By Elliott Brack | So one granddaughter was listening when she heard her grandparents were considering a trip to the Four Corners.
Geographically understanding the idea, she blurted out
…..”Maine, Florida…..” before we stopped her. No, it was another Four Corners, but it did raise an interesting point of the four corners of the USA.
Ever thought of the Four Corners of Georgia? Talk about a difference! How about a driving trip to the Four Corners of Georgia?
Start anywhere along this route. For this circumnavigation of the state, let’s start in Dillard, in Northeast Georgia. If you’re going to make this a continuous trip, why not spend the night in Dillard, so that you can start it all off right with one of those fabulous breakfasts that the Dillard House serves. We suspect if you do, there’s little need to have to eat for lunch.
Driving south, you’ll find that much of the trip on U.S. Highway 441 is four-laned these days. Since our next destination is the coast at Savannah, we’ll veer to the left at Cornelia-Baldwin, remaining on U.S. 441, taking it into Athens, and then to Madison. At this juncture, we’ll head on Interstate 20 to visit in Augusta. From there go, via U.S. Highway 25, all the way to Statesboro. There you can pick up 1-16 for the jaunt into Savannah. Be sure to dip your feet into the Atlantic Ocean at Tybee Beach, so you can say you’ve been to this corner of Georgia. Savannah is also a great place to spend the night and enjoy good seafood.
Next morning, it’s 114 miles to another corner of Georgia, via 1-95 to Kingsland, then turn left toward St. Marys, the real corner. You might want to stop off along the way at the Golden Isles of Georgia, always a winner. (Jinright’s Seafood on U.S. 17 in Brunswick is great for fried shrimp.)
Your next leg is to Waycross, and take in the Okefenokee Swamp Park along the way, one of the real distinctive places in Georgia. Then it’s on to Valdosta, with plenty of places to spend the night.
From Valdosta, Seminole is the state’s most southwestern county, so stop in Donalsonville, 102 miles, via U.S. 84. Your next destination will be Columbus, up U.S. 27 through Blakely and Cuthbert, a total of 119 miles. While in Columbus, visit the Fort Benning Infantry Museum, and the new White Water section of the Chattahoochee River in downtown Columbus.
Next destination is Lookout Mountain, Ga., with stunning vistas, just south of Chattanooga, Tenn., about 220 miles distant. Downtown Chattanooga is a great place to visit, and see some of its many attractions. Enjoy a B&B there. Be sure you check out the museum.
The final leg completing the circle takes you back to Clayton and is 140 miles. From Chattanooga go down I-75 to Dalton, where you pick up U.S. Highway 76, and follow it all the way, passing through Chatsworth, Ellijay, then Blue Ridge, Blairsville and finally Clayton. It is hilly the entire way, but with some surprisingly good roads. All these towns are neat, often spruced up because of tourist dollars, and the vistas are superb, especially along the Zell Miller Parkway, the four-lane part of this journey.
There. You’ve been to the Four Corners of Georgia. You might do it in hard driving in four days, but we suggest a more leisurely trip of about six or seven days. Stop and enjoy the sights, Georgia’s distinctive food, and its characters.
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