Fun 2 Days in Macon, Georgia Weekend Itinerary
Music history, vibrant art, cherry blossoms, and beautiful architecture are what you’ll find in Macon, GA! Located just a short drive from Atlanta, Macon is a fun destination for weekend travelers. Check out my itinerary for how to spend a fun 2 days in Macon, Georgia.
I didn’t know what to expect when I visited Macon for a fall weekend getaway, but what I found was a city full of vibrant art galleries, diverse history, and delicious restaurants.
If you’re looking for an easy weekend getaway from Atlanta, then you’ll love my 2-day Macon itinerary for helping you plan your own trip.
A special thanks to Visit Macon for hosting me for the weekend! As always, all opinions are my own.
2 Days in Macon Itinerary
Macon it’s only about a 1.5 hour drive from Atlanta, and it’s a super easy and straight drive down I-75.
If you plan on flying to Macon, the closest airport is Middle Georgia Regional Airport, which has small flights connecting to Washington DC. I love Contour Airlines for their cheap and uncrowded flights (I use them every time I go to Happy Valley, PA), so they’re my choice for flying into Macon. I would recommend renting a car for the weekend, then.
Day 1 in Macon
I arrived in Macon in the afternoon after a quick and easy drive. That meant that I had plenty of time to explore Macon on my first day in town.
Visit the Macon Visitor Center
I started off my visit at the Downtown Visitor Center, which has fun exhibits and a super informative timeline. It’s the perfect place to start learning about Macon!
There’s also a five-minute video that will give you a proper introduction to the city. And then you can do some souvenir shopping in the gift shop.
Check-in at the Hilton Garden Inn Macon/Mercer University
For my weekend in Macon, I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Macon/Mercer University.
This is your typical Hilton Garden Inn experience. My room had a king bed, a cozy armchair, a desk, and a mini fridge and microwave.
The best part is that this hotel has free parking, free Wi-Fi, and is just a few minutes drive from Downtown Macon, so it’s super convenient to all of Macon’s best attractions.
Book your stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Macon/Mercer University here.
Discover the Tubman African American Museum
The Tubman African American Museum displays exhibits on African American art, history, and culture.
Some people may be confused by the name; it is not a museum of Harriet Tubman but rather named in her honor.
The museum has a focus on Macon’s rich African American history, local artists, and Macon’s music history. This is the largest museum in the Southeast dedicated to displaying African American art, history, and culture.
Dinner at The Rookery
The Rookery in Downtown Macon was voted Best Burger in town and featured in Garden and Gun’s “Guide to the South’s Best Burgers 2014″. Their menu also includes milkshakes, hand-cut fries, and extensive list of craft beers.
This was my favorite place to eat in Macon. Now whenever Kevin and I drive through Macon, we stop here for lunch or dinner.
I recommend the classic Rookery Burger, the unique Jimmy Carter Burger, or the Walden Greenback Burger.
Take a Rock Candy Tour
Rock Candy Tours offers guided tours, both public and private, that focus on the history of Macon.
You can take a music history tour, an African American heritage tour, a brewery tour, or a macabre tour to learn more about different aspects of Macon’s history.
I took their Macon Macabre Walking Tour, which happens each Friday and Saturday during the month of October. This 1.5 hour walking tour through Downtown Macon tells the history of the city through its darkest stories of murder and mayhem. The tour explores the downtown Macon commercial and nightlife district.
It’s not necessarily a ghost tour; there are some haunted sites, but mostly the stories are about murder, crime, and Macon’s darker history without any ghost stories. They don’t recommend this tour for children due to its gruesome nature.
And thanks to Macon’s open container ordinance, on Friday nights you can carry alcohol in approved cups from one of downtown’s restaurants or clubs during the tour!
Day 2 in Macon
On my second day in Macon, I spent a lot of time exploring the city’s architecture and it’s historic homes.
Breakfast at H&H Soul Food Restaurant
Founders of H&H Restaurant, Inez Hill and Louise Hudson, were close friends with The Allman Brothers Band. This iconic restaurant serves up delicious Southern soul food for breakfast and lunch.
I recommend starting your day with Kirk’s Mystic Gravy Biscuits.
