Augusta

Around Augusta

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Metro area · Georgia · 636k people

Augusta

Locals say CSRA (Central Savannah River Area) · “Garden City”

A river town with a green heart

Masters greenGreenJackets gold

Join the room Ask the neighbours

Welcome to the CSRA, where the Savannah River meets Southern charm. Whether you're here for the golf, the horse country, or just the sweet tea, you'll find a friendly community ready to share its traditions.

Clubs for Augusta

No clubs for Augusta yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Augusta. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Augusta. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Augusta National Golf Club Home of the Masters Tournament
  • Riverwalk Augusta Riverside promenade along the Savannah River
  • Augusta Canal Historic canal with towpath and boat tours
  • Phinizy Swamp Nature Park Wetlands preserve with boardwalks and wildlife
  • Morris Museum of Art Museum dedicated to Southern art
  • Enmarket Arena Modern arena for concerts and hockey
  • Outdoors Hike the Augusta Canal towpath
  • Outdoors Kayak on the Savannah River
  • With kids Walk the Riverwalk and see the city
  • With kids Visit Phinizy Swamp Nature Park
  • Evenings Bar-hop on Broad Street downtown
  • Evenings Catch live music at Sky City
  • Locals love Golf courses
  • Locals love Equestrian centers

Through the year

  • The Masters Tournament April World-famous golf tournament at Augusta National
  • Arts in the Heart of Augusta September Multicultural arts and music festival downtown
  • Westobou Festival October Contemporary arts and performance festival
  • Aiken Trials March Thoroughbred horse races at the Aiken Training Track
  • Augusta GreenJackets home games April–September Minor league baseball at SRP Park

Humid subtropical with hot, sticky summers and mild winters. Expect thunderstorms in summer and occasional ice in winter. Best: Spring (April–May) and fall (October) are ideal for being outside.

Talk like a local

“CSRA”
Central Savannah River Area, the local nickname for the metro
“The Masters”
The Masters Tournament, always capitalized
“The Riverwalk”
The Riverwalk, the riverside promenade
“Clarks Hill”
Clarks Hill Lake, often called Clarks Hill

Getaways

  • Columbia (SC) State capital with museums, riverfront, and college energy
  • Athens (GA) Live music scene, college town, and classic Southern food
  • Statesboro (GA) Home of Georgia Southern; small-town charm and local eats
  • Milledgeville (GA) Historic antebellum architecture and lake recreation

Local flavour

Teams

  • Augusta GreenJackets MiLB (High-A, Carolina League)

Eat and drink

  • Pimento cheese A Southern staple famously served at the Masters, and a local favourite.
  • Chicken bog A rice-and-chicken dish popular in the South Carolina side of the CSRA, especially around Aiken.
  • Sweet tea The quintessential Southern drink, ubiquitous in Augusta and the surrounding area.

Where people go

  • Golf courses Beyond Augusta National, the area is dotted with public and private courses that define the landscape.
  • Riverwalk The Savannah Riverwalk along the river in downtown Augusta, a gathering place for locals.
  • Equestrian centers Aiken's horse farms and training tracks are a key part of the region's identity.
  • Historic districts Antebellum homes and tree-lined streets in Augusta and Aiken evoke the Old South.

Heritage and traditions

Augusta and the CSRA are proud of their Southern hospitality, the world-famous Masters Tournament, and a rich history that blends golf, equestrian culture, and the Savannah River's industrial past.

This time of year in Augusta

  • College football tailgating Fall Fall Saturdays are for tailgating and watching SEC or ACC games, with many locals supporting Georgia or South Carolina.

Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — About to do something; preparing to.

Festivals

  • Aiken's Makin' May Annual arts and crafts festival in downtown Aiken, typically in May.
  • Barnwell Watermelon Festival July A summer celebration in Barnwell, SC, with watermelon eating contests and a parade.
  • Edgefield Peach Festival June A June festival celebrating the region's peach harvest with tastings and live music.
  • Greek Festival May Hosted by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Augusta, featuring Greek food, music, and dancing.
  • First Friday First Friday of each month Monthly art walk on Broad Street in Augusta, with galleries open late and street performers.
  • Aiken Steeplechase Spring A spring horse racing event with a festive social scene, held at the Aiken Horse Park.

