Andersonville National Historic Site, Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Plains and Providence Canyon State Park make a strong southwest Georgia history loop: two of the three are free, and the third costs $10 a car. The catch is distance — the full loop from Atlanta is about 330 miles, so it works better over two days than as one.
All three sit within about 60 miles of each other, about 125 to 150 road miles south of Atlanta. Hours and fees below were checked September 17, 2026 on the National Park Service and Georgia State Parks sites.
| Stop | What it is | Cost | Hours | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andersonville National Historic Site | Civil War prison site, National Prisoner of War Museum, active national cemetery | Free | Grounds 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; museum 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Leashed (6 ft); not on cemetery lawns or in buildings |
| Jimmy Carter National Historical Park | Plains High School museum, 1976 campaign headquarters, Carter boyhood farm | Free | Daily; hours change seasonally — check before you go | Check with the park |
| Providence Canyon State Park | “Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon” — erosion gullies up to 150 ft deep | $10 per vehicle | 7 a.m.–9 p.m. (Apr 15–Sep 14); 7 a.m.–6 p.m. (Sep 15–Apr 14) | Leashed (6 ft) on trails |
How far apart are the stops?
| Leg | Road distance |
|---|---|
| Downtown Atlanta → Andersonville | About 126 miles |
| Andersonville → Plains | About 22 miles |
| Plains → Providence Canyon | About 35 miles |
| Providence Canyon → Downtown Atlanta | About 148 miles |
| Full loop | About 330 miles |
Distances are road miles from OpenStreetMap routing. Budget more time than the miles suggest: the legs between the three stops are largely two-lane rural roads.
What is there to see at Andersonville?
Andersonville has three parts: the National Prisoner of War Museum, the historic Civil War prison site, and Andersonville National Cemetery, which is still active — a funeral may be taking place during your visit (checked September 17, 2026). The museum tells the story of American prisoners of war across all conflicts, not only the Civil War.
- Free — no entrance pass required.
- Museum: 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. daily, closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Some galleries are kept dim and the building is very cold in summer, so bring a layer.
- Grounds: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; the national cemetery opens daily from 8 a.m.
- Dogs: leashed (6 ft maximum) outside the car; allowed on paved surfaces in the cemetery but not on its landscaped or grassy areas; service animals only inside buildings.
- Address: 496 Cemetery Road, Andersonville, GA 31711; phone 229-924-0343.
Want to check the policy at a specific Georgia attraction? See our 303-attraction Georgia dog-policy database.
What is there to see in Plains?
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park is spread across the small town of Plains. The Park Service recommends starting at Plains High School, which Carter attended and which now serves as the park’s visitor center and museum. Other sites include the 1976 campaign headquarters and the boyhood home and farm where Carter grew up (checked September 17, 2026).
- Free — no entrance pass required.
- Grounds and trails are open daily except New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Building hours change by season, so check the Park Service’s hours page before driving down.
- The park’s free NPS App has maps and self-guided activities for the sites around town.
What is Providence Canyon like?
Providence Canyon’s gullies, up to 150 feet deep, formed from poor farming practices in the 1800s; the park itself calls them some of the prettiest photographs in the state. Views from the rim trail need no descent; hikers who go down into the deepest canyons usually find a thin layer of water on the canyon floor (checked September 17, 2026).
- $10 per vehicle per day (Georgia State Parks ParkPass), or $70 for an annual pass.
- Hours: 7 a.m.–9 p.m. from April 15 to September 14, and 7 a.m.–6 p.m. from September 15 to April 14. The visitor center is open 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Stay behind the fences. Canyon edges can collapse, and carving or climbing on the canyon walls is punishable by a fine.
- Dogs are welcome on trails on a 6-foot leash.
- Six backcountry campsites are available for overnight hikers.
How should you plan the route?
- As two days (recommended): Andersonville and Plains on day one, Providence Canyon early the next morning, while the trails are cooler.
- As one long day: start at Andersonville when the grounds open at 8 a.m., reach Plains by lunchtime, and plan for Providence Canyon in the afternoon. Check the canyon’s closing time for the season before you set out.
- Order matters for the free sites: Andersonville’s museum closes at 4:30 p.m., so do it first rather than last.
For more on Georgia’s parks, see every Georgia state park, compared, and for longer drives, our Georgia coast road trip.
FAQ
Is Andersonville National Historic Site free?
Yes. Andersonville National Historic Site does not require an entrance pass. The National Prisoner of War Museum is open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day (checked September 17, 2026).
Is Jimmy Carter National Historical Park free?
Yes. No entrance pass is required. The National Park Service recommends starting at Plains High School, the park’s visitor center and museum. Building hours change seasonally (checked September 17, 2026).
How much does it cost to visit Providence Canyon?
Providence Canyon is a Georgia state park, so the fee is $10 per vehicle per day, or $70 for an annual ParkPass (checked September 17, 2026).
Can you see Andersonville, Plains and Providence Canyon in one day?
It is possible but long: the full loop from Atlanta is about 330 miles, much of it on two-lane roads. Splitting it over two days is more comfortable.
Are dogs allowed at Andersonville and Providence Canyon?
Yes, on a leash no longer than six feet. At Andersonville, dogs are not allowed on the cemetery’s grassy areas or inside buildings (checked September 17, 2026).
How we checked this guide: Dates, hours, admission and parking prices, and access details were verified against the official sources listed below on . Operators change schedules and raise prices without notice, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you drive. The figures in this guide also feed our Georgia Attraction Transparency Index and Family Day-Out Cost Index.
Sources
- National Park Service — Andersonville: Basic information
- National Park Service — Andersonville: Hours
- National Park Service — Andersonville: Fees
- National Park Service — Andersonville: Pets
- National Park Service — Jimmy Carter NHP: Basic information
- National Park Service — Jimmy Carter NHP: Fees
- Georgia State Parks — Providence Canyon
- Georgia State Parks — ParkPass
Hank Whitlock is the pen name of the It's Georgia editor. Every guide is built around the questions a busy family actually asks before a trip: how long is the drive, what does parking cost, can the stroller make it, are dogs allowed. Details are checked against official park, city, and venue sources, and each guide shows the date it was last updated.
