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Atlanta to Helen road trip: best stops

The drive from Atlanta to Helen takes about 1 hr 31 min (northeast of Atlanta), by real roads from ZIP 30303. Along the way we found 51 stops within a short detour: 8 coffee shops, 4 bakeries, 4 ice cream and treats and 19 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.

Plan this trip All day trips from Atlanta

Where you are going: Helen 1 hr 31 min from Atlanta

Photo: Thomsonmg2000, CC0

Small town

Helen

A Bavarian-style mountain town with river tubing, German food and a lively Oktoberfest.

Half day
Year-round
Free

Heads-up: Very crowded on fall weekends.

Map of the stops between Atlanta and Helen

Open the interactive map

First third Middle third Last third Helen

First stretch 11 stops

The Varsity Restaurant · Norcross
About 16 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Tiny Towny Attraction · Edgemoor
About 18 min into the drive · detour about 3 min Website
Tea Drip Coffee shop · Duluth
About 21 min into the drive · detour about 5 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su-Th 10:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-22:00
Krispy Kreme Donut counter-service · Duluth
About 21 min into the drive · detour about 7 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su-Th 05:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 06:00-23:00
Bruster's Ice Cream Ice cream · Adams Crossroads
About 21 min into the drive · detour about 11 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su-Th 11:00-22:30; Fr,Sa 11:00-23:00
Hibachi Buffet Chinese restaurant · Duluth
About 21 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Th 11:00-22:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-22:30, Su 11:00-22:00 Website
The Arena Tavern American restaurant · Duluth
About 24 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Th 11:30-01:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-02:00; Su 11:00-23:00 Website
Marlow's Tavern Restaurant · Duluth
About 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su-Th 11:00-23:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-24:00 Website
Cafe Seesaw Coffee shop · Arbor Trace
About 27 min into the drive · detour about 3 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Th,Su 09:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-22:00
Breadville Bakery · Arbor Trace
About 27 min into the drive · detour about 3 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Th,Su 08:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 08:00-22:00
Suzy’s Ice cream · Suwanee
About 28 min into the drive · detour about 12 min

Middle of the drive 13 stops

Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center Museum · Buford
About 30 min into the drive · detour about 3 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Sa 09:00-16:00 Website
Starbucks Coffee shop · Buford
About 31 min into the drive · detour about 6 min Website
La Moreliana Ice cream · Gravel Springs
About 31 min into the drive · detour about 9 min
Bird Blind Viewpoint · Gravel Springs
About 31 min into the drive · detour about 10 min
The Baking Grounds Bakery · Buford
About 33 min into the drive · detour about 7 min
old tractor Attraction · Forest Park
About 38 min into the drive · detour about 4 min
Common Grounds Coffee shop · Flowery Branch
About 39 min into the drive · detour about 6 min
Napoli's Pizza Pizza restaurant · Flowery Branch
About 39 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
Georgia Retired Educators Museum Museum · Spout Spring Crossroads
About 40 min into the drive · detour about 3 min
7 Brew Coffee shop · Frazier
About 43 min into the drive · detour about 5 min
Flowers Baking and Snacks (Overstock retail) Bakery · Gainesville
About 44 min into the drive · detour about 3 min
Walnut Creek Overlook Viewpoint · Evergreen Heights
About 46 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Señor Fiesta #1 Restaurant · Heather Heights
About 1 hr into the drive · detour about 2 min Website

Last stretch 4 stops

Historic White County Courthouse Museum Museum · Cleveland
About 1 hr 18 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Scooter's Coffee Coffee shop · Cleveland
About 1 hr 19 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Fr 05:30-20:00, Sa-Su 06:00-20:00 Website
Country Bake Shoppe Bakery · Cleveland
About 1 hr 20 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Rockton-Rion #20 0-4-0 Saddle Tank Steam Engine Attraction · Yonah
About 1 hr 24 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Questions about the drive from Atlanta to Helen

How long is the drive from Atlanta to Helen?

About 1 hr 31 min by road, heading northeast from the middle of ZIP 30303. Traffic and weather change that.

What are the best stops on the way from Atlanta to Helen?

Good ones to start with: The Varsity (Norcross), Tiny Towny (Edgemoor), Tea Drip (Duluth), Krispy Kreme (Duluth) and Bruster's Ice Cream (Adams Crossroads). The page lists 28 in all, in driving order.

Where can I get coffee or a bakery stop between Atlanta and Helen?

Tea Drip in Duluth, Cafe Seesaw in Arbor Trace, Breadville in Arbor Trace and Starbucks in Buford. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.

Where can I eat on the way to Helen?

The Varsity in Norcross, Hibachi Buffet in Duluth, The Arena Tavern in Duluth and Marlow's Tavern in Duluth.

Are there viewpoints or quick sights on the way?

Tiny Towny in Edgemoor, Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center in Buford, Bird Blind in Gravel Springs and old tractor in Forest Park.

More about Atlanta and Helen

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.