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West Columbia, United States
Your starting point in the Midlands of South Carolina. Grab breakfast at a local diner before heading west on US-1 or SC-6 to get west of I-85 before turning north. The Congaree River area is worth a quick stretch stop.
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Abbeville, United States
A charming small town well west of I-85 with a beautiful historic courthouse square. Walk the downtown and grab a bite at one of the local spots on the square. This is the heart of old Upstate SC backcountry.
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Iva, United States
A tiny SC backroads town perfect for a slow cruise through on SC-72. The rural landscape here is classic Piedmont South Carolina with cotton fields and old farmhouses. Continue north on small county roads toward the SC-NC line.
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Walhalla, United States
A gem of a mountain town in the SC Upstate founded by German settlers in the 1800s. Stroll the historic main street and stop at Stumphouse Tunnel Park nearby for a cool piece of railroad history. You're deep in the Blue Ridge foothills here on pure backroads.
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Hiawassee, United States
Cross into North Georgia on GA-76 and roll into this mountain lake town on Lake Chatuge. It's a beautiful slow drive through the Blue Ridge with almost no traffic. Walk the lakefront and enjoy the laid-back North Georgia mountain vibe.
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Murphy, United States
Cross into western North Carolina at the junction of three states — NC, GA, and TN are all nearby. Murphy has a small but lively downtown with local restaurants and a historic courthouse on the hill. Take US-64 west from here for a stunning mountain backroads push into Tennessee.
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Ducktown, United States
Just across the Tennessee line, Ducktown is a quirky old copper mining town with a fascinating moonscape of hills left behind by historic mining operations. The Ducktown Basin Museum tells the unusual industrial story of this remote mountain community. From here you're on the final backroad leg to Cleveland via US-64 and TN-30.
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Cleveland, United States
Your destination in the foothills of the Cherokee National Forest. Cleveland sits at the edge of the scenic Ocoee River corridor and makes a great base for outdoor adventures. The historic downtown square has shops and restaurants to celebrate the end of a great backroads run.