The Essential Guide to Cave Spring, Georgia

North Georgia is littered with adorable towns, each claiming to be some Southern version of Stars Hollow à la the Gilmore Girls. But I can almost guarantee you haven’t heard of this one. 

Home to around 1,000 residents, Cave Spring, Georgia, sits a few miles from the Alabama state line and is only a 1.5-hour drive from Atlanta—and during the fall, it’s the perfect destination for a day trip. Cave Spring is located at the western end of Vann’s Valley and is named after the prolific limestone spring situated in the center of town that produces 2 million gallons of water per day. Today, most visitors come here for Cave Spring’s easy access to the outdoors, and often plan a visit around seeing the cave or the nearby trails.

“I am not originally from Cave Spring, but I fell in love with my husband, Cleve, and the charm of the downtown square the first time I visited,” says local Emilia Jackson, who runs Buttermilk Blooms, a “U-Pick” and cut flowers farm with her husband. “I love that I can park and walk around town to take our little girls to Rolater Park to play at the playground and spring-fed creek, make a stop at the local library, and grab an ice cream at Spring Brew Coffee Co.”

But Jackson agrees that there’s something especially fun about visiting Cave Spring at the turn of the season. Autumn sees special, themed events in town, such as the Halloween Coffin Races (a spooky spin on the Cub Scouts’ Pinewood Derby), the annual costume contest, and a lively Halloween Parade that goes through downtown.

“There is nothing like visiting in the fall as the leaves are changing and the air gets more crisp,” says Jackson.

Here’s what you need to know before planning a trip to Cave Spring, Georgia.

Best Things to Do

Begin your time in town at the Cave Spring Welcome Center and Museum to get a lay of the land. The historic home has maps for exploring the area and information for visitors. There are also exhibits that cover everything from the history of the original Indigenous inhabitants to the Georgia School for the Deaf, which is also based in town. 

According to the National Speleological Society, the Peach State has over 800 caves, most of which are located in the northeastern corner of Georgia. Cave Spring’s eponymous cave is also the site of a natural, freshwater spring, which serves as the town’s primary source of drinking water.

To see it for yourself, visit the Cave Spring Rolater Park & Pinhoti Trail, where you can explore the cavern for $2 per person, and even fill your water bottle with spring water. The temperature of the cave hovers around 57 degrees year-round, making it an ideal escape from the summer heat. However, if you want to cool off even more, you can take a dip in Rolater Lake for $5. The Pinhoti Trail, which runs through the park, is a nice walk as well, and connects to the Appalachian Trail.

Just a minute away on Cave Spring Road, you’ll find the Vann Cherokee Cabin, one of the oldest structures of its kind in Georgia. It was built in 1810 by Avery Vann of the Cherokee Nation, a member of the family after whom Vann’s Valley is named. The hand-hewn log cabin is now a stop on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. 

Downtown Cave Spring has several shops to browse, including Antiques on the Square, Evergreen on Broad, Peddler, and Cave Spring General Store, all great options for locally made goods and vintage decor. Knick-knack enthusiasts will also love the annual Highway 411 Yard Sale, when the small towns between Leeds, Alabama, and Newport, Tennessee (including Cave Spring!), set up tables full of antiques and secondhand goods along the roadside.

If you need to work off some energy, venture to nearby Cedartown, Georgia, around 15 minutes away, to cycle sections of the Silver Comet Trail, a 61.5-mile pedestrian and bicycle path connecting Georgia and Alabama. 

Where to Eat and Drink

Start your day at Spring Brew Coffee Co., where you can pick up a seasonally themed latte or ice cream. Local Joe’s at Cave Spring is a casual lunch spot with baked goods, Georgia-style barbecue, and sides like the popular Brunswick Stew, which is said to have originated on the coast. 

Stage Coach Pizza Co. slings pies from a historic space with a saloon-type ambiance and has all the usual toppings and offerings. As the name implies, A&B Creekside Restaurant and Catering has outdoor dining with prime creek views, and it’s known for its burgers and ribeye steaks. Locals love Southern Flavor for the all-you-can-eat catfish and favorites like fried squash and macaroni and cheese.

Linde Marie’s Steakhouse on the Square is a Northwest Georgia destination of its own, bringing hungry diners from the surrounding area for all cuts of steak, including prime rib and sirloin with all the fixings. “My favorite meal from Linde Marie’s is the pecan-crusted chicken,” says Jackson. 

Where to Stay

Because of its small size, accommodations in Cave Spring are fairly limited, and mostly encompass short-term rentals. One of the most notable options in the area is the Hearn Inn, which used to be the girls’ dormitory for the Georgia School for the Deaf—guests can now rent a room, or the entire house. Cedar Creek Park has campsites for RVs and tents from $20 per night, plus kayak, river tube, and canoe rentals. 

You’ll find more options in Rome, around 15 miles away, including national brands. For example, the Hawthorn Extended Stay by Wyndham Rome is located within a 1890s warehouse that still has many original features. It’s conveniently located next to the Oostanaula River and several local restaurants.