Heritage RV Park
Aerial view of downtown Augusta and the Savannah River at sunset

Augusta, Georgia · Guest guide

Explore Augusta

Welcome to Augusta. You've got the rig parked on Wrightsboro Road, out here in West Augusta near the mall and I-520, and odds are you're tired and hungry and wondering where the good stuff actually is. We've been here since 1979. So let us point you to the places we'd send our own family.

Reserve your siteDirections to the park
  • Augusta Mall · 3 min
  • Washington Rd · 7 min
  • Downtown · 12 min
On this pageStart here

Start here

The Riverwalk and downtown.

Once you've caught your breath, point the truck downtown. Park once near the river and you can do the walkway, the murals, the museums, and a meal without moving the truck again.

Augusta Riverwalk

Downtown Augusta

  • Must-do
  • Local gem
  • Family

We send most new arrivals here first. It's a two-level brick walkway built on the river levee, running along Reynolds St from about 5th to 10th. Up top you get the big open view down the Savannah River. The lower level is shaded, with benches and viewing decks right at the water. Flat, free, and right in the middle of downtown.

Tip: Time the lower level for when a freight train rumbles across the old railroad bridge. People stop to watch.

8th Street Plaza & the Big Fountain

Downtown Augusta

  • Family

This is the main gateway onto the Riverwalk. You get a wide brick plaza with a fountain that shoots straight up out of the pavement, a ramp down to the lower river path, and a playground nearby. The Saturday market sets up here, and most downtown events anchor on it.

Tip: On a hot afternoon it turns into the unofficial splash pad. Bring a towel for the kids.

5th Street Freedom Pedestrian Bridge

Downtown to North Augusta, SC

  • Must-do
  • Local gem
  • Family

An old highway bridge that's now a pedestrian-only span. You can walk it clear across the Savannah River into South Carolina. It has benches, free wi-fi, shade canopies, dog water fountains, and murals, plus the best river-and-skyline view downtown. Come at sunset when it's lit.

Tip: It stays lit and quiet after dark, which makes for a good low-key evening stroll.

Broad Street Stroll & the Arts District

Downtown Augusta

  • Family

Broad Street is the spine of downtown. It was once among the widest streets in the country, which is how it got the name. The walk is flat and easy, past local shops, galleries, restaurants, bars, and old storefronts. Park once and you can cover the river, the Common, the murals, and a meal on foot.

Downtown Mural Trail

Downtown Augusta

  • Local gem
  • Family

A free, self-guided mural walk, with a thick cluster right on Broad Street, put together by the Greater Augusta Arts Council. They keep adding and rotating walls, so the lineup changes year to year.

Tip: Find the newest one, 'Ours,' at 8th and Broad.

Augusta Common

Downtown Augusta

  • Family

More than an acre of manicured green a block off the river. There are park benches, a wall fountain with the city seal on it, and a statue of city founder James Oglethorpe at the center. People gather here on any given day, and it's home base for festivals.

Tip: Check what's on if you visit on an event weekend.

Augusta & Co. Experience Center

Downtown Augusta

  • Family

The official downtown visitor center, on Broad Street, and a smart first stop. Grab maps and the James Brown trail brochure, browse a rotating local-artist gallery, and try some local food and drink while you're there.

Tip: The staff are locals. Ask them what's actually happening the days you're in town.

Edgar's Above Broad

Downtown Augusta

  • Family

A rooftop terrace on the third floor of the AU building at Broad and 7th. There's a converted Airstream bar, bocce, and a giant checkers board. The menu runs to small plates plus breakfast and a light lunch, and heaters and misters keep it working in most weather.

Tip: It's a daytime spot, good for breakfast or lunch with a view, not a late-night scene.

The short list

Where to eat first.

If you only get a few meals in town, start with these. A lot of the best spots close Sundays, so check the day before you drive over.

Sconyers Bar-B-Que

The Augusta barbecue landmark, run by the same family since 1956 and pit-cooked over live coals for about 24 hours. We tell everyone to build their week around it. Just know it's open Thursday through Saturday only, so save it for the back half of the week.

Order: Chopped pork, pork ribs, and the hash and rice — ask for the 1841 hot sauce

Frog Hollow Tavern

Augusta's first farm-to-table restaurant and the table downtown for a special night out. Ask a local where to eat well and this is usually the first name out. Reserve ahead, especially weekends and during Masters week. Closed Sun-Tue.

Order: Whatever's freshest that night, from the seasonal farm-to-table menu

Abel Brown Southern Kitchen & Oyster Bar

Clean, modern Southern cooking with a real raw bar, over in Surrey Center and one of the closest upscale rooms to the park. Chef Todd Schafer was a 2026 James Beard Award Semifinalist. Dinner only; closed Sunday.

Order: Oysters on the half shell and a rotating seasonal Southern plate

Hildebrandt's Delicatessen

The same family has run this German deli on the same corner since 1879, which makes it about the oldest business in town. It's a living piece of Augusta history. Lunch only, Mon-Sat 11-2:30.

Order: The classic Reuben on rye (or the fried bologna sandwich)

Calvert's Restaurant

The white-tablecloth institution near the park, with nearly 40 years of anniversaries behind it and quiet, polished service. When folks here want dressed-up and timeless, this is the name. Dinner Tue-Sat; closed Sun-Mon.

Order: Hand-cut steak or fresh seafood, the classic French/Continental way

Boll Weevil Cafe & Sweetery

A block off the Riverwalk in an 1870s cotton warehouse, known for 30-plus homemade cakes and pies. People here bring out-of-town company just to stand in front of the dessert case. Opens at 11am.

Order: A towering slice of layer cake from the dessert case (split it)

Manuel's Bread Café

A real French bistro across the river in walkable Hammond's Ferry, run by a Lyon-born chef since 2008. About as authentic as French dining gets around here. Popular weekend brunch.

Order: The grass-fed burger with house aioli, or fresh-baked bread and French pastries

Pho Viet Augusta

The west side's standout for pho, minutes from the park on Washington Rd. People go on about the broth, the service is friendly, and the prices are easy. Just right on a cold or tired night. Closed Tuesday.

Order: A big bowl of beef pho and a banh mi

A few local favorites

Spots we’d point a friend to. Each one is written up in full below.

  • Sconyers Bar-B-Que
  • Hildebrandt's Delicatessen
  • Buona Caffe Artisan Roasted Coffee
  • Pexcho's American Dime Museum
  • Rae's Coastal Cafe
  • Cole Watkins Kayak Tours (the Stallings Island donkeys)
  • Soul Bar
  • The Fox's Lair
  • The Indian Queen
  • Augusta University Arsenal & Guard House Museum
  • Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art
  • Savannah Rapids Park & the Lock Keeper's Cottage
  • Pendleton King Park's camellia gardens
  • The Patch & The Loop (Augusta Municipal Golf)
  • Tire City Potters
  • The Big Mo drive-in

Eat · Near the park

Eats close to the park.

