20 Best Things to Do in Macon, GA: Soul, Rock & History
Few small American cities have changed the sound of popular music more than Macon. Little Richard, Otis Redding and the Allman Brothers Band all came out of this town in central Georgia. The music is only the most recent chapter, though. Just across the Ocmulgee River, people have been living on the same land for more than 12,000 years, and the giant earthen mounds they left behind still rise over the trees.
The best things to do in Macon, GA are climbing the Great Temple Mound at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, visiting the Allman Brothers Band Museum at the Big House, touring Hay House, exploring the Tubman Museum, learning about Otis Redding, and seeing the cherry blossoms in March.
People racing along I-75 to Florida tend to skip Macon. If you’re one of them, get off the highway. Numbers 1 through 5 alone justify the stop.
1. Climb the Mounds at Ocmulgee
The Ocmulgee Mounds park preserves a 701-acre site with more than 12,000 years of human history, including that of the Muscogee Nation. Walk to the top of the Great Temple Mound for a view of downtown. Go early in the morning, when the air is cool and quiet, and be respectful, because this is a sacred place.
2. Step Inside the Earth Lodge
The park’s reconstructed earth lodge is built around an original clay floor about 1,000 years old, with seats still shaped into it. Inside, you’ll find it dark, cool and quite moving. Stop at the visitor center first for a look at the artifacts, which put everything in context. Look up current hours with the National Park Service.
3. Visit the Big House
The Allman Brothers Band Museum sits in the big Tudor-style home on Vineville Avenue where band members and their crew lived from about 1970 to 1973. The rooms are full of instruments, posters and gold records. Fans will be thrilled, and even casual listeners tend to leave with a new appreciation for the band.
4. Pay Your Respects at Rose Hill Cemetery
Duane Allman and Berry Oakley are buried side by side in this beautiful old cemetery on the river. Fans still leave tokens at the graves.
Walk Rose Hill for its own sake too, with its terraced hillsides and old monuments. The band spent time here in its early days, and a gravestone in the cemetery is said to have inspired the title of “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.” Wear good shoes, because the ground gets steep.
5. Learn About Otis Redding
The Otis Redding Foundation’s museum on Cotton Avenue tells the story of the soul legend through memorabilia, family photos and artifacts. He grew up in Macon and died tragically young, just before “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” became a huge hit. A nearby bronze statue in a riverside park is a lovely tribute.
6. Tour Hay House
Built between 1855 and 1859, this 24-room Italian Renaissance Revival mansion is known as the “Palace of the South” and is a National Historic Landmark. It had remarkably advanced features for its time, including a kind of early ventilation system. Tours reveal plenty of hidden details. Look up the current schedule, as the days can be limited.
7. Explore the Tubman Museum
The Tubman Museum is the largest museum in the Southeast devoted to African American art, history and culture. Named for Harriet Tubman, it has rotating exhibits as well as art galleries and educational programs. Allow at least an hour or two, and don’t miss the mural on Black history.
8. See the Cherry Blossoms
Macon has hundreds of thousands of Yoshino cherry trees, and when they bloom in March, entire neighborhoods turn pink. The International Cherry Blossom Festival brings concerts, food and a parade. Look up the dates for the year you’re visiting, and book your room early, because the city never gets busier or prettier.
9. See Where Southern Rock Was Born
Capricorn Records helped launch the Allman Brothers and many others, and Mercer University has restored the old studio building. Find out whether the studio and its museum are open for tours when you’re in town. Music fans should pair it with the Big House.
10. Find the Little Richard House
The rock and roll pioneer was born and raised in Macon, and his childhood home has been preserved as a small resource center for the community. You won’t spend long here, but given his outsized influence on popular music, you should stop. Call ahead to confirm when it’s open, since hours can be limited.
11. Walk the Cannonball House
This Greek Revival home got its name from a Union cannonball that struck it during the Civil War in 1864, and the ball is still on display inside. The tour is short and interesting, with just enough local Civil War history. Look up current times and fees before going.
12. Eat at H&H Restaurant
H&H was a soul food institution long before the Allman Brothers discovered it in their hungry early days. Mama Louise Hudson famously fed them on credit, and the bond lasted for decades. Order the fried chicken and the sides, and look at the photos on the walls. It’s mostly a daytime operation, so look up the hours first.
13. Stroll Downtown
Downtown Macon has been coming back in recent years, with restaurants, breweries and shops in beautifully restored old buildings. At night, the city’s colored lights make for a nice walk. Have dinner, then see what’s on at one of the local music venues, since live music is what this city does best.
14. See a Show at the Grand Opera House
Dating from 1884, this ornate theater hosts Broadway tours, concerts and community productions on one of the largest stages in the region. See what’s on when you visit, because this old theater is a fun place to spend a night. If nothing’s playing, admire the building’s exterior on a walk down Mulberry Street.
15. Walk the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail
This paved trail follows the river through the city, linking parks and offering a look at the woods and water. Start at Amerson River Park, which has paddling access too. The mostly shaded path suits a morning walk or bike ride, and you can work off a soul food lunch here as well.
16. Tour the Sidney Lanier Cottage
Georgia’s celebrated poet Sidney Lanier was born in this small cottage in 1842. You’ll get through it quickly, and it shows the kind of modest house most people here once lived in, a good balance to the mansions. Look up the hours before you go.
17. Visit the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
Fans of Georgia athletics will enjoy this large downtown museum, with exhibits on stars from the state’s college and professional teams. Bring kids who need to burn off some energy. Look up current hours and any special exhibits before heading over.
18. Take the Kids to the Museum of Arts and Sciences
This family favorite has science exhibits, a planetarium and a small collection of live animals. Save it for a rainy morning, or an afternoon too hot for the mounds. Its site lists planetarium shows, and the times can change.
19. Catch a Baseball Game
The Macon Bacon play summer collegiate baseball at historic Luther Williams Field, and the games are known for their silly, entertaining atmosphere. You’ll get a cheap, fun night out, so see who’s playing and bring the kids. The name alone is a good reason to buy a T-shirt.
20. Go on a Soul and Rock Tour
If you want the stories in one go, look for a local music tour, like those offered by Rock Candy Tours. A knowledgeable guide can take you to places you’d never find on your own and tell you the stories behind them. Book ahead, as tours run on a limited schedule.
Best Free Things to Do in Macon
Rose Hill Cemetery and the Heritage Trail are free, and so is the walk around downtown. Admission at Ocmulgee Mounds has been free, but confirm with the park. In March, seeing the blossoms from the sidewalk won’t cost you anything either.
When to Visit and How Long to Stay
March is the highlight, with blooming cherry trees and the festival, along with the biggest crowds. Spring and fall are generally comfortable, and summer gets hot, so climb the mounds early. Winter is quiet and mild. Two full days will cover the mounds, the music and a mansion, and by then you’ll see how this little city has made so much noise.
Where to next? Try our guides to Augusta, Savannah and Alpharetta, or see the best things to do in Georgia for the whole state. You can also browse all our travel guides on Decidel.
How we checked this guide: details were checked against official and published sources in November 2026. Hours and fees can change, so confirm with the venue before you go.
