Back
US 76: Hiawassee to Clayton, Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia
Photo: Han Zheng · CC BY-SA 2.0 · cropped

Drives Georgia North Georgia and the Upstate

US 76: Hiawassee to Clayton

US 76, GA 2, GA 17 · Hiawassee → Clayton

Sweeping25 mi35 min2,600 ft climbHigh point ≈ 2,700 ftOne way
Scan to drive it in CarvePoint a phone's camera here. It opens ready to drive.
Drive it in Carve, free

Opens this route in the app, or where to get it.

Drive this road
in the appOpen

The drive

US 76 is the main road between Hiawassee and Clayton, and it is the gentlest of the roads around Clayton. It heads east from Hiawassee, climbs through the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest and crosses Dicks Creek Gap, where the Appalachian Trail crosses the highway.

The road is a two-lane highway with steady curves and climbs rather than tight twists, with some passing zones. It covers 24.7 miles in about 35 minutes. Most of US 76 in Georgia belongs to the Lookout Mountain Scenic Highway, which runs through the national forest.

The Warwoman Road drive starts in Clayton, where this one ends, so the two combine for a day in Rabun County. The Georgia 75 drive from Helen ends on this same highway near Hiawassee.

Along the way

  1. Hiawassee (US 76)
  2. Clayton (US 76)
Elevation
2,600 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 2,700 ft
HiawasseeClayton
Curves
Mostly gentle, with two twisty stretches
HiawasseeClayton
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • The Appalachian Trail trailhead at Dicks Creek Gap is a small gravel lot, and hikers cross the road there.
  • It is a two-lane road; use the passing zones, and be patient on the climbs.
  • Check Georgia 511 after heavy rain.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Georgia 511.

Questions about this drive

How long is US 76 from Hiawassee to Clayton?

US 76 from Hiawassee to Clayton is 24.7 miles and takes about 35 minutes.

Does the Appalachian Trail cross US 76 in Georgia?

Yes. The Appalachian Trail crosses US 76 at Dicks Creek Gap, between Hiawassee and Clayton, and the trailhead lot there is small and gravel.

Is US 76 between Hiawassee and Clayton twisty?

It has steady curves and climbs rather than tight twists, which makes it the gentler of the roads around Clayton.

What towns does US 76 connect in north Georgia?

This stretch of US 76 connects Hiawassee in Towns County with Clayton in Rabun County through the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
Drive it with no signalAPEXDownload the map and every turn before you go.
Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
Record your drivesAPEXRecord a drive and turn it into a route to drive again or share.

Free on iPhone and Android. CarPlay and Android Auto come with Apex.

Download on theApp StoreEarly access onGoogle Play

More drives near here

All 16 drives in Georgia ›

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

+ Plan a new route
Map of US 76: Hiawassee to Clayton, from Hiawassee to Clayton