Valdosta's position at the crossroads of I-75 and the Georgia-Florida state line puts several worthwhile destinations within striking distance.
Okefenokee Swamp is about an hour east on US-84, and it's the most compelling natural escape from the I-75 corridor. The Okefenokee is one of the largest intact freshwater wetlands in North America — a vast, slow-moving blackwater wilderness of cypress stands, alligators, sandhill cranes, and dense subtropical vegetation. The eastern entrance at Folkston (Stephen C. Foster State Park is the western entrance, deeper into the swamp) offers boat tours and canoe rentals. It rewards a full day, not a quick look.
Jacksonville, Florida is about 1.5 hours south on I-75 and I-10. It's primarily useful as a larger city with more amenities — an international airport, a wider restaurant scene, beaches at Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach — rather than as a sightseeing destination in itself. If you need to return a rental car or catch a flight, Jacksonville is your nearest major hub.
Tallahassee, Florida sits about 2 hours southwest on US-84 and I-10. Florida's state capital has some genuine appeal: the old Florida Capitol building, the Maclay Gardens, and Florida State University's campus. It's a more interesting city than its reputation suggests and makes a good alternative overnight stop if you're heading toward the Florida Panhandle rather than south Florida.
Savannah, Georgia is about 2.5 hours northeast. For a proper city experience in the Deep South — cobblestone squares, antebellum mansions, live oak canopies draped in Spanish moss — Savannah is far and away the best option from Valdosta. It's probably too far for a day trip if you're also trying to push on somewhere else, but if you have flexibility, it's worth it.