Landmarks with a story

  • Sacred Heart Cultural Center A former Catholic church in Augusta, now a cultural center and event venue, known for its stunning architecture.
  • Congregation Children of Israel One of the oldest synagogues in the South, founded in Augusta in the 1840s.
  • St. Paul's Episcopal Church Historic church in Augusta, dating to the 18th century, with a cemetery that includes Revolutionary War soldiers.
  • Aiken County Historical Museum (Banksia) A 1930s winter cottage turned museum, showcasing Aiken's equestrian and social history.
  • Old Medical College of Georgia A Greek Revival building in Augusta that served as the medical school's first home; now a museum.

Food traditions

  • Boiled peanuts A roadside snack of green peanuts boiled in salty brine, beloved across the South and especially common in the CSRA.
  • Mustard-based barbecue In Aiken and the South Carolina side, pulled pork is often served with a tangy mustard sauce, a Midlands specialty.
  • Peach cobbler Georgia's peach harvest inspires this baked dessert, often served with vanilla ice cream.
  • Grits and eggs A breakfast staple, often served with shrimp or as a side to fried eggs and bacon.
  • Hoppin' John Black-eyed peas and rice, traditionally eaten on New Year's Day for good luck.

Music and arts

  • Soul music legacy James Brown's influence is everywhere; the Augusta area has a deep R&B and soul tradition.
  • Southern art at the Morris Museum The Morris Museum of Art in Augusta is dedicated exclusively to Southern art.
  • Edgefield pottery A folk art tradition of alkaline-glazed stoneware, with a museum and working potters in Edgefield, SC.
  • Augusta Symphony A professional orchestra that has performed since the 1950s, offering classical and pops concerts.

A little history

  • 1736 Augusta founded as a trading post on the Savannah River.
  • 1845 The Augusta Canal was built to provide water power for mills, sparking industrial growth.
  • 1828 The Medical College of Georgia (now Augusta University) was established.
  • 1934 The first Masters Tournament was held at Augusta National Golf Club.
  • 1941 Fort Gordon (now Fort Gordon) was activated as a military installation.

Rivalries

  • Georgia vs South Carolina College football and general state pride across the river
  • Augusta vs North Augusta Friendly banter between the two sides of the Savannah
  • GreenJackets vs Columbia Fireflies Minor league baseball rivalry in the Carolina League
  • Game day Friday night lights
  • Game day Aiken Steeplechase
  • Outdoors Picking peaches at an orchard
  • Outdoors Birdwatching at Phinizy Swamp
  • With kids Aiken County Historical Museum
  • With kids Aiken's Makin' arts and crafts festival

The CSRA has a classic Southern accent with a drawl, influenced by both Georgia and South Carolina. You'll hear 'y'all' and 'fixin' to,' and locals often drop the 'r' in words like 'farther' and 'Augusta' is pronounced with a hard 'g' (Aw-GUS-tuh).

Only here

  • The Masters Tournament's green jacket is awarded only at Augusta National.
  • The azaleas and dogwoods that bloom every spring around the golf course are a local icon.
  • Amen Corner—the famous stretch of holes 11, 12, and 13 at Augusta National—is a pilgrimage site for golf fans.
  • In Aiken, you'll see 'horse crossing' signs and must stop for riders on the road.
New here? A few tips
  • Embrace the heat: summers are long, humid, and often 90°F+. Stay hydrated and use sunscreen.
  • Learn to love sweet tea—it's the default drink at most local restaurants.
  • During Masters week (early April), traffic and crowds spike; plan errands around it or enjoy the festivities.
  • Try the local staples: chicken bog, pimento cheese, and boiled peanuts.
  • In Aiken, be alert for horses on the road; drivers are expected to yield and be patient.

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Nearby

Every area
McCormickSouth CarolinaLake days and country waysBarnwellSouth CarolinaWhere the pines meet the Salkehatchie.GreenwoodSouth CarolinaLakeside living, peach-sweet days.SandersvilleGeorgiaWhere the fall line meets the soul of GeorgiaNewberrySouth CarolinaA quiet place with a big heart.SwainsboroGeorgiaPine-scented small towns and friendly faces.OrangeburgSouth CarolinaWhere peaches and Bulldogs grow.ColumbiaSouth CarolinaThe Midlands' beating heart, where history and hospitality flow.

Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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