Weekend in Thomson, GA: 3 Day Itinerary
Thomson makes for a fun weekend getaway when you want local history, good food, farm experiences, and tons of small-town charm.
I’ve visited Thomson a few times and found a town full of surprises! There are local farms with everything from lavender to Highland Cows, a downtown full of art and history, and plenty of delicious restaurants.
Since Thomson is an easy drive from Atlanta or Augusta, it works especially well for a long weekend. This 3-day itinerary shows you how to fit in the town’s best food, history, farms, and local experiences without rushing around.
A special thanks to Visit Thomson, GA for hosting me for a weekend! As always, all opinions are my own.
Thomson Weekend Itinerary
Friday in Thomson
I drove to Thomson because it’s only about a 2 hour drive from Atlanta and it’s a super easy drive straight down I-20. If you’re coming from Augusta, it’s an even quicker and easier 30 minute drive. So it’s super easy to get here and spend a Friday to Sunday in Thomson.
Since it’s such a quick drive, I had some time to explore on my first day in Thomson.
Check-in at Crawford’s Double O Farm
For my weekend in Thomson, I stayed at Crawford’s Double O Farm. This is a small, family-owned 32-acre farm with adorable Scottish Highland Cows, alpacas, llamas, goats, and Valais Sheep.
They have super cute yurts so you can have a glamping getaway with Highland Cows. Their Cuddly Cow Yurt is a classic Highland Cow theme, while their Dolly’s Disco Yurt is a disco llama theme. Both yurts come with air conditioning (a must in this Georgia heat), a queen-sized bed, a mini fridge, and a fluffy couch and chair inside, with a bathroom tent with a toilet, an outdoor shower stall, and seating around a fire pit outside.
When I stayed here, they had a luxury RV, which is actually where I stayed. But they’ve since moved on to only the yurts. But the experience is still the same — you get to step outside your tent right into a pasture filled with farm animals. They’ll come right up to you and make fast friends.
This is a really unique accommodation that gives you a rustic escape, surrounded by woods and Highland Cows. But really, it’s only 20 minutes from Downtown Thomson, so it’s still super convenient!
Book your stay at Crawford’s Double O Farm here.
Visit White Hills Farm
White Hills Farm is a small boutique lavender and herb farm with a shop that sells one-of-a-kind products. They cultivate 14 varieties of lavender, as well as rosemary, thyme, basil, and calamint.
During lavender season (June-July), you can see the farm awash in beautiful purple blooms and even pick some lavender yourself. The farm shop is open on the weekends where you can buy lavender bath products, teas, essential oils, and more.
When it’s non-growing season, you can still visit the farm for a farm tour, shop the store, take a baking class, make your own spa-grade beauty products, and attend yoga retreats.
I recommend picking up some Lavender Calamint Rooibos Tea and some Culinary Lavender, along with their recipe cards and ideas for using culinary lavender.
See Blind Willie McTell’s Grave
Blind Willie’s grave is located at Jones Grove Baptist Church. It’s easy to find: it’s the big one with a guitar on it just a couple rows back from the church.
Blind Will McTell was a blues musician and composer who was known for playing the 12-string guitar. He was born and raised in this area of Thomson, known as Happy Valley. You’ll learn a lot more about Blind Willie as you explore Thomson.
This isn’t the original headstone for Blind Willie — that’s actually at the McDuffie Museum! Don’t worry, the museum is a stop on the itinerary, so you can see both.
Dinner at Deep South Cheese and Grill
Deep South Cheese and Grill is a hamburger restaurant in nearby Dearing, GA that’s worth the 15 minute drive from Thomson.
The restaurant started when the original French-Canadian owner, Gino, brought the amazing food of fresh homemade cheese curds and poutine to this small Georgia town. When it was time for Gino to move on, locals took over the restaurant and kept the same recipes and classic mom-and-pop feel.
Their menu has smash burgers, poutine, wings, sausage dogs, and sandwiches. If you’ve never had poutine or cheese curds before, now is the perfect time to try it!
We went with the Cheese Lover’s Burger (topped with double American cheese and fresh cheese curds) and the Deep South Burger (their signature with two patties, cheese curds, and a sweet and spicy BBQ sauce). All burgers come with fries, and we upgraded one of our fries to the Classic Poutine (fries topped with cheese curds and brown gravy).
