The best road trip stops on the Nashville to Atlanta drive are Manchester, Chattanooga and Red Top Mountain State Park. The distance from Nashville to Atlanta by car is 248 miles, with a four hour driving time.
Planning a Nashville to Atlanta road trip itinerary
The Nashville to Atlanta drive connects the biggest cities in Tennessee and Georgia.
5 great Nashville experiences to book
- 🍸 Discover secret speakeasies on a guided cocktail crawl.
- 🏠 On a homes of the stars tour, see where Music City’s celebs live.
- 🍽️ Taste Tennessee’s local delicacies on a Nashville food tour.
- 🚢 Take a lunch or dinner cruise on the General Jackson showboat.
- 🎤 Get to know the Grand Ole Opry on a guided backstage tour.
Nashville is heavily music-focused, with attractions such as the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, Legends of Country Music Museum and Johnny Cash Museum. However, you can also get a good dose of history at Belmont Mansion, the Tennessee State Museum and Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage.
The best Nashville experiences include backstage tours of the Grand Ole Opry House, helicopter flights over the city and tasting tours at the Big Machine Distillery. You can also try line dancing classes, the Country Music Hall of Fame and haunted pub crawls.
Atlanta played a massive part in the Civil Rights movement, and a black history and civil rights tour taking in the city’s Martin Luther King Jr sites is pretty much a must-do.
Elsewhere, Zoo Atlanta, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History and the Atlanta Botanic Garden cater to nature-lovers, while the High Museum of Art and Margaret Mitchell House are key cultural sites.
For more Atlanta experiences, try a sightseeing trolley tour for orientation and overview. Or a guided bike ride to get a better feel for the neighbourhoods.
Other Atlanta favourites include the World of Coca Cola, Midtown food and cocktail tours and multi-brewery beer tours.
5 great Atlanta experiences to book
- ✊ Take a black history and civil rights tour – the unquestioned number one option.
- 🚋 Get to know the city on a 90 minute trolley tour.
- 🍷 Go wine-tasting in North Georgia’s wine country.
- 🍽️ Taste the best of Atlanta on a Midtown food and cocktails tour.
- 👻 Explore Atlanta’s spookiest spots on an after-dark ghost tour.
Nashville to Atlanta distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Nashville to Atlanta is 248 miles. This makes for a driving time of around four hours. The quickest route is down the I-24, then the I-75.
The best stops to add to a Nashville to Atlanta road trip itinerary are Manchester, Chattanooga and Red Top Mountain State Park.
Nashville to Atlanta road trip stops: Manchester, Tennessee
The town of Manchester isn’t especially riveting, although you can visit Common John Brewing and the Beans Creek Winery.
It is, however, the gateway to several photogenic waterfalls. The closest to the town centre are Blue Hole Falls and Big Falls in Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park. Head a little further west, and there are plenty more – Rutledge Falls has a glorious swimming hole at the bottom.
Why book the Atlanta CityPASS®?
- 🐬 World-Class Aquarium & Coca-Cola: Gain entry to the massive Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola, two of the city’s most iconic and popular destinations.
- 📉 Save nearly 50%: Enjoy a significant discount of up to 47% on combined admission to 5 top attractions compared to buying individual tickets at the box office.
- 🐘 Zoo Atlanta & Choice Sites: Includes admission to Zoo Atlanta plus your choice of two more highlights like the Fernbank Museum of Natural History or the College Football Hall of Fame.
- ⏱️ Nine Days of Flexibility: Your pass is valid for 9 consecutive days starting from the first day of use, so you can explore Atlanta’s landmarks without feeling rushed.
- 📱 Instant Mobile Tickets: Skip the hassle of paper vouchers; receive your pass via email and simply scan your smartphone for quick, contactless entry at each site.
Best stops between Nashville and Atlanta: Chattanooga
Chattanooga in the foothills of the Appalachians is home to Chattanooga Zoo, the Creative Discovery Museum and the Hunter Museum of American Art.
But it’s mostly an outdoorsy place. Great Chattanooga experiences include rafting on the Middle Ocoee River and kayak adventures to the Nickajack Bat Cave.
There’s plenty to see at Lookout Mountain just outside the city – ride the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, be wowed by Ruby Falls and see seven states from the Rock City Gardens.
Nashville to Chattanooga drive: Red Top Mountain State Park
Lake Allatoona is the main focus of Georgia’s Red Top Mountain State Park. Boats can be rented from the marinas around this 12,000 acre lake, and there are several good fishing spots around the shoreline.
In summer, though, it’s likely that the cove-like swimming beach will hold the most appeal.
There are also several decent hiking trails, with the four mile Iron Hill Trail offering the best views.
More Georgia and Tennessee road trips
- Getting to Chattanooga: The best stops on the Clarksville to Chattanooga drive and Nashville to Chattanooga drive.
- Getting to Nashville: What to see on the Lexington to Nashville drive and Louisville to Nashville drive.
- Road trips from Nashville: The best stops on the Nashville to Cincinnati drive.
- Road trips from Atlanta to Florida: Where to stop on the Atlanta to Gainesvilles drive, Atlanta to Tallahassee drive and Atlanta to Tampa drive.
- Road trips from Atlanta to Tennessee: The best stops on the Atlanta to Chattanooga drive.
