McCaysville & Copperhill Day Trip: The GA-TN Blue Line

McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee sit side by side on the state line, just north of Blue Ridge. A visit can be a photo on the line, a walk over the river, coffee, and a few shops. Here's how to get there and what's on the official lists.

Update, Nov. 11, 2026: the Blue Ridge Mountains Chamber's McCaysville page (last updated Nov. 10, 2026) says that "while the community works toward reopening following recent flooding, McCaysville is temporarily closed to visitors," and lists the McCaysville Visitor Center as temporarily closed (Chamber). Check that page for reopening news before you plan a visit.

#McCaysville and Copperhill at a glance

#How far is McCaysville from Blue Ridge?

By car, McCaysville is about 17 minutes north of downtown Blue Ridge, according to routing with no traffic. Downtown Copperhill is right across the state line. For more on the drive up from Atlanta, see how far Blue Ridge is from Atlanta.

You can also go by train. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway runs "a two-hour or four-hour 26-mile roundtrip journey along the Toccoa River." The 4-hour Extended ride includes a "2-hour layover" to "Visit McCaysville, GA & Copperhill, TN." The 2-hour Express has "No layover" and is "Only available on select dates." The railway's winter season runs Nov. 5, 2026 to Feb. 28, 2027 (brscenic.com).

If you ride, the railway's FAQ says "there is a lot of walking required at the layover," and that you can buy alcoholic drinks in McCaysville and Copperhill during the layover. It also links a McCaysville/Copperhill walking map. Our railway guide covers tickets and seating, and rail bikes vs. the train helps if you're choosing between the two.

#Where is the blue line, and can you really stand in two states?

Yes. The City of Copperhill says "The painted blue line running through the middle of downtown marks the border, creating a fun photo opportunity where visitors can quite literally place one foot in each state" (City of Copperhill).

The Chamber says the line is "Far from a straight line, it winds from the IGA grocery store, across the street, and towards the river," and "The wooden sign marking the state line is a favorite spot for photos" (Chamber). One honest footnote from the Chamber: "The state line has been in dispute for years and even the Blue Line isn't definite; but it's a great place for a selfie!" (Chamber).

A few businesses sit right on the border too. The Chamber says "the state line cuts through part of the Copper Grill," and at Yellowbird Coffee Shop "The state line cuts into the corner of the building" (Chamber).

#What else is there to do in McCaysville and Copperhill?

#Walk the Old Steel Bridge

A ferry once linked the two towns, and the Old Steel Bridge is "still open to cars and pedestrians" (Chamber). The Chamber's heritage trail gives the history: "The original steel bridge was built in 1911 on the site of an old ferry." The current one "was built in 1920-1921 over the Toccoa River in Morganton before the construction of Lake Blue Ridge," then "taken apart, stored, and rebuilt across the river in 1936" (Chamber). It's also where the river changes names: "As it flows beneath the old Steel Bridge, the Toccoa River becomes the Ocoee River." The main street does the same, as Toccoa Street in Georgia and Ocoee Street in Tennessee (Chamber).

#Stop at the McCaysville Visitor Center

The Chamber lists the visitor center's hours as 10 AM to 4 PM Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday to Saturday, and noon to 4 PM Sunday. Wednesday isn't listed (Chamber). Explore Georgia says it's "located on the bank of the Toccoa River," and invites you to pick up lunch downtown "and enjoy it on the deck" (Explore Georgia).

#Follow the Copper Basin Historic Heritage Trail

The Chamber's Copper Basin Historic Heritage Trail lists 13 stops across both towns, including the visitor center, the Blue Line, Copperhill City Hall, the Old Steel Bridge, and the Riverwalk Shops, with a downloadable map. The backstory: copper was "mined in the basin until the late 1980's," and "In 1939, TVA and the Tennessee Copper Company began a long term reforesting project which helped restore the area" (Chamber).

#Sit by the river at Toccoa River Park

Explore Georgia lists Toccoa River Park in McCaysville with picnic tables, grills, a playground, a boat launch, and public restrooms, open year-round (Explore Georgia).