For nights when you're worn out from the road and don't want a long drive. These are all a few minutes from the rig, mostly along Wrightsboro and Washington Roads.

Abel Brown Southern Kitchen & Oyster Bar

Surrey Center, West Augusta

  • Must-do
  • Local gem

Modern Southern cooking with an actual raw bar, so you get oysters, seafood, and plates that change with the season. It's one of the closest nicer spots to the park, and the food holds up on its own.

Tip: Chef Todd Schafer was a 2026 James Beard Award Semifinalist. Dinner only, closed Sunday.

Calvert's Restaurant

Surrey Center, West Augusta

  • Local gem

This is the old white-tablecloth room of Augusta, leaning Continental and French, with fresh seafood and hand-cut steaks. Couples have marked anniversaries here for nearly 40 years. Quiet, polished, dinner only.

Tip: Dinner Tue-Sat 5-9, closed Sun-Mon. When locals want dressed-up and timeless, this is the name they give.

Finch & Fifth

West Augusta (Highland Ave)

  • Family

Creative American plates, craft cocktails, and weekend brunch, all done well in a relaxed room. It runs a notch easier than the dressier places nearby in the Highland Ave cluster without dropping the quality.

Tip: Happy hour daily 3-6, brunch Sat-Sun.

Takosushi

Surrey Center, West Augusta

  • Local gem
  • Family

An Augusta original where the Far East meets the Southwest. You'll find sushi rolls and Asian plates next to Southwestern tacos and queso. It's a longtime casual standby, good when nobody in the group can agree on what to eat.

Tip: Open 7 days. There's a sister location out in Evans.

Pho Viet Augusta

West Augusta (Washington Rd)

  • Local gem
  • Family

The west side's best for a big steaming bowl of pho, and locals will talk your ear off about the broth. They also do banh mi, spring rolls, and rice plates. Private parking, friendly service, easy prices, and just right on a cold or tired night.

Tip: Closed Tuesday.

Taqueria El Patron

West Augusta (Washington Rd)

  • Local gem
  • Family

Street tacos, not Tex-Mex. Open-face on house-made corn tortillas with onion and cilantro, al pastor and carnitas, plus lengua and tripa if you're up for it. About $15 a head and a quick, cheap stop near the mall.

Tip: Where locals send people who want authentic, not the margarita-and-fajita kind.

Lokos Tacos

West Augusta (Washington Rd)

  • Local gem
  • Family

Get the quesabirria, crispy cheese-and-birria tacos with consommé for dipping. This is a fast-growing local favorite for street tacos done right, and the margaritas are big and strong. Casual, friendly, and very close to the park.

Tip: Generous portions. There's a second location on Boy Scout Rd.

Farmhaus Burger (Flowing Wells)

West Augusta (Flowing Wells Rd)

  • Local gem
  • Family

A local burger shop that grinds its own house blend from area farmers, with boozy milkshakes and a full bar. The downtown original gets the press, but this West Augusta spot is closer to the park and easier to park at.

Tip: Closed Sun-Mon.

Whiskey Bar Kitchen

Downtown (Broad St)

  • Family

A lively Broad Street gastropub that puts Japanese and American comfort food side by side, craft burgers, loaded tots, and a wall of more than 200 hard-to-find whiskeys. Good for a dinner-and-drinks night, and family-friendly until late.

Tip: One of the better whiskey selections around. Closed Sunday.

Eat · Southern & BBQ

Southern food and old Augusta institutions.

This is the food we'd drive across town for. Family-run places, some older than the park, where the recipes haven't changed in decades.

Sconyers Bar-B-Que

South Augusta

  • Must-do
  • Local gem
  • Family

Get the chopped pork, ribs, and a bowl of thick Brunswick stew, plus the Carolina-style hash and rice. This is the Augusta barbecue landmark, run by the same family since 1956 and pit-cooked over live oak and hickory coals for about 24 hours, no gas, no electricity. It's a sprawling log building with a duck pond out front. The Sconyers once cooked on the White House lawn for President Carter.

Tip: Open Thursday-Saturday ONLY, 10am-9pm, so save your barbecue night for the back half of the week. Ask for the 1841 hot sauce.

Hildebrandt's Delicatessen

Downtown (Olde Town)

  • Must-do
  • Local gem
  • Family

The same family has run this German deli and corner store since 1879, which makes it about the oldest business in town. Most people get the Reuben on rye, though the fried bologna sandwich has its loyalists. The lunch counter keeps short hours, so it stays a word-of-mouth kind of place.

Tip: Lunch only, Mon-Sat 11am-2:30pm. Closed Sunday.

Luigi's

Downtown Augusta

  • Local gem
  • Family

Augusta's oldest family-run restaurant, serving Italian and Greek-influenced plates since 1949 under later generations of the founding Ballas family. Dim lighting, a jukebox, and the city's original pizza.

Tip: Dinner Tue-Sat from 5pm; Friday lunch 11:30-2. Closed Sunday.

Wife Saver

West Augusta (N Leg Rd)

  • Family

The fried chicken is the reason to come. It's a homegrown Augusta institution since 1965, drive-thru and dine-in, with mac and cheese, fresh vegetables, homemade breads, and banana pudding to go around it. This is the everyday local answer to where's the good chicken.

Tip: The North Leg location is closest to the park; closed Mondays there.

Fat Man's Mill Cafe

Downtown (Enterprise Mill)

  • Local gem
  • Family

A longtime Augusta name, now serving Southern home cooking inside the historic Enterprise Mill on the canal. It's a weekday-lunch place built on meat-and-two plates, fried chicken, and the famous squash casserole. Walk the towpath afterward.

Tip: Lunch only, Mon-Fri 10:30am-2:30pm.

Big Mama's Soul Food

West Augusta (Daniel Village)

  • Local gem
  • Family

Soul food made to order right on Wrightsboro Road, close to the park. Fried chicken, oxtails, and the Southern sides you'd expect. Everything is cooked fresh, so plan on about a twenty-minute wait. Locals say it's worth it.

Tip: Open Wed-Sun. The wait is part of the deal.

Rae's Coastal Cafe

West Augusta

  • Local gem
  • Family

A neighborhood favorite that mixes Caribbean and American flavors with seafood and steaks. The Jamaican jerk chicken is the house specialty. It sits in a residential pocket and is one of the closest standout sit-down meals to the park.

Tip: Closed Monday.

French Market Grille

West Augusta (Surrey Center)

  • Family

Augusta's New Orleans room since 1984. Po'boys, gumbo, étouffée, shrimp and crawfish, scratch desserts, all in a Mardi Gras setting. It shares a Surrey Center parking lot with Takosushi, so it's a reliable west-side corner.

Tip: Closed Sunday.

Boll Weevil Cafe & Sweetery

Downtown (Riverwalk)

  • Must-do
  • Family

Walk up to the dessert case first, then decide if you need dinner. It sits a block off the Riverwalk in an 1870s cotton warehouse, and the case holds 30-plus homemade cakes and pies cut into slices most folks split. There's a full Southern menu too, shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, but the desserts are the draw.

