Ocmulgee National Monument Custom Search Ocmulgee is a memorial to the antiquity of man in this corner of the North American continent. The National Monument preserves a continuous record of human life in the Southeast from the earliest times to the present. From Ice-Age hunters to the Muscogee (Creek) people of historic times, there is evidence here of 12,000 years of human habitation. One period stands out. Between AD 900 and 1200 a skillful farming people lived on this site. Known to us as Mississippians, they were part of a distinctive culture which crystallized about AD 750 in the middle Mississippi Valley and over the next seven centuries spread along riverways throughout much ofthe central and eastern United States. The Mississippians brought a more complex way of life to the region and here they left behind eight earthen mounds and the remains of a ceremonial earthlodge. The Monument today consists of two units separated by two miles of riverine wetlands along the Ocmulgee River. The Main Unit is adjacent to the city of Macon, an urban area with a population of 118,000. The isolated Lamar Mounds and Village Unit can be visited by special permit.     CONTACTS Email - OCMU_Superintendent@nps.gov Fax- 478-752-8259 Write to 1207 Emery Highway Macon, GA 31217-4399 Phone Visitor Information - 478-752-8257 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons Open daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Christmas and New Years Day. Getting There PLANE - Atlanta's Hartsfield Int'l Airport is 90 miles away, with shuttle service available or commuter jet to Macon's Lewis B. Wilson Airport. CAR - The Monument is on the east side of Macon on US 80 east (Emery Highway). Main access is from Interstate 75 to Interstate 16 east, at the north end of Macon. Take the second exit from Interstate 16 (Coliseum Exit) and follow the signs 1.6 miles. Weather & Climate Summers are hot and humid. Winters are generally mild. Spring and fall are the best seasons to tour the park on foot. Trails connect most features. If the weather is hot or rainy, you may want to take Temple Mound Drive around to the large mounds. Accessibility The Museum/Visitor Center and Ceremonial Earthlodge are wheelchair accessible. The interpretive movie, 'Mysteries of the Mounds,' is captioned. Braille transcriptions of the park story are available in the Visitor Center. Getting Around A concrete sidewalk leads from the Museum/Visitor Center to the Early Mississippian Ceremonial Earthlodge. Parking lots are located near the Great and Lesser Temple Mounds and the Funeral Mound. Over 6 miles of walking trail connect the historical features and traverse a variety of natural areas, including upland forests, open meadows, and wetlands. Visitors should stay on marked trails to avoid poison ivy, ticks, fire ants, and snakes. During warmer seasons, mosquitoes, deer flies, and other insects may be annoying. Climbing or sliding on mound slopes is not permitted in order to protect these fragile resources and to prevent accidents. At two points, park trails intersect an active railroad where visitors are cautioned to look both ways before crossing. FACILITIES Museums OCMULGEE NATIONAL MONUMENT VISITOR CENTER Open All Year 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Phone - 478-752-8257 Location - 1207 Emery Highway Macon, GA 31217 Closures - Christmas Day; New Years Day Special Programs - 17-Minute Movie 'Mysteries of the Mounds' shown periodically throughout the day; pre-scheduled Ranger Programs; Annual Calendar of Events. Exhibits - Artifacts, Dioramas, and Graphics Available Facilities - Picnic Tables, Museum Shop, Restrooms, Discovery Lab for scheduled use by pre-oriented teachers and group leaders.   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Ocmulgee National Monument.   Campgrounds Near Ocmulgee National Monument: Tobesofkee Recreation Area, Macon, 16 miles away Interstate RV Center and Campground, Byron, 17 miles away Lake Juliette Dames Ferry Park, Juliette, 19 miles away Robbin Rv Park, Byron, 19 miles away   Marinas Near Ocmulgee National Monument: Central Georgia Marina, Macon , 16 miles away   Hotels Near Ocmulgee National Monument: Days Inn Macon East, Macon , 2 miles away Macon Marriott City Center, Macon , 5 miles away 1842 Inn, Macon , 6 miles away 1842 Inn, Macon , 7 miles away Econo Lodge Macon, Macon , 7 miles away Hilton Garden Inn Macon / Mercer University, Macon , 8 miles away Best Western Riverside Inn, Macon , 8 miles away   Trails Near Ocmulgee National Monument: Allison Lake Wildlife Trail, Jones County , 19 miles away   Whitewater Near Ocmulgee National Monument: Murder Creek, Putnam County , 24 miles away, Class I-II - 3 miles long (Stanfordville to Lake Sinclare) Little River, Putnam County , 28 miles away, Class I-II - 3 miles long (Glenwood Springs Road to Lake Sinclair)   Public Lands Near Ocmulgee National Monument: Oconee National Forest, Georgia , 28 miles away Indian Springs State Park, Georgia , 36 miles away High Falls State Park, Georgia , 39 miles away   Golf Courses Near Ocmulgee National Monument: Bowden Golf Course, Macon , 3 miles away Golf Course, Macon , 10 miles away Oakview Golf Course, Macon , 11 miles away Idle Hour Golf & Country Club, Macon , 12 miles away Jones County Lake Jonesco Golf Course, Gray , 12 miles away   Lakes Near Ocmulgee National Monument Lake Tobesofkee, Bibb County , 16 miles away Miller Creek Lake, Jones County , 16 miles away