Saturday in Thomson
My second day in Thomson was full of history and local goods!
Breakfast at Camellia City Cafe
Camellia City Cafe is a breakfast and brunch spot that feels like visiting your Southern Grandma’s dining room. You get a homecooked breakfast in a casual, friendly dining room. The sisters who run the cafe will greet you when you walk in and treat you like family.
They have a short and sweet menu, plus the occasional buffet, consisting of a breakfast sandwich, an egg and meat plate, a breakfast casserole, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, waffles, or French toast. I recommend the French Toast.
Take a Downtown Walking Tour
The Downtown Thomson Walking Tour is a self-guided tour that gives you a look at the historic buildings, architecture, and important people who shaped Thomson.
It’s about a 1.35 mile walk that begins and ends at the Thomson Depot. You’ll see important sites like the Thomson Depot, the Historic McDuffie County Courthouse, Thomson Memorial Cemetery, the Tom Watson Birth Cabin, and the Bank of Thomson Building.
You can pick up a brochure of the walking tour at the Visitor Center, or you can get it online here.
Visit the Thomson Memorial Cemetery
The Thomson Memorial Cemetery is a stop on the Downtown Walking Tour, but it’s also worth going into the cemetery and exploring further.
This cemetery was established in 1854, and the earliest marked grave is that of Mary Sutton who died on June 5, 1855.
Thomson Memorial Cemetery was part of the 19th century Rural Cemetery Movement that advocated moving cemeteries away from churchyards and into more park-like settings. Before, urban cemeteries were overcrowded and hazardous to health, especially after many yellow fever epidemics, and the idea was to move cemeteries away from heavily populated areas. Today, Thomson Memorial Cemetery sits on the edge of Downtown.
There are many notable graves to see within the cemetery, like Thomas Edward Watson, the founder of Georgia’s People’s Party; John Lewis King Holtzendorf, the first Mayor of Thomson in 1889; and Clara Elizabeth Stovall, co-author of the book History of McDuffie County, which was responsible for the preservation of much of the county’s history.
You can find a self-guided tour brochure at the audiobox inside the cemetery, or you can find an online version here.
Do the 12 String Strut
There’s plenty of overlap between the Downtown Walking Tour and the 12 String Strut, a public art project made up of more than a dozen 7-foot-tall hand-painted Stella guitar replicas designed by local artists.
The project honors the legacy of Blind Willie McTell, who was famous for his blues music played on a 12-string guitar.
The trail also includes several murals depicting Blind Willie and Thomson history.
Be sure to check out each guitar and mural on the 12 String Strut as you take your Downtown Walking Tour.
You can pick up a brochure of the trail at the Visitor Center, or you can get it online here.
Lunch at Hogie Joe’s Sports Grill
Hogie Joe’s Sports Grill is a sports bar in Downtown Thomson with a menu of burgers, wraps, salads, sandwiches, baskets, and steaks.
They’ve been voted McDuffie’s Best Burger since 2010. I recommend getting the Cheeseburger.
Shop around Downtown
While you’re exploring downtown on the Walking Tour and the 12 String Strut, you’ll pass by a lot of great Downtown Thomson shops.
If you’re in need of a little retail therapy, here are a few of my favorite stores:
- Aunt Tique & Uncle Junk’s — for antiques, curated regularly.
- MariBeth’s Books — for new and used.
- Alleycats This & That — for antiques, retro video games, collectables, thrifted finds, and locally made products.
- The Saturday Market — for antiques and vintage finds.
- Sweet Annie’s — for boutique clothing, gifts, baked goods, and take-home casseroles.
- Mane Vault — for boutique clothing, accessories, and hometown and game day outfits.
Visit the Wrightsboro Church
The Wrightsboro Church and Historic District are McDuffie County’s roots. Wrightsboro was the southernmost point of Quaker migration in North America, settled in 1768.
Colonial Governor James Wright promised the Quakers 12,000 acres of land here, hence the community’s name. They built homes, gristmills, and meetinghouses.
Wrightsboro Church is the focal point of what’s left of the settlement of Whightsboro. It was built in 1810 as a house of worship for all Christian denominations. In 1877, the church was deeded to the Methodist Church because they asserted that they had used the church most often.
