Macon (Georgia)

Macon is a city in Georgia's Classic Heartland.

Downtown Macon seen from the Ocmulgee National Monument.

Understand

Macon is the center of a metropolitan area that contains around 400,000 people and encompasses the nearby city of Warner Robins. The downtown area of Macon has antebellum homes, cathedrals, and other historic buildings that were built in the past by Macon's elite, including the Woodruff House, the Hay House, and the Cannonball House.

Macon is one of several cities to hold a cherry blossom celebration in springtime, although Macon stands out because it has a particularly large number of trees throughout the city. With over 275,000 Yoshino cherry trees, Macon calls itself the "Cherry Blossom Capital of the World."

Get in

By car

From the north: Drive south on I-75. To reach the main downtown area of Macon, take exit 164, turn left at the end of the exit ramp, then drive along Forsyth St. a short distance into the main downtown area.

From the south: Drive north on I-75. To reach the main downtown area of Macon, take exit exit 164, turn right at the end of the exit ramp, then drive along Forsyth St. a short distance into the main downtown area.

From the east: Drive west on I-16. To reach the main downtown area of Macon, take exit 1B, turn right at the end of the exit ramp, then drive along the 2nd St. bridge over the Ocmulgee River into the main downtown area.

From the west: There are no interstates that travel directly into Macon from the west. However, there are many state highways that you can use. The best route will depend on where you're traveling from; consult a road atlas.

By bus

Greyhound, America's largest bus carrier, can connect you to many other major cities in the southern United States region. It doed not offer service to the smaller cities and towns near Macon, including Warner Robins. 🌍 Macon Greyhound station is on 65 Spring St, northwest of downtown.

By train

There are no commuter trains that travel directly to Macon. However, Atlanta's Amtrak station offers bus service to Macon.

By plane

Silver Airways makes daily trips between Macon's Middle Georgia Regional Airport (1000 Terminal Dr., ☎ [phone], MCN  ^IATA), Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL ^IATA), and Orlando's Orlando International Airport (MCO ^IATA). The Middle Georgia Regional Airport has several car rental service stations; see below in the "Get around" section for more information.

Many visitors choose to fly into Atlanta's much larger Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 80 miles north and then drive or take shuttle service from Atlanta to Macon. The most popular shuttle service is Groome Transportation, 4540 Sheraton Dr, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. $36 one-way or $72 roundtrip. 

Get around

By foot

The downtown area is reasonably compact, and most travelers can probably explore this area on foot. However, traveling to other sites outside the downtown area will require an automobile.

By bus

The Macon Transit Authority (☎ [phone], M-Sa 5AM-10PM) operates a bus service throughout the city. The routes map will show you which bus route to take, and the bus schedule will explain when to arrive at the bus stop. In general, a bus arrives at each stop every 30-40 minutes. You must pay the bus fare when you board the bus; the regular fare is $1.25. If you will be transferring to a second bus route in order to reach your final destination, notify the bus driver when you pay your $1.25 fare; each transfer costs $0.50. When the bus is within one or two blocks of your destination, pull the yellow cord inside the bus to signal to the driver that you want to stop.

By car

Touring Macon by car is perhaps the best way to see the city, especially if you plan to visit sites far from the main downtown area, such as the Ocmulgee Indian Mounds or the Museum of Arts and Sciences.

There are several car rental services in Macon:

• Alamo Rent a Car, 1000 Terminal Ave, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. M-F 8AM-10PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 10AM-10PM. 
• Avis Rent a Car, 1000 Terminal Dr, ☎ [phone]. M-F 8AM-10PM, Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 10:30AM-10PM. 
• Budget Rent-A-Car, 1000 Terminal Dr, ☎ [phone]. M-F 8AM-10PM, Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 10:30AM-10PM. 
• Economy Rent-A-Car, 2145 Riverside Dr, ☎ [phone]. 
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 2840 Pio Nono Ave, ☎ [phone]. =M-F 7:30AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-noon. 
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 2135 Riverside Dr, ☎ [phone]. M-F 7:30AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-noon. 
• Hertz Rent a Car, 2178 Flightline Avenue, ☎ [phone]. M Tu F 8AM-9PM, W 8AM-7PM, Th 8AM-10:30PM, Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 10AM-9PM. 
• Hertz Rent a Car, 1000 Terminal Dr, ☎ [phone]. M Tu F 8AM-9PM, W 8AM-7PM, Th 8AM-10:30PM, Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 10AM-9PM. 

