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8 Charming Things to Do in Newnan, Georgia

ByPaige Watts

With a walkable downtown square, great local restaurants, cozy bookstores and coffee shops, and easy access to a beautiful state park, Newnan makes for a perfect small-town getaway just south of Atlanta. Here are my favorite things to do in Newnan, Georgia.

I spent some time exploring Newnan and found so much more to do here than I expected. There are multiple local bookstores, a hidden speakeasy, scenic hiking trails, and a lot of interesting history.

If you’re planning a day trip or a relaxing weekend away from Atlanta, here are the Newnan activities I think are worth adding to your itinerary.

Special thanks to Explore Newnan-Coweta for hosting my trip! As always, all opinions are my own.

Historic Coweta County Courthouse in Newnan, Georgia, a red brick courthouse with tall white columns and a clock tower rising against a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. A Georgia historical marker about Confederate hospitals stands in the foreground, connecting the building to local Civil War history.

Best Things to Do in Newnan

1. Stroll Through Historic Downtown Newnan

Historic brick library building framed by leafy trees, with a rooftop sign reading "NEWNAN CITY OF HOMES" above the entrance. Banners on the front lampposts identify it as the Newnan Carnegie Library in Newnan, Georgia, and the broad street in front emphasizes the full facade.
Historic red brick Coweta County Courthouse in Newnan, Georgia with tall white columns and a clock tower rises against a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. In the foreground, a Georgia historical marker titled "Confederate Hospitals" stands near the front steps, linking the building to the area’s Civil War history.

Historic Downtown Newnan is a classic small-town square that’s picture-perfect (and film-ready: it’s been the backdrop of some of your favorite TV shows and movies). It has a ton of local shops, restaurants, and coffee spots to explore, all within an easily walkable area.

Here are a few stops I recommend making as you wander around downtown.

The centerpiece of the square is the Historic Coweta County Courthouse, a 1904 Classical Revival courthouse with an imposing copper dome. It’s still an active courthouse, but you may be able to step inside to see the courtroom and Grand Jury Room. This is also where the infamous Murder in Coweta County trial took place.

For more history, stop by the Newnan Carnegie Library, one of the first Carnegie libraries in Georgia and Newnan’s first public library. You’ll also want to look for the Alan Jackson Mural, a large mural painted by artist Tim Davis honoring the legacy of the Newnan native and country music singer.

There are plenty of local shops to browse around downtown, too. Newnan Book Company is the main bookstore downtown, while Morally Gray Bookstore specializes in romance and romantasy. For clothing and gifts, look for Blue Moon Clothier, Ellie Mack Boutique, Greenhouse Mercantile, and Bold Soul Originals where you can do an olive oil tasting.

If you’re in need of a coffee break, Foxtail Coffee Co. has responsibly sourced coffee from around the world, while Leaf and Bean serves coffee, baked goods, pastries, tea, cocktails, and wine.

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2. Eat Your Way Around Newnan’s Local Restaurants

Plate with a grilled steak, a pile of French fries, and a bowl of steamed broccoli, with a small cup of ketchup on the side at The Cellar Chophouse in Newnan, Georgia. The char marks on the steak and the simple steakhouse sides make the meal feel hearty and straightforward.
Plate of sliced fried chicken cutlet topped with creamy white gravy, served with collard greens, a biscuit, and two fried mac and cheese bites. The close up view emphasizes the crispy coating and rich comfort food sides on the wooden restaurant table at Lilah Gray in Newnan, Georgia.

Newnan has plenty of local restaurants, from casual lunch spots to cozy cocktail bars and upscale dinners. Here’s where I recommend eating for a delicious meal in Newnan:

  • Lilah Gray — A cozy tapas and cocktail bar with a reasonably priced fine-dining menu that changes often and highlights seasonal and local flavors.
  • The Mad Mexican — A fast-casual Mexican restaurant in Downtown Newnan serving tacos, burritos, quesadillas, bowls, and nachos with a Southern flair.
  • The Cellar Chophouse — An inviting upscale restaurant focused on hormone- and antibiotic-free, humanely raised premium cuts of steak, lamb, pork, and duck, along with fresh seafood.

