College campus 24-hour vacation

Oh the college days.

“Early” classes at 9 a.m.

Late-night study cramming for a big test.

Memories that last forever.

The college experience is one of the most impactful seasons of life we’ll ever have. Moments from campus and around town create stories we’ll still be telling 20 years down the road.

After journeying coast to coast, and everything in between, creating overnight extravaganzas, we’re going back to the good ol’ days and showing how you can fill all of your college nostalgia in just 24 hours.

Auburn University to the University of Georgia

 

Fly to: Columbus, Georgia – 6 p.m.

Then drive to: Auburn, Alabama (45 minutes)

Activity: Nighttime fun at Toomer’s Corner

Next morning: Drive to Athens, Georgia (approximately 3 hours, 10 minutes) – 7 a.m.

Activity: Stroll through the University of Georgia campus

Drive and fly out of: Atlanta, Georgia (1 hour, 25 minutes) – 6 p.m.

 

Just a stone’s throw away from Jordan-Hare Stadium, home of the Auburn Tigers football team, lies Toomer’s Corner. Much like its hometown university, the intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue in the heart of Auburn, Alabama, is enriched with history that goes back decades – the most famous being Rolling Toomer’s Corner.

After any big Auburn victory, such as when they toppled number-one ranked Alabama last year, Toomer’s Corner transforms into a barrage of pandemonium and thousands of feet of toilet paper.

That’s right. Toilet paper.

Students and fans decorate the entire corner, leaving streams upon streams of tissue to celebrate Auburn’s success.

When not tossing a toilet paper roll into the skies, you can drop in for a world famous fresh-squeezed lemonade and a bite to eat at Toomer’s Drugs, an Auburn staple since 1896.

After your morning coffee, head over to Athens, Georgia, for a look at one of the country’s prettiest campuses – the University of Georgia.

Take a stroll through the university’s historic north campus, where you can walk through the landmark Arch onto the original Georgia campus. According to VisitAthensGA.com, “Greek Revival architecture, beautiful gardens, and stately trees frame historically significant buildings” in the north campus.

After seeing the campus, you can take in more scenery at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia before you’re off to Atlanta for your flight home.

University of North Carolina to Duke University

 

Fly to: Raleigh, North Carolina – 5:30 p.m.

Then drive to: Chapel Hill, North Carolina (40 minutes)

Activity: UNC basketball game or a night out in downtown Chapel Hill

Next morning: Drive to Durham, North Carolina (25 minutes) – 9 a.m.

Activity: Duke basketball game or a day trip to Eno River State Park

Drive and fly out of: Raleigh, North Carolina (30 minutes) – 5:30 p.m.

 

If you don’t know about North Carolina and Duke basketball, well, I’m not sure what to tell you.

Less than a half-hour apart, the Tar Heels of North Carolina and Duke Blue Devils represent one of college basketball’s greatest rivalries. They also both possess rich histories and scenic campuses you won’t want to leave.

With a quick commute from the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, you can make it in time to see the Tar Heels at the famous Dean E. Smith Center. Named after college basketball’s fourth all-time winningest coaches, UNC’s arena is home to one of the most fun crowd atmospheres in the country.

If you’re unable to make it to a game, you can take a visit to the heart of campus to see a historical icon of UNC at the Old Well. According to VisitChapelHill.org, the Old Well was used as the primary source of campus water for more than a century. Today, students start their first day of classes with a fresh drink from the well as a sign of good luck. After you’re done, you can head on over for grub, shopping and live music in downtown Chapel Hill.

The next morning, take the short drive over to Durham, North Carolina, and another historically great basketball arena, Cameron Indoor Stadium, at Duke University.

As one of the premier basketball programs in the country, Cameron Indoor frequently sells out and fills with some of the most raucous and electric crowds you’ll find.

Outside of the craze of blue and white, you can take in the peaceful scenery of the Eno River State Park. Just minutes from Durham, the park provides multiple trails, camp sites and even some canoeing and kayaking. The relaxing landscape can be the perfect top-off to your college campus adventure.