Cloudland Canyon GA: Budget Romantic Getaway from Atlanta

Are you looking for a romantic weekend getaway from Atlanta, but you have a limited budget?  I planned this 2-day northwest Georgia getaway with my husband to celebrate our anniversary.  We left Atlanta on Saturday morning so we only needed to pay for a single night at a hotel.  Follow along for our Cloudland Canyon Budget Romantic Getaway Itinerary. 

We took this trip in July – at the height of summer – but I think that this would be a great trip at any time of year.  Fall colors in Cloudland Canyon would be especially impressive.  A variation of this Budget Romantic Getaway to Cloudland Canyon works for couples who live in Birmingham, Nashville or Knoxville too!  In only 2-hours, you can drive to this beautiful destination and get away from it all for the weekend.

Budget Romantic Getaway from Atlanta Day 1: Saturday

Road Trip to Cloudland Canyon State Park

We left our house around 9am to drive to Cloudland Canyon State Park.  We picked up the Georgia State Parks ParkPass from our local Georgia Library. The Georgia State Parks hangtag provided us with free parking.  Otherwise, parking at Cloudland Canyon State Park is only $5 per vehicle. We packed a picnic lunch in a cooler.

Exploring Cloudland Canyon State Park

I’ve seen spectacular images of Cloudland Canyon for years, so I was excited to see it for the first time on our romantic weekend getaway trip.  This state park sits on the western side of Georgia’s Lookout Mountain.  It offers expansive views of the deep canyon carved by time and water.  You can hike through the scenic woods to see incredible waterfalls.  This area, which is part of the Cumberland Plateau, was once called Sitton’s Gulch. 

Our first stop inside the park was the Visitor’s Center around 11am.  We picked up a park map there.  You can purchase Cloudland Canyon t-shirts and other fun stuff.  They also stocked extra stuff that campers may have forgotten, such as toothpaste.  They had a cooler filled with frozen treats.  Outside you can pick up firewood and ice. 

Cloudland Canyon’s Hikes

We parked our car near the Interpretive Center.  The Center has several displays on the local flora and fauna.  They offer programs for children and families plus there are helpful rangers stationed there who can answer questions that you might have about the park.  A small bathroom pavilion is nearby across the parking lot.  Check out this Cloudland Canyon State Park Trail Map for more information on available hikes.

The Overlook Trail

The Overlook Trail is just beyond the Interpretive Center.  It is not very long, but it is quite rocky and there are a lot of steps.  Otherwise, the trail is easy.  As I made my way along the trail, I discovered that each view of Cloudland Canyon is better than the next!  The Main Overlook is spectacular.  Continue along the trail to the Second Overlook which is at the bottom of a set of metal stairs leading down to a viewing platform. 

This trail is 1-mile if you hike to both Overlooks and return.  We spent about 30-minutes hiking the trail and enjoying the views.  Georgia State Parks categorizes this hike as Easy.  We wish we had brought binoculars.

Picnic Lunch in a Pavilion

As part of our budget romantic getaway weekend, we packed lunch for the first day.  We ate after we explored the Overlook Trail.  We used our picnic blanket as a table cloth in the shade of a picnic pavilion.  There were plenty of pavilions and picnic tables to go around.

Waterfalls Trail

After lunch, we stocked our backpack with snacks and water and began hiking along the rim towards the waterfalls.  The trail leads down to each waterfall and then returns to the rim.  We followed the Waterfalls Trail towards Hemlock Falls first.  There are metal stairs with grates for treads that lead down to the falls.  So many stairs!  Hemlock Falls did not have a substantial amount of water at the height of the summer, but it was still lovely.

We hiked back up a little bit and then across and down to Cherokee Falls.  This is the wide brimmed waterfall with the basin at the bottom that I’ve seen on social media.  It was beautiful.  After going down all those stairs, my legs were already feeling like Jello – and we still had to go back up.  We hung out and enjoyed the shade and the cooler air near the water for a little while before we hiked back up.  No swimming is allowed, but several hikers entered the water.  Based on their reactions, I suspect the bottom is rocky and slippery.

We spent an hour and twenty minutes hiking the waterfalls trail.  It was steep.  There are a lot of stairs.  In July, it was hot.  By the end of the hike my legs were tired and wobbly from going down and back up the stairs.  Georgia State Parks categorizes this hike as Strenuous.

