Jeollanam-do Road Trip 2026: 3-Day Itinerary
Escape the tourist crowds with this 3-day Jeolla road trip itinerary. Explore hidden gems like Sinan's Purple Island, historic hanoks, and coastal Mokpo.
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Escape the tourist crowds with this 3-day Jeolla road trip itinerary. Explore hidden gems like Sinan's Purple Island, historic hanoks, and coastal Mokpo.
Looking for an authentic South Korean adventure away from the bustling streets of Seoul? This self-drive 3-day, 2-night road trip through the beautiful Jeolla province is the perfect getaway. Starting from the quiet cultural hub of Gangjin, we'll wind through Yeongam, Mokpo, and Sinan, before heading back via Gochang and Iksan. Here is a tried-and-true itinerary from my own journey to help you plan yours!
Keep in mind, I took this trip in March, so the foliage and weather might look a bit different depending on when you visit!
We kicked off our first day with a traditional Hanjeongsik (Korean full-course meal) in downtown Gangjin. The table was absolutely packed with side dishes—perfect for fueling up before our adventure.
After lunch, we headed to Gaudo Island, a charming, peaceful spot known for its breezy suspension bridge and thrilling zip track. Walking across the bridge with the ocean wind in our hair was the perfect way to shake off any travel fatigue from the long drive.
📍 Gaudo Island
Doam-myeon, Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do
Gaudo is a fantastic, light walking course that is easy for travelers of all fitness levels.
Walking across the Gaudo Suspension Bridge offered a subtle, thrilling sway with every step.
For our basecamp, we checked into Hanok Hotel Yeongsanjae in Yeongam for a two-night stay.
📍 Hanok Hotel Yeongsanjae
126-17 Nabuloeido-ro, Samho-eup, Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do
Staying in a traditional Korean house (hanok) offered a deeply peaceful, cultural experience. It was easily the most relaxing part of our entire Jeolla journey.
We booked our stay via Hotels.com and tried two different room styles: a spacious Deluxe Suite on the first night and a cozy, traditional Deluxe Ondol (heated floor) room on the second. I will share a detailed review of both room types in an upcoming post!
Day two began with an incredible lunch at Myeonginjeop, a highly-rated restaurant in Mokpo famous for its refined traditional dishes. It was the perfect, hearty start to a busy day of exploring.
Myeonginjeop
Open Daily: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Break Time: 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Myeonginjeop (Main Branch)
1F-2F, 14 Hadang-ro 30beon-gil, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
Next, we took a scenic drive out to Sinan's famous Purple Island. Literally everything here—from the bridges to the phone booths and rooftops—is painted in vibrant shades of purple. It’s an absolute dream for photography lovers!
Purple Island
Open Daily: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Admission: ~$3 for adults (Free if you wear or carry a purple item!)
📍 Anjwa Purple Island
257-35 Sogokduri-gil, Anjwa-myeon, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do
The entire island is a purple paradise. Make sure to pack some purple gear to score free entry!
Heading back to Mokpo, we boarded the Mokpo Marine Cable Car. Floating high above the sea, the panoramic views of the coastline and the city skyline were easily one of the biggest highlights of the entire trip.
Mokpo Marine Cable Car (Bukhang Station)
Hours: Sun–Thu 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM / Fri–Sat 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Round-Trip Fare: Standard Cabin ~$15 (Adult) / Crystal Cabin (Glass Floor) ~$19 (Adult)
📍 Mokpo Marine Cable Car (Bukhang Station)
240 Haeyangdaehak-ro, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
Pro Tip: Check the local sunset time before you go to catch a breathtaking golden hour ride over the harbor.
Afterward, we stopped by Daemyeongchun, a local Chinese restaurant, to try their famous Jungkkan (thin noodles in a rich black bean sauce) and spicy seafood Jjamppong—the ultimate comfort food after a long day.
We finished our evening with a quick bakery crawl. Mokpo is home to two legendary bakeries: Colombang Bakery and CLB Bakery. Both are famous for their savory shrimp baguettes. We arrived right before closing when most items were sold out, but luckily grabbed the famous baguettes to do a fun taste-test comparison!
Daemyeongchun
Closed: Every Thursday
Hours: 11:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Colombang Bakery & CLB Bakery
Open Daily: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
📍 Daemyeongchun
4 Nojeokbong-gil, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
📍 Colombang Bakery
7 Yeongsan-ro 75beon-gil, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
📍 CLB Bakery
1F, 14 Yeongsan-ro 75beon-gil, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
On our final day, we made our way back north, stopping in Gochang to see the vast green barley fields. Even in March, when the shoots were just starting to sprout, the endless green landscape was incredibly soothing.
While admission to the farm is free, the barley field walking experience is ~$3 (operating until 05/25/2026). If you visit between mid-April and early May, you’ll catch the barley in full, lush bloom. Depending on the season, the fields transform with canola flowers, zinnias, sunflowers, buckwheat, and cosmos!
Gochang Green Barley Field (Hakwon Farm)
Admission: Free
Walking Experience: ~$3 (Operating until 05/25/2026)
📍 Hakwon Farm
150 Hagwonjongjang-gil, Gongeum-myeon, Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do
The endless green fields of Gochang in early spring are a sight to behold.
After a quick lunch near the Gochang market, we wrapped up our road trip at the National Museum of Iksan. Located right next to the historic Mireuksa Temple Site, it was a peaceful, educational spot to wind down and appreciate the rich history of the ancient Baekje Kingdom before heading home.
National Museum of Iksan
Admission: Free
Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Last entry at 5:30 PM)
Closed: Mondays, January 1st, Lunar New Year & Chuseok (If Monday is a holiday, it remains open and closes the following weekday)
📍 National Museum of Iksan
362 Mireuksaji-ro, Geumma-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeollabuk-do
Thanks to having our own car, we easily navigated the route from Gangjin → Yeongam → Mokpo/Sinan → Gochang → Iksan without any transit hiccups.
Using Hanok Hotel Yeongsanjae as our base camp made the trip incredibly relaxing. Each city we visited offered a completely unique vibe, making this 3-day journey feel like a rich, multi-faceted adventure. If you're looking to experience the true soul of South Korea, I highly recommend hitting the road through Jeolla!
The adult admission fee for Sinan Purple Island is ~$3. However, you can enter for free if you wear a purple item. We recommend bringing a purple accessory before your visit.
For an adult round-trip, the standard cabin is ~$15, and the crystal cabin with a transparent floor is ~$19. If you check the sunset time and board then, you can enjoy the panoramic view of Mokpo at sunset.
You can see the Gochang Green Barley Field in full bloom if you visit from mid-April to early May. The field walking experience costs ~$3, and in 2026, it will only operate until May 25th.
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