Day Trips from Atlanta, Ordered by Drive Time
Every trip below starts from downtown Atlanta by car. MARTA rail does not go to any of them, so a car is the practical choice. Drive times are typical and traffic on I-75 and I-85 can add a lot at rush hour.
About 30 minutes: Stone Mountain Park
The park lies 16 miles east of downtown. It is a state-owned park around a bare granite dome that carries a large carving of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. The idea for the memorial came from a leader of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and a Klan ceremony on the summit in 1915 announced that organization’s re-founding. The carving was unveiled in 1970 and completed in 1972. State law says it may not be altered or removed. Historians at the Atlanta History Center present the site as a natural wonder turned Confederate monument tied to Lost Cause ideology, and their essay on Stone Mountain is worth reading first.
Daily parking is $20 a vehicle and includes the free walk-up trail. The park gives the trail length as 1 mile, and other sources say about 1.3 miles each way. The bare rock turns slick when wet and attracts lightning, so do not climb in rain or when storms are forecast. Rides such as the Summit Skyride need an Attractions Ticket, and the park’s ticket page lists current options. The long-running Lasershow was shelved and replaced by the Music Across America Drone & Light Show, and the classic show is brought back on only a few dates.
About 1 hour 15 minutes: Dahlonega and Athens
Dahlonega is about 65 miles north. Its town square anchors a wine area that includes Wolf Mountain Vineyards, Montaluce Winery and Cavender Creek Vineyards. Winery hours change, so check each one before setting out.
Athens, about 70 miles east, is the home of the University of Georgia and has a long-standing music scene. The campus and downtown are easy to cover on foot in a day.
About 1 hour 45 minutes: Helen and Blue Ridge
Helen, about 85 miles northeast, is a village styled after Bavaria. Nearby Anna Ruby Falls takes about $5 per person aged 16 and up, opens from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last entry at 4 p.m., and has free parking.
Blue Ridge, about 90 miles north, is the base for the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Trains run a 26-mile round trip along the Toccoa River to McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee, in two-hour or four-hour formats. The railway’s calendar shows the 2026 seasons, which ran from February 28 to May 31, June 1 to September 18 and September 19 to November 3.
River safety near the city
Floating the Chattahoochee north of Atlanta is a popular summer plan, but releases from Buford Dam or Morgan Falls Dam can raise the water by several feet in minutes, and the river is cold. Wear a life jacket, leave the water when a siren sounds, and call the Army Corps line at 770-945-1466 or the Morgan Falls line at 404-329-1455 before you go. The Atlanta stretch is for calm floating only.
Booking help
To compare organized trips, search Atlanta day tours on Viator . Bring water, because the north Georgia towns can be hot in summer.
Read more: Atlanta adventure tours and the 3 day plan .