Blue Ridge Area Scenic Drives

View the sights, wildlife, and beautiful landscapes of the Blue Ridge mountains year-round from the comfort of your car on a scenic driving tour. Check out this list of scenic drives you can enjoy during your vacation with Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals, and download maps of self-guided tours of North Georgia, East Tennessee, and Western North Carolina.

Mountains & Countryside

Blue Ridge, Morganton, and Dial

This beautiful drive stretches nearly 28 miles and travels through the mountains and countryside surrounding Blue Ridge, Morganton, and Dial in Fannin County. This driving tour is a great introduction to the area and includes Lake Blue Ridge and the Toccoa River.

Cohutta Wilderness

Blue Ridge to Ellijay

This 3 to 5-hour scenic trip stretches from Blue Ridge through a dense hardwood mountain forest within the Cohutta Wilderness Area to beautiful secluded Lake Conasauga. This steep route is recommended for skilled drivers, and four-wheel drive SUVs are preferred.

Dahlonega & Apple Alley

Blue Ridge, Dahlonega, and Ellijay

Originally produced by the U.S. Forest Service, this driving tour through the Chattahoochee National Forest and surrounding countryside is full of scenic views and features opportunities to view changing leaves in the fall. It begins in Blue Ridge and is 102.4 miles round-trip. It can be driven as a day trip with side trips and adventure stops along the way.

Georgia Mountain Parkway

Jasper to Blue Ridge

One of the most popular scenic drives in Georgia. This route follows I-575 from Atlanta northward, which becomes Hwy 515 to the Georgia mountains. It features beautiful mountain views with wildflowers and apple orchards, places to visit including antique shops and art galleries, and a wealth of opportunities for outdoor exploration and adventure.

Scenic Mountain Drive

Blairsville to Turner’s Corner

Follow Hwy 129 South from Blairsville toward Turner’s Corner for a scenic ride along curvy mountain roads. For added fun, veer off the path for stops at Vogel State Park, DeSoto Falls, and the Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center and Mountain Crossings on the Appalachian Trail.

Russell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway

Hiawassee

Follow SR 75 South from Hiawassee to the junction of SR 180/348 South. Surrounded by the beauty of the Chattahoochee National Forest, this 40.6-mile national byway winds through the valleys and mountain gaps of the southern Appalachians in Georgia. From the breathtaking views atop Brasstown Bald to numerous waterfalls, scenic wonders fill this region of Northeast Georgia.

Cohutta-Chattahoochee Scenic Byway

Dalton and Chatsworth

Beginning at historic Prater’s Mill in Whitfield County, this byway rolls past pastoral lands, quiet country roads, views of the Cohutta Mountains, and into the Chattahoochee National Forest. From Blue Ridge, take Hwy 515 South to Ellijay, then Hwy 52 to Fort Mountain.

Ocoee Scenic Byway

Ducktown, TN to Cleveland, TN (U.S. Hwy 64 and Forest Service Rd 77)

Follow the nation’s first U.S. Forest Service scenic byway as it winds through the Cherokee National Forest alongside the Ocoee River and Parksville Lake, through the rocky bluffs of Ocoee River Gorge, and past the world-famous Ocoee Whitewater Center.

Southern Highroads Trail

Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee

The Southern Highroads Trail winds its way through the Appalachian Mountains in four states and 13 counties. Experience the scenic beauty, diversity, and rich history found along the way as you travel the 360-mile route. The entire trail takes about three days to complete, and includes the Georgia cities of Blue Ridge, Ellijay, Chatsworth, Blairsville, Young Harris, Hiawassee, Clayton, Mountain City, and Dillard.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Cherokee, NC

Stretching from North Carolina to Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway is “America’s Favorite Drive.” Meandering for 469 miles, enjoy a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged Great Smoky Mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. The parkway begins approximately two hours from Blue Ridge in Cherokee. Take Spur 60 to Murphy, then Hwy 74/19 North through Andrews and Nantahala.

Cherohala Skyway

Tellico Plains, TN to Robbinsville, NC (U.S. Hwy 165)

A National Scenic Byway, the Cherohala Skyway is a wide, paved two-lane road that features panoramic views as you drive around peaks in the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests. Elevations range from 900 feet at the Tellico River in Tennessee to over 5,400 feet at the Tennessee-North Carolina state line at Haw Knob.