See

• Heritage Trail along the Ocmulgee River. There is a statue there commemorating Otis Redding who was born and raised in Macon. 
• 🌍 Ocmulgee National Monument, 1207 Emery Highway, ☎ [phone]. Daily 9AM-5PM, closed Dec 25 and Jan 1. Free. 
• 🌍 The Hay House, 934 Georgia Ave, ☎ [phone]. M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1PM-4PM. Adults $11, seniors (ages 65+) $10, students (ages 6-college with ID) $7, under age 6 free. (updated Sep 2016)
• Rose Hill Cemetery. Historic cemetery, final resting place of Allman Brothers Band members Duane Allman and Berry Oakley 
• Vineville Avenue. Dozens of historic houses and churches. 
• 🌍 Museum of Arts and Sciences, 4182 Forsyth Road, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM. Adults $10, seniors (62 and over with ID) $8, children (ages 3 to 17) $5, children (under 3) free. (updated Sep 2016)
• Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, 301 Cherry Street, ☎ [phone]. Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM, Monday open for group reservations only. Adults (17 & Over) $8; seniors, college, & military with ID $6; children (16 & under) $3.50. 
• 🌍 Tubman African-American Museum, 310 Cherry Street, ☎ [phone]. Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM. Adults $10, children/teens (age 3-17) $6. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Allman Brothers Band Museum (The Big House), 2321 Vineville Ave, ☎ [phone]. Th-Su 11AM-6PM. Adult (ages 10-64) $10, senior (ages 65+) $8, child (ages 3-10) $4. (updated Sep 2016)

Do

The Grand Opera House in downtown Macon.

There are special events that are held at specific times:

• Cherry Blossom Festival. Every year from late March to mid-April, mostly in the downtown area and Central City Park but some events are held in other areas of the city. Parades, carnivals, crafts market, local art exhibitions, concerts, and other special events. 
• Georgia State Fair. Every year in late September in Central City Park. 
• First Friday. The first Friday night of every month in the downtown area. Festival-like atmosphere with music and streetside shops. Downtown bars sell beer at cheap prices.
• Macon Music baseball games. Mid-May to mid-August in Central City Park at Luther Williams Field, which is the second oldest minor league baseball stadium in the United States. Macon Music team has now folded, but check for any new team that may decide to call Macon home. 

Cultural activities:

• 🌍 The Grand Opera House, 651 Mulberry St, ☎ [phone]. See a show in this historic venue. $20+. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Douglass Theatre, 355 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Cox Capitol Theatre, 382 Second Street, ☎ [phone]. (updated Sep 2016)

Buy

Shopping centers

• Macon Mall, 3661 Eisenhower Parkway, ☎ [phone]. M-Sa 10AM-9PM, Su noon-6PM, hours extended for Christmas season. Large indoor mall. Has become increasingly less popular due to crime, violence, gang-related activity, and the opening of the Shoppes at River Crossing. Still a good place to shop, however. 
• Shoppes at River Crossing, 5080 Riverside Dr, ☎ [phone]. M-Sa 10AM-9PM, Su noon-6PM, differs for holidays. Open-air shopping center, includes Belk's, Dillard's, a large Barnes & Noble, and other stores. 
• Eisenhower Crossing, Presidential Parkway. Open-air shopping center with many well-known businesses in a concentrated area. Includes Target, Best Buy, Old Navy, Office Depot, Ross, GNC, Dick's Sporting Goods, Home Depot, and various others. 

Other noteworthy places to shop

• Academy Sports & Outdoors, 1689 Eisenhower Pkwy, ☎ [phone]. M-Sa 9AM-9PM, Su 10AM-7PM. Sells outdoors products. Similar to Bass Pro Shops but cheaper and less decorative. 
• Bass Pro Shops, 5000 Bass Pro Blvd, ☎ [phone]. M-Sa 9AM-8PM, Su 10AM-7PM. Sells outdoors products for fishing, hunting, etc. Somewhat expensive. 

