Mercer University in 2 Days: A Macon, Georgia College Visit Fly-In Trip
A parent-first plan for visiting Mercer University in Macon, Georgia: how to book a daily campus tour, where visitors park and get a permit, the Hilton Garden Inn steps from the Admissions and Welcome Center plus Budget, Mid-range and Upscale options, drive times from Atlanta and Middle Georgia Regional airports, Ocmulgee Mounds and the Museum of Arts and Sciences for siblings, and Macon weather by season, every fact sourced and checked Oct 31, 2026.
The central quad at Mercer University in Macon, with Tarver Library's clock tower on the right (Mar 2012). Photo: Korea2006 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).
The short version
Trip at a glance
School
Mercer University (Macon, GA; Southern Conference)
Days
2 days: fly in on day 1, campus visit on day 2.
Fly into
Atlanta (ATL), about 1 hour 35 minutes from campus by car with no traffic; or Middle Georgia Regional (MCN), about 20 minutes away, with Contour Airlines nonstops to Baltimore and Fort Lauderdale.
Best base
Hilton Garden Inn Macon/Mercer University on Stadium Drive, about a 3-minute walk from the Admissions and Welcome Center.
Car or transit
Rent a car: Mercer's directions are drive routes from I-75 Exit 163, and visitor parking is at the main entrance.
Registration
Book a daily campus tour on Mercer's registration page and pick your day and time there.
1. Who this guide is for
This plan is for parents with a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, who want to see Mercer University's Macon campus in middle Georgia.
Campus tours begin and end at the Emily Parker Myers Admissions and Welcome Center, near the main entrance on Mercer University Drive (1501 Mercer University Dr., Macon, GA 31207).
Why this order
Mercer's daily campus tour starts with an overview presentation on admissions, academics, student life and financial aid, followed by a student-led walking tour; plan on about two hours in all.
Mercer also offers an interactive online campus map and a printable walking tour map, both linked from its Visit Campus page.
Plan ahead: registration and timing
Register for a daily campus tour on Mercer's sign-up page and pick your day and time there; daily tours run Monday through Friday. The walking tour is cancelled in inclement weather.
Questions go to Undergraduate Admissions at 800-840-8577 or 478-301-2650, or admissions@mercer.edu.
Seniors can book a VIB (Very Important Bear) visit, and Mercer runs Day in the Life visits on select Fridays; see the Special Visit Days page for details.
Tour availability varies by season.
Saturday Visit events are offered on select Saturdays; dates and registration are on Mercer's Saturday Visit page. Each student may bring up to two guests.
Mercer also runs group tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays through a separate group request form.
2. The suggested 2-day plan
Drive times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, and walking times use OpenStreetMap foot routing, with addresses geocoded by OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Campus times are to the Admissions and Welcome Center, where tours begin.
Day 1: Fly into Atlanta or Macon and settle in
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) → Hilton Garden Inn Macon/Mercer University (1220 Stadium Dr.)
Driving (no traffic)
~1 hr 33 min, 78.3 mi
Driving and walking
Rental car
Middle Georgia Regional Airport (MCN) → Hilton Garden Inn Macon/Mercer University
Driving (no traffic)
~19 min, 10.2 mi
Driving and walking
Rental car
Hotel Forty Five (downtown) → Ocmulgee Mounds (1207 Emery Hwy.)
Driving (no traffic)
~5 min, 1.9 mi
Driving and walking
Drive
Middle Georgia Regional Airport is served by Contour Airlines, with nonstop flights to Baltimore/Washington (BWI) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) on a 30-seat regional jet; Contour connects with Alaska, American, JetBlue and United.
If you arrive before 5 p.m., Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park is a free stop: its grounds and trails are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Day 2: Mercer University campus visit
Hilton Garden Inn Macon/Mercer University → Mercer Admissions and Welcome Center
Driving (no traffic)
~1 min, 0.1 mi
Driving and walking
~3 min walk, 0.1 mi
Mercer Admissions and Welcome Center → Museum of Arts and Sciences (4182 Forsyth Rd.)
Driving (no traffic)
~11 min, 4.6 mi
Driving and walking
Drive
Mercer Admissions and Welcome Center → Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Driving (no traffic)
~1 hr 34 min, 78.6 mi
Driving and walking
Drive
From I-75, take Exit 163 (Mercer University Drive), turn left at the first light onto Stadium Drive, then left at the four-way stop; the Admissions and Welcome Center is on the left just past Mercer Police.
The tour includes a student-led walk, so wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
3. Campus by campus
The central quad at Mercer University in Macon, with Tarver Library's clock tower on the right (Mar 2012). Photo: Korea2006 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
Tours begin and end at the Emily Parker Myers Admissions and Welcome Center, just inside the main entrance off Mercer University Drive.
Mercer's Macon campus address is 1501 Mercer University Drive, Macon, GA 31207.
Visitor parking
The campus map shows visitor parking at the main entrance, next to the Admissions and Welcome Center.
Every vehicle on campus needs a Mercer decal or a visitor's permit. Visitors can get a permit from the Admissions office during business hours or from Mercer's Department of Public Safety at any time, and visitor spaces are for visitors only.
For Saturday Visit and other special events, parking details come by email before the event, and student staff in orange polos direct you on arrival.
Getting there
Northbound on I-75, turn right at the top of the Exit 163 ramp; southbound from Atlanta, turn left at the bottom of the ramp. From I-16 West, merge onto I-75 South and follow the same exit.
