It's about a 4 hour drive to the Smoky Mountains and 2 to Chattanooga. I think it's worth seeing the mountains if you've never been. Chattanooga can definitely be done in a day and there are some great spots to visit in Georgia between Atlanta and Chattanooga as well. Check www.nps.org to find out more about the Smoky Mountains.

Smokies are about 4-4.5 hours away depending upon where you start from, but i wouldnt do it as a day-trip. There is just too much to see in the Smokies to only spend 3-4 hours there ( 8-9 hours of driving too and fro)-- you need atleast a day or two (3-4 days would be better)--- You need a day in the Smokey Mtn Park (a picknick at Cades Cove is one of those things you cant miss in life) --- and you can easily spend a day walking the shops/tourist traps of Gatlinburg. Plus you also have Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, and Cherokee NC close by. Most people see the Indian exhibits in Cherokee or visit the casino --- Pigeon Forge is a gaudy tourist trap, but there are lots of amusement type activities there. Gatlinburg is usually crowded, but a nice place to walk around. The best way to enjoy the smokies is to rent a cabin for a 3-day weekend in nearby Townsend or Wear Valley TN -- or one of the Mountains overlooking Gatlinburg (usually $ 60-80/night for something that is luxurious compared to a hotel -- hot tub on the deck, fireplaces, pool tables, tremendous views).

If I were doing a daytrip from Atlanta, I would do something closer like Helen or Chattanooga.

Thanks again for all the information

You can spend far more than a single day in Chattanooga, but I think it works a lot better as a day trip from Atlanta than the Smoky Mountains -- it's a single place, instead of several spread across a wide area, and it's half the time to drive there -- there's a big different between two hours each way and four hours each way. You'd have no shortage of things to do Chattanooga, and another advantage is that once you're there, you can walk or take the free electric shuttlee between all of the downtown-area attractions. In the Smokies, you'd have to spend a lot more time in the car getting there, and a lot more time in the car going between attractions once you get there.

I was just about to say the same, racksack. Driving to various sights once you get to the Smokies takes up enough time in itself, and four hours (well, eight hours total). I suppose there'd be enough to do just around the Oconaluftee entrance to fill up whatever time you'd have left after all the driving, but it just wouldn't be worth it. A trip to Tallulah or Shining Rock or Amnicolola would be much more rewarding.

I just realized I've responded to you before on this subject, but not on this thread. Oh well, I'll keep on going.

Chattanooga, on the other hand, is much more reasonable. There's more than enough to do there to fill up a day (riverfront, riverwalk, river cruising, aquarium, museums, various awesome parks, Lookout Mountain attractions) and the drive isn't too too bad, though boring.

Kristian

How about staying in Georgia and going to Madison, "best small town in America".

It is about a one hour drive from Atlanta.

Why should they? Tell us a little more about Madison.

Thanks to every one

I will explore these three places Chattanooga,Helen, Madison and decide

Madison is adorable. It's set around a small southern town square with cute shops and restaurants. You could eat a yummy southern buffet at the Blue Willow Inn and check out downtown Covington, where much of In the Heat of the Night was shot.

I would also bring up Savannah, which is just about 3 hours from Atlanta. That would definitely make for a lot of driving, too much for me, but if the Smokies at 4+ hours are being discussed I think Savannah also must be mentioned.

The Smokies' 4+ hours were rebuked. I'd probably rebuke Savannah's 3 hours, too, as there's more than enough to go closer by in Madison (evidently, looks like a nice town), Chattanooga, and N Ga.