Moon Drive & Hike Appalachian Trail: The Best Trail Towns, Day Hikes, and Road Trips Along the Way

Whether you’re stopping for a day trek or taking a weekend getaway, hit the road and hike the legendary trail with Moon Drive & Hike Appalachian Trail.

• Make your escape on shorter trips from major cities or drive the entire three-week route from Georgia to Maine
• Find your hike along the Appalachian Trail with detailed trail descriptions, mileage, difficulty ratings, and tips for picking the right section of the trail for you
• Discover adventures off the trail: Immerse yourself in the spirit of colorful trail towns, peep the changing leaves in the Berkshires, and cruise the sun-dappled Skyline Drive. Kick back after a day hike at a microbrewery in Asheville, dig in to southern barbecue (hey, you’ve earned it), or unwind in the coffee shops and art galleries of a hip New England hamlet
• Take it from avid hiker Timothy Malcolm, who shares his insight on the best views, waterfalls, mountains, and (of course!) breweries
• Full-color photos, strategic itineraries, easy-to-use maps and site-to-site driving times
• Get the lowdown on when and where to get gas, how to avoid traffic, and braving different road and weather conditions, plus tips for LGBTQ travelers, seniors, and road-trippers with kids

About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell--and they can’t wait to share their favorite places with you.

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Timothy Malcolm was born in inner-city Philadelphia and was forever a big city kid. He hadn’t even taken an actual hike, let alone spend one night outdoors, until he moved to the Hudson Valley of New York, home to rolling hills, mountain ranges that slice across the terrain, and swimming holes that you absolutely have to find. In this playground Timothy went on his first ＂hike,＂ which may have been a half-mile into unmarked woods. Since, he’s summited peaks throughout New York and New England, along the Appalachian Trail, and in national parks like Acadia, Rocky Mountain, and Olympic.
These days, Timothy lives in Houston, working as the dining editor for Houstonia magazine. When he’s not eating his way through Space City, he’s enjoying a cold beer, watching baseball, and looking for every opportunity to get out and stretch his legs. You might have also read his work in Backpacker, October, Paste, The Hardball Times, Chronogram, Hudson Valley Magazine, and Orange Magazine.