#Browse the shops

• Riverwalk Shops (McCaysville): Explore Georgia lists "The Riverwalk Shops and new Chamber Visitor Center on the Toccoa River in McCaysville" as a must-do (Explore Georgia).
• Copper Mine Candle Co. (Copperhill): known for its "lotion candle," which "when melted, doubles as a natural lotion." The city lists it open every day, 11 AM to 5 PM (City of Copperhill).
• Copperhill General Store: homemade treats, "nostalgic candies," and a chance to "Create your own candle" (City of Copperhill).
• Copperhill Book & Plant Lounge: books, plants, and "cozy seating" (City of Copperhill).

#Where can you eat and get coffee?

• Yellowbird Coffee Shop (Copperhill): "Serving Counter Culture Coffee and a selection of small bites." The city lists hours of 7 AM to 5 PM Monday to Saturday and 9 AM to 3 PM Sunday (City of Copperhill). The Chamber says it's "in an old bank building near the Old Steel Bridge" with a drive-through "that you can also walk up to" (Chamber).
• Rum Cake Lady (McCaysville): "in the old Blue and White Pure gas station on the corner of Highway 5 and Toccoa Avenue," with "a cafecito, empanadas or an authentic Cuban sandwich with tostones" (Chamber).
• Copper Grill (Copperhill): "a hearty burger topped with bacon and cheese, a hot dog or a pulled pork sandwich" (Chamber).
• Twisted Tomato and Burra Burra on the River: the Chamber says both have patios overlooking the Toccoa (Chamber).

Call ahead for restaurant hours. For beer, Copperhill Brewery and Buck Bald Brewing are both in Copperhill; see our Blue Ridge breweries guide for their hours and food rules.

#Is the Ducktown Basin Museum open?

Not right now. The museum's site says it "will be closing for the season effective December 16, 2025," that it "will remain closed for several months during the construction process," and that "Information about our re-opening date will be shared to this page at a later date" (Ducktown Basin Museum). Check that page before you plan around it.

#Can you add the Ocoee on the same day?

You can, if you want a longer outing. The Ocoee Whitewater Center is about 31 minutes from downtown Blue Ridge by car, according to routing with no traffic. The Forest Service says the center "hosted the world's first Olympic whitewater event on a natural river," and "On April 26, 2022, the Ocoee Whitewater Center caught fire and was destroyed." Trails and both parking lots have reopened, but "The fenced in area around the visitor center will remain closed to the public." The area is open during daylight hours year-round, and the lower lot has a $3.00 user fee (USDA Forest Service).

#Any holiday events in McCaysville this year?

Two are on the Chamber's calendar for 2026:

• Light Up McCaysville, Fri., Nov. 27, 2026: 5 to 7 PM, with the tree lit at dusk and Santa at the Riverwalk Shops (Chamber).
• Copperhill Kiwanis Christmas Parade, Sat., Dec. 5, 2026: the event runs 11 AM to 3 PM, lining up next to McCaysville City Park and traveling through the streets of Copperhill. Float judging is at noon, and the parade starts at 1 PM. The rain date is Saturday, Dec. 12 (Chamber).

Everything else is on our events calendar and in Christmas events in Blue Ridge.

#Tips for a McCaysville and Copperhill visit

• Check visitor center hours. The Chamber's listed hours don't include Wednesday.
• Wear walking shoes. The railway warns about "a lot of walking" at the layover.
• Check hours first. The Ducktown Basin Museum is closed for renovations, and hours can change.
• Pair it with the river. The Toccoa runs right through town. Our Toccoa River fly fishing guide and swinging bridge guide cover other spots along it.

#Where to stay for a McCaysville day trip

The Black Ember is a modern A-frame cabin about 10 minutes from downtown Blue Ridge, with the state line about 17 minutes beyond downtown. Back at the cabin there's a cedar barrel sauna, a private hot tub, a three-hole putting green, a wood fire pit with Adirondack chairs, and a stocked coffee bar. It sleeps up to 5, with no pets, no smoking, and no parties. Driving up from the city? See our mountain cabin near Atlanta page.