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National Historical Park · Georgia

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park

National Historical Park in Georgia. No entrance fee. 12 hikes listed.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

TypeNational Historical Park
StateGeorgia
Entrance feeNo entrance fee
CampgroundsNone
Nearest national parkCongaree (175 mi)
Closest airportMCN (10 mi)
mounds
The Great Temple Mound is the largest mound at the park, it stands at 55 feet tall. Photo: NPS

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park is a national historical park run by the National Park Service in Georgia.

In the park service’s words

Welcome to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. This park is a prehistoric American Indian site, where many different American Indian cultures occupied this land for thousands of years. American Indians first came here during the Paleo-Indian Period hunting Ice Age mammals. Around 900 CE, the Mississippian Period began, and people constructed mounds for their elite, which remain here today.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

  • Main Trail (30 to 90 Minutes): A 1/2 mile trail leading to three of the park's most popular points of interest.
  • Wildlife Watching at Ocmulgee Mounds: Ocmulgee Mounds offers a plethora of wildlife to watch as visitors explore the park.
  • Ocmulgee River Trail (30 to 60 Minutes): A trail that winds through a wooded area to the Ocmulgee River.
  • Heritage Trail (30 to 90 Minutes): A paved trail that is a favorite for bikers.
  • Dunlap Trail (5 to 15 Minutes): A short, 1/4th of a mile long trail leading to the Dunlap Mound and Civil War earthworks.
  • McDougal Trail (15 to 45 Minutes): A 1/2mile-long dirt path winding through woods to reach McDougal Mound.
  • Bartram Trail (20 to 40 Minutes): A 3/4th mile hike through woods between the Southeast Mound and the Visitor Center.
  • Funeral Loop Trail (15 to 30 Minutes): A 1/4th mile loop through woods near the Funeral Mound parking lot.

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Daily, 8:00AM - 5:00PM. Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Park grounds and walking trails are open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. The Visitor Center and Earth Lodge are open from 9:00 am-5:00 pm daily.

Lodging

  • Earth Lodge: Visitors experience a view of the ancient past when they enter the Earth Lodge, a reconstructed council chamber of the Mississippian culture. The clay floor inside is the original floor, making it over 1,000 years old.

Getting there

The park is located in East Macon, along Emery Highway. Enter the park address, 1207 Emery Highway, Macon, GA 31217 to get directions to the site.

Airport City Drive to the park Straight-line miles Type
Middle Georgia Regional Airport (MCN) Macon, GA No road route 10 Regional
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Atlanta, GA No road route 73 Large hub
Columbus Airport (CSG) Columbus, GA No road route 81 Regional

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

  • Ocmulgee Mounds Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. The park grounds are open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. The Visitor Center and Earth Lodge are open from 9:00 am-5:00 pm daily.

Weather

Macon has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average high temperature ranges from 46 to 58°F (7.7 to 14.4°C) in January and 82 to 91°F (27.7 to 32.7°C) in July. Winters are mild. Temps ranging from 30 degrees to 50 degrees. Spring is mild but wet. Temps ranging from 50 degrees to low 70 degrees. Summers are hot and very humid. Temp ranging from upper 80 degrees to 100 degrees. Fall is pleasant. Temps ranging from 60 to 80 degrees.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Congaree, about 175 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park?

No entrance fee.

Where is Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park?

In Georgia. The closest airport with scheduled flights is Middle Georgia Regional Airport, about 10 miles away.

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