The Admissions and Welcome Center is about a 3-minute walk from the Hilton Garden Inn and about 7 minutes by car from downtown's Hotel Forty Five, with no traffic.
What to know
Ask when you register about a VIB visit for seniors or a Day in the Life visit on select Fridays.
Special visit days include a complimentary lunch, so check the event page before planning a meal.
Contact
Mercer Undergraduate Admissions: 800-840-8577 or 478-301-2650, admissions@mercer.edu.
Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Hotel · Our pickMid-range
Hilton Garden Inn Macon/Mercer University
1220 Stadium Dr., Macon, GA 31204
Why here
On Mercer's campus map by the main entrance, about a 3-minute walk from the Admissions and Welcome Center and about 19 minutes from Middle Georgia Regional Airport with no traffic.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Good to know
Expedia lists an on-site restaurant (Garden Grill & Bar), an outdoor pool, free self-parking and free WiFi; full breakfast carries a surcharge. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Macon Mercer University
1550 Mercer University Dr., Macon, GA 31204
Why here
Also by Mercer's main entrance, about a 6-minute walk from the Admissions and Welcome Center with no traffic.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Good to know
Expedia lists a free breakfast buffet, kitchens, an outdoor pool, a gym, barbecue grills and free self-parking. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Hotel Forty Five, Macon, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
401 Cotton Ave., Macon, GA 31201
Why here
Downtown, about 7 minutes by car from the Admissions and Welcome Center and about 5 minutes from Ocmulgee Mounds, with no traffic.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 4-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Good to know
Expedia lists an on-site restaurant (Loom Comfort Kitchen), a coffee shop and a bar; valet parking carries a surcharge. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
A small downtown hotel on Mercer's recommendation list, about 6 minutes by car from the Admissions and Welcome Center with no traffic.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 2-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Good to know
Expedia lists no front desk (an access code arrives by email), private entrances, a bar, a firepit and free self-parking; pets are not allowed. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Stay at the main entrance to walk to your tour: the Hilton Garden Inn and TownePlace Suites are both within about a 6-minute walk of the Admissions and Welcome Center, while the downtown hotels are about 6 to 7 minutes away by car. Mercer's hotel page notes that special rates may be available at select area hotels for visiting families.
5. Meals between tours
Hours change, so check before you go.
On campus
Mercer's special visit days include a complimentary lunch, so check your event details before planning a meal on visit day.
Near your hotel
TownePlace Suites lists a free breakfast buffet on Expedia, and the Hilton Garden Inn and Hotel Forty Five both have on-site restaurants.
6. Things for siblings along the route
With siblings
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
1207 Emery Hwy., Macon, GA 31217
About 10 minutes by car from the Admissions and Welcome Center. Entrance is free. Grounds and trails are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and the Visitor Center and Earth Lodge 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
About 11 minutes by car from the Admissions and Welcome Center, with planetarium shows and free parking. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for ages 3 to 17.
Use I-75 Exit 163 (Mercer University Drive) and follow Mercer's directions to Stadium Drive and the Admissions and Welcome Center.
Park in visitor parking at the main entrance, and get a visitor's permit from Admissions or Mercer Public Safety.
Flying in and out
Atlanta (ATL) is about 1 hour 35 minutes from campus by car with no traffic. Middle Georgia Regional (MCN) is about 20 minutes away and has Contour Airlines nonstops to Baltimore/Washington and Fort Lauderdale.
Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Macon Middle Georgia Regional Airport)
Spring: April averages about 78°F highs and 51°F lows, with about 3.6 inches of rain.
Summer: July averages about 94°F/72°F, with about 4.8 inches of rain, so plan for heat and storms on the walking tour.
Fall: October averages about 79°F/53°F, with about 2.6 inches of rain.
Winter: January averages about 59°F/36°F, with about 4.3 inches of precipitation.
Parent checklist
Register for a Mercer daily campus tour, or a VIB or Saturday Visit if those fit your dates better.
Plan to park at the main entrance and pick up a visitor's permit.
Book flights into Atlanta or Middle Georgia Regional, plus a rental car.
Book a Macon hotel for the night before the visit.
After the visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.
8. Student-athlete recruiting visits
For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.
Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.
Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.
1 Division I
Athletics
Mercer University
NCAA Division I Southern Conference
RecruitingWe found no department-wide recruiting page. Look for a questionnaire on your sport's team page at the athletics site ↗, or email the coaches.
Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
Division I (Mercer University): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.
Planning around the season
Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.
Add your dates and how you're getting there, and we'll pull this guide into one plan: tour sign-up links, the hotel base, parking or airport notes, the route and meals.
Coming soon
Planning more college trips?
Visit-season reminders and new trip guides from College Visit Guides. Newsletter coming soon.
Sources
All checked Oct 31, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.
Expedia listing: Hilton Garden Inn Macon/Mercer University (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Macon-Hotels-Hilton-Garden-Inn-MaconMercer-University.h1705828.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: TownePlace Suites by Marriott Macon Mercer University (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Macon-Hotels-TownePlace-Suites-By-Marriott-Macon-Mercer-University.h15990371.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Hotel Forty Five, Macon, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Macon-Hotels-Hotel-Forty-Five.h71423032.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: The Woodward Hotel (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Macon-Hotels-The-Woodward-Hotel.h87687296.Hotel-Information)
