Day Trippin' › Georgia › From Atlanta › Dismals Canyon
The drive from Atlanta to Dismals Canyon takes about 3 hr 55 min (west of Atlanta), by real roads from ZIP 30303. Along the way we found 60 stops within a short detour: 8 coffee shops, 2 bakeries, 10 ice cream and treats and 26 places to eat.
The list below is the best few of each kind, in driving order, with how far into the drive you reach each one (counted from Atlanta) and the detour it adds. Stops marked Our pick are chosen by us; the rest come from OpenStreetMap listings, so confirm hours before you count on them.
Photo: RBharris, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hike
A deep, mossy sandstone canyon with waterfalls and old hemlocks, famous for glowing Dismalites on night tours.
Heads-up: Register at the Country Store. Phone line was down; email or visit in person.
First third Middle third Last third Dismals Canyon
About 3 hr 55 min by road, heading west from the middle of ZIP 30303. Traffic and weather change that.
Good ones to start with: Niki's West (Birmingham). The page lists 26 in all, in driving order.
Nature's Own Bakery Outlet in Douglasville, Shiba Coffee & Tea in Douglasville, Starbucks in Villa Rica and Ellianos Coffee Co in Bremen. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.
Cinco de Mayo in Douglasville, Arden's Garden in Douglasville, El Tapatio's Mexican Restaurant in Temple and Old Time Country Kitchen & Buffet in Jake.
Stewart House in Villa Rica, Irondale Public Library in East Irondale, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in Birmingham and North Birmingham School in Park Place.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Stops come from our own picks and OpenStreetMap listings; hours and detours change, so check before you go. We do not store anyone's location.