Check out my full guide to where to eat in Newnan-Coweta County for even more delicious spots.

3. Spend the Day at Chattahoochee Bend State Park

Dirt path opens onto a calm riverbank along the Chattahoochee River bordered by low brush and thin trees, with the water stretching across the middle of the scene. The opposite shore is lined with early spring trees under a cloudy sky, giving the river view a quiet, open feel at Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Newnan, Georgia.
Sunlit paved trail curves gently through tall dry grass and a dense stand of trees, with the low sun glowing through the branches overhead along the Boulder Trail at Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Newnan, Georgia. The winding path and warm light give the wooded scene a calm, late afternoon feel.

Chattahoochee Bend State Park is about 30 minutes from Downtown Newnan, and it’s perfect if you want some quiet outdoor time. The park has hiking trails, river access, picnic areas, cottages, and campsites.

The best way to experience the park’s peace and quiet is to stay overnight at their cottages. I stayed in Cottage 2 during my reading retreat in Coweta County. This 2-bedroom cottage had plenty of space and a screened-in back porch. The porch was my favorite spot for reading, and the beds were comfortable enough for curling up with a good book before falling asleep.

There’s no Wi-Fi at the cottages, and cell service can be spotty in the park, so be prepared to fully unplug while you’re here. Bring a physical book or download your eBook, audiobook, maps, and anything else you need before you arrive.

If you’re looking for an easy walk in the park, I recommend the Boulder Trail. This paved, partially ADA-accessible trail is about 1.3 miles one-way, or 2.6 miles out-and-back. The first section is flat and easy, but it gets much tougher after the accessible portion ends around the 1-mile mark where the path becomes hilly with steep grades.

If you have more time, Chattahoochee Bend has plenty of other trails to explore. The Wild Turkey Trail is a 9.2-mile out-and-back hike if you start from Trailhead 1 at the front of the park, or about 6 miles if you access it from the Visitor Center. There are also trails that run along the river, loop around the front of the park, and take you to an observation tower.

Be sure to head down to the river to see the park’s namesake bend in the Chattahoochee. The recreational day-use area by the river has picnic tables, a playground, and a boat launch for river access.

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4. Plan Your Visit Around the Newnan Art Walk

Outdoor market table covered with small colorful paintings of rabbits, birds, and fish, displayed in frames and on wooden crates beneath a sunlit tree. Parked trucks and a brick building in the background place the cheerful art display in a downtown street market setting for Newnan Art Walk in Newnan, Georgia.

If you’re visiting Newnan in the spring or fall, you may be able to catch the Newnan Art Walk. This twice-yearly festival takes place around the square in Downtown Newnan and celebrates local artists.

During the Art Walk, more than 40 artists set up booths around the square. Local businesses also extend their hours and host storefront exhibits and demonstrations by local artists.

If you’re visiting for the Art Walk, it’s a great time to do your shopping and explore Downtown at the same time. You can take your time browsing the shops, seeing the art, and enjoying Downtown when it’s extra lively.

5. Join a Local Book Club at Newnan Book Co.

Bright independent bookstore interior of Newnan Book Co. in Newnan, Georgia with white shelves labeled "HISTORICAL FICTION", "NONFICTION", and "PENGUIN CLASSICS", opening into a cozy seating area with a pale yellow sofa. A round display table of featured books stands in the foreground on warm wood floors, giving the shop a spacious and inviting feel.

Newnan Book Co. is the main bookstore in Downtown Newnan, and it’s worth visiting even if you don’t have a book club on your schedule. The store stocks all genres, so you can browse everything from mysteries and romance to fantasy, historical fiction, and new releases.

But they’re also well-known for their regular book clubs, which cover a wide range of genres. During my visit, I got to attend a special “silent” book club where we spent most of the time silently reading together. At the end, we had time to talk about what we read and how our books were going.

