{{Short description|State highway in Georgia, United States}} {{Use American English|date=March 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox road |state=GA |type=SR |route=197 |map={{maplink-road|from=Georgia State Route 197.map}} |map_custom=yes |map_notes =Georgia State Route 197 highlighted in red |length_mi=29.0 |length_ref=<ref name="Google">{{Google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=34.7408429,-83.6038193+to:GA-197+N&hl=en&ll=34.729198,-83.526306&spn=0.600437,0.883026&sll=34.872922,-83.565356&sspn=0.001171,0.001725&geocode=FWRmDwIdbf4F-w%3BFWoaEgIdlU4E-ynhDFoPKDVfiDEpWPoB-xf4aA%3BFfEeFAIdOOME-w&oq=Clay&dirflg=h&mra=dme&mrsp=2&sz=19&via=1&t=m&z=10|title=Route of SR 197|accessdate=June 19, 2013}}</ref> |length_round=1 |established= |direction_a=South |direction_b=North |terminus_a={{jct|state=GA|US|23|US|441|SR|15|SR|365}} east of Demorest |junction={{Plainlist| *{{jct|state=GA|US-Bus|441|dab1=Baldwin–Hollywood|SR|17|SR|115|SR|385|SR-Alt|17}} in Clarkesville *{{jct|state=GA|SR|255}} in Batesville *{{jct|state=GA|SR|356}} southwest of Wikle Store }} |terminus_b={{jct|state=GA|US|76|SR|2}} west of Clayton |counties=Habersham, Rabun |previous_type=SR |previous_route=196 |next_type=SR |next_route=198 }} '''State Route 197''' ('''SR 197''') is a {{convert|29.0|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} state highway. It passes through portions of Habersham and Rabun counties and the Chattahoochee National Forest. Scenic Georgia Highway 197 was used by moonshiners during Prohibition in the United States.<ref>[http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=218395 Celebrating Ga.'s 'Thunder Road' past] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102191451/http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=218395 |date=January 2, 2014 }} March 6, 2009 by Staff Access NorthGA</ref>
== Route description == SR 197 begins east of Demorest, at an intersection with US 23/US 441/SR 15/SR 365 in Habersham County. It heads north and curves to the northwest until it enters Clarkesville. At East Louise Drive, it intersects US 441 Business, as well as SR 17 and SR 385. The three highways begin a concurrency into the northern part of town. One block later, they intersect SR 197 Connector (West Louise Drive). In the northern part of town, the three routes meet Monroe Avenue, where SR 17, as well as SR 115, departs to the southwest. SR 197/SR 385 continue to the northwest until they meet Grant Street, where SR 385, as well as SR 17 Alternate, departs to the northeast. Just after leaving town, SR 197 curves to the north, before curving back to the northwest and entering Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. The route continues its northwestern orientation until just before it enters Batesville. In Batesville, SR 197 intersects SR 255. Just to the northeast, it reaches SR 356 southwest of Wikle Store. Then, the highway begins its climb into higher mountains and enters Rabun County. Sites along the route include Moccasin Creek State Park, the Lake Burton Fish Hatchery, and Lake Burton. As the highway climbs to its northern terminus, an intersection with US 76/SR 2 in the middle of the Chattahoochee National Forest north of the park, the road becomes very twisty.<ref name="Google"/>
SR 197 is not part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.<ref name="NHS Georgia">{{cite web|title=National Highway System: Georgia|url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/georgia/ga_georgia.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=United States Department of Transportation|date=May 8, 2009|access-date=June 19, 2013}}</ref>
