Jacksonville to Chattahoochee National Forest Road Trip Guide
Introduction
In the northeastern corner of Florida, Jacksonville is the most populous city in the state with over 900,000 residents. Not to mention all the tourists who visit the city year-round due to its warm climate and pretty beaches. Although it is based around the banks of the St. Johns River, there are also plenty of beachfront playgrounds to enjoy on the Atlantic coastline.
Some of the most well-known beaches in the state are located in Jacksonville. The most popular ones include Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, and, of course, Jacksonville Beach. If you are going to stop at the beach, be sure to pack your sunscreen in the rig. Alternatively, your kids will have a blast at Shipwreck Island Water Park where you don’t have to worry about jellyfish or sharks. Just fun.
The Jacksonville Zoo is also a fun place to spend a bit of time. You can brush a goat, feed a giraffe, and touch a stingray while you are there. In fact, there are more than 2,000 animals and 1,000 plants at the 115-acre zoo, so bring the camera. But don’t stay too long. You have to get to Savannah.
Point of Interest
Savannah
Your first stop on the trip is two hours up I-95 where you will find Savannah, Georgia. The city is surrounded by water including the Savannah River and all of its tributaries like the Ogeechee River, Vernon River, Moon River, Wilmington River, and about a dozen more. Not to mention the miles of coast along the Atlantic Ocean.
You won’t have trouble finding a spot for water activities in this town. And since the average high temp is 77 degrees with an average low of 56 degrees, playing outdoors is strongly encouraged. Like Florida, Georgia has its share of beautiful beaches too, and Savannah is one city where you can find them. At the North Beach on Tybee Island you can take surfing lessons, catch a whopper, play with the dolphins and sea turtles or take a boat tour.
Stop at Skidaway Island State Park while you are there to see some of the most beautiful natural places in the city. With moss-covered forests, salt marshes, and hiking trails to explore, you will certainly need your camera. The huge boardwalk will take you out over the water where you can get some amazing selfies to share on your social media sites. The city is also known for its delicious cuisine, so grab a bite to eat before heading to Augusta.
Augusta
Augusta is just up GA-21 to the north about 120 miles, so settle in for a scenic ride through the greenest highways in Georgia. You’ll be surrounded by woods and swamplands that hold all sorts of wildlife. Be sure your family has their cameras ready. Stop in at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park on your way in. You and the family can take a hike on one of their nine nature trails or head into the Visitor Center to learn about the flora and fauna of the area.
Teach the kids some interesting history at the Augusta Museum of History. You may even learn some things yourself. Or visit the Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson, built in 1859 and so well preserved it looks like he was just there sitting by the fire. You may also enjoy the amazing art exhibits at the Morris Museum of Art.
Do some shopping in some of the shops and boutiques in downtown Augusta where you will find a plethora of various types of businesses to visit. There are seven shopping malls along Washington with everything from specialty stores to grocers. You are sure to find something on your list of items you want to buy. Then get on your way to your final destination before it gets too late.
Summary
About another 2.5 hours up GA-17 and you will finally be at Chattahoochee National Forest. It is best to make a reservation if you plan on staying at one of the campgrounds in the forest. Although the Chattahoochee National Forest is huge, at 867,000 acres, and there are over a dozen campgrounds that advertise RV camping, you don’t want to wait until you get there and find you have nowhere to park the rig overnight.
The forest itself is a magical place to visit with so much to see and do, you will probably need to stay a week or two before you get bored. There are 850 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails to explore and they even have miles of ATV riding trails too. You and the family can also enjoy some fishing, boating, picnicking, and geocaching while you are there. Have fun and take a lot of photos to share with your friends on social media.