Tip: Opens at 11am, not a breakfast spot.

Coffee & breakfast

Breakfast, coffee, and something sweet.

The closest hot breakfast and the best cups in town, including a few right on your road.

Sunrise Grill

West Augusta (Wrightsboro Rd)

  • Local gem
  • Family

A plain sit-down breakfast spot on Wrightsboro Road, the same street as the park, which makes it about the closest hot breakfast to your rig. Classic American morning food, open early.

Tip: Open daily 6am-2pm. Easy to swing in on your way out to I-520.

Another Broken Egg Cafe

West Augusta (National Hills)

  • Family

Upscale-casual Southern brunch in National Hills, very close to the park. Shrimp 'n grits, chicken and waffles, the lobster-and-brie omelette, and a full bar for mimosas and spiked cold brews.

Tip: Close to Augusta National, so it packs out during Masters week. Expect a wait then.

Metro Diner

West Augusta (Washington Rd)

  • Family

Comfort-food diner on Washington Road, serving breakfast all day plus lunch and dinner. Portions run big. The fried chicken and waffles and the Iron City Meatloaf both got the 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives' treatment.

Tip: Breakfast served all day, not just morning.

Belair Donuts & Coffee Corner

West Augusta (Belair)

  • Local gem
  • Family

A donut shop just up the road that locals swear by. Fresh-made donuts, apple fritters, croissant donuts, kolaches, and breakfast sandwiches. Easy stop before you head out.

Tip: Veteran-owned. Go early. They open at 5am most days and sell out.

Edgar's Bakehouse

West Augusta (Washington Rd)

  • Local gem
  • Family

A from-scratch French-style bakery doing croissants, artisan breads, and pastries, with coffee to match. Everything is made in-house. It is one of the closest serious bakeries to the park, and it doubles as a teaching kitchen for Goodwill's Helms College, so your dollar goes to workforce training.

Tip: The ham-and-cheese and tiramisu croissants get raves.

Buona Caffe Artisan Roasted Coffee

Central Ave

  • Local gem
  • Family

Augusta's standout artisan roaster. A husband-and-wife shop that roasts every batch in a converted cottage on a quiet residential street, easy to drive past unless someone points you there. If you want a serious, freshly-roasted cup, this is it.

Tip: Get the morning glory muffin with it. They sell whole bean by the bag to take back to the rig.

New Moon Cafe

Downtown (Broad St)

  • Local gem
  • Family

Downtown has gone here for breakfast since 1995, in the old JB White's building. They roast their own coffee in small batches, bake breads and pastries in-house, and make soups from scratch daily.

Tip: Open daily 8am-3pm, seven days a week, unlike a lot of the lunch-only old-timers.

Whit's Frozen Custard

West Augusta (Washington Rd)

  • Family

Fresh-made frozen custard with mix-ins, sundaes, and 'Whitsers,' which is custard blended with toppings. A sweet way to end a day at the ballpark or the splash pad.

Tip: Closed Monday.

Eat · A nice night out

For a nicer night out.

For when you want to dress up a little. Reserve ahead, especially on weekends and during Masters week.

Frog Hollow Tavern

Downtown (Broad St)

  • Must-do
  • Local gem

This is the special-occasion table downtown. Chef-owner Sean Wight opened Augusta's first farm-to-table restaurant here in 2010, and the menu still changes with whatever the local farms bring in. It is small and dinner only. Ask anyone in town where to eat well and this is usually the first name out.

Tip: Book ahead on weekends, and book well ahead during Masters week. Closed Sun-Tue.

Craft & Vine

Downtown (Broad St)

  • Local gem

An Art Deco cocktail bar and eatery built around hand-crafted drinks, with 30-plus wines by the glass, gourmet small plates, and wood-fired pizzas. It comes from the Frog Hollow family. Come here when you want a grown-up evening rather than a full sit-down dinner.

Tip: Reservations are wise on weekends. Closed Sun-Tue.

Edgar's Grille

West Augusta (Washington Rd)

  • Family

Elegant New American with a Southern lean, run by Goodwill's Helms College. Culinary students help staff it, and a share of every check funds their training. It is a pretty room, open lunch through dinner, with a popular Sunday brunch.

Tip: Eating here puts money straight toward Helms College students.

Cork & Flame

Evans

  • Local gem

Worth the drive out to Evans. This is one of the most ambitious kitchens around, progressive American with much of the cooking done over an open Argentinian-style hearth. It is attached to a well-stocked wine market, and the vegetarian menu stands out.

Tip: Free wine tastings in the market every Fri-Sat 5-7, no reservation needed.

Manuel's Bread Café

North Augusta, SC (Hammond's Ferry)

  • Local gem
  • Family

A real French bistro over the river in the Hammond's Ferry neighborhood, run by Lyon-born chef Manuel Verney-Carron since 2008. Expect seasonal French dishes, fresh-baked breads, and a popular weekend brunch. Most people will tell you it is the most authentic French food in the area.

Tip: Get the grass-fed burger with house aioli.

Brinkley's Chop House

North Augusta, SC (Riverside Village)

  • Family

The dress-up steakhouse at Riverside Village, right by the GreenJackets' ballpark. Premium steaks, chops, and seafood in a polished room. Make a night of it with a ballgame or a riverside walk a block away. The 16 oz Duck Fat Delmonico Ribeye is the one to get.

Tip: Busiest on game nights; valet parking is complimentary.

Nightlife

Breweries, bars, and a night out.

Augusta's own brewery and distillery, plus the closest cocktail bar to the rig.

Savannah River Brewing Co.

Downtown (Harrisburg)

  • Local gem
  • Family

The biggest working brewery in town, and an easy place to bring the dog. There is a roomy patio, cornhole, and live music some nights. Since 2025 a shipping-container kitchen means you are not drinking on an empty stomach. Go for beer actually made in Augusta.

Tip: Closed Tuesdays. Get the smash burger and the pretzel with beer cheese.

2nd City Distilling Co.

Downtown (Riverfront)

  • Local gem

Augusta's only distillery sits a block off the Riverwalk. Everything gets distilled, bottled, and hand-labeled right there. Order a flight or a cocktail off their own bourbon, gin, rum, and vodka, or take a tour of the still.

Tip: Locals come for the oddball cream liqueurs in peach, caramel, and peanut butter.

The Indian Queen

West Augusta (Wrightsboro Rd)

  • Local gem

This is the closest craft-cocktail spot to the park. It is a laid-back locals' bar with fresh-made cocktails and craft beer, open late six nights a week, and you skip the downtown parking mess. It sits on Wrightsboro Road, the same road as the park.

Tip: The cabin-like building used to be a gun shop. Closed Sunday.

Ready Player One

Downtown (Broad St)

  • Family

Half bar, half arcade. Grab a card, pour your own beer by the ounce off a wall of more than 40 taps, and play the classic games. Loud, fun, and good with a group.