If you like bookish events, definitely check their calendar before your visit because this is one of the best metro-Atlanta bookstores for book clubs.

6. Sip Cocktails at The Pharmacy Speakeasy

Moody lounge seating area at The Pharmacy Speakeasy in Newnan, Georgia with round white tables, low pink chairs and stools, and a dark paneled wall lit by warm sconces. The bar glows in the background with bottles, wood shelving, and blue neon light, giving the room an intimate cocktail lounge feel.

The Pharmacy Speakeasy is a secret bar in the back of The Mad Mexican. In true speakeasy style, you enter through an unmarked back door in the alley.

This is a very small and cozy space, which makes it perfect for a romantic date night. But that also means that it can fill up quickly. It’s best to make a reservation beforehand by texting the number on their Facebook page.

The bar has small appetizers, prohibition-era cocktails, and even live music some nights.

7. Stop for Ice Cream at Rock Salt Milk Bar

Two scoops of chocolate ice cream sit in a small cup labeled "Rock Salt Milk Bar" on a wooden table in Newnan, Georgia, with a white plastic spoon tucked into the top scoop. The softly blurred cafe interior behind it keeps the focus on the rich ice cream and branded cup.

Rock Salt Milk Bar is a great place to spend a hot day. This ice cream shop and bakery serves homemade ice cream, in-house desserts, hot drinks, and non-dairy treats.

All of their products are made small batch, from scratch, and using fresh, in-season ingredients.

They have the classic ice cream flavors as well as some unique creations like Honey Lavender, Orange Cardamom, and Blackberry Earl Grey. I tried their Mexi Cocoa for a unique spiced twist on a classic chocolate.

8. Take a Short Trip to Moreland for Literary History

Museum exhibit built like a small room display at the Moreland Hometown Heritage Museum in Moreland, Georgia, with framed photos and memorabilia arranged behind shelves and a large glass sign in front reading "Grizzard". The open industrial interior and surrounding displays make it feel like a local history museum focused on a specific person or legacy.
Erskine Caldwell's Little Manse in Moreland, Georgia, a small white wooden house on a grassy lot beneath leafy trees, with a roadside sign identifying it as the Erskine Caldwell birthplace and museum. The simple weathered building and modest front steps emphasize its preserved historic character.

Just 15 minutes from Downtown Newnan is the small town of Moreland with some unexpected literary history.

If you’re a literature nerd like me, then I recommend visiting the Moreland Hometown Heritage Museum where you can learn about two writers with ties to Moreland: Erskine Caldwell and Lewis Grizzard.

Caldwell was born in Moreland and is best known for his novels God’s Little Acre and Tobacco Road. Grizzard spent part of his childhood in Moreland and became known for his humorous Southern writing, including Shoot Low, Boys — They’re Ridin’ Shetland Ponies and If Love Were Oil, I’d Be About a Quart Low.

The museum showcases personal items from Grizzard’s youth, information on both writers’ lives, and antiques connected to the history of Moreland. Across the street, you can also visit Erskine Caldwell’s Little Manse, the 19th-century farmhouse where he was born. Inside, you’ll find art, memorabilia, and press about the novelist.

Newnan Activities Map

Ready to explore all these fun things to do in Newnan, Georgia? Use the map below to find all the locations mentioned in this post.

I hope you have a great time exploring Newnan!

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Where to Stay in Newnan

More South Atlanta Activities

Find more fun things to do in South Atlanta with these posts:

Ready to visit Newnan, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.

  • Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
  • Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Newnan using Booking.com.
  • Start Packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.

Cheers!

Paige

8 Charming Things to Do in Newnan, Georgia

What are your favorite things to do in Newnan, Georgia? Let me know in the comments below!

Paige Watts is a travel expert and author of What's With Atlanta?, a guide to the quirks and charm of the ATL. A life-long traveler, Paige is dedicated to helping you discover the best things to do in the Southern USA and around the world. Her work has been featured in The Culture Trip, Matador, Newsbreak, MSN, NPR, and countless other interviews and podcasts.

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