Macon (Georgia)

Macon is a city in Georgia's Classic Heartland.

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 does 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

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.

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 (☏ +1 478 803-2505 (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:

See

Do

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 Bacon baseball games. A wood-bat collegiate summer baseball team that plays mid-May to mid-August at Luther Williams Field, which is the second oldest minor league baseball stadium in the United States. (updated Feb 2022)

Cultural activities:

Buy

Shopping centers
  • 🌍 Macon Mall, 3661 Eisenhower Parkway, ☏ +1 478 477-8840. 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, ☏ +1 478 254-2940. 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

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, ☏ +1 478 788-1900. 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, ☏ +1 478-746-3336. A nice small French restaurant close to Ingleside Village - this is probably one of the most under-stated restaurants in Macon. (updated Sep 2016)
  • 🌍 Natalia's, 201 N Macon St, ☏ +1 478-741-1380. 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, ☏ +1 478-254-7707. 11AM-9PM. 32 draught beers. Great Mexican food on the Mercer University campus $. (updated Sep 2016)
  • 🌍 Dovetail, 543 Cherry Street, ☏ +1 478-238-4693, . (updated Aug 2016)

Drink

Downtown
  • 🌍 The Hummingbird Stage and Taproom, 430 Cherry St, ☏ +1 478 741-9130. Friendly bar and stage in downtown Macon. Hosts live music several nights of the week. (updated Sep 2016)
  • 🌍 The Rookery, 543 Cherry St, ☏ +1 478 746-8658. Restaurant by day, bar by night. This is a frequent drinking spot for many of the local college undergraduates. (updated Sep 2016)

Sleep

Cope

Hospitals

Coliseum Medical Center, 350 Hospital Drive, ☏ +1 478 765-7000. Open all hours. 

Consulates

Go next
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


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