The Resy Guide to Road Trips From Atlanta

A Chattanooga Excursion

This charming Tennessee city in the Appalachian foothills is just two hours outside of town, making it an ideal day trip or a longer stay if you so choose.

Distance from Atlanta: 120 miles.

How to Get There: Drive straight up I-75 until you cross into Tennessee. Follow signs for Chattanooga and you’ll be there before you know it.

Where to Stay: The historic Read House in downtown Chattanooga is the longest continuously operated hotel in the Southeast. Inside, you’ll also find Bridgeman’s Chophouse, an upscale, Southern steakhouse where they specialize in wet-aged beef, herb-basted veal chops, and barbecued rabbit.

Stop #1: Pick up coffee and a breakfast sandwich at Larakin on your way out of town. You could eat in your car but, if you have the time, we suggest dining on the cafe’s street-facing patio or taking your order for a stroll through nearby Piedmont Park to stretch your legs before the drive.

Stop #2: The Booth Museum is well worth a visit anytime you’re passing through Cartersville, Ga. It boasts the largest permanent exhibition space for Western art in the U.S. In addition to the indoor collections, there’s an outdoor sculpture garden and an interactive children’s exhibit, too.

Stop #3: After the museum, walk over to Table 20 for a summer Caesar salad and sandwiches like smoked pork on Texas toast or a black bean burger. Deviled eggs, served here with bacon and pepper jelly, might be a nice way to start, if you’re in the mood.

Stop #4: At Amada Tapas & Wine, this all-day wine bar serves small plates and is ideal for a pick-me-up once you’re settled in town. Stop by for pan con tomate or fish tostadas, patatas bravas, and fried eggplant, paired with Spanish wine, sherry, cocktails, or even a non-alcoholic margarita.

More Highlights:

Visitors love natural attractions like Rock City and Ruby Falls, the Tennessee Valley Railway Museum, and tourist destinations like Chattanooga Choo Choo, once the city’s Terminal Station and now a seven-acre entertainment complex. While you’re here, be sure to walk through the Tennessee Riverwalk and check out the Bluff View Arts District.

For a nice dinner out, visit Calliope for standout Middle Eastern food and try some wines from Lebanon while you’re there. For pizza and burgers, we like Wooden City, along with their signature dishes like lamb rigatoni and chicken schnitzel. Easy Bistro & Bar is known for its raw bar and pastas. For fine dining, St. John’s Restaurant is a Chattanooga staple, and its more-casual-but-still-upscale sibling, St. John’s Meeting Place, offers a fun, rotating menu with dishes like beef cheek tacos, housemade pretzel dogs, and vegan ribs.

All Roads Lead to Nashville

What’s not to like about Nashville? Whether you’re in the mood for a honky tonk or one of the South’s best restaurants, this city has it.

Distance from Atlanta: 250 miles.

How to Get There: The most straightforward trip takes you through Chattanooga and then straight up to Nashville on major highways. If you take that route, see our guide to Chattanooga above — try Hello Monty for wood-fired brunch or lunch in a friendly indoor-outdoor space. But if you have the time, consider taking a more winding route to see some of the natural beauty this region has to offer. See below for options.

Where to Stay: Warm and full of plants, eco-friendly 1 Hotel Nashville is a beautiful hotel in a highly walkable location, and the on-site 1 Kitchen is great if you want to stay in for a meal. There’s also the historic Hermitage Hotel, home to two standout Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurants, Pink Hermit Café and Drusie & Darr.

Stop #1: An hour-and-a-half up from Atlanta is Ellijay, a small mountain town near Blue Ridge, Ga., that’s also known as the state’s “apple capital.” Stop here and visit a few farm stores to pick up fresh produce and flowers (depending on the time of the year, some may be offering U-Pick options or farm tours as well), then, at lunchtime, swing by Ellijay Wood-Fired Pizza for some of the best pizza in the state. Or visit Roo Mountain Vineyards for what’s billed as the area’s first farm-to-table restaurant, The Roost, along with or their more casual food truck on the rooftop patio, The Coop.

Stop #2: Get back in the car and drive about 100 miles northwest to Foster Falls in Monteagle, Tenn. There are plenty of trails here, but the overlook for the falls requires no hiking — just a short, flat walk. Fuel up afterward by heading into town for sandwiches at Mountain Goat Market.

Stop #3: If your crew starts to feel peckish towards the end of your drive, stop half an hour before Nashville in Murfreesboro to split some appetizers at the neighborhood pub, ML Rose, get some scoops of ice cream at The Soda Bar, or have a proper meal at Primrose Table.

Stop 4: If you’re not hungry by the time you pull into Nashville, kickstart your stay by bar hopping along the famed Honky Tonk Highway on Lower Broadway. Mornings and afternoons are calmer than evenings at these bustling spots known for live music, but there’s no bad time to visit. Afterward, if you’re still hungry, do make plans to dine at nearby Prime + Proper where the potato pavé, crab beignets, and dry-aged beef tartare are not to be missed.

More Highlights:

You already know to visit the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. It’s also fun to stroll through some of Nashville’s walkable neighborhoods, like The Gulch or 12South, to window shop, snack, and people-watch.

Try Sho Pizza Bar or Husk Nashville, two of chef Sean Brock’s ventures in town; East Nashville favorite Lockeland Table; oft-cited industry favorite The Treehouse; tried-and-true mezze and more at Butcher & Bee; and a total Southern classic, Loveless Cafe.

