Top Scenic Fall Color Drives in North Georgia

There is nothing quite like a scenic fall colors drive in Georgia. From the very first mile it is a road trip to remember. The tall mountain peaks become awash in shades of gold, red and yellow. These top fall color drives in Georgia can leave visitors speechless.

The Georgia Mountain Parkway is a kaleidoscope of fall foliage. Pick up the Zell Miller Parkway off of I-575 in Atlanta. It becomes Hwy. 515 and goes directly to the North Georgia mountains. It is a fall color tour that takes travelers through five counties and along the Appalachian Mountains. Overlooks with breathtaking scenic views are the norm. As with most road trips, visitors will want to pack a picnic to enjoy on the road.

There are several places to pick up picnic supplies in the towns that are scattered along the route. Stop in Ellejay to pick apples or enjoy the quaint shops and quiet life of Hiwasse, Japser and other slices of Americana pie

The annual Blairsville Sorghum Festival in October brings visitors in from all over. It is in Meeks Park which is just off of Hwy. 515. Visitors will begin seeing signs for the festival as they get close to town. I have fond childhood memories of visiting this festival when the fall colors were in full force. The rock throwing contest was my favorite contest. The only twist was that the rock weighed 8 pounds.

Another fall color drive in Georgia goes through the Chattahoochee National Forest. The Russell Brasstown Scenic Byway Driving Tour takes visitors close to the town of Helen. This town is tucked away amidst glorious fall color and is worth the detour. This mountain town is designed to resemble a Bavarian village and all buildings must follow this theme. There are restaurants and quaint shops to explore.

Cohutta Chattahoochee Scenic Tour is a 54 mile fall color tour with a terminus in both Cohutta and on Hwy. 282 in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Travelers can explore history and take in spectacular views of fall colors from scenic overlooks. Food for a picnic lunch can be picked up in Cohutta. The drive takes travelers through some of the most spectacular fall color display in the state.

The Fort Mountain State Park is near the end of the scenic drive. It is the home of the highest mountain peak in the state. Visitors may picnic here, explore trails, camp or simply enjoy scenic fall color drive in Georgia.