# Georgia State Route 197
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Georgia_State_Route_197
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Georgia_State_Route_197.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_State_Route_197
> Source revision: 1310970690
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{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=[{{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}}]
|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](/source/Demorest%2C_Georgia)
|junction={{Plainlist|
*{{jct|state=GA|US-Bus|441|dab1=Baldwin–Hollywood|SR|17|SR|115|SR|385|SR-Alt|17}} in [Clarkesville](/source/Clarkesville%2C_Georgia)
*{{jct|state=GA|SR|255}} in [Batesville](/source/Batesville%2C_Georgia)
*{{jct|state=GA|SR|356}} southwest of [Wikle Store](/source/Wikle_Store%2C_Georgia)
}}
|terminus_b={{jct|state=GA|US|76|SR|2}} west of [Clayton](/source/Clayton%2C_Georgia)
|counties=[Habersham](/source/Habersham_County%2C_Georgia), [Rabun](/source/Rabun_County%2C_Georgia)
|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](/source/State_highway_(US)). It passes through portions of [Habersham](/source/Habersham_County%2C_Georgia) and [Rabun](/source/Rabun_County%2C_Georgia) [counties](/source/County_(United_States)) and the [Chattahoochee National Forest](/source/Chattahoochee_National_Forest). Scenic Georgia Highway 197 was used by [moonshine](/source/moonshine)rs during [Prohibition in the United States](/source/Prohibition_in_the_United_States).[[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]
== Route description ==
SR 197 begins east of [Demorest](/source/Demorest%2C_Georgia), at an [intersection](/source/Intersection_(road)) with [US 23](/source/U.S._Route_23_in_Georgia)/[US 441](/source/U.S._Route_441_in_Georgia)/[SR 15](/source/Georgia_State_Route_15)/[SR 365](/source/Georgia_State_Route_365) in Habersham County. It heads north and curves to the northwest until it enters [Clarkesville](/source/Clarkesville%2C_Georgia). At East Louise Drive, it intersects [US 441 Business](/source/U.S._Route_441_Business_(Baldwin%E2%80%93Hollywood%2C_Georgia)), as well as [SR 17](/source/Georgia_State_Route_17) and [SR 385](/source/Georgia_State_Route_385). The three highways begin a [concurrency](/source/Concurrency_(road)) into the northern part of town. One block later, they intersect [SR 197 Connector](/source/Georgia_State_Route_197_Connector_(Clarkesville)) (West Louise Drive). In the northern part of town, the three routes meet Monroe Avenue, where SR 17, as well as [SR 115](/source/Georgia_State_Route_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](/source/Georgia_State_Route_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](/source/Chattahoochee-Oconee_National_Forest). The route continues its northwestern orientation until just before it enters [Batesville](/source/Batesville%2C_Georgia). In Batesville, SR 197 intersects [SR 255](/source/Georgia_State_Route_255). Just to the northeast, it reaches [SR 356](/source/Georgia_State_Route_356) southwest of [Wikle Store](/source/Wikle_Store%2C_Georgia). Then, the highway begins its climb into higher mountains and enters Rabun County. Sites along the route include [Moccasin Creek State Park](/source/Moccasin_Creek_State_Park), the [Lake Burton Fish Hatchery](/source/Lake_Burton_Fish_Hatchery), and [Lake Burton](/source/Lake_Burton_(Georgia)). As the highway climbs to its northern terminus, an intersection with [US 76](/source/U.S._Route_76_in_Georgia)/[SR 2](/source/Georgia_State_Route_2) in the middle of the Chattahoochee National Forest north of the park, the road becomes very twisty.[{{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}}]
{{-}}
== Major intersections ==
{{jcttop|state=GA|length_ref=[{{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 }}]
|established=
}}
'''State Route 197 Connector''' ('''SR 197 Conn.''') is an unsigned route that exists entirely within the southern part of [Clarkesville](/source/Clarkesville%2C_Georgia).
It begins at an [intersection](/source/Intersection_(road)) with [US 441 Business](/source/U.S._Route_441_Business_(Baldwin%E2%80%93Hollywood%2C_Georgia))/[SR 385](/source/Georgia_State_Route_385) (West Louise Drive). It heads north-northeast for about {{convert|300|ft|m}} and meets its northern terminus, an intersection with [SR 17](/source/Georgia_State_Route_17)/SR 197 (Washington Street). It is known as E Louise Street for its entire length.