Charleston Bound

It’s near impossible to find a bad meal in this Lowcountry port city, which is well worth the long drive from Atlanta.

Distance from Atlanta: 300 to 350 miles.

How to Get There: Take I-20 east out of the city and pass through Augusta, Ga. — or add about 30 minutes to your drive and take I-85 through Greenville, S.C., then pass through Columbia, S.C., on your way into Charleston.

Where to Stay: Both Hotel Emeline and The Dewberry have ideal downtown Charleston locations, and each has a standout restaurant inside. Head to Frannie & The Fox inside Emeline for pizza and other wood-fired dishes served alongside inventive cocktails, or visit The Dewberry’s cocktail lounge, Citrus Club, for drinks and a seafood-focused menu in Charleston’s highest rooftop space.

Stop #1: Take the 2.5 hour drive to Greenville, S.C. in one go, because you’re going to want to save some time to spend walking around its charming downtown. There are plenty of places to eat on and around Main Street, so explore the area and stop in for something that sounds good. Or, for a restaurant that feels more in tune with nature, visit Between The Trees, which serves brunch and dinner daily overlooking Falls Park and the Reedy River.

Stop #2: After you’ve eaten, stop by Methodical Bakery at The Commons to pick up a coffee and some sweet and savory pastries for the road. It’s right by Greenville’s incredible Unity Park, where kids and adults alike can burn off some energy before the rest of the trip.

Stop #3: Located 90 minutes south of Greenville is South Carolina’s state capital, Columbia. Stop here if you need a quick break before carrying on to Charleston; we like Il Focolare Pizzeria, City Grit, or Kaminsky’s even just for a slice of cake and coffee before heading back on the road.

Stop #4: If you need some extra fuel for the very last stretch of your drive, stop at Myles and Jun Yakitori in Summerville. The skewers are the highlight here (it’s in the name!) and a few of them will tide you over until your first meal in Charleston.

More Highlights:

In one of the country’s best food cities, it’s hard to go wrong. For a meal inside an old-school favorite, head to Slightly North of Broad, Magnolias, Fig, or Poogan’s Porch. For wine, try the Hidden House. For fried chicken and oysters, you want Leon’s Oyster Shop. Other gems in the city include Bintü Atelier​, ​Merci​, ​Vern’s, and ​Costa​. Venturing out to Sullivan’s Island? Don’t miss the The Obstinate Daughter.

Beyond the food, be sure to walk down King Street, the waterfront (the pineapple fountain is a classic photo spot), and beautiful Rainbow Row. Check out Folly Island or Sullivan’s Island for the beaches, and visit sites like the International African American Museum or Gibbes Museum of Art.

Restaurants Worth More Than a Detour

There’s no shortage of great food cities in the South, but there are also gems in the mountain towns, suburbs, and farmland along the way. Next time you’re in the mood for a culinary adventure, consider these five restaurants that are worth the drive or building a whole trip around.

Spring
Marietta, Ga.
Located in Marietta’s historic downtown square, Spring captured the hearts of metro Atlanta diners as soon as it opened. Brian So’s menu is always concise and always well executed (you won’t go wrong with whatever catches your eye, but people tend to love the foie gras, fish, and duck if they’re on the menu). The service and the natural wine lists are just as strong, making this restaurant very deserving of a trip outside Atlanta’s perimeter.

The Grey
Savannah, Ga.
Mashama Bailey’s acclaimed restaurant, housed inside a lovingly restored 1930’s Greyhound bus terminal, cemented Savannah’s place on the national food scene. The oysters, cornbread, red rice balls are perennial favorites, and freshly caught seafood and regional produce are stars that keep diners coming back season after season. Come early and snag a seat at the bar for a pre-meal cocktail.

Tiger Mountain Vineyard
Tiger, Ga.
In the Blue Ridge Mountains, this boutique winery about two hours outside of town offers seated tastings and cellar tours. With local wines and stunning views of the rolling mountains and vineyards, this is an ideal place to relax for a day or longer, as it’s also possible to book an overnight stay right on the property.

The Farmhouse at Serenbe
Chattahoochee Hills, Ga.
This planned “agri-community” just south of Atlanta is known for its farms, farm-to-table restaurants, and farmers markets. The Inn at Serenbe, situated on 2,000 acres of forest, meadows, trails, and more, is home to this light-filled restaurant which showcases local and regional produce, as well as its sister spots the Hill and Austin’s.

The Dining Room at Brasstown Valley Resort
Young Harris, Ga.
A hundred miles from Atlanta and not far from Georgia’s highest peak, Brasstown Bald, is the Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa. With golf, tennis, horseback riding, archery, fishing, and more outdoor fun available, this is an ideal quick getaway for active guests — and the best way to top off a busy day at the resort is with a meal at the cozy, casual Dining Room, which offers comforting staples like fried green tomatoes, she-crab soup, and lobster mac and cheese for weekday lunch and dinner. On the weekends they often serve seafood, prime rib, and brunch buffets.

Sonia Chopra is an area native who’s back in Atlanta after a decade in New York City. Catch her eating through town, making up for lost time, and find her other work in places like Eater, Bon Appétit, Epicurious, and the New York Times.