding, two-lane byway traversing Sumter National Forest. SR 107 takes you through forested foothills with occasional stops for a panoramic view of peaks and valleys in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Expect heavy traffic during autumn leaf season.

This byway on US 421 is sandwiched between the towns of Boone and Deep Gap, and while it is short, it is packed with vistas of the Appalachian Mountains, rivers and towns. At the Boone foothills, Snake Mountain and Elk Knob, part of the Amphibolite Range, stand in the distance, and closer by Fraser Firs fill the Christmas tree farms for which the area is known.

Ironworks Scenic Road (SR 1973/Ironworks Road) takes you past thoroughbred farms to the area around Lexington, the "Horse Capital of the World." Enjoy the sights as you learn more about the Kentucky region that produces so many champions. Displays and tours of horse-training facilities help tell the history and demonstrate the current life of these magnificent animals.

This scenic byway's name comes from two national forests, the Cherokee and the Nantahala. The two-lane road climbs to elevations topping 5,000 feet as it winds through eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, with 15 scenic viewpoints along the way looking out over lushly forested mountains. October, the peak of fall foliage season, is a great time to visit.

While exploring the state's natural wonders, travelers will enjoy Georgia's Scenic Interstate 185 with its nearby attractions. This 38-mile jaunt down a pristine 4-lane highway is surrounded by attractive and lush green trees.