Drive 283.9 miles • 5 hours, 39 minutes

Steeped in Civil War history, Central Georgia entices history buffs to walk the battlefields, museums and monuments that tell the story of the War between the States. Visitors also will discover several modern attractions.

1. Columbus

Starting Point • History, Outdoor Recreation

Columbus is Georgia’s second-largest city and home to Port Columbus National Civil War Naval Museum, the last port of call for historic Civil War-era vessels. The CSS Jackson, the largest of the surviving Confederate warships, is housed at this 40,000-square-foot museum, along with wreckage from the CSS Chattahoochee, a gunboat that menaced the river it was named after before it suffered a grievous boiler explosion. While in town, ride the rapids of the Chattahoochee River.

RECOMMENDED STOPOVERS

Lake Pines RV Park & Campground – Columbus, GA – (706) 561-9675

2. Macon

101 miles, 2 hours, 16 minutes • Entertainment, History

Largely untouched by Civil War cannon fire, Macon is home to scores of antebellum mansions recognized as historic structures by the National Register of Historic Places.  A shell did manage to hit Cannonball House, so named because its front columns were damaged by an artillery assault launched from nearby Fort Hawkins.  Macon also celebrates its role as the home of rock and soul artists like Otis Redding, whose Macon roots and rise as a music icon are memorialized in a life-size bronze statue.

3. Savannah

166 miles, 2 hours, 52 minutes • Food, History, Nature, Shopping

Savannah, renowned for its gardens and antebellum architecture, is the oldest city in Georgia. Established in 1733, it’s the site of one of the largest National Historic Landmark districts in the United States. During the Civil War, Savannah’s beauty so enchanted General William Tecumseh Sherman that the gruff commander ordered his troops to spare the charming city. Overflowing with stunning architecture, nearly two-dozen historic squares and lush gardens, Savannah continues to cast its spell on visitors. Dine at a fine restaurant or duck into an upscale boutique.

RECOMMENDED STOPOVERS

Savannah Oaks RV Resort – Savannah, GA – (800) 851-0717

4. Tybee Island

16.9 miles, 30 minutes • History, Nature, Outdoor Recreation

A glittering necklace of Atlantic Ocean draped around lush sand dunes is an apt description of Tybee Island. Located 20 minutes east from Savannah, this barrier island not only offers visitors lazy days in the sun, but also a south-end pier and pavilion. Savor quiet gazes at the ocean or cast a line into the Atlantic from the shore. The island also is home to Fort Pulaski, a garrison defended by Confederate soldiers who fought off Union attackers until the rebels surrendered in 1862.