Tip: The pour-your-own wall lets you taste a few ounces instead of committing to a full pint. 21+; closed Sunday.

Arsenal Tap Room + Kitchen

Summerville

  • Local gem
  • Family

A quiet neighborhood spot out in leafy Summerville, with one of the deepest beer lists in town and a kitchen that pulls its weight. Reclaimed wood inside, a Southern-style beer garden out back. People treat it more like a cozy beer garden than a bar.

Tip: The gourmet grilled cheese and tater tots go well with a flight. Closed Sun-Mon.

Six South Rooftop Bar (The Partridge Inn)

Summerville

  • Local gem

Augusta's rooftop perch, up on The Hill atop the historic 1892 Partridge Inn. You get the wide city view, fireside lounge seating, craft cocktails, and plates to share. It is the only true rooftop bar in town with a city view, and where locals head before dinner to catch the sunset.

Tip: Hours change with the season and the weather, so call before you go (706-737-8888).

Tank N Taps Sports Bar & Grill

Downtown (10th St)

  • Family

Downtown's sports bar. More than 40 taps, a real grill menu with smash burgers and pizza, TVs on every wall, and live music some nights. Open every day.

Outdoors

The canal, the river, and the parks.

The best free outdoors around here is flat and shaded. The 19th-century canal towpath is the backbone. You can walk it, bike it, or float it, and there's real wildlife close to town.

Augusta Canal Discovery Center & Petersburg Boat Tours

Downtown (Enterprise Mill)

  • Must-do
  • Local gem
  • Family

This is the anchor of the whole canal. Inside, the Discovery Center walks you through how Augusta turned its water power into a Southern textile industry. Then you board an open-air replica Petersburg cargo boat and glide up the canal past the old mills and the Confederate Powder Works chimney. Calm water, shade, easy on the legs.

Tip: Your boat ticket covers Discovery Center admission too. In summer, book a morning slot, since afternoon tours get heat-canceled when the index hits 105°F. Reserve at 706-823-0440 x502.

Augusta Canal Towpath Trail

Headgates to downtown

  • Must-do
  • Family

Walk the old mule towpath and you get a wide, flat, shaded path running right along the canal with the Savannah River just below. No hills to speak of. Good for a stroll, a run, or an easy ride, and you'll see herons and turtles the whole way. Free parking at four trailheads.

Tip: The hard-packed surface turns muddy after rain, so give it a day to dry out.

Savannah Rapids Park & the Lock Keeper's Cottage

Martinez / Evans

  • Must-do
  • Local gem
  • Family

This is where the canal begins. Park up on the bluff and walk down to the headgates where the canal pulls off the river. The restored lock keeper's cottage from around 1890 sits right there and now serves as the county visitor center. It's also the north trailhead for the towpath and the launch for kayak and bike rentals.

Tip: Go early. The bluff and rapids are best at sunrise with mist on the water. The big event Pavilion is closed for renovation through summer 2027, but the park, trails, and overlook are fully open.

Savannah Rapids Kayak Rental

Martinez (inside Savannah Rapids Park)

  • Family

Easiest way to get on the water. They put you in on the canal for a gentle float of about 2 hours toward Lake Olmstead. No rocks, no rapids, just a slow current past turtles, otters, and herons, with a $5 shuttle back. If you know what you're doing, you can take on the Savannah River run instead.

Tip: April through August they take walk-ups when boats are free; September through March is reservation-only. Reserve at least 2 hours ahead.

Phinizy Swamp Nature Park

South Augusta

  • Must-do
  • Local gem
  • Family

A free, wild swamp sitting inside the city. Boardwalks carry you over cypress and open water, and you'll spot alligators sunning, turtles, and wading birds. It's a designated Important Bird Area with 240+ species recorded, open every day, year-round.

Tip: One of the few spots near town where you can count on seeing a wild gator from a safe boardwalk. Bring bug spray in summer, and come at dusk.

Lake Olmstead Park

West Augusta

  • Local gem
  • Family

A close-in lake that doesn't feel close-in. There's a walking track around the water, a boat ramp, picnic shelters, and a free 18-hole disc golf course along the shore. It's also a southern way onto the canal towpath.

Tip: The lake was formed in 1873 by damming Rae's Creek, the same creek that runs through Amen Corner at Augusta National.

Pendleton King Park

Augusta (Summerville area)

  • Local gem
  • Family

Sixty-four wooded acres that locals call Augusta's Central Park. You'll find pine and marsh trails, themed gardens including azalea, camellia, and a touch-and-smell herb garden, a free 18-hole disc golf course, and an off-leash dog park. Regulars come back for the bamboo grove.

Tip: The camellias peak in January and February, when little else has any color.

Cole Watkins Kayak Tours (Stallings Island)

Evans / Savannah River

  • Local gem
  • Family

A guided 2.5-hour paddle, about 3 miles, through the remote '99 Islands' stretch of the Savannah out to Stallings Island. The island has a small herd of unexpectedly friendly wild donkeys, plus otters, deer, and birds. You won't find this trip anywhere else.

Tip: Bring veggies for the donkeys. Reservation only at 706-840-0433, and tours fill up.

Clarks Hill Lake

About forty-five minutes north of the park, the Savannah River backs up into a 70,000-acre Corps of Engineers lake with more than a thousand miles of shoreline. The map calls it J. Strom Thurmond Lake. Everybody around here still calls it Clarks Hill. It is the big outdoor day trip from Augusta, worth the drive for a beach day, a boat, or some of the best bass fishing in the country.

Mistletoe State Park

~45 min

Appling, GA

  • Local gem
  • Family

The pick of the bunch on the Georgia side, out past Appling on the south shore. There is a roped-off sandy swimming beach, better than fifteen miles of hiking and mountain-bike trails through hardwood and pine, and about ninety campsites plus ten cabins right on the water. Bass fishing here is some of the best anywhere.

Tip: No boat? They rent kayaks, canoes, and jon boats to overnight guests in season.

Wildwood Park

~40 min

Appling, GA

  • Family

A Columbia County park on the lake with the best family beaches around, plus a boat ramp and easy fishing. It is also the home of the International Disc Golf Center, so you can swim and play a round in the same afternoon.

Tip: Good for a fishing-derby weekend; check the county calendar before you drive out.

International Disc Golf Center

~40 min

Wildwood Park, Appling

  • Local gem
  • Family

This is the actual home of the sport. The PDGA moved its headquarters here in 2007, and the grounds hold the Disc Golf Hall of Fame, the Ed Headrick museum, putting greens, and three championship courses. You can walk on and play whether you have thrown a disc before or not.

Tip: Free to visit. Bring or buy a disc and play a round.

Clarks Hill Recreation Area

~40 min

by the dam, off GA Hwy 221

  • Family

The Corps day-use area right by the dam, off Highway 221. Beach, a boat ramp and dock, shaded picnic spots, restrooms. Easiest place for a quick swim if you just want a few hours on the water and not a whole expedition.

