Augusta National / Augusta

State: Georgia. Type: city on the Savannah River, seat of Richmond County, best known as home of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament. Founded 1736 by James Oglethorpe and named for Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. Served as Georgia's state capital from 1785 to 1795. 2020 population: 202,071, making it among Georgia's most populous cities. Augusta National Golf Club is private; the grounds are open to the public only during Masters week each spring.

Augusta sits on Georgia's eastern border along the Savannah River, at the fall line where the Piedmont drops to the coastal plain and where the river ceases to be navigable upstream. Founded in 1736 by James Oglethorpe and named for a British princess, it is one of Georgia's oldest cities and served briefly as the state capital in the late 1700s. Today it is a mid-sized city anchored by a large medical and university district built around Augusta University, a U.S. Army cyber installation, and a revitalized riverfront. Internationally, though, Augusta is synonymous with golf: each April the private Augusta National Golf Club hosts the Masters Tournament, one of the four major championships in men's golf, and for that one week the city fills with patrons, players and media from around the world. Outside of Masters week the club is closed to the public, so most visitors experience Augusta through its other attractions, the multilevel Riverwalk along the Savannah River, the historic Augusta Canal, and museums covering the city's history and Southern art. The city also carries a rich musical heritage as the hometown of soul legend James Brown. The blend of Southern history, riverfront recreation and a globally famous golf event gives Augusta an identity out of proportion to its size.

Augusta is on the central-eastern border of Georgia, on the Savannah River across from North Augusta, South Carolina, roughly 150 miles east of Atlanta. It is the seat of Richmond County and operates under a consolidated city-county government formed in 1996. The city sits at the head of navigation on the Savannah River, at the fall line between the Piedmont and the coastal plain. Augusta National Golf Club lies on Washington Road in the western part of the city.

Augusta has a humid subtropical climate with short, mild winters and very hot, humid summers. On average the city sees about 82 days a year reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, with summer being hot and often stormy. Winters are generally mild with only occasional freezes and little snow. Spring, when the Masters is held in early-to-mid April, and fall are the most pleasant seasons, with milder temperatures and blooming or turning foliage.

Spring is Augusta's marquee season: the Masters Tournament falls in early-to-mid April (for example, scheduled for April 5-11, 2027), when the city is at its busiest and lodging and dining are in highest demand. If your goal is the tournament, spring is the only option, but expect crowds, premium prices and the need to book far ahead. For a quieter visit focused on the Riverwalk, canal and museums, spring and fall both offer comfortable weather without the Masters-week crush.

Augusta was established in 1736 by James Oglethorpe, founder of the Georgia colony, as a trading settlement at the head of navigation on the Savannah River, and was named in honor of Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, mother of King George III. Its position at the fall line made it a natural trade and transportation hub. Augusta served as Georgia's state capital from 1785 to 1795 in the years after American independence. In the 19th century the Augusta Canal, built in the 1840s, powered mills and helped drive industrial growth, and the city became a significant center during and after the Civil War era. In the 20th century Augusta gained worldwide fame through golf: Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts founded Augusta National Golf Club, which opened in the early 1930s on the site of a former plant nursery, and the club held its first Masters Tournament in 1934. The city consolidated its government with Richmond County in 1996. Augusta is also celebrated as the hometown of soul and funk pioneer James Brown, who is commemorated in the city.

For golf fans, attending the Masters at Augusta National in April is the signature experience, though access requires hard-to-get tickets and the club is otherwise closed to the public. Year-round, visitors can stroll the multilevel Riverwalk Augusta along the Savannah River, with its gardens, fountains, playgrounds and amphitheater, and explore the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area by boat tour, bike or on foot along the towpath. Cultural stops include the Augusta Museum of History and the Morris Museum of Art, which focuses on Southern art. The city's downtown along Broad Street offers shopping and dining, and the James Brown legacy is marked around town. Public-access golf courses in the area, such as Forest Hills, let visitors play near the home of the Masters.

Riverwalk Augusta is the city's signature public space, a landscaped, multilevel promenade along the Savannah River with parks, fountains and an amphitheater. The Augusta Canal National Heritage Area preserves the 1840s industrial canal, with boat tours and trails. The Augusta Museum of History covers the city's past, and the Morris Museum of Art showcases Southern art and culture. Augusta National Golf Club is the most famous site, though it is a private club open to the public only during the Masters. The historic districts and Broad Street downtown, plus sites honoring James Brown, round out the city's visitor landmarks.

