The first people to live in the Ellijay area were the Cherokee. Depending on who you ask, the name "Ellijay" comes from the Cherokee language and means "new ground" or "green place." Others refute this story saying that the first people were from the Itsate Creek tribe, and the town's name means "offspring from foothills" in their language. This community has always had strong agricultural roots, and it's easy to see why the city's nickname is "The Apple Capital of Georgia" as farmers grow more than 600,000 bushels annually. Treat yourself to an apple dessert at The Shack at Ellijay, Cantaberry, or River Street Tavern and find out for yourself. You can pick apples to take home with you at many nearby orchards, including Mercier Orchards, B.J. Reece Orchards, or Hillcrest Orchards.
Ellijay is the county seat of Gilmer County, which state legislators created in 1832. While a few people moved to town after the completion of the Marietta and Northern Georgia Railroad in 1884, this mountain community saw a more significant influx of people after the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway reached the town in 1991.
Over 65% of the land in Gilmer County is public land, and you'll want to explore some of it. Much of it is part of the Cherokee National Forest. You may want to plan a picnic to enjoy at beautiful locations near Elijay, but first pick up a bottle of wine from local wineries like Ellijay River Vineyards, Chateau Meichtry Family Vineyard & Winery, or Ott Farms and Vineyard. You'll also want to spend time playing on Carters Lake, the deepest reservoir east of the Mississippi River.
Georgia Apple Festival Arts & Crafts Show – Come hungry for apples to this October festival at the Lions Club Fairgrounds and in the downtown area. You'll love the live music, crafts, and car show.
St. Patrick's Day – Join the local humane society for a dog show, parade, and food at this downtown event.
Plein Air Art Festival – Watch local artists create artwork at various venues around the county. Then, join the fun as an auctioneer sells the items to the highest bidder during a dinner.
Spring Wine Highway Week – Join wineries across northeast Georgia, including those in Ellijay, for this wine week festivity held at various wineries.
Congaree National Park is a great place to see cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss. Consider going on a paddling adventure so that you can get close to some that are often almost 26 feet tall. The ADA-accessible boardwalk is a terrific place to see the wetlands without getting muddy.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a fantastic park to explore because of its history and natural beauty. You may want to go on a hike to see one of the historic cemeteries. Visit the historic buildings in the Cades Cove, Cataloochee, and Oconaluftee areas before checking out the Mountain Farm Museum. Especially at sunrise and sunset, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is an excellent spot for a scenic drive.
You would be remiss to leave Mammoth Cave National Park without seeing the famous show cave, but you'll also want to go wild caving. Options change throughout the year to protect the wildlife that use them as breeding sites. Stay until after dark on a clear night as this park is an ideal place to go stargazing.
Fort Mountain State Park contains more than 60 miles of hiking trails winding around blueberry thickets, under tall hardwood trees, and around a beautiful lake. Try to decide for yourself why Native Americans built the 855-foot-long wall at the park.
Vogel State Park at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest is one of the oldest state parks in Georgia. A 22-acre lake is a great place for a paddling adventure. This park is an excellent place to go in the fall when the leaves are changing colors.
Red Top Mountain State Park on Lake Allatoona's shores is the locals' choice for water sports. Swimming, fishing, and boating are available. Bring your camera to capture stunning nature shots along 15 miles of hiking trails.
Head to the intersection of Georgia Route 515 and Whitepath Road to see the limestone marker indicating where Cherokee Native American Chief Whitepath's log cabin stood. This Native American was a skilled orator who fought against the tribe accepting the Cherokee Constitution, which let Christian missionaries into the area. He was a soldier under Andrew Jackson and was instrumental in helping the U.S. government win the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. Since he aided the government, they allowed him to stay when others were forced to follow the Trail of Tears. You can see the actual cabin, which workers moved to Northeast Georgia History Center at Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia, in 1995. There are also other Georgia landmarks to explore.
Chatanooga, Tennessee, is a fabulous area to go camping if you enjoy outdoor activities. Chatanooga campgrounds are about 67 miles away from Ellijay. Take a tour of the cave system at Raccoon Mountain Caverns & Campground before panning for gemstones and relaxing by a campfire. Sweetwater / I-75 / Exit 62 KOA is near many Sweetwater attractions, including Lost Sea, Mayfield Dairy Farms, Sweetwater Valley Cheese Farm, Sweetwater's Antique District, and the Cherokee National Forest. Water lovers will want to think about Chester Frost Park Campground as it sits on Chickamauga Lake's shores.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Ellijay, GA, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Ellijay?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Ellijay from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Ellijay?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.