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Plan your trip to Augusta for the biggest sporting events. Find hotels, tickets, and things to do.
Augusta, Georgia, is golf's most hallowed ground — a quiet Southern city on the Savannah River that becomes the center of the sporting universe every April when the Masters transforms Augusta National Golf Club into the most exclusive ticket in sports. Beyond the tournament's azaleas and Amen Corner, Augusta offers riverwalk strolls, soul food institutions, and easy drives to Aiken's horse country and Thurmond Lake. Whether you're chasing badge dreams for tournament week or exploring the region's sporting heritage year-round, this guide covers everything from practice-round ticket lotteries to the best places to stay and eat during the most anticipated week in golf.
Augusta's identity is inseparable from the Masters, staged at Augusta National since 1934 — the green jacket ceremony, Amen Corner, and Magnolia Lane are sporting lore known far beyond golf. Tournament week swells the city with patrons, players, and media from around the world, while the annual Drive, Chip and Putt Championship gives young golfers their own Sunday stage. Beyond the National, the region lives sport year-round: the Augusta GreenJackets play minor-league baseball at riverside SRP Park, Augusta University teams draw loyal local crowds, and the area's public and private courses make it one of the golfiest corners of America. Cyclocross and disc golf scenes round out a quietly passionate sporting culture. Rowing crews from across the Southeast sweep the Savannah River each November for the Head of the South regatta, and the area's lakes and trails keep the sporting calendar moving long after the Masters crowds head home. Golf's greatest champions are made here every second Sunday in April, and the whole city tunes in — even those who never swing a club.
Augusta Regional (AGS) is a small field 10 miles south of downtown, served by domestic connections through Atlanta and Charlotte. Taxis, rideshares, and rental cars cover the 15-20 minute run into town, but seats are limited and pricey during Masters week — book as soon as schedules open.
Atlanta (ATL), the world's busiest airport, is the most practical gateway for most Masters visitors. It sits 145 miles west of Augusta; Interstate 20 delivers you to town in about 2.5 hours by rental car. Reserve that car by early autumn — tournament week sells out the region's fleets.
Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) handles connections through Atlanta and Charlotte, about 20 minutes from downtown. Most Masters visitors fly into Atlanta (2.5 hours away) or Columbia, SC, and drive. Rental cars sell out months ahead for tournament week — reserve by September at the latest.
Washington Road becomes a slow-moving parking lot before and after each round during the Masters. Berckmans Road closes entirely to through traffic. Build in 60-90 minutes for what's normally a 15-minute drive, or park at mall lots along I-20 and walk in with the crowds.
Augusta is easy to navigate by car year-round, with free and cheap parking downtown near the Riverwalk. Rideshares operate reliably but surge heavily during tournament week. Many Masters patrons simply walk between Washington Road hotels, restaurants, and the course gates — the whole tournament district is compact.
The classic Masters base — hotels along Washington Road sit within walking distance of Augusta National's gates, which is why rates leap tenfold and sell out a year in advance for tournament week. Outside April, it's a convenient, affordable corridor of familiar chains and casual Southern eateries.
Search HotelsDowntown Augusta pairs the Riverwalk's riverfront promenade with arts venues, breweries, and soul-food landmarks in James Brown's hometown. It's the most atmospheric place to stay year-round, about 15 minutes' drive from Augusta National, with boutique inns and historic-hotel character throughout the district.
Search HotelsThe suburban west side clusters most of Augusta's mid-range hotels, malls, and restaurants along Washington and Wrightsboro roads — a 20-minute drive to the course and the most realistic availability for late bookers during Masters week, albeit at tournament-inflated prices.
Search HotelsEase into Augusta with a morning along the Savannah Riverwalk, where gardens, public art, and river views line the water below Broad Street. Explore downtown's murals and the Morris Museum of Art, then dive into James Brown's legacy at the Godfather of Soul's memorial statue. Dinner means Southern classics — fried chicken, pimento cheese, and peach cobbler.
Masters week or not, golf pilgrims make the drive down Washington Road to photograph Augusta National's famed gates on Berckmans Road, breathing the same azalea-scented air as champions. Visit the Augusta Golf & Gardens exhibits, play a public round in nearby Aiken or Evans, and browse golf memorabilia shops where Masters badges and artifacts carry stories from every April since 1934.
Cross the river to North Augusta for an afternoon at SRP Park, where the GreenJackets play minor-league baseball with Savannah River sunsets behind the outfield wall — arrive early for the riverwalk path along the stadium's edge. Alternatively, kayak the canal, bike the North Augusta Greeneway, or simply cap your trip with sunset drinks above the Savannah rapids.
Explore tours, attractions, and experiences for travelers visiting Augusta.
Explore Augusta ExperiencesThe Masters owns the first full week of April, from Monday practice rounds through Sunday's final putt — and the city plans its entire year around it. Practice-round tickets are distributed by lottery each June, with daily tournament badges famously passed down like heirlooms. Outside Masters week, catch GreenJackets baseball from April through summer and college events across the river in Aiken and North Augusta.
The Masters 2027 runs April 5-11 at Augusta National. Practice rounds from $75, hotels near $200/night and week budgets from $2,000 — plan your Augusta week.
The Masters 2026 recapped: azaleas, drama and the Green Jacket. Review ticket prices from $75 and Augusta hotels, then plan your 2027 trip and badge strategy.
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