Augusta Regional Airport (AGS), on the south side of the city, offers commercial flights, though many visitors, especially for the Masters, fly into Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, about 150 miles west, and drive in via Interstate 20. Interstate 20 connects Augusta to Atlanta and to Columbia, South Carolina. Once in the city, a car or rideshare is the most practical way to get around, particularly during Masters week when traffic and demand spike.

Augusta itself is a city and has no single set of hours; Riverwalk Augusta and public parks are generally accessible daily, while attractions like the Augusta Museum of History, Morris Museum of Art and Augusta Canal tours each keep their own posted hours, which can vary by day and season. Augusta National Golf Club is a private club and is not open to the public except during the Masters Tournament in April. Confirm hours for individual attractions before visiting.

Walking the Riverwalk and the city's public spaces is generally free. Individual attractions, the Augusta Museum of History, the Morris Museum of Art, and Augusta Canal boat tours, each set their own admission, so check their websites for current pricing. Masters Tournament tickets (called badges for the competition rounds, plus practice-round tickets) are famously limited and distributed largely through an official ticket application and lottery process managed via Masters.com rather than sold openly; check the official Masters patron information for current details.

A day is enough to sample Augusta's core attractions, the Riverwalk, a canal tour, and a museum or two. Masters visitors typically build a multi-day trip around the tournament, and travelers combining Augusta with the wider region may stay two or more days to add nearby golf, dining and history.

Augusta and neighboring North Augusta, South Carolina, offer a range of hotels, from downtown and riverfront properties to chain hotels clustered near the interstate and the Washington Road area close to Augusta National. During Masters week, demand surges dramatically, hotels book far in advance at premium rates, and many local residents rent out private homes; the tourism bureau advises planning lodging, dining and transportation well ahead for that period. Outside Masters week, rooms are far easier to find across the city.

Downtown Augusta, especially along Broad Street, has a growing dining and nightlife scene ranging from Southern comfort food to more upscale restaurants, with additional options along the riverfront and near the medical and university district. During Masters week the city's restaurants are at their busiest and reservations become essential. The area's Southern culinary traditions, along with a mix of national and independent restaurants, give visitors plenty of choice.

Just across the Savannah River lies North Augusta, South Carolina, with its own riverfront greenway. The Savannah Rapids Park and the upper reaches of the Augusta Canal offer scenic river recreation. Farther afield, the state capital and cultural scene of Columbia, South Carolina, and Georgia's own attractions along the I-20 corridor toward Atlanta are within reach for travelers extending their trip. The wider region is dotted with golf courses drawing visitors inspired by the Masters.

Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) is the closest airport with commercial service. For a wider choice of flights, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, about 150 miles west along Interstate 20, is a common gateway, with visitors then driving in. Local public transit exists within Augusta, but most travelers rely on a car or rideshare, which is especially useful given the spread-out layout and Masters-week congestion.

As in any mid-sized city, use standard urban precautions: stay aware of your surroundings, especially after dark downtown, and keep valuables out of sight in parked cars. Summer heat and humidity call for hydration and sun protection, particularly along the exposed Riverwalk and canal. Around the Savannah River and canal, heed posted safety signage near the water. During Masters week, plan extra time for heavy traffic and follow event security rules, including strict prohibitions on phones and cameras inside Augusta National. For any emergency, dial 911.

Comfortable walking shoes are useful for the Riverwalk, canal towpath and downtown. Sunscreen, a hat and water help with the summer heat, and a light rain layer is handy for afternoon storms. For a Masters visit, note that the club bans phones and cameras on the grounds during tournament rounds, so plan for that restriction; a printed itinerary and cash or card for concessions and parking are worth having.

If your trip centers on the Masters, apply for tickets through the official channels well in advance and book lodging and dining as early as possible, since the city fills up and prices climb sharply. Remember that Augusta National is otherwise closed to the public, so plan year-round visits around the Riverwalk, canal and museums instead. Interstate 20 makes Augusta an easy add-on to a wider Georgia or South Carolina itinerary. Visiting outside Masters week means smaller crowds, lower prices and easier access to the city's other attractions.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For visitor planning, the Visit Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau maintains a welcome office at 1010 Broad Street in downtown Augusta; consult its official website for current contact details and hours.

Visit Augusta (Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau) - https://www.visitaugusta.com

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This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.