Fishing and getting on the water

~40-45 min

all around the lake

  • Family

Eleven public boat ramps ring the lake, and it lands near the top of every list of the country's best largemouth bass water, with bream and catfish to go with it. Bring a boat or rent one at Mistletoe in season. Bald eagles, turkey, and deer are common along the shoreline.

Tip: Winter is the quiet season for eagle and waterfowl watching; summer is for the beaches.

History

History and museums.

Augusta is older than the country it sits in, and downtown is full of that history. Start at the big museum to get your bearings, then walk the rest.

Augusta Museum of History

Downtown (Riverwalk district)

  • Must-do
  • Local gem
  • Family

This is where you get your bearings on Augusta. It holds the largest permanent James Brown collection anywhere, stage outfits and family photos and all. There is also a real Masters green jacket, one of the few you'll find off club property, bronze golf legends, and a 1914 steam locomotive the kids can climb aboard.

Tip: Open Thu-Sun only; closed Mon-Wed. The Saturday James Brown Family Historical Tour (~$15) starts here and includes admission.

Morris Museum of Art

Downtown (on the Riverwalk)

  • Local gem
  • Family

The oldest museum in the country devoted entirely to art of the American South. It is small, an hour will do it, and it sits right on the Riverwalk so you can pair it with a walk by the water.

Tip: Free every Sunday, which is when a lot of locals go.

Sacred Heart Cultural Center

Downtown (Historic District)

  • Local gem
  • Family

A former Catholic church, first Mass in 1900, with twin spires and stained glass and brickwork everywhere you look. It runs as an arts and events center now. Walk in for free and look up: 94 Munich stained-glass windows and 15 kinds of brick. The Great Hall by itself is worth the stop.

Tip: Art Hall free Mon-Fri 9-5. The spring Garden City Festival runs April 24-25, 2026.

Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson

Downtown (Historic District)

  • Family

The restored house where the 28th president grew up during and after the Civil War, now a National Historic Landmark. The 45-minute guided tour takes you through the family rooms and 1860s Augusta.

Tip: Guided tours Wed-Sat; reservations encouraged. Goes well with a 7th Street walk.

Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History

Laney-Walker district

  • Local gem
  • Family

This is the former home of educator Lucy Craft Laney, who founded Augusta's Haines Institute in 1883. It is the city's anchor museum for African American history, with rotating exhibits and a permanent collection on Laney and Augusta's Black community.

Tip: Appointment-based, so call ahead (706-724-3576) instead of just showing up.

Springfield Baptist Church & Village Park

Downtown (Historic District)

  • Local gem
  • Family

Founded in 1787, Springfield Baptist is the oldest continuously active independent Black Baptist congregation in the United States, and the 1801 frame meetinghouse is still standing. Next door, a 2.5-acre park lays the history out in the open air, free to walk anytime.

Tip: Look for Richard Hunt's 45-foot 'Tower of Aspiration' sculpture. Bronze plaques make the park a self-guided walk even when the church is closed.

Augusta University Arsenal & Guard House Museum

Summerville

  • Local gem
  • Family

AU's shady Summerville campus grew up around a former U.S. Arsenal that ran for more than 125 years. The little 1866 Guard House Museum is the welcome center for a self-guided History Walk that loops the old arsenal grounds. It is the closest history stop to the park.

Tip: A quiet free walk under old oaks that most people drive right past.

1797 Ezekiel Harris House

Harrisburg

  • Family

A 1797 tobacco-merchant's house that somehow survived, and one of the best-preserved 18th-century houses in Georgia. It is small, and it sits on the way between the park and downtown. The Augusta Museum of History runs it.

Tip: Opens only on alternating Saturdays, so call 706-722-8454 to confirm the date before you drive over.

Magnolia Cemetery

Olde Town

  • Local gem
  • Family

A 60-acre garden cemetery laid out in 1818, quiet and shaded and free to walk if you like old-South history and 19th-century ironwork. It reopened in 2025 after the Hurricane Helene cleanup.

Tip: Guests sign in at the front office on the way in. Watch the Augusta Rec & Parks blog for occasional guided history walks.

Golf

Golf, and the Masters.

You're seven minutes from the most famous course on earth. Here's the straight talk on it, plus where you can actually play and practice.

Augusta National Golf Club & The Masters

West Augusta (Washington Rd)

  • Must-do

The most famous golf course on earth sits right up the road, so here's how it really works. It's private, members-only, and there are no public tours, ever. The only way through the gate is during the Masters in April, with a badge or practice-round ticket won through the masters.com lottery. The rest of the year you drive Washington Road and that's as close as you get.

Tip: Don't drive out expecting a tour or a tee time. The lottery window for next year runs the prior June 1-20 at masters.com.

Augusta Municipal Golf Course ('The Patch') + The Loop

West Augusta

  • Must-do
  • Local gem
  • Family

Augusta's city course reopened in April 2026 after a ground-up Tom Fazio renovation. It now has a new 9-hole short course, The Loop, designed by Tiger Woods' firm and named for the caddies who've gathered here for generations. Affordable, walkable, and where regular Augusta plays.

Tip: This is where regular Augusta plays, not the National. Book a tee time, especially on weekends.

Forest Hills Golf Club

West Augusta (near AU)

  • Local gem
  • Family

A 1926 Donald Ross design, restored in 2003 and run by Augusta University. Bobby Jones won here in 1930 on his way to the Grand Slam. It's the closest course with real championship pedigree that a visitor can walk up and play.

Tip: Want to play where the greats played without a Masters badge? This is the one most locals point you to.

Topgolf Augusta

West Augusta (off Washington Rd)

  • Family

Hitting bays cooled in summer and heated in winter, a TV in every bay, a full sports bar, and games that work whether or not you golf. Easy and no skill required, which suits a long travel day. It sits about two miles from Augusta National.

Tip: All game play is half price on Tuesdays, no coupon needed.

Wedges & Woods Driving Range

West Augusta (Wrightsboro Rd)

  • Local gem
  • Family

The closest golf to the park, practically next door on the same road. The range covers 23 acres with covered and grass tees, a short-game area, bunkers, target greens past 200 yards, and Toptracer on ten covered bays. Buckets are cheap.

Tip: Good for loosening up your swing when you don't want a whole round.

Augusta Museum of History — Green Jacket & Golf Gallery

Downtown

  • Local gem
  • Family

Can't get into Augusta National? This is the next best thing, and anyone can walk in. You'll see a real Masters green jacket, one of the very few off club grounds, plus bronze golf legends, vintage equipment, and the 'Men on the Bag' caddie exhibit.

Tip: Open Thu-Sun only. Extra Masters programming rolls out around April.

Music

James Brown and live music.

Augusta claims the Godfather of Soul as its own. The music runs deep here, from a self-guided audio trail to live rooms downtown most nights of the week.

The James Brown Journey (self-guided audio trail)

Downtown (starts at Augusta & Co.)

