Photo: csmith/dbb1, CC BY-SA 3.0
Small town · 56 min east
Madison
A handsome small town with antebellum homes and a walkable downtown.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round
- Free
Day Trippin' › Georgia › From Atlanta › Within 3 hours
Places within 3 hours of Atlanta
129 places are worth the drive within 3 hours of Atlanta, counted by road time from ZIP 30303: 15 under 1 hour, 54 1 to 2 hours and 60 2 to 3 hours.
The mix leans toward history, hikes and mountains & views, mostly to the southwest and west. Three hours each way makes a long day trip, or an easy overnight if you would rather not drive back the same day.
The headline places are Amicalola Falls State Park, Callaway Gardens and Tallulah Gorge State Park, and the closest real day trip is Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (27 min).
Map: places within 3 hours of Atlanta
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Under 1 hour from Atlanta 15 places
Photo: Thomson200, CC0
Hike · 30 min east
Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area
Bare granite outcrops, rare plants and a long paved path for walking and biking east of Atlanta.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round
- Free
Photo: Bubba73, CC BY-SA 3.0
National park · 27 min northwest
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Civil War battlefield with a summit road and steep trails to sweeping views over metro Atlanta. Popular for weekend hikes.
- 2-4 hrs
- Year-round
- Standard pass $5 (checked Nov 2026)
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Photo: City of Marietta, GA, CC BY 2.0
Water park · 27 min northwest
Six Flags White Water
Wave pool, lazy river and tall slides in Marietta for a hot-day escape.
- Full day
- Summer season only
- Tickets required
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Photo: Thomson200, CC0
Museum · 45 min northwest
Booth Western Art Museum
A large museum of Western art, presidential letters and a kids' gallery in downtown Cartersville.
- 1-2 hrs
- Year-round; check days
- Tickets required
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Photo: muffinn from Worcester, UK, CC BY 2.0
Springs · 58 min southeast
Indian Springs State Park
A long-loved park with a mineral spring, lake beach and old stone buildings.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round
- Georgia State Parks ParkPass $10 per vehicle (checked Nov 2026)
More under 1 hour from Atlanta, by type
- Hikes
- Red Top Mountain State Park (43 min), High Falls State Park (50 min), Hard Labor Creek State Park (51 min), Fort Yargo State Park (53 min)
- History
- Etowah Indian Mounds (46 min), Tellus Science Museum (48 min)
- Mountains & views
- Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (29 min)
- Wildlife
- Chattahoochee Nature Center (30 min)
- Beaches & lakes
- Lake Lanier Islands (48 min)
1 to 2 hours from Atlanta 54 places
Photo: Thomsonmg2000, CC0
Small town · 1 hr 31 min northeast
Helen
A Bavarian-style mountain town with river tubing, German food and a lively Oktoberfest.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Free
Photo: BakedintheHole, CC0
Waterfall · 1 hr 22 min north
Amicalola Falls State Park
Home of one of the tallest waterfalls in the Southeast, with stair climbs, a lodge and the approach trail to the Appalachian Trail.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Georgia State Parks ParkPass $10 per vehicle (checked Nov 2026)
Photo: Thomsonmg2000, CC0
Garden · 1 hr 22 min southwest
Callaway Gardens
A big garden resort with a butterfly house, a lake beach, a chapel and a 10-mile bike trail.
- Full day
- Year-round
- General admission
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Photo: BullDawg2021, CC BY-SA 4.0
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
Photo: Jud McCranie, CC BY-SA 4.0
Food town · 1 hr 13 min east
Athens
A college town with a big music scene, great restaurants and the UGA campus.
- Full day
- Year-round
- Free
Photo: Thomson200, CC0
State park · 1 hr 30 min northeast
Tallulah Gorge State Park
A deep river gorge with rim trails, a swinging bridge and waterfall overlooks.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Georgia State Parks ParkPass $10 per vehicle (checked Nov 2026)
More 1 to 2 hours from Atlanta, by type
- History
- New Echota (1 hr 6 min), Dahlonega Gold Museum (1 hr 8 min), Georgia Museum of Art (1 hr 12 min), Jarrell Plantation (1 hr 18 min), The Allman Brothers Band Museum at the Big House (1 hr 18 min), Tubman Museum (1 hr 19 min), Roosevelt's Little White House (1 hr 19 min), Chief Vann House (1 hr 29 min) and 10 more
- Mountains & views
- Gibbs Gardens (1 hr 5 min), State Botanical Garden of Georgia (1 hr 13 min), Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park (1 hr 22 min), Chickamauga Battlefield (1 hr 43 min), Massee Lane Gardens (1 hr 46 min), Black Rock Mountain State Park (1 hr 56 min), Brasstown Bald (1 hr 56 min)
- Hikes
- F.D. Roosevelt State Park (1 hr 23 min), Unicoi State Park (1 hr 38 min), Vogel State Park (1 hr 38 min), Cheaha State Park (1 hr 41 min), Chewacla State Park (1 hr 41 min), Fort Mountain State Park (1 hr 42 min), Springer Mountain (1 hr 53 min)
- Waterfalls
- Panther Creek Falls, Georgia (1 hr 26 min), Toccoa Falls (1 hr 33 min), Dukes Creek Falls (1 hr 34 min), Raven Cliff Falls (1 hr 43 min), Anna Ruby Falls (1 hr 49 min), Noccalula Falls Park (1 hr 57 min)
- Biking
- Chief Ladiga Trail (1 hr 28 min), Smithgall Woods State Park (1 hr 31 min), Chattahoochee RiverWalk (1 hr 41 min)
- Small towns
- Dahlonega (1 hr 8 min), Blue Ridge (1 hr 30 min)
- Wildlife
- Wild Animal Safari (1 hr 14 min), Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge (1 hr 15 min)
- Family fun
- Blue Ridge Scenic Railway (1 hr 30 min)
2 to 3 hours from Atlanta 60 places
Photo: Ronmacal at English Wikipedia, Public domain
State park · 2 hr 15 min northwest
Cloudland Canyon State Park
A big canyon on Lookout Mountain with waterfall stairs, rim views and bike trails.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Georgia State Parks ParkPass $10 per vehicle (checked Nov 2026)
Photo: Richard A. Weaver, CC BY-SA 4.0
National park · 2 hr 25 min northwest
Little River Canyon National Preserve
A deep canyon on top of Lookout Mountain with a scenic rim drive, overlooks, Little River Falls and spots for paddling and climbing.
