Photo: BullDawg2021, CC BY-SA 4.0
#1 · Zoo · 1 hr 12 min east
Bear Hollow Zoo
A small free zoo of native animals in Athens.
- 1 hr
- Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Free
Heads-up: Small; pair with a walk on nearby trails.
Day Trippin' › Georgia › From Atlanta › Best wildlife spots
Best Wildlife Spots near Atlanta
Our picks for the best wildlife spots within 3 hours of Atlanta: 13 places, 1 under an hour away, 3 between 1 and 2 hours and 9 between 2 and 3 hours, counted by road time from ZIP 30303.
We put first the places with a real photo, a well-known name, a family-friendly note and an official site, then list the rest by drive time. The closest is Chattahoochee Nature Center, 30 min north of Atlanta.
Map: wildlife spots within 3 hours of Atlanta
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Our top 13 wildlife spots near Atlanta 13 in all
Photo: Greg Clarke, CC BY 4.0
#2 · Wildlife · 2 hr 19 min east
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park
Boardwalks and trails through swamp and wetlands near Augusta.
- 1-2 hrs
- Check hours
- Check fees
Heads-up: Bugs and heat in summer.
Photo: Grant Gould, CC BY 3.0
#3 · Zoo · 1 hr 14 min southwest
Wild Animal Safari
A drive-thru safari park in Pine Mountain with a walkabout zoo.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round
- Tickets required
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Animals may lick car windows.
Photo: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0
#4 · Wildlife · 1 hr 15 min southeast
Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge
Pine forests, ponds and quiet trails with good bird watching.
- 2 hrs
- Sunrise to sunset
- Free
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Closed to the public during refuge hunts.
Photo: Ralph Daily, CC BY 2.0
#5 · Zoo · 2 hr 14 min west
Birmingham Zoo
A large zoo with a children's zoo, carousel and animals from around the world. Glow Wild lights run in the holiday season.
- Half day
- Daily 9 am-4 pm
- Paid admission
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Carousel needs a separate ticket. Glow Wild opens Nov 21, 2026.
Photo: David Dugan, CC BY-SA 3.0
#6 · State park · 2 hr 17 min south
Lakepoint State Park
A park on 45,000-acre Lake Eufaula known for bass fishing, boating, birding and swimming.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Alabama State Parks fee
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Marina 8 am-4 pm; picnic areas 8 am-6:30 pm.
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain
#7 · Zoo · 2 hr 27 min southwest
Montgomery Zoo
A large zoo with animals from five continents, a train ride and the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum included with entry.
- Half day
- Year-round 9:30 am-4:30 pm, last entry 3:30 pm
- Adult $18, child (3-12) $14
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Admission includes the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum.
Photo: benuski from Richmond, VA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
#8 · State park · 2 hr 44 min northwest
Lake Guntersville State Park
A mountaintop park above Alabama's largest lake with 36 miles of trails, a beach, a zipline and winter eagle programs.
- Full day
- Year-round; eagle weekends Jan-Feb
- Alabama State Parks fee
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Lodge and restaurant on site. Zipline costs extra.
Photo: Dxgrady, Public domain
#9 · Aquarium · 2 hr 49 min south
Flint RiverQuarium
An aquarium in downtown Albany focused on the Flint River.
- 1-2 hrs
- Check hours
- Tickets required
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Pair with the riverfront.
Photo: muffinn from Worcester, UK, CC BY 2.0
#10 · Wildlife · 30 min north
Chattahoochee Nature Center
Riverside boardwalks, rescued birds of prey and gentle trails in Roswell.
- 1-3 hrs
- Mon-Sat 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun noon to 5 p.m.
- Adults $20, children 3-12 $14 (checked Nov 2026)
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Pets not allowed. Holiday lights need separate tickets.
#11 · Wildlife · 2 hr 19 min south
Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge
An 11,000-acre refuge along the Chattahoochee River north of Eufaula with great winter waterfowl and wading birds.
- 1-3 hrs
- Year-round; best Nov-Feb
- Free
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Hunting seasons apply in some areas. Trails and drives.
#12 · State park · 2 hr 24 min west
Oak Mountain State Park
Alabama's largest state park, with over 100 miles of trails, Peavine Falls, two swim beaches, a wildlife center and famous mountain biking.
- Full day
- Daily 7 am-sunset
- Alabama State Parks fee
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: The Red Trail is a top mountain bike ride. Pet rules.
#13 · Wildlife · 2 hr 44 min southwest
Alabama Safari Park
A drive-thru safari south of Montgomery where giraffes, zebras and other animals walk right up to your car.
- 2-3 hrs
- Open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Paid admission
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Last car admitted about an hour before close.
Questions about wildlife spots near Atlanta
What are the best wildlife spots near Atlanta?
Our top picks are Bear Hollow Zoo (1 hr 12 min), Phinizy Swamp Nature Park (2 hr 19 min), Wild Animal Safari (1 hr 14 min), Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge (1 hr 15 min) and Birmingham Zoo (2 hr 14 min). The page lists 13 places in all.
How many wildlife spots are within 3 hours of Atlanta?
13: 1 under an hour away, 3 between 1 and 2 hours and 9 between 2 and 3 hours, by road from ZIP 30303.
What is the closest of these to Atlanta?
Chattahoochee Nature Center, about 30 min north of Atlanta.
Are any of these free?
2 need no pass or fee, including Bear Hollow Zoo and Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge. Fees change, so check each place.
Are these wildlife spots open all year?
5 of the 13 list themselves as open year-round. Places with a season say so on their card; check hours before you go.
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner); places under 25 minutes away count as in town. Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.