13 Classic Georgia Drive-Ins That Still Serve Burgers Just Like The Old Days
Georgia has always known how to treat a good burger with respect, and some places have been proving that point since back when carhops delivered trays straight to your window.
Across the state, a handful of drive-ins continue to flip patties on the same grills, serve the same simple toppings, and draw the same loyal crowds their grandparents once joined.
I have spent plenty of afternoons parked under faded awnings, unwrapping paper-lined burgers that taste exactly like the kind of roadside meal people used to plan their routes around.
These spots skip the trends, ignore the fuss, and just keep doing what they have always done best, which is serving honest, juicy, old-school hamburgers that never needed an upgrade.
1. The Varsity, Atlanta
Pulling off the highway and seeing The Varsity’s glowing red sign always tells me I am about to step into serious burger history in the middle of Atlanta.
This Atlanta legend sits at 61 North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30308, right by Georgia Tech, and it has been feeding crowds since 1928.
I like to join the line, take a breath, and get ready for the famous shout of “What’ll ya have?” because it sets the tone before I even see the grill.
My order usually turns into a tray loaded with a chili cheeseburger, onion rings, and a frosted orange that disappears faster than I plan.
Old photos, paper hats, and counter service keep the whole place rooted in a much earlier chapter of drive-in culture.
Even without the classic carhop trays on the window, the bustling parking lot and neon give the visit a strong vintage drive-in energy.
Every time I walk back out to my car, I feel like I just checked in with one of Georgia’s original burger guardians.
2. Piggie Park Drive-In, Thomaston
Watching the smoke drift across the lot at Piggie Park Drive-In makes me instinctively reach for the burger part of the menu before anything else.
You will find it at 1420 US 19 N, Thomaston, GA 30286, where the low-slung building and simple awning still look pleasantly old school from the road.
I once pulled in “just to grab a sandwich” and ended up sitting in my parked car longer than expected because the burger and fries deserved full attention.
Here the patties stay straightforward, seared on a well-seasoned grill, with cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and a soft bun that does its job without drama.
The menu leans into barbecue, hot dogs, and plates, yet the classic hamburgers still taste exactly like the kind of roadside meal people brag about later.
Locals wander in wearing work boots, church clothes, and ball caps, which tells me this place has been everyone’s spot for generations.
When I pull back onto Highway 19, I always feel as if I just visited a friendly time capsule with barbecue smoke and burger grease on the lid.
3. Griffith’s Drive-In, Griffin
Rolling down Memorial Drive and spotting the Griffith’s Drive-In sign always makes me double-check that I have enough room in my day for a slow meal.
This long-running drive-in sits at 1015 Memorial Dr, Griffin, GA 30223, holding down its corner with a classic low roofline and simple signage.
My first visit turned into a quiet burger feast in the car, where I realized the chili cheeseburger could easily distract me from every plan I had after.
The burgers come out juicy, wrapped in paper, and stacked with toppings that feel comfortingly familiar rather than fussy.
I like how the menu still reads like something from several decades ago, with burgers, dogs, and baskets that keep regulars from overthinking their order.
Cars idle in the lot, friends lean on hoods, and people move in and out with the calm confidence of customers who know the grill will deliver.
By the time I toss the last napkin, I always feel as if Griffith’s has quietly reminded me why drive-in hamburgers never needed a makeover.
4. Chandler’s Drive-In, Thomasville
Cruising along E Jackson Street in Thomasville, I swear my stomach starts planning a Champ cheeseburger the second I see Chandler’s striped awning.
Chandler’s Drive-In sits at 1010 E Jackson St, Thomasville, GA 31792, a compact spot where the sign, parking pattern, and walk-up windows still hint at another era.
The Champ burger became my weakness here, stacked with cheese, toppings, and that unmistakable griddle flavor that only years of use can create.
I remember one afternoon when I promised myself I would share my fries, then quietly abandoned that idea halfway through the first handful.