  • Must-do
  • Local gem
  • Family

Free walking tour you set your own pace through. It ties together more than a dozen real James Brown sites downtown, from his childhood-home site to the Soul Bar. Look for the vinyl record set into the sidewalk at each stop; scan its QR code and you get a short audio clip narrated by his friends and family.

Tip: The bronze statue went into climate-controlled storage in July 2025 while the city builds the new James Brown Linear Park on Broad's 800 block. You can see his exhibit at the museum for now, and the rest of the trail stops are still in place.

'The Spirit of Funk' Mural

Downtown (Broad & 9th)

  • Local gem
  • Family

Free photo stop downtown. It's James Brown in his cape, painted around the lyrics of his greatest hits. Several other James Brown murals sit close by, so you can walk a few in one go.

Soul Bar

Downtown (Broad St)

  • Must-do
  • Local gem

This is where you go to feel Augusta's musical roots instead of just reading about them. The walls are papered with James Brown memorabilia, funk and soul play on the speakers, and there are DJ nights and live local acts. DJ Coco Rubio and his brother have co-owned it since 1995, back before Augusta had a statue or a boulevard. Brown himself used to drop in.

Tip: Order the famous 'Green Disaster.' 21+, closed Sunday.

Miller Theater

Downtown (Broad St)

  • Local gem
  • Family

The classiest room in town. It's a beautifully restored 1940 Art-Moderne theater with acoustics that stand out, home of the Augusta Symphony, and it books touring acts across genres too. The room alone is worth the ticket. People around here are proud of the comeback after decades of the place sitting dark.

Tip: Symphony season runs roughly September through May.

Imperial Theatre

Downtown (Broad St)

  • Local gem
  • Family

A well-kept 1918 vaudeville house that books theater, dance, film, and music. James Brown and his band rehearsed and played here, and he held his annual Christmas Toy Giveaway for local kids on this stage.

Tip: Call ahead and the box office can set up a free walk-through when no show is on. Holiday productions cluster in Nov and Dec.

The Fox's Lair (at the Olde Town Inn)

Olde Town

  • Local gem

A small hideaway under the 122-year-old Olde Town Inn that bills itself 'The Coolest Place You'll Never Find.' Live music runs Tuesday through Saturday, with craft cocktails in a snug below-ground room of exposed brick. First-timers walk right past the door.

Tip: Mondays are comedy; open mic on Thursdays.

Stillwater Taproom

Downtown (Broad St)

  • Local gem

An easygoing Broad Street fixture with rotating craft taps and rocking chairs out front. It's one of downtown's best rooms for bluegrass and Americana. Good for a quiet pint or a weekend show.

Tip: There's no kitchen, so grab food nearby and bring it over.

Joe's Underground

Downtown (8th & Broad)

  • Local gem

A basement bar full of character, '13 steps under Broad & 8th,' with good burgers and cheap drinks. There's live music, comedy, karaoke, and open mics most nights, usually no cover. About as downtown as it gets.

Tip: Most shows are Fri and Sat nights; closed Sunday.

Bell Auditorium

Downtown

  • Family

Right now this is where a lot of the bigger touring names land. It seats about 2,700 and pulls in national music, comedy, and family shows. With the old James Brown Arena demolished and a new arena under construction, the Bell's calendar is busier than usual.

Tip: Check the events page before you head into town.

With the kids

With the kids.

Places to burn off energy, a couple of splash pads, and a riverfront ballgame. We've also flagged the closest indoor options for a hot or rainy afternoon.

Augusta GreenJackets at SRP Park

North Augusta, SC

  • Must-do
  • Local gem
  • Family

A clean, modern ballpark right on the Savannah River, home to the GreenJackets (Single-A Braves affiliate). It's an easy, affordable family night. There's a kids zone, an outfield berm, and the Augusta skyline past the wall. People will tell you it's one of the nicest minor-league parks in the country.

Tip: 2026 home opener is April 14, with 13 fireworks nights all summer. April 17-19 they play as the 'Augusta Azaleas.' Park once in Riverside Village and walk to dinner and the game.

Big Air Augusta

West Augusta

  • Local gem
  • Family

A big indoor trampoline and adventure park. Wall-to-wall trampolines, foam pits, dodgeball and dunk courts, plus an indoor playground. Clean, well-run, and the closest large indoor kid option to the park.

Tip: A good rainy-day energy burner. Grippy socks required; Toddler Time runs Wed/Thu mornings.

Sky Zone Augusta

West Augusta

  • Family

The other solid indoor trampoline option near the park. You get a freestyle jump court, a foam zone, and activities for everyone from toddlers to teens. Dependable air-conditioned escape on a hot or rainy day.

Tip: Sky Zone socks required.

Putt-Putt Fun Center

Martinez

  • Family

The classic all-in-one family stop. Putt-Putt mini golf, go-karts, batting cages, a water-play zone, laser tag, and a full arcade, all in one place. Easy to burn an afternoon with mixed ages.

Regal Augusta Exchange & IMAX

West Augusta

  • Family

The closest big movie theater and our go-to rainy-day pick. It's a 20-screen multiplex with recliner seating and the metro's only true IMAX. It sits right beside the Augusta Mall, so you barely leave the neighborhood.

Tip: Matinees before 4pm are cheaper.

Gateway Park Splash Pad

Grovetown

  • Local gem
  • Family

One of Columbia County's newest parks, with a big free splash pad they call the 'Massive Splash.' There's also a modern playground, an open meadow, and a paved path. An easy free way to cool the kids off on a hot afternoon.

Tip: Columbia County runs three free splash pads (Gateway, Evans Towne Center, Memorial Gardens), so pick whichever is closest. Warm season only.

Evans Towne Center Park

Evans

  • Family

One of the most-used parks in Columbia County. Big playground, a free splash pad, grassy spaces, a paved track, and a dog park. The amphitheater next door hosts family events through the year.

Tip: Check the amphitheater calendar for free outdoor concerts.

Shopping

Shopping and markets.

The mall is three minutes away. Past that you've got local boutiques, record crates, and the Saturday market down on the river.

Augusta Mall

West Augusta (Wrightsboro Rd)

  • Family

Closest shopping to the park, same road, a couple minutes up Wrightsboro. It's the only major enclosed mall in the region, anchored by Macy's, Dillard's, and JCPenney, with a food court. Easy stop for a rainy day or a quick errand.

Tip: Locals just call it 'the mall.' Check current hours, which run shorter than they used to.

The Augusta Market at the River

Downtown (Riverwalk)

  • Must-do
  • Local gem
  • Family

The big weekly downtown market, right at the Riverwalk's 8th Street entrance. Local farmers, bakers, coffee roasters, makers, and live music. It's free to walk through and as much a Saturday-morning social spot as it is shopping.

Tip: Saturdays 8am-2pm, mid-March through late November (2026: Mar 21-Nov 21). Come early for produce and parking.

Surrey Center

Summerville / West Augusta

  • Local gem
  • Family

A walkable cluster of locally owned boutiques, salons, spas, and restaurants. This is where Augusta goes for the dressed-up shopping the mall doesn't carry. Swank and fab'rik are longtime local picks.