Surrounding the church is an old graveyard where many ancestors of prominent Georgia families are buried, including the Massengale family and the Candler family.
Dinner at Williemacs at Buoy 71
Williemacs at Buoy 71 is a waterfront restaurant and bar at the Raysville Marina on Clarks Hill Lake. You can dine inside or outside, but either way you’ll have a waterfront view of the lake.
Their menu has seafood like shrimp, catfish, salmon, and crabcakes; sandwiches and hotdogs; pizzas; and steaks. We got the Ribeye, which was delicious, and the Popcorn Shrimp, which was a little over-breaded for my tastes; next time, I’ll probably go for the Jumbo Shrimp instead. To drink, I recommend the Mermaid Tail.
Getting to the restaurant was a little weird because Google Maps dropped us off a few streets too early. Go until you see the Raysville Marina sign, which also has Williemacs listed on it.
Sunday in Thomson
For my last day in Thomson, I did a little extra sightseeing and making sure I ate at another delicious restaurant.
Lunch at Fernanda’s Grill & Pizzeria
Fernanda’s Grill & Pizzeria is an Italian restaurant just a few steps away from the McDuffie Museum.
They serve Italian favorites like pizza, pasta plates, hot and cold subs, calzones, and strombolis. I recommend the Baked Spaghetti.
Visit the McDuffie Museum
The McDuffie Museum is a free history museum in Downtown Thomson that tells you all about Thomson and McDuffie County. It’s the perfect place for an introduction to Thomson!
The museum has exhibits on the county’s Native American tribes, its Quaker colony of Wrightsboro, its famous musicians and artists, Thomson’s railroad history, Blind Willie McTell’s rise to fame, and so much more.
Where to Stay for a Weekend in Thomson
Crawford’s Double O Farm
For my weekend in Thomson, I stayed at Crawford’s Double O Farm.
This family-owned Highland Cow farm has glamping yurts you can stay in that are right in the middle of the cow pastures. You get to wake up, walk outside, and be greeted by fluffy Highland Cows. It’s the cutest thing ever!
The yurts small and cozy, but they can be sweltering in the summer heat, so you’ll definitely want to go out exploring in Thomson during the day. There’s a queen-sized bed, a mini fridge and coffee station, extra seating, and an outdoor fire pit with plenty of seating. Your bathroom and shower are also outside in their own little tent and stall.
It’s nice and secluded in the country, and a good mix of rustic and luxury, but it’s still only about 20 minutes away from Downtown Thomson, so you’re not far from all the action.
Book your stay at Crawford’s Double O Farm here.
Thomson Weekend Itinerary Map
Ready for your weekend getaway in Thomson, Georgia? Use the map below to plan out your trip!
I hope you found this Thomson weekend itinerary helpful and that you have an amazing time exploring this cute small town!
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Where to Stay in Thomson, GA
Find the perfect place to rest your head in Thomson, Georgia.
- Where I Stayed: Highland Cow Farm Glamping or A-Frame Lake Cabin
- Top Hotel: Hampton Inn Thomson
- Great Value: Quality Inn Thomson
- Unique Stay: Highland Cow Farm Glamping — Fuzzy Cow Yurt or Disco Llama Yurt
More Georgia Itineraries
Looking for more weekend getaways in Georgia? Check out these fantastic destinations:
- 12 Unique Things to Do in Thomson
- 5 Can’t-Miss Restaurants in Thomson
- 2 Days in Atlanta: The Perfect Weekend Itinerary
- Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Girls’ Weekend in Savannah
- 3 Days in Helen, GA: Weekend Itinerary for First-Timers
- A Weekend Getaway Guide to Dahlonega
- Top North Georgia Wineries for a Weekend Getaway
- A Weekend Getaway Guide to Ellijay
- Fort Mountain State Park Cottages: Cabin Weekend Review
- A Weekend in Macon: 2 Day Itinerary
- A Romantic Mystery Weekend in Dahlonega
- A Weekend in Atlanta with the Atlanta CityPASS: Itinerary
- 10 Charming Small Towns in Georgia You Need to Visit
Ready to visit Thomson, 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 Thomson using Booking.com.
- Start Packing: Check out my packing list resources so you’re prepared for your trip.
Cheers!
Paige
When are you planning a weekend in Thomson, Georgia? Let me know in the comments!