Inside and out, the place feels relaxed, with regulars trading small talk while their orders hit the flat-top in steady rhythm.
Old photos and simple decor keep the attention on the paper-wrapped burgers that still anchor the menu.
Every time I leave Chandler’s, I find myself already plotting the next excuse to “accidentally” pass down Jackson Street around lunchtime.
5. White Diamond Grill & Barbecue, Bonaire
Few roadside views charm me faster than the modest little building of White Diamond Grill & Barbecue shimmering along GA 247.
This local institution sits at 497 GA 247 S, Bonaire, GA 31005, where it has served hungry travelers and regulars for decades.
I once stopped in on a long drive, thinking I would just grab barbecue, then spotted the burger section and knew my plan had instantly changed.
The burgers land on the table with a simple presentation, but the flavor carries all the quiet richness of a well-seasoned grill line.
I like pairing a cheeseburger with a side of crinkle-cut fries and a pile of pickles, then watching the parking lot fill with pickup trucks and regulars.
The room always feels full of locals who treat the counter staff more like neighbors than employees.
Walking back outside, I usually feel pleasantly full and mildly proud that I did not skip the burger for once.
6. Fincher’s Bar-B-Q, Macon
Crossing into Macon and pulling up to Fincher’s Bar-B-Q always feels like checking in on a relative who has been cooking since before I was born.
The original location at 3947 Houston Ave, Macon, GA 31206, has been around since the 1930s and still carries that classic drive-in DNA.
I remember ordering barbecue on my first visit, then spotting a burger heading to another table and immediately regretting my lack of foresight.
These burgers come off the grill with a straightforward confidence, tucked into soft buns with lettuce, tomato, and whatever extras I manage to talk myself into.
The menu might focus on pulled pork and plates, but the burgers quietly prove they belong in the conversation.
Old photos, well-worn booths, and the constant hum of regulars keep the room feeling reassuringly familiar.
Every time I leave Fincher’s, I tell myself that next visit I will finally split my attention evenly between barbecue and burgers, then I remember how difficult that is once I smell the grill.
7. Twin Oaks BBQ, Brunswick
Rolling into Brunswick around lunchtime, I have learned that my car steers itself toward Twin Oaks before I can pretend I have other plans.
This long-running spot sits at 2618 Norwich St, Brunswick, GA 31520, and has been serving barbecue, burgers, and those famous battered fries since the 1940s.
My go-to move is a hamburger deluxe, which arrives with all the classic toppings and the kind of char that tells me the grill has real seniority.
The dining room fills quickly at lunch, and I like listening to regulars debate sauces while I work through a burger, fries, and a pile of napkins.
Curb service along one side still nods to its drive-in roots, which fits the way people pull up, order, and linger.
The staff keeps everything moving with a pace that feels practiced rather than rushed.
When I roll back out onto Norwich Street, the combination of smoke and burger seasoning tends to follow me for a few miles in the best possible way.
8. Dari-Dip, LaFayette
Seeing the little white Dari-Dip building on W Villanow Street always makes me feel that I am about to eat exactly what people here have loved for generations.
You will find it at 302 W Villanow St, LaFayette, GA 30728, where this family-owned spot has been a local fixture since the 1950s.
I usually start with a Dari Burger, that square-bun classic that regulars have been ordering since Eisenhower was in office.
The burger comes out hot, wrapped, and pleasantly messy, with a flavor that matches the neon sign outside better than any marketing slogan could.
Inside, the booths, photos, and steady flow of regulars keep everything anchored in the town’s daily rhythm.
I like to finish with a cone or banana split, which feels less like dessert and more like following local instructions.
Walking out, I always have the sense that Dari-Dip has stayed steady while plenty of newer trends have already come and gone.
9. The Dairy Lane, Sandersville
Pulling into The Dairy Lane’s packed lot in Sandersville, I instantly understand why locals treat this place as a non-negotiable part of their routines.
This longtime favorite sits at 839 S Harris St, Sandersville, GA 31082, and has been serving burgers, hot dogs, and frozen treats since the 1950s.