Tip: Most shops closed Sunday.

Grantski Records

Downtown (Broad St)

  • Local gem
  • Family

An independent record shop on Broad Street with a deep, varied stack of vinyl and CDs. You can lose an hour in there easily. It doubles as a small live-music spot.

The Book Tavern

Downtown (Broad St)

  • Local gem
  • Family

Locally owned bookstore on Broad Street. New, used, and rare titles, plus a little vinyl and ephemera. Good browse if you want something to read back in the rig.

Tip: Right next to Nacho Mama's.

Tire City Potters

Downtown (off Broad St)

  • Local gem
  • Family

A working downtown pottery studio and gallery. The mugs and bowls on the shelf were thrown on-site by their own potters and apprentices, so you get a real local-made gift instead of something mass-produced. It's housed in a former tire-company building.

Trends & Traditions Antique Mall

West Augusta (National Hills)

  • Family

A large multi-dealer antique mall on Washington Road, close to the park. 15,000+ sq ft of furniture, art, glassware, and vintage finds, and the spread changes. Good for a long, low-pressure browse.

Mullins Crossing

Evans

  • Family

For stocking up instead of browsing. It's an open-air center in Evans with Target, Old Navy, Ulta, Ross, and Marshalls, plenty of easy parking, and Panera and Red Robin if you want a quick bite. This is your practical stop for camping and travel supplies.

Costco

~5 min

Augusta Exchange, West Augusta

  • Family

There is a Costco about five minutes from the park on Cabela Drive, over by the mall. Membership required, but if you carry a card it is the easy bulk restock for a long stay, and the gas station out front is usually the cheapest fuel in town. Worth knowing about if you are filling a big tank.

Tip: Gas hours run shorter than the warehouse; the pumps close around 7:30pm on Sundays.

Arts & oddities

Arts, theater, and the odd stuff.

Augusta's creative side runs from free galleries inside 200-year-old mansions to a working sideshow museum and an old drive-in.

Pexcho's American Dime Museum

Downtown

  • Must-do
  • Local gem

One of the last real dime museums, a cabinet of curiosities packed into one room and run by a working sideshow performer named Pexcho. He stays in character for the whole tour, walking you through strange artifacts and sideshow history, then swallows a sword in front of you to close it out. There is nothing else like it.

Tip: Tour by appointment only, so call ahead to book (706-925-6526). That is the whole charm.

Augusta Sculpture Trail

Downtown

  • Local gem
  • Family

Eighteen large sculptures by nationally known artists line the downtown sidewalks from the Augusta Common toward the river. The trail is free and self-guided, and a free Otocast phone tour narrates each piece as you go.

Tip: This set is up through December 2026.

Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art

Downtown (Telfair St)

  • Local gem
  • Family

This contemporary gallery and teaching studio sits inside 'Ware's Folly,' an 1818 Federal-style mansion and one of the prettiest old houses in town. Exhibits rotate through regional and national artists, and it is free to walk through. You will often have the place to yourself.

Tip: Free Mon-Fri 10-5, closed weekends.

Le Chat Noir

Downtown (8th & Ellis)

  • Local gem
  • Family

A small black-box theater and lounge just off Broad, about 100 seats, with a full bar and a dim French-cabaret look. The bill runs to plays, musicals, improv, concerts, and indie film, and Augusta's improv troupe Schrödinger's Cat is in residence.

Tip: Last Wednesday of the month brings 'Cat Scratch Art Nights,' a live-model figure-drawing session.

Mastermind Escape Games

West Augusta (Washington Rd)

  • Family

Several themed 60-minute escape rooms with friendly staff who give good hints. You can pick a heist, an outbreak, Dracula, or a cabin in the woods. It is an easy rainy-day option close to the park.

Tip: Book ahead online (706-504-9706).

The Big Mo (Monetta Drive-In)

Monetta, SC

  • Local gem
  • Family

A real drive-in, one of the last still running in South Carolina, now with three screens and a double feature on each. It is cheap and nostalgic, and a good warm-evening outing whether you watch from your own rig or set up lawn chairs.

Tip: Cash only at the gate. Gates open at 7, first feature at dusk. Open March-November, Fri-Sun. Bring bug spray and blankets.

Day trips

Day trips worth the drive.

If the rig is parked for a few days, a couple of these are worth the extra miles.

Hammond's Ferry / Riverside Village

North Augusta, SC

  • Local gem
  • Family

Park once on the South Carolina bank and spend the whole evening on foot. You get SRP Park, several restaurants and bars, a rooftop bar, and the riverside Greeneway. It also has the best straight-on views of the Augusta skyline across the water.

Tip: Garages fill fast on GreenJackets game nights, so arrive early. Dinner at a riverside restaurant and a sunset walk go well together.

Downtown Aiken Historic District & The Alley

Aiken, SC

  • Family

Downtown Aiken keeps its wide tree-lined parkways, fountains, and boutiques in good shape. The Alley is a pedestrian lane of restaurants and bars built around a 48-tap self-serve taproom. Some streets stay unpaved on purpose to protect horses' hooves, and the Horse District sits just southwest.

Tip: In summer the Market in The Alley runs Thursday evenings with live music and farmers.

Hopelands Gardens & Hitchcock Woods

Aiken, SC

  • Local gem
  • Family

Hopelands is a free 14-acre former Winter Colony estate garden, with serpentine brick paths, reflecting ponds, and centuries-old live oaks under Spanish moss. It's the classic genteel-Aiken stroll. Hitchcock Woods is next door, one of the largest urban forests in the country, with 70+ miles of free sandy trails inside the city limits.

Tip: Free concerts run Monday evenings at Hopelands April-June. Bring lawn chairs, and leave the alcohol at home.

Good to know

A few practical things.

Parking, weather, where to restock the rig, and the festival weeks worth planning around or steering clear of.

  • You're in the easy part of town. The Augusta Mall is 3 minutes up Wrightsboro Rd, two full grocery stores (Kroger and Publix) sit about 7 minutes east on Washington Rd, and downtown is a flat 12-13 minute drive.
  • Make your barbecue night a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. Sconyers, the Augusta barbecue landmark, is closed Sunday through Wednesday.
  • A lot of Augusta's best old-line spots are lunch-only and closed Sundays (Hildebrandt's, Fat Man's Mill Cafe, and Luigi's is mostly evenings). Check the day before you go.
  • In July and August, do your outdoor things early. The afternoon heat gets bad enough to cancel the canal boat tours, so book a morning slot.
  • Downtown parking is cheap and easy. Use the Reynolds Street deck or the Museum of History garage (~$1/hr, $5/day) instead of hunting for a street spot. Broad Street construction has shifted some on-street parking.
  • The Augusta Museum of History is open Thursday through Sunday only. Don't drive down on a Monday expecting it.
  • The bronze James Brown statue is in storage through the Linear Park construction. See his full exhibit at the Augusta Museum of History instead. The rest of the James Brown Journey trail stops are still in place.
  • Two festival weekends snarl downtown traffic and book up lodging: Arts in the Heart (September) and IRONMAN 70.3 (Sept 27, 2026). If you just want to sightsee, pick a different day that weekend.
  • Spring and fall are the best seasons for the Riverwalk, canal, and patios. Winters are mild and snow is very rare.