- Half day
- Year-round; falls best in spring
- Free
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Photo: Historic American Buildings Survey, Public domain
Museum · 2 hr 12 min west
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
A moving museum on the Birmingham civil rights campaign, across from 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park.
- 2-3 hrs
- Closed some days
- Adults $15; students, seniors and military $13; 3rd grade and below free
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Photo: Greg Clarke, CC BY 4.0
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
Photo: Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Family fun · 2 hr 8 min south
SAM Shortline
A vintage excursion train through small towns between Cordele and Plains.
- Full day
- Check schedule
- Tickets from $43.99 per person (checked Nov 2026)
Photo: David Dugan, CC BY-SA 3.0
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
More 2 to 3 hours from Atlanta, by type
- History
- Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum (2 hr 5 min), Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark (2 hr 10 min), McWane Science Center (2 hr 12 min), Birmingham Museum of Art (2 hr 12 min), Horseshoe Bend National Military Park (2 hr 13 min), Augusta Canal National Heritage Area (2 hr 13 min), Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (2 hr 13 min), Augusta Museum of History (2 hr 14 min) and 16 more
- Hikes
- DeSoto State Park (2 hr 3 min), Mistletoe State Park (2 hr 8 min), Ruffner Mountain (2 hr 10 min), Wind Creek State Park (2 hr 17 min), Providence Canyon State Park (2 hr 20 min), Red Mountain Park (2 hr 21 min), Oak Mountain State Park (2 hr 24 min), Pinhoti Trail (2 hr 34 min) and 4 more
- Beaches & lakes
- Georgia Veterans State Park (2 hr 21 min), Turkey Creek Nature Preserve (2 hr 23 min), Elijah Clark State Park (2 hr 23 min), Florence Marina State Park (2 hr 23 min), Little Ocmulgee State Park (2 hr 32 min), Magnolia Springs State Park (2 hr 50 min)
- Mountains & views
- Birmingham Botanical Gardens (2 hr 12 min), Vulcan Park and Museum (2 hr 14 min), Andersonville National Historic Site (2 hr 15 min), Rock City Gardens (2 hr 17 min), Jimmy Carter National Historical Park (2 hr 29 min)
- Wildlife
- Birmingham Zoo (2 hr 14 min), Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge (2 hr 19 min), Montgomery Zoo (2 hr 27 min), Alabama Safari Park (2 hr 44 min), Flint RiverQuarium (2 hr 49 min)
- Family fun
- Railroad Park (2 hr 12 min), Unclaimed Baggage (2 hr 34 min)
Questions about places within 3 hours of Atlanta
What are the best places within 3 hours of Atlanta?
Our picks, by drive time, include Madison (56 min), Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area (30 min), Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (27 min), Six Flags White Water (27 min) and Booth Western Art Museum (45 min). The full list on this page has 129 places, each with its drive time and direction from Atlanta.
How many places are within 3 hours of Atlanta?
69 places within 2 hours, 129 within 3 hours and 176 within 4 hours of Atlanta, by road from ZIP 30303.
Are there free places within 3 hours of Atlanta?
26 of the 129 places need no pass or fee, such as Railroad Park, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail. Fees and passes change, so check each place before you go.
What can I do with kids within 3 hours of Atlanta?
121 places are marked good for kids, including Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Birmingham Museum of Art.
How are the drive times worked out?
They are by real roads on a typical day, from the middle of ZIP 30303 to each place (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Traffic, weather and closures can change them. Places under 25 minutes from the city center count as in town, not a day trip, so they are left out.
Can I see places within 3 hours of my own home?
Yes. Type your ZIP code into Day Trippin' and it shows everything by drive time. Your ZIP is used for that one search and is not saved.
Keep planning
- Day trips from Atlanta, by drive time
- All of Georgia day trips
- Places within 2 hours of Atlanta (69)
- Places within 4 hours of Atlanta (176)
- Atlanta weather by month
- Best hikes near Atlanta
- Best waterfalls near Atlanta
- Best beaches & lakes near Atlanta
- Best mountains & views near Atlanta
- Best history spots near Atlanta
- Best wildlife spots near Atlanta
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.