My usual move here is a cheeseburger combo, where the patty lands with just enough char and the bun keeps everything together without getting in the way.
The line often includes families, high school kids, and workers grabbing a quick lunch, all treating the place like a shared backyard.
I like to sit and people-watch while fries disappear and ice cream cones try to stay ahead of the Georgia heat.
The menu never feels overly complicated, which keeps the focus right where it belongs, on the burgers, fries, and shakes.
Every time I leave The Dairy Lane, I get why so many reviews describe it as the taste of home rather than just another stop.
10. Burger Chick, Tallapoosa
Driving along US 78 near Tallapoosa, I always keep one eye out for the modest Burger Chick sign because missing it would feel like a tactical error.
This local staple waits at 2106 US 78, Tallapoosa, GA 30176, where it has built a devoted following around simple burgers and dogs.
On my first visit, I ordered a cheeseburger almost as an afterthought, then ended up sitting in the car longer than planned just to finish every last bite.
The patty comes out juicy, with that slightly salty edge that makes the cheese and pickles feel very necessary.
Locals swing through for takeout, sit in parked cars, or grab a quick bite at the window, and everyone seems to know exactly what they want.
I like the way the place skips any kind of trend chasing and just keeps serving the kind of burgers people grew up with.
By the time I pull back onto the highway, I always understand why this small spot draws such loyal repeat visits.
11. Dari Spot, Gainesville / Clermont
Heading up Cleveland Highway northeast of Gainesville, I know I am close to something good when I see the steady traffic around Dari Spot.
This roadside favorite sits at 4841 Cleveland Hwy, Gainesville, GA 30506, though many locals will tell you it feels just as much a Clermont hangout.
My first burger here was a classic double, stacked with simple toppings and plenty of meat, and it made me immediately understand the long-running loyalty.
The menu covers breakfast biscuits, hot dogs, and plates, yet the hamburgers still feel like the true heartbeat of the place.
I like to pair a slaw burger with thick onion rings and watch the steady parade of pickup trucks and regulars in the lot.
Inside, the counter crew keeps things friendly, and there is always at least one conversation between people who clearly see each other here often.
Leaving Dari Spot, I usually feel full, slightly salted around the edges, and very glad I did not drive past.
12. Bell’s Drive-In, Toccoa
Rolling into Toccoa on GA 17, the Bell’s Drive-In sign always feels like a quiet suggestion to take a short break from the day.
This little classic sits at 1013 GA 17 Alt, Toccoa, GA 30577, where it has been grilling burgers and scooping treats for locals for years.
I remember parking under the simple awning and realizing half the cars around me had clearly been pulling into this same lot for decades.
The burgers stay modest in size but generous in flavor, with the griddle giving everything that familiar edge regulars expect.
I like grabbing a cheeseburger, fries, and a soft serve, then sitting for a moment before the next stretch of driving.
Teenagers, families, and older regulars all seem to treat Bell’s as a default meeting point, which gives the place a comfortable rhythm.
When I pull away, I always feel as if I just borrowed someone else’s hometown favorite for an afternoon.
13. Speedburger Drive-In, Jasper
On the east side of Jasper, Speedburger Drive-In proves its name every time I roll up hungry and watch the drive-thru line move with surprising efficiency.
This longtime local institution sits at 562 E Church St, Jasper, GA 30143, proudly wearing its role as a classic burger and hot dog stop.
My order usually starts with a couple of Speed Burgers or a double big cheeseburger, each one small enough to justify ordering more than I need.
The burgers arrive in that comforting paper wrap, with mustard, onions, and pickles delivering a simple balance that never feels outdated.
I like adding fries and maybe a shake, then appreciating how the whole meal tastes pleasantly throwback without feeling gimmicky.
Families, workers, and teenagers all cycle through the lot, which keeps the energy lively from lunch through early evening.
Driving away from Speedburger, I always feel that Jasper has quietly kept one of the purest little burger drive-ins in the state.