{{-}} == Major intersections == {{jcttop|state=GA|length_ref=<ref name="Google"/>}} {{GAint |county=Habersham |cspan=8 |location=none |mile=0.0 |road={{jct|state=GA|US|23|US|441|SR|15|SR|365|city3=Cornelia|city4=Toccoa}} |notes=Southern terminus}} {{GAint |location=Clarkesville |lspan=4 |mile=3.5 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=GA|US-Bus|441|dab1=Baldwin–Hollywood|SR|17|SR|385|dir1=south|dir2=south|dir3=south|name3=East Louise Street|city1=Toccoa|city2=Demorest}} |notes=Southern end of US 441 Bus./SR 17/SR 385 concurrencies}} {{GAint |mile=3.5 |road={{jct|state=GA|SR-Conn|197|dab1=Clarkesville|dir1=south|name1=West Louise Street}} |notes=Northern terminus of SR 197 Connector}} {{GAint |mile=4.5 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=GA|SR|17|SR-Alt|17|SR|115|dir1=north|dir2=begins|dir3=west|name3=Monroe Avenue|city1=Helen|city2=Cleveland}} |notes=Northern end of SR 17 concurrency; southern end of SR 17 Alt. concurrency; eastern terminus of SR 115; northern terminus of SR 17 Alternate}} {{GAint |mile=4.6 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=GA|US-Bus|441|dab1=Baldwin-Hollywood|SR-Alt|17|SR|385|dir1=north|dir2=south|dir3=north|name3=Grant Street|city1=Tallulah Falls}} |notes=Northern end of US 441 Bus./SR 17 Alt./SR 385 concurrency}} {{GAint |location_special=Soque River |mile=4.8 |place=Crossing over the Soque River }} {{GAint |location=Batesville |mile=16.7 |road={{jct|state=GA|SR|255|dir1=south|city1=Helen}} |notes=Northern terminus of SR 255}} {{Jctint |location_special=Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest |lspan=2 |mile=17.5 |road={{jct|state=GA|SR|356|dir1=west|city1=Robertstown}} |notes=Eastern terminus of SR 356}} {{GAint |county=Rabun |mile=29.0 |road={{jct|state=GA|US|76|SR|2|name2=Lookout Mountain Scenic Highway|city2=Hiawassee|city3=Clayton}} |notes=Northern terminus}} {{jctbtm|keys=concur}}
== Connector route == {{Infobox road small |state=GA |type=SR-Conn |route=197 |location=Clarkesville |length_mi=0.058 |length_ref=<ref name="Google2">{{Google maps |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=W+Louise+Dr%2FU.S.+441+Historical+N&daddr=W+Louise+Dr%2FU.S.+441+Historical+N&hl=en&ll=34.60276,-83.519062&spn=0.001175,0.001725&sll=34.602835,-83.519051&sspn=0.001175,0.001725&geocode=FWL9DwIdzJgF-w%3BFaYAEAIdUZkF-w&oq=Dem&mra=dme&mrsp=0&sz=19&t=m&z=19 |title=Overview map of SR 197 Conn. (Clarkesville) |link=no |access-date=June 19, 2013 }}</ref> |established= }} '''State Route 197 Connector''' ('''SR 197 Conn.''') is an unsigned route that exists entirely within the southern part of Clarkesville.
It begins at an intersection with US 441 Business/SR 385 (West Louise Drive). It heads north-northeast for about {{convert|300|ft|m}} and meets its northern terminus, an intersection with SR 17/SR 197 (Washington Street). It is known as E Louise Street for its entire length.<ref name="Google2"/>
SR 197 Connector is not part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.<ref name="NHS Georgia"/>
{{jcttop|state=GA|county=Habersham|location=Clarkesville|length_ref=<ref name="Google2"/>}} {{GAint |mile=0.000 |road={{jct|state=GA|US-Bus|441|dab1=Baldwin–Hollywood|SR|385|name2=West Louise Drive|city1=Demorest|city2=Toccoa}} |notes=Southern terminus }} {{GAint |mile=0.058 |road={{jct|state=GA|SR|17|SR|197|name2=Washington Street|city1=Toccoa|city2=Mount Airy|city3=Demorest|nolink2=y}} |notes=Northern terminus }} {{jctbtm}}
== See also == * {{portal-inline|Georgia (U.S. state)}} * {{portal-inline|U.S. roads}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Attached KML}} * [http://georgiaroads.tripod.com/gahwy10.htm Georgia Roads (Routes 181 - 200)] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100717184138/http://www.state-ends.com/georgia/019700/ Georgia State Route 197 on State-Ends.com] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060831203644/http://psr.southeastroads.com/ga197_profile.htm Peach State Roads] * [http://www.aboutnorthgeorgia.com/ang/Scenic_197 Scenic 197] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701151218/http://www.aboutnorthgeorgia.com/ang/Scenic_197 |date=2016-07-01 }}
197 Category:Transportation in Habersham County, Georgia Category:Transportation in Rabun County, Georgia