Lodging at the
Also the Southern States 100
Photo from John’s Mountain Overlook Aid Station by Pete Schreiner
Southern States 200
Will you ride the shuttle to the start?
IF YOU ARE RUNNING THE SOUTHERN STATES 200 or 100 WITHOUT A CREW, YOU WILL NEED TO LEAVE YOUR CAR AT THE FINISH. WE DO NOT PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION BACK TO THE START IN DALTON.
Those leaving their car at the Cheaha State Park:
If you are running the 200 without a crew, you will need to ride the shuttle to the race start and leave your car at the finish in Cheaha State Park. The shuttle will leave Cheaha State Park Tuesday at noon and take runners to Dalton, GA. Those riding the shuttle will need to reserve a room for Tuesday night at the host hotel, the Fairfield Inn on College Dr. near the convention center. The shuttle will drop runners off Tuesday afternoon at the host hotel. Wednesday morning, we will transport you to the race start location in Mill Creek, about 4 miles from the hotel.
200 milers that plan to ride the shuttle to the start that need lodging near Cheaha State Park Monday night, we recommend the Candlewood Suites Hotel in Oxford, AL, Monday night. The shuttle leaves Cheaha State Park at Noon on Tuesday (Central Standard Time) to take runners to the host hotel in Dalton. Cheaha State Park also has camping available.
Hundred milers, the shuttle to the start leaves Cheaha State Park Friday morning at 7:30 AM. If you need lodging close to Cheaha State Park Thursday night, we will have 10 rooms available in Bald Rock Lodge. The shuttle will pick you up at the front door of the lodge. If you prefer to stay in Oxford, we recommend the Candlewood Suites. The hotel is new and the staff great. They do not serve breakfast but there are several places to eat within a mile of the hotel. It’s an easy 20 or 25 minute drive up to Cheaha State Park from the hotel.
Those not riding the shuttle:
Runners not riding the shuttle may choose to stay at the host hotel or elsewhere. There are 14 major hotels within 5 miles of the start of the start of the Southern States 200. Prices range from $70 to $200. We will have optional runner check-in Tuesday afternoon at the Fairfield Inn.
The host hotel for the SOUTHERN STATES 200 is the Fairfield Inn & Suites, College Dr. Dalton
The Fairfield is the official Host Hotel of the Southern States 200. We have a block of rooms discounted for Tuesday night, March 17th. Last year the discounted rooms sold out quickly. In fact, the hotel sold out and many runners had to stay at other hotels.
We will have Tuesday afternoon packet pickup in a lobby at the hotel from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM. We will also have packet pickup and final check-in at the meeting center in Mill Creek, on Wednesday morning from 9:00 to 11:30 AM. Mill creek is 4 miles over the mountain from the Fairfield Inn.
The Rustic Cabins in Cheaha State Park - built in the 1930s
Camping at Cheaha State Park Improved Camping for Tents, Small RVs, Large RVs, Rustic Camping & Glamping.
Lodging Along the Southern States 200 Course
Your crew may want to reserve lodging along the course near where you expect to be each day. Although there are no large towns near the course after Dalton, there are several small towns that do have lodging.
Dalton is close to the first 3 aid stations, Snake Creek Gap, John’s Mountain and Dry Creek Equestrian Trailhead.
Calhoun, Georgia has 18 hotels and is 25 to 28 miles from Dry Creek Aid Station and 31 miles from Mack White Gap.
Rome, Georgia is 24 miles from the Georgia Highs Point Aid and Sleep Station, 12 miles from Huffaker Aid Station and 16 miles from Cave Spring Aid Station. The Fairfield Inn at the Rome Tennis Center is nice and very reasonable, “IF” there isn’t a tennis tournament going on.
Summerville, GA has one small hotel and is 7 miles from the Georgia High Point Aid and Sleep Station at Rolater Park
Cave Spring, GA has one small hotel, the Creekside Inn, that appears to be open. It was closed for the ‘24 & ‘25 Event.
Cedartown, GA has one hotels. The town is 10 miles from Cave Spring and 9 Miles from Old Jackson Chapel Trailhead, 15 miles from High Point, Alabama Trailhead, and 17 miles from Low Point Aid Station.
Piedmont, Alabama There is one hotel in Piedmont. Piedmont is 9.7 miles from Alabama High Point Aid Station and 16 miles from Low Point Aid Station. Google Maps shows you can reach Low Point AS by Vigor Rd, CR 70, but Vigor road is closed. You must reach Low Point coming in from the east via Hwy 278 and CR 227.
Heflin, Alabama is close to Hilltop Blue, Coleman Lake, Highrock and Fray’s Blowdown Aid and Sleep Stations. Heflin has one hotel and an RV park. The hotel actually has good ratings. Heflin is 22 miles from Hilltop Blue Aid Station, 20.3 miles from Coleman Lake Aid Station, 7.7 miles from Highrock Aid Station and 7.8 miles from Fay’s Blowdown.
Camping at Coleman Lake Campground - There is a very nice campground at Coleman Lake across from the Coleman Lake Sleep and Aid Station. There is NO cell reception at the campground.
Oxford, Alabama is located on Interstate 20, 18 miles from Cheaha State Park. There are a number of major hotels at the intersection of I-20 and Hwy 431. The hotels are 12 miles from Fay’s Blowdown and 18 miles from Highrock Aid Station.
Cheaha State Park is just 17 miles from Fay’s Blowdown and 24 miles from Highrock Aid Station. The park is also 18.4 miles and 30 minutes from Hotels in Oxford, Alabama, on Interstate 20.
Lodging near the start and along the Southern States 100 Course
Cave Spring, GA has one small hotel, the Creekside Inn, that appears to be open. It was closed for the ‘24 & ‘25 Southern States 200 & 100.
Rome, Georgia has many hotels that average about 12 - 15 miles from Cave Spring Trailhead.
Summerville, GA has one small hotel and is 7 miles Cave Spring.
Cedartown, GA has one hotels. The town is 10 miles from Cave Spring
The information in the section above applies to 100 runners and crews as well as 200 runners.