Visit the Allman Brothers Band Museum at The Big House
The Allman Brothers Band and their families lived in this house on Vineville Avenue from 1970 to 1973.
In 2009, the house was turned into The Allman Brothers Band Museum at The Big House, displaying the largest collection of The Allman Brothers Band memorabilia in the world.
Along with instruments, clothing, tour posters, and art, the museum has also recreated Duane Allman and Brittany Oakley’s bedrooms.
Tour the Cannonball House
The historic 1853 Cannonball House is named for the cannonball damage it sustained during the Civil War.
A tour of the home offers a great glimpse into antebellum life and the Reconstruction Era in Macon.
The home also houses the founders’ furniture for the two oldest sororities in the world, Adelphean (Alpha Delta Pi) and Philomathean (Phi Mu), recreated from nearby Wesleyan College where the sororities were created.
Lunch at Ocmulgee Brewpub
Ocmulgee Brewpub makes their own craft beer that pairs perfectly with their gourmet burgers and huge helping of hand-cut fries.
I recommend getting the Clucker Club.
Visit the Johnston–Felton–Hay House
The Johnston–Felton–Hay House, commonly just called the Hay House, is a stunning 7-story Italian Renaissance Revival home with more than 16,000 square feet and 24 rooms.
Since the home has had three different families living in it (first the Johnstons, then the Feltons, and finally the Hays), the rooms have changed functions over the years. You’ll get a glimpse of the style of each family based on what era each room is styled after.
This is such a beautiful home, and it gives a great look at Macon throughout the years. I love how they picked different rooms to represent the different families and time periods. It’s such a unique way to show the fashions of the times.
You can also get a tour that climbs to the top of the house to the cupola for great views of Macon.
Attend the Spirits in October Event
Spirits in October is an annual event at the Historic Riverside Cemetery that shares the stories of some of Macon’s fascinating former residents that helped shaped its history.
For two weekends in late-October/early-November, you can take a stroll through the cemetery, listening to the stories of Macon’s most influential residents. Costumed actors bring the characters alive right at their graves.
It’s not a scary ghost tour, but rather a fun and family-friendly way to learn about Macon’s history.
Dinner at Piedmont Brewery & Kitchen
Piedmont Brewery has handcrafted beer, modern smokehouse deliciousness, and a family-friendly arcade downstairs with old-school video games and arcade games.
I recommend getting the Mac & Cheese with Smoked Chicken.
Where to Stay for a Weekend in Macon
For my short 2-day trip to Macon, I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Macon/Mercer University.
This classic and cozy hotel has free parking, free Wi-Fi, and it’s just a few minutes drive from Downtown Macon. It was a comfortable place to rest my head between adventures!
Book your stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Macon/Mercer University here.
Or check out the options below for more places to stay on your visit to Macon.
Where to Stay in Macon
- Where I Stayed: Hilton Garden Inn Macon/Mercer University
- Top Hotel: Homewood Suites by Hilton Macon-North
- Great Value: Best Western Inn & Suites of Macon
- Unique Stay: 1842 Inn
Macon Weekend Itinerary Map
Ready for a weekend getaway in Macon, Georgia? Use the map below to plan out your trip!
I hope you found this Macon weekend itinerary helpful!
More Things to Do in Macon
Find more fun things to do on your trip to Macon, Georgia with these itineraries:
- 12 Fun Things to Do in Macon, GA
- 1 Day in Macon, GA: Your Perfect Itinerary
- High Falls State Park: Tips for Your Perfect Visit
- 5 Delicious Restaurants in Macon, GA
Ready to visit Macon, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.
- Book your flight to Macon: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
- Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Macon using Expedia.
- Start Packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.
Cheers!
Paige
When are you planning a weekend in Macon, Georgia? Let me know in the comments!
The Food Explora in me read right through the other attractions in Macon to get to the food section. ? Looks like they serve alot of fries at the Ocmulee Brewpub. Thanks for sharing your dining experiences and recommendations. They look appealing.
They did have a ton of fries, and they were delicious!
I actually live in Macon and endorse the options you mention here. It is especially a great place to visit in March during our annual Cherry Blossom Festival.
The Cherry Blossom Festival is definitely on my bucket list!