Eat

• Nu-Way Weiners. Nationally recognized as making one of the best hot dogs in the United States, second longest continually-operating hot dog stand in the U.S. (since 1916). 
• 🌍 Fincher's BBQ, 3947 Houston Ave, ☎ [phone]. Old style drive-in BBQ that actually went on a NASA shuttle mission. In Macon since 1935, this is a must-try. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 The Back Burner Restaurant, 2242 Ingleside Ave, ☎ [phone]. A nice small French restaurant close to Ingleside Village - this is probably one of the most under-stated restaurants in Macon. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Tic Toc Room, 408 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, ☎ [phone]. Upscale dining and bar in downtown Macon 
• 🌍 Natalia's, 201 N Macon St, ☎ [phone]. Probably the most expensive restaurant in the city; do not be fooled by the shabby exterior of the restaurant - the food makes up for what the location lacks. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Margaritas at Mercer Village (Margaritas Mexican Grill), 1602 Montpelier Ave. #106, ☎ [phone]. 11AM-9PM. 32 draught beers. Great Mexican food on the Mercer University campus $. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Dovetail, 543 Cherry Street, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. (updated Aug 2016)

Drink

Downtown

• 🌍 The Hummingbird Stage and Taproom, 430 Cherry St, ☎ [phone]. Friendly bar and stage in downtown Macon. Hosts live music several nights of the week. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 The Rookery, 543 Cherry St, ☎ [phone]. Restaurant by day, bar by night. This is a frequent drinking spot for many of the local college undergraduates. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Tic Toc Room, 408 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, ☎ [phone]. Upscale dining and bar in downtown Macon. 
• 🌍 ENVY Nightclub, 420 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, ☎ [phone]. 

Sleep

• 🌍 1842 Inn, 353 College St, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Hilton Garden Inn Macon/Mercer University, 1220 Stadium Dr (Next to Mercer Univ), ☎ [phone]. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Macon Marriott City Center, 240 Coliseum Dr, ☎ [phone]. (updated Sep 2016)
• Riverview Hotel, 205 Broadway, ☎ [phone]. 
• Numerous chain hotels at Arkwright Rd Exit off I-75, and Eisenhower Pkwy Exit off I-475.
• 🌍 Residence Inn Macon, 3900 Sheraton Dr, ☎ [phone]. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Wingate by Wyndham Macon, 100 Northcrest Blvd, ☎ [phone]. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Homewood Suites by Hilton, 1514 Bass Road (Exit 172 on I-75), ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. Homewood Suites by Hilton Macon North provides spacious family accommodations for the weekend traveler with complimentary full hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and free movie rental. A dinner reception is provided for our guests staying Monday - Thursday evenings. $109-159. (updated Sep 2016)

Cope

Hospitals

• Medical Center of Central Georgia, 777 Hemlock St, ☎ [phone]. 

Coliseum Medical Center, 350 Hospital Drive, ☎ [phone]. Open all hours. 

Consulates

• Denmark (Honorary), 130 N Crest Blvd Ste B, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 

Go next

• Savannah -- 166 mi E.
• Warner Robins -- 18 mi S. Home to Robins Air Force Base and the Museum of Aviation. Free Admission.
• Milledgeville -- 31 mi NE. Georgia's state capital until 1868.
• Fort Valley/Byron -- 26 mi S. Pick your own peaches at one of Peach County's numerous peach orchards.
• Lake Tobesofkee -- 10 mi W. Macon's closest outdoor recreation area.
• Perry -- 29 mi S. Home to the Georgia National Fair each October.
• Andersonville -- app. 30 mi S. Historic Civil War prison.

Routes through Macon

Atlanta ← Hapeville ←	N  S	→ Warner Robins → Valdosta
Asheville ← Atlanta ←	N  S	→ Waycross → Jacksonville
Atlanta ← Griffin ←	N  S	→ Warner Robins → Lake City
Columbus ← Roberta ←	W  E	→ Savannah → Tybee Island
Knoxville ← Athens ←	N  S	→ Warner Robins → Chiefland