Overview
Fitzgerald is a small town in Georgia's Plantation Midlands region, and is the (get this) center of the Fitzgerald Micropolitan Area. It was founded in 1895 by former Union Army drummer boy Philander H. Fitzgerald on behalf of Union Civil War veterans, leading to the nickname The Colony City. You'll see the Civil War history in the street signs: Union generals on the east, Confederates on the west, and at the Blue & Gray Museum. More importantly, though, tropical jungle chickens.
1 sights · 1 things to do · 2 places to eat · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Fitzgerald
Blue & Gray Museum
This museum, in a historical railroad depot, is dedicated to the founding of the town and its Civil War past, as well as to veterans of later foreign wars from the town.
Wild Chicken Festival
March is the time to see Fitzgerald strut its stuff. There are a couple 5ks and fun runs, the Miss Wild Chicken pageants, live music, and—of course—the Fitzgerald Fire Department Wing Eating Contest (FFDWEC).
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Feb–May, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 37°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Aug and Jul. (climate data from nearby Plantation Midlands)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- ABY Southwest Georgia Regional Airport, Albany — 57 mi away. Directions
- VLD Valdosta Regional Airport, Valdosta — 64 mi away. Directions
- SAV Savannah Hilton Head International Airport, Savannah — 124 mi away (major hub). Directions
Fitzgerald is off I-75 at the intersection of US-129 and GA-107, an hour and a half drive south of Macon—three hours from Atlanta.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $6 per person at listed restaurants.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Blue & Gray Museum
- Lunch Cirillo's Pizza
- Afternoon Wild Chicken Festival
- Dinner Nabila's Garden Restaurant
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
Fitzgerald is off I-75 at the intersection of US-129 and GA-107, an hour and a half drive south of Macon—three hours from Atlanta.
By plane
If you have your own wings, you can fly into Fitzgerald Municipal Airport FZG.
See
Wandering around town, keep an eye out for Red Junglefowl, a tropical pheasant from India or Burma or somewhere that looks an awful lot like a chicken, several of which were introduced for reasons well-masked by a Fitzgerald sense of humor. They have fled the boring old woods for the charming city center—look for them downtown. Today they are the city mascot, loved and unloved by a whimsically ambivalent populace.
Do
Eat
Eat Cirillo's Pizza
Right at the center of town next to the Grand Theatre (Central and Main) is this solid pizzeria, with a nice atmosphere, and a lot of high end coffees and craft beers (bottled).
Eat Nabila's Garden Restaurant
Also right in the center of town is this local favorite restaurant. It's cafeteria buffet-style with very friendly owners—Nabila learned to cook in her native Egypt, but she serves some of the best Southern cookin' you'll find in the state.
Sleep
Go next
- Ashburn and its Jail Museum are just a half hour drive west on GA-107.
- The Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village (Agirama) is a half hour drive southwest in Tifton.
Nearby
Tifton
City / town · 11 listings · 23 mi away
Douglas
City / town · 4 listings · 28 mi away
Cordele
City / town · 4 listings · 35 mi away
Moultrie
City / town · 8 listings · 49 mi away
Hahira
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Albany
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Valdosta
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Vidalia
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My experience
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