Fantastic Weekend trips from Atlanta for Families

Is your family desiring a quick and easy getaway with the kids? I’m here to help! As a mom of 3 in the suburbs of Atlanta, I am all too familiar with this struggle, and I’m excited to share our families’ favorite getaways.

Luckily, Atlanta is close to many great weekend trips that aren’t far by car. Since you are traveling with kids, I will keep it under 3 hours because I know traveling with children takes longer than you anticipate. Follow along for some terrific ideas.

Travel Tips

With our kids, we have learned a lot from our mistakes over the last decade as a traveling family. Below are some tips for a smooth road trip with kids.

Pack snacks! Pack more than you anticipate needing.
Leave early to avoid the afternoon crankiness, or plan your trip around your kids’ naps so they will sleep in the car.
Have a meal game plan so you don’t find yourself in the middle of nowhere with limited options.
Carry a small plastic potty for toddlers and those recently potty trained.
Stock up on car entertainment to avoid fighting over technology the entire time.
Be flexible- traveling with kids is fun but can be exhausting, too.

Road Trip Necessities with kids

Here are some of my favorite items on a road trip with my three kids. We try to limit screen time so they aren’t watching videos the entire time. My older kids love to read so that helps!

Best Weekend Getaways with kids from Atlanta, GA

Blue Ridge

Distance: 93 miles
Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Blue Ridge is a short getaway to a quaint mountain community. You can rent a boat on Lake Blue Ridge or Lake Notellt in the warmer months. In the fall, Atlantans gravitate to Blue Ridge for its famous apple picking. Mercier Orchards is our favorite destination!

Year-round, you can hike, enjoy the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, go gem mining, and enjoy downtown. Make sure to grab a sweet treat!

Great Wolf Lodge

Distance: 69 miles
Time: about an hour

Great Wolf Lodge is a classic getaway for families who love adventure, swimming, and water slides. You stay on the property and have immediate access to the water park.

The water park has activities for each age level, even toddlers and life jackets are available. Beyond the water, amenities are games, entertainment, a ropes course, mini golf, and bowling.

I’m not a massive fan of spending more than one night here. One night is ideal because you can use the pool facilities before your room is ready. Many other activities require extra money, and I’d prefer to explore another city or town.

Here are my tips from my personal experience:

Avoid popular weekends and holidays.
Look online for deals.
Show up early to maximize your time there.
Research the other activities so you have a game plan before you arrive!
Bring lots and lots of snacks!

Book your room NOW by clicking HERE!

Callaway Gardens

Distance: 81 miles
Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Spring Gardens at Callaway, photo credit: R. Schwartz

With more than 2,500 acres to explore, you can immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the gardens, hike scenic trails, bike, swim, and unwind at Callaway. For thrill-seekers, there’s even a ropes course.

As for lodging, there’s a traditional hotel, but they also offer cottages with bedrooms and a kitchen. We’ve stayed in a two-bedroom cottage, and they are ideal when traveling with kids.

Spring is a wonderful season to visit, with vibrant blooms in full display. However, the gardens also host a dazzling holiday light show during Christmas—be sure to book early if you plan to visit during peak times.

Feeding giraffes at Wild Animal Safari, photo credit: R. Schwartz

While in the area, don’t miss FDR’s presidential retreat, the Little White House, located in Warm Springs. Your kids will love Wild Animal Safari, a short drive away. You ride through an animal preserve and feed giraffes, zebras, etc.

Athens

Distance: 72 miles
Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Many assume Athens is just a college town with a big bar scene and unsuitable for kids- I disagree.

First, if you are a UGA fan, there are many kid-friendly sporting events, such as the Georgia Gym Dogs (gymnastics) and baseball. Football is excellent for older kids who can handle the long games. Even if you don’t cheer for UGA, the gymnastics meets are incredible.

Beyond UGA, Athens is great! Did you know there’s a small zoo in town? Go check out Bear Hollow Zoo. Outside of town, you can explore the Georgia Botanical Gardens. Beyond that, there’s a skate park and Sandy Creek Nature Center.

Helen

Distance: 87 miles
Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Helen is a German-inspired mountainous community in North Georgia and a favorite destination of Atlantans (especially for Oktoberfest).

When traveling with kids, I recommend taking advantage of tubing through town, putt-putt golf, and the Georgia Mountain Roller Coaster in the summer. You can do the other activities year-round, but tubing is one of my favorite childhood memories.

You can use Helen as a base to see more of the region. You are near a beautiful waterfall, Anna Ruby Falