Athens is a college town with more going on than most cities twice its size. The University of Georgia’s leafy campus runs right into a walkable downtown full of restaurants, bars and record stores, and the music scene that launched R.E.M. and the B-52’s is still going strong. Add a free art museum, a free 300-acre botanical garden and a cannon that never worked, and you have an easy weekend about 90 minutes east of Atlanta. Here are the best things to do in Athens.
- From AtlantaAbout 72 miles, 1 hour 30 minutes without traffic
- CountyClarke County (Athens-Clarke County unified government)
- Known forThe University of Georgia, live music, a walkable downtown
- Getting thereGA 316 from I-85, or U.S. 78
Top Things to Do in Athens
1. University of Georgia campus and the Arch
Start on North Campus at the iron Arch on Broad Street, the symbolic gate between town and gown, then walk the old quad under huge oaks. Our campus tree walking tour is a good guide.
2. Georgia Museum of Art
The official state art museum, on UGA’s East Campus, is free Tuesday through Sunday. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Thursday until 9 p.m.) and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.; closed Mondays. The museum asks visitors to reserve free tickets online.
3. State Botanical Garden of Georgia
More than 300 acres along the Middle Oconee River, about 3 miles south of campus, with theme gardens, a tropical conservatory and over five miles of trails. Admission and parking are free.
4. Downtown Athens and the music scene
Downtown packs restaurants, bars, bookstores and record shops into a few blocks next to campus. At night, see who is playing at the Georgia Theatre or the 40 Watt Club, where Athens bands have been getting their start since the late 1970s.
5. Double-Barreled Cannon
A Civil War cannon designed to fire two balls joined by a chain. It did not work, and it still sits outside City Hall, pointing north. A quick, free stop.
6. The Tree That Owns Itself
A white oak at Dearing and Finley streets that, by local legend, was deeded to itself in the 1800s. The current tree grew from an acorn of the original.
7. Founders Memorial Garden
A small, formal garden on North Campus honoring the founders of the first garden club in America, organized in Athens in 1891. Quiet, shady and free.
8. Sandy Creek Nature Center
225 acres of woods and wetlands with more than four miles of trails, a nature center with live reptiles and aquariums, and an early 1800s log house.
Events and Seasons
Fall is Athens at its busiest. On home football Saturdays the town fills with tens of thousands of visitors, hotels sell out months ahead and prices jump, so check the UGA football schedule before you book. Spring brings the gardens into bloom and the AthFest music festival comes in summer. Saturday mornings from spring through fall, the Athens Farmers Market is a local favorite.
Nearby and Trip Planning
Athens pairs well with a drive through the small towns east of Atlanta: Madison, with its antebellum homes, is about 30 miles south, and Watson Mill Bridge State Park, with one of Georgia’s longest covered bridges, is a short drive east. See our Clarke County page, Athens historic sites and the Georgia Square Mall page for more.
Make this trip yours
Turn this guide into a day-by-day plan for northeast Georgia, with a map, directions and stops you can swap.
Plan my tripCommon Questions
What is Athens, GA known for?
Athens is known for the University of Georgia, its live music scene, which launched bands like R.E.M. and the B-52’s, and a walkable downtown full of restaurants and shops.
How far is Athens from Atlanta?
Athens is about 72 miles from downtown Atlanta, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes by car without traffic.
Is the Georgia Museum of Art free?
Yes. Admission is free Tuesday through Sunday. The museum is closed on Mondays and asks visitors to reserve free tickets online.
Is the State Botanical Garden of Georgia free?
Yes. Admission and parking are free. The garden is closed on official University of Georgia holidays.
Sources we checked
Facts on this page were checked against official sources and our own detailed pages. Drive times are from downtown Atlanta (Five Points) using OpenStreetMap routing and do not include traffic. Hours, prices and event dates change, so confirm before you go:
- Georgia Museum of Art: free admission, hours
- State Botanical Garden of Georgia: free admission, hours
- Visit Athens GA: attractions, events
- Athens-Clarke County Unified Government: parks, Sandy Creek Nature Center
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.