A Day Away: Fab Family Vacations Within 6 Hours of Atlanta

Drive time: 2 hrs, 50 mins.
The most-visited of all American national parks, Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles North Carolina and Tennessee and offers breathtaking scenery and wildlife viewing as well as remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture.

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Drive time: 3 hrs, 53 mins.
If you're looking for a city getaway that oozes Southern charm, it's hard to beat drop-dead-gorgeous Savannah, which was laid out in a grid in the 1700s by Georgia's founder, James Oglethorpe, and continues to wow visitors with a vibe that is simultaneously majestic and intimate. Its antebellum architecture and vibrant food scene helped the Georgian city earn a spot on Travel+Leisure's list of World’s Best Cities.

Drive time: 3 hrs, 56 mins.
Tennessee's breakout destination is Pigeon Forge, just eight miles from the Smoky Mountains National Park and home to the Dollywood theme park, which just added a family-friendly resort and is unveiling the roller coaster everyone is dying to try.

Drive time: 4 hrs, 7 mins.
Rich in both history and natural beauty, little Tybee Island is famous for its seafood and spectacular uninterrupted three-mile beach. Families can explore salt marshes that teem with birds and wildlife unique to Georgia’s coast.

Drive time: 4 hrs, 17 mins. 
Drawn by miles of Atlantic beachfront, a host of world-class golf and tennis facilities, and a wide choice of hotel and vacation rental options, families have long found Hilton Head Island to be an alluring vacation destination.

Drive time: 4 hrs, 43 mins.
Looking for something very special? One of America's Best All-Inclusive Resorts for Families, the intimate and luxurious Lodge on Little St. Simons Island is reachable only by boat. Located on a private island off Georgia’s coast, what really sets this place apart is its setting inside a 10,000-acre wildlife sanctuary, which families can explore through naturalist-led hikes, reptile safaris, kayak tours, fishing trips, and evening owl prowls.

Drive time: 4 hrs, 46 mins.
Located on a barrier island off Georgia's coast, the historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel was once an exclusive members-only club for millionaires like Rockefeller and Astor. Today it's a family-friendly resort with many activities for kids and parents alike. You can explore the resort on wide bike paths lined with Spanish moss-covered oaks or venture further on the island's 20 miles of bike paths, including routes that zig through lush maritime forest, zag through the National Landmark Historic District and wind along beachscapes.

Drive time: 5 hrs, 14 mins.
Located a one- hour drive north of Nashville and less than a two-hour drive south of Louisville, the rolling green hills of Kentucky’s Cave Country make for a memorable, quick getaway or a stop on a longer road trip. Here are six fun ways to explore the area.

Drive time: 5 hrs, 28 mins.
With sand like powdered sugar and the brilliant turquoise Gulf of Mexico, Destin is a gem on the Emerald Coast. Here are kid-friendly attractions to put at the top of your to-do list.

Drive time: 5 hrs, 30 mins. 
With 32 miles of spectacular, sugar-white beaches and a raft-load of outdoor activities and family attractions, the neighboring towns of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are premier family beach vacation destinations.

Drive time: 5 hrs, 33 mins. 
Set on over 1,350 lush beachfront acres of meandering bike trails, manicured golf greens, and spectacular coastal wilderness, the sprawling Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort invites exploring. Highlights include 3.5 miles of beach, two swimming pools, a nature center and myriad ways to have fun.