Closest Groceries — Kroger & Publix

West Augusta (Washington Rd)

  • Family

The two nearest big stores for restocking, both on Washington Rd near National Hills in the same cluster, so you can price-check both in one stop. Kroger keeps long hours, 6am to 11pm, and has fuel. Publix is the one people go to for made-to-order subs.

Tip: Pick up a Publix deli sub while you restock.

Downtown Parking & Timing

Downtown

  • Family

Once you park, downtown is small and easy to walk. Parking is cheap and there is plenty of it. The Reynolds Street deck near the Riverwalk and the Museum of History garage both run about $1/hour or $5/day.

Tip: Use the decks instead of circling for a street spot. Broad Street construction has shifted some on-street parking around. A weekday or Saturday morning is easiest.

Augusta Weather by Season

CSRA region

  • Family

Plan around the season. Summers (Jun-Aug) are hot and humid, highs in the low 90s, so do your outdoor things early and save the afternoon for shade or AC. Spring and fall are the best stretch, 70s to low 80s, perfect for the Riverwalk and canal. Winters stay mild and it almost never snows.

Tip: In July and August, locals get their walking, market runs, and canal-boat trips done before noon. Afternoon heat can cancel the canal tours outright.

Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival

Downtown (Augusta Common)

  • Local gem
  • Family

This is Augusta's big street festival. You get several stages of music and dance, about 170 fine-art and craft booths, a global food village with cooking from a couple dozen cultures, and a large kids' area. It runs a three-day weekend in September.

Tip: The weekend pass (around $15-20) covers all three days, and kids 10 and under get in free. The food-village 'global passport' is the local move. Check the 2026 date before you plan around it.

IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta

Downtown & south Augusta

  • Family

One of the bigger IRONMAN 70.3 races in the country. Thousands swim the Savannah, bike the countryside, and run a loop downtown. It is fun to watch at the finish, but the real reason it is on this list is that it closes a lot of roads.

Tip: 2026 falls on Sunday, Sept 27. Arriving or leaving that weekend, leave yourself extra time for detours.

Lights of the South

Grovetown

  • Local gem
  • Family

A holiday light attraction that has been running a long time. Millions of lights spread over 100-plus acres, plus hayrides, a Christmas Tree Maze, marshmallow roasting, and Santa. It is the big family holiday outing around here, and an easy run from the park.

Tip: Go a weeknight (Sun-Thu) for much shorter lines than the weekend. Open from around Nov 21 through about Dec 30.

Quick plans

However long you’ve got.

If you only have one evening

  1. 1Drive River Watch Parkway, or head straight to the Riverwalk and park at the Reynolds Street deck (~$5/day)
  2. 2Walk the upper levee for the river view, then drop to the lower path. Cross the lit 5th Street Freedom Bridge into South Carolina and come back
  3. 3Eat one block up on Broad Street: Frog Hollow for a nice night, or Whiskey Bar Kitchen for casual
  4. 4Nightcap with funk on the speakers at the Soul Bar

If you only have one full day

  1. 1Hot breakfast close to the rig at Sunrise Grill on Wrightsboro Rd
  2. 2Take the morning Petersburg boat tour on the Augusta Canal (book the morning slot in summer). Your ticket covers the Discovery Center too
  3. 3Lunch at Hildebrandt's Deli or Fat Man's Mill Cafe
  4. 4Spend the afternoon at the Augusta Museum of History: James Brown, the green jacket, the 1914 locomotive
  5. 5Barbecue dinner at Sconyers (Thu-Sat only), or Wife Saver for fried chicken any other night

If you've got the kids

  1. 1Burn off energy at Big Air Augusta, five minutes away (or Sky Zone)
  2. 2Cool down at the Gateway Park splash pad in Grovetown (warm season)
  3. 3Walk the Phinizy Swamp boardwalks and watch for gators and herons
  4. 4Catch an evening GreenJackets game at SRP Park: kids zone, an outfield berm, and fireworks on select nights

If you've got a rainy afternoon

  1. 1Hit the Augusta Mall, three minutes up Wrightsboro, or grab a recliner and the IMAX at Regal Augusta Exchange next door
  2. 2Or try an escape room at Mastermind Escape Games on Washington Rd
  3. 3Warm up with a freshly-roasted cup at Buona Caffe
  4. 4End with a slab of cake at the Boll Weevil

If you've got a few days and want to roam

  1. 1Day trip to Aiken, SC: stroll Hopelands Gardens and downtown's The Alley, then hike Hitchcock Woods
  2. 2Beach day or a Bartram Trail hike at Clarks Hill Lake
  3. 3Paddle out to the friendly wild donkeys on Stallings Island with Cole Watkins Tours
  4. 4Spend an evening in Hammond's Ferry / Riverside Village: riverside dinner, a Greeneway walk, and a ballgame

Good to know

Quick answers.

What's the closest hot breakfast to the park?
Sunrise Grill, right on Wrightsboro Road (same street as the park), about five minutes away and open from 6am. For a nicer brunch, Another Broken Egg in National Hills is also close.
When is Sconyers Bar-B-Que open?
Thursday through Saturday only, 10am to 9pm. Plan your barbecue night for the back half of the week. It's the Augusta barbecue landmark, pit-cooked over live coals since 1956.
Can I tour Augusta National Golf Club?
No. It's private and members-only, with no public tours. The only way onto the grounds is during the Masters in April, with a badge or practice-round ticket won through the masters.com lottery. Any other week you can only drive past it on Washington Road. To see a real green jacket year-round, visit the Augusta Museum of History.
What days is the Augusta Museum of History open?
Thursday through Sunday only (closed Monday through Wednesday). It holds the largest James Brown collection anywhere, a real Masters green jacket, and a 1914 locomotive the kids can climb aboard.
When is the downtown riverfront market?
The Augusta Market at the River runs Saturdays 8am to 2pm at the Riverwalk's 8th Street entrance, roughly mid-March through late November (the 2026 season is March 21 to November 21).
Where can I actually play golf near the park?
The Patch (Augusta Municipal) reopened in 2026 after a renovation and is the affordable local course. Forest Hills is a 1926 Donald Ross design where Bobby Jones once played. And the Wedges & Woods driving range is practically next door on Wrightsboro Road.

Plan your stay

Stay a while.

Full hookups, level pads, and three minutes off I-20. An easy place to park while you work through this list. Send us your dates and we’ll get back to you the same day with what’s open.

Reserve a siteCall 706-863-3333

New here? See our rates and what’s on offer at the park.

3863 Wrightsboro Rd., Augusta, Georgia 30909