Tip for Dog Owners: There were signs stating no dogs on the Waterfalls Trail, but there were plenty of people with dogs.  The dogs had a really difficult time with the steep stairs.  I am sure that the metal grate-style treads hurt their little paws.  If you have a dog, I recommend that you be kind and avoid this trail!

Other Trails

We also considered the 5-mile West Rim Loop Trail, which in combination with the Waterfalls Trail, Backpacker Magazine considers one of the Best Day Hikes in America.  Georgia State Parks considers this trail Moderately Strenuous.  We looked at the 1-mile Meadowlands Trail too.  This trail is categorized as Moderate.

Budget Romantic Getaway from Atlanta: Spend the Night

The Groovy Nomad – renovated vintage motel in Trenton, Georgia

I fell in love with the idea of the renovated vintage motel over the pandemic when I lost myself binge watching the drama unfolding at the Rosebud Motel in episodes of Schitt’s Creek.  I’d been on the look out for one of these rejuvenated “motor hotels” when planning travel, but they just aren’t a good fit for a family trip.  For our budget romantic weekend getaway from Atlanta, I was on the hunt for a single night of affordable lodging near Cloudland Canyon State Park.  I hit the jackpot when I found the Groovy Nomad in Trenton, Georgia.  It was perfect!

Rooms at the Groovy Nomad

Each room in the Groovy Nomad is decorated with a unique theme.  We selected Room #2, the Seriously 60’s Room.  Other rooms that we considered with king-sized beds included the Flower Power Room and the Cheetah Room.  The Seriously 60’s Room was thoughtfully decorated in a fun and whimsical way.  The bathroom was recently renovated too.  The room included a relatively large retro-style mini fridge with a freezer, which would be perfect if you were on a longer trip.  The room had a microwave and Keurig with a few coffee pods. 

The motel office was empty when we arrived, but the Groovy Nomad texted us the code to access our room, so we didn’t need to officially check in.  The exterior of the building is painted in fun murals by artist Keeley Farmer.  Each room is accented with colorful outdoor patio chairs and a potted plant.  The courtyard behind the center of the building is furnished as a funky hang out space including a firepit.  If you have a big group, you can even rent the entire motel!

Things to Do near Trenton, Georgia

The Groovy Nomad curated a thoughtful list of local places to explore.  The list includes restaurants, places to get a drink and things to do.  They conveniently report the driving time to each destination.  We selected our anniversary dinner from their list.  We picked up a Georgia State Parks Pass at our local library, but each room comes with a Cloudland Canyon State Park Pass, which is a wonderful benefit if you are spending a couple of nights.

Other Options for Spending the Night

Cloudland at McLemore Resort

The Groovy Nomad was perfect for our budget, but if you have more to spend you could go all out at the Cloudland at McLemore Resort on Lookout Mountain.  Without leaving the resort, you can enjoy excellent dining, swim in the infinity edge pool overlooking the valley, relax in the spa or play a round of golf.

Camping at Cloudland Canyon State Park

If you have a tighter budget, you can always camp at Cloudland Canyon State Park.  We are tent campers, so we drove through the campgrounds to check out the sites.  We preferred the West Rim Campgrounds.  There are RV/tent campsites plus more secluded walk-in campsites with their own bathhouse for tent campers. 

No Tent – No Problem

Cottages

The thing about camping, is that you don’t have to camp!  You could rent a 2-bedroom cottage with a private bathroom, but it comes with a 2-night minimum stay.  Cottages 6-9 were smaller and tucked away in the woods.  Cottages 10-18 are larger and newer.  They are located on a main road in the West Rim area.  Cabin 15 looked the most secluded. 

Yurts

You could stay in the Yurt Village.  Each yurt has its own fire ring like a camp site, but unlike a campsite, it has electricity, heat, air conditioning, ceiling fan, and a deck.  This section shares a bathhouse.  We liked the locations of Yurts 2, 4 and 6.  Yurts 7 and 8 are set back from the road, but they are relatively close to the bathhouse.  Plus, you can book a Yurt for a single night!

Dinner: The Creag Restaurant at McLemore Resort

Our afternoon was spent at the Groovy Nomad where we got cleaned up after hiking at Cloudland Canyon State Park.  We made a reservation at the Creag Restaurant at McLemore Resort based on the recommended restaurant list from the Groovy Nomad.  We sat on the patio overlooking the valley.  The view was absolutely stunning!  It was the perfect choice to celebrate our anniversary.  The Creag Restaurant was a strategic splurge on our budget romantic weekend getaway from Atlanta. 

We began our meal with cocktails.  I ordered the Flight of the Butterfly, which was beautifully purple and delicious.  My husband enjoyed the Creag Smoked Old Fashion.  We began our meal with the blue corn bread.  I ordered a Nicoise salad with chicken (instead of tuna) and my husband ordered the pork dinner.  Both meals were delicious.  We finished our dinner with champagne and mouse pie – a surprise anniversary gift from the staff.  It was such a lovely meal in a spectacular setting.  I highly recommend this restaurant for a special occasion – or any occasion really.  It was the perfect place to celebrate our anniversary.

Budget Romantic Getaway from Atlanta Day 2: Sunday

We slept in late and checked out of the Groovy Nomad just before 10am.  Unfortunately, the coffee shop in Trenton is closed on Sunday mornings.  We did not bring breakfast with us – although we could have because the room had a fridge, microwave and Keurig coffee maker. 

Breakfast at Café 136

We went to Café 136 in Lookout Mountain for our first meal of the day.  They serve breakfast daily from 6-11am.  I selected the Lookout Mountain Breakfast with scrambled eggs, bacon, grits, and a biscuit.  My husband ordered a sausage omelet with a side of hashbrowns.  The potatoes were shredded, which is my favorite kind of hashbrowns.  This restaurant was fit perfectly into our budget romantic weekend getaway from Atlanta.  Plus, this café would be an excellent little place to get breakfast when camping at Cloudland Canyon State Park!

Road Trip Stop: Buc-ee’s

Continuing our budget romantic weekend getaway from Atlanta, we headed back on I-75. We found ourselves in need of a rest stop and we could not resist the lure of Buc-ee’s in Calhoun, Georgia.  We perused the food and the touch screen – where you can order fresh, made to order items.  They offered all kinds of seasonal items including blow up river tubes, bathing suits, flip flops, sunglasses, and straps to keep from losing them in the water. 

An Afternoon in Cartersville, Georgia: Museum City

Savoy Automobile Museum

The last time that we visited Cartersville, the Savoy Auto Museum was under construction.  It had been on my list to visit, so we took the opportunity to explore this museum during our budget romantic weekend getaway from Atlanta.  We came upon a rusted-out car Plymouth Savoy on display outside the museum.  They were struggling to come up with a name for the new automobile museum and they happened upon this Savoy while clearing the site for construction.  This little car became the museum’s namesake. 

The exhibits at the Savoy Automobile Museum constantly rotate, which guarantees that you are sure to see something new each time that you visit.  Most of the vehicles in the rotating exhibits are on loan. Movie Cars was one of the displays when we visited.  The highlight of my trip was seeing the 1984 Family Truckster featured in National Lampoon’s Vacation.  This particular vehicle was on loan from Steve and Lisa Griswold of Canton, Georgia!

The museum includes a gallery with its permanent collection also. The cars in this collection are primarily from the 20th Century.  All the windows are rolled down so you can get a really good look at the interior.  Each automobile is in beautiful condition and it is easy to imagine sitting inside them.  Cars were on display from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Plus they had an exhibit on the automobiles used by bootleggers during prohibition called Moonshine Runners.

We spent an hour and forty-five minutes exploring the exhibits.  We were hungry at the end of our tour, so we ate lunch in the café.  I ordered a grilled chicken strawberry salad and my husband chose a hamburger.  We enjoyed the food and noted that the ceiling of the café is designed to look like the inside of a wheel.

Other Museums in Cartersville

If the Automobile Museum is not your cup of tea, you are in luck, because Cartersville offers a choice of museums.  Do you love cowboys and western art?  Then spend the afternoon at the Booth Western Art Museum.

Do you love everything science?  From a replica of the Wright Flyer to dinosaurs and impressive minerals, the Tellus Science Museum should be your destination for the afternoon.  Do you love history?  Then the Bartow History Museum, located in the historic 1669 Courthouse downtown is the destination for you.

All the museums in Cartersville participate in the Blue Star Museum Summer Program that provides free admission for active-duty Military Families from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day.

Returning Home

Once we finished our visit to the Savoy Automobile Museum, our budget romantic weekend getaway from Atlanta was winding down.  It was time to return home and prepare for the week ahead.  We arrived at home around 4:30pm, which was plenty of time to prepare for Monday.

Have you been to Cloudland Canyon State Park or the Groovy Nomad in Trenton, Georgia before?  Are you planning a romantic weekend getaway on a budget from Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville or Knoxville?  Let me know in the comments!

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