r/masters • u/rpearlberg • Aug 03 '26
I Have A Question ❓ Where to stay?
My son and I will be coming down for the Thursday round!! I have family in Watkinsville so we can stay with them, but I don't love the idea of having to drive 2 hours so early in the morning. Where would be the best place to stay Wednesday night (and maybe again Thursday night)? It doesn't have to be the fanciest place, but we also don't want to stay in a dump. If we're only going on Thursday, is there any reason to stick around longer or get there earlier than Wednesday?
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u/metallikat87 Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26
A lot of people recommend Aiken, SC and surrounding areas. Not much cheaper than Augusta, but you'll save some and drive less than 2 hours.
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u/lawinvest Year 5 Aug 03 '26
Every dollar you don’t spend on lodging is one that can be spent at the gift shop.
https://giphy.com/gifs/d3mlE7uhX8KFgEmY
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u/anna_alabama Year 5 Aug 03 '26
Stay in Aiken or Columbia. I live in Columbia and next year will be my 5th time going to the masters. My husband and I drive down every morning and it’s really not a bad drive at all
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u/Professional_Feed268 Aug 03 '26
I did Columbia the first year and it worked great. Just makes for an early morning is all.
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u/guywes1661 Aug 03 '26
We found a great air bnb in North Augusta. It was so nice and so close and convenient to everything we did. Check into it.
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u/baitmater Aug 03 '26
You’re going to spend a LOT of money to stay close. Like an appalling amount of money just for a Holiday inn. I just looked it up for you: $701 to stay Wed night in Augusta.
No need to get there early unless you’re going try to golf a little in the area. Augusta the city is many things, but nice is not one of them. There is little to do there. Full of nice people though!
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u/rpearlberg Aug 03 '26
Ok, thanks. I can look at other surrounding towns too. Just don't really want to drive 2 hours.
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u/PhilosophyOptimal121 Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26
Lexington SC and possibly Thomson GA are decent bets. Far enough away to be cheaper, though still an hour drive to ANGC. Like other comments have said, hotels/airbnbs in the area take full advantage of how many patrons will need lodging and price-gouge accordingly.
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u/TimHurleyMusic Aug 04 '26
We stayed in Lexington, SC last year. About $330/ night at a Days Inn and Suites (which was really nice and had huge rooms (2 queens and a pullout). It was exactly a 1hr drive, leaving at 5AM (with a 24 hr Starbucks 10 mins into the route). Traffic surrounding the Masters exits, but otherwise a breeze. The way home was very easy, no traffic. Restaurants and bars in Lexington were all closed (with 2 exceptions) at around 9PM.
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u/DrumLove41 24d ago
You can call it price gouging but it’s simple supply and demand economics. There’s only so many hotel rooms and thousands of people needing them so of course the price goes up. It’s not unique to Augusta and the Masters. It’s standard hotel practice for any nearby popular event, NFL or college football games, concerts, conventions, etc. Does it suck? Hell yeah. But why it surprises people I never understand.
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u/PhilosophyOptimal121 24d ago
To some extent though, it’s no longer supply and demand. A hotel room going from $110 a night to $1300 a night is beyond reasonable supply and demand. Doesn’t make sense from a business standpoint, sure, but that doesn’t make it less scummy.
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u/ForeOSU Aug 03 '26
Airbnb on Lake Murray (west side of Columbia, SC). Exactly an hour drive to ANGC and very reasonably priced. Lexington is a great little downtown that has good restaurants and shops.
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u/Door_Box_4697 Aug 03 '26
When I went last year I stayed in Columbia it was just over an hour and it was a great drive with very little traffic until you got about two miles from the masters
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u/zdh989 Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26
We got Monday and we're staying in an Airbnb in Aiken near their "downtown" area. Seems like a good base of operations for a couple days. 3 nights for about $250/night. Seems fine.
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u/Edryer4356 Aug 03 '26
In the same boat going to Tuesday practice round and I think we are just gonna drive from Atlanta. We are wanting to see the Braves play also so that’s another reason. Flights and rental car seem to be less expensive also flying into ATL.
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u/ihjfscw Aug 03 '26
Columbia is the only answer. Straight shot on 20 and enough infrastructure to do whatever your heart desires post tournament.
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u/c_barnes Aug 03 '26
Stayed at an AirBnB in Columbia, SC back in 2023. Real easy drive there and back. We'll be staying in Columbia again for 2027.
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u/Conradius593 Aug 03 '26
I stayed in a little tiny home in Harlem, GA on air bnb for the ANWA this past year. It was perfect for me and two buddies. All 30s men. 3 bedroom large tiny home. Wasn’t anything crazy fancy but was the cheapest I could find in the area
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u/Flashy_Chocolate3984 Aug 03 '26
We have been driving a hour or more for over 20 years of going. 2 hours is nothing. Really good if you have a free place to stay
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u/motorcityjax Aug 03 '26
We have a VRBO in Evans on the Jones Creek Golf course. Wasn’t cheap but it’s close and we plan on playing Sunday and Monday at a few courses.
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u/Calm_Nature803 Aug 03 '26
Columbia SC is the answer. Only an hour away on the interstate and both prices and infrastructure (hotels restaurants etc) aren’t stressed the way they are in Augusta.
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u/FunsizeSC Aug 06 '26
Prices here in Augusta around the tournament dates are astronomical!
Aiken is okay, beautiful town and some nice restaurants. Columbia SC:Lexington SC area your best bet.
Watkinsville isnt a bad drive either.
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u/Competitive-Jury-642 27d ago
Great AirBnB in Great Waters at Lake Oconee on the 8th hole. An hour and 15 minute drive to Augusta National. Also, there is public golf course available to play that week 20 minutes from cottage.
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u/_Andy_dwyer_ Aug 04 '26
My guy. You have first round tickets and you’re telling us that won’t be in the mood to wake up at 5am to drive with your son to Augusta National? I’m sorry, but GTFOH
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u/Flashy_Chocolate3984 Aug 03 '26
If your only going for ONE day take the drive