Our Favorite Places To Run In Athens, Georgia

Last week, we set out to explore a new-to-us city, and were thrilled to find some great places to run in Athens, Georgia. Athens is home to the University of Georgia, and is a balanced combination of urban and rural, with asphalt hills connecting seamlessly into riverside rail trails. Just outside the city, you can find wooded trails, and suburban sidewalks, and we tried them all!

Downtown Athens

Let’s start in the heart of the city, itself. I love city running – I find it super interesting and exciting, especially compared to the rural burbs where I normally run. Athens has the added challenge of huge (to me) hills, making it extra special. There is plenty of public art, and pretty architecture, and while the downtown area isn’t huge, there is plenty of space to run some miles. I enjoyed seeing churches and government buildings, as well as checking out the shops and restaurants on my way. It’s worth noting that when UGA isn’t in session, the streets are pretty quiet in the early morning and at night, so be aware.

University Of Georgia Campus

The UGA Campus is one of the most beautiful places to run in all of Athens. Brick paths, gardens, and magnolia trees are nestled among beautiful buildings, providing shade and points of interest along teh way. There are also plenty of places to sit if the hills get to be a little much. The campus is immense, and I only explored the main blocks in the heart of Athens, and down past the stadium, in the interest of time. I could have spent the day weaving in between all the buildings and facilities. I will point out that UGA has made major security upgrades in the wake of Laken Riley’s murder, which include emergency call boxes, increased lighting, the presence of Campus Safety Ambassadors after hours, fencing, and a safety app for students.

Firefly Trail

The Firefly Trail is an in-progress, paved rail-trail that connects three counties and seven towns in and around Athens, Georgia. This community driven project will stretch for about 39 miles, and is perfect, for walking, running, cycling, and rolling. We had a trail entrance about two blocks from our hotel and explored about two miles of this wide and scenic path. It is well lit, with emergency call boxes along the route, as well as parking lots and well maintained restrooms along the way.

State Botanical Gardens Of Georgia

With free admission and plenty of parking, the State Botanical Gardens of Georgia is a beautiful place for a run. Not only do you have gardens upon gardens of beautiful blooms and plants, but there are also five miles of trails to explore. You’ll get different terrains (gravel, girt, pavement) and shifts in elevation, as well as plenty of shade and lovely sights to see.

North Oconee River Greenway

Looping off the Firefly Trail is the North Oconee River Greenway. This is a lower path that winds along the river and it’s a gorgeous, shaded option. It’s a little more remote than some of the other areas, but there are lights, and emergency call boxes along the way, so while you should always be cautious in new or remote areas, safety measures were in place.

Historic Neighborhoods

Athens is full of historic neighborhoods, with beautiful old homes, sprawling magnolias, and charming sidewalks. We loved wandering through the streets, seeing what was for sale, and imagining future plans. All the streets were quiet and out of the way of major traffic, which was a nice switch from the downtown routes. There was a great mix of hills and flats, although we did have to watch our footing on some of the old and uneven pavement.

Have you been to Athens, Georgia? Have you run in any of these locations? Do you explore new places to run when you’re on vacation?

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