Athens, Georgia, as a Day Trip from Elberton

Athens’s university and cultural sites make it easy to shape the day around one main interest.

Historic North Campus

UGA was chartered in 1789. Historic North Campus includes Greek Revival buildings dating to the first decade of the 19th century, along with the Chapel, Chapel Bell, Herty Field and Fountain.

The university’s visitor-tour handout identifies visitor parking and campus maps as resources for planning a campus visit. The UGA Visitors Center is at the Four Towers Building, 405 College Station Road.

The Athens tourism board gives its hours as Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and closed Sunday. It also says the center offers free daily university tours and recommends contacting it or checking UGA’s visitor information to arrange one.

Georgia Museum of Art

The Georgia Museum of Art is on UGA’s campus at 90 Carlton Street. Admission is free, and the museum is closed Mondays.

State Botanical Garden of Georgia

The garden’s grounds are open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. Its Visitor Center has different hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and Sunday, 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum

At 2450 South Milledge Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30605, this museum offers free entry. It is open Tuesday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and Sunday, 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; it is closed Mondays. Guided tours are available by request through garden@uga.edu.

Build the day around one primary stop, then add a campus walk or another site if its hours fit.

1. Start with the site that matters most to your visit. For campus history, begin on Historic North Campus; for a museum visit, check the Georgia Museum of Art’s Monday closure or the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum’s schedule.

2. Pair a garden visit with its grounds and Visitor Center, keeping in mind that the Visitor Center’s hours differ from the gardens’ daily opening pattern.

3. If a guided university tour is part of your plan, contact the UGA Visitors Center or check UGA visitor information to arrange it.

Other campus landmarks include Sanford Stadium and UGA’s Special Collections Building. The Athens Welcome Center, at 280 East Dougherty Street, is open Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday, noon–5 p.m. If you are also spending time in Elberton, the Elberton city-centre guide covers local visitor stops.

Downtown Athens street parking is enforced Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. The maximum is two hours from 8 a.m.–6 p.m. and four hours from 6–10 p.m.

Parking is free downtown on Sundays and on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Christmas. The College Avenue and Washington Street parking decks offer the first hour free.

For current statewide traffic conditions and travel alerts related to construction, incidents and weather, Georgia’s official 511 service is available by dialing 511 or visiting 511ga.org.

Confirm opening hours before leaving, since the museums and visitor facilities have different weekly schedules. The Athenaeum is at 287 West Broad Street and admission is free; its hours and closures can vary with UGA’s academic calendar and home football games. For current schedules, check the official site before you go.

For another Athens visit-planning question, the airport-to-Elberton travel guide is relevant when your plans include Athens Ben Epps Airport.

What can you visit in Athens, Georgia?

Options include UGA’s Historic North Campus, the Georgia Museum of Art, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum.

Is admission free at the Georgia Museum of Art?

Yes. Admission is free, and the museum is closed Mondays.

When is the State Botanical Garden open?

The gardens are open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. The Visitor Center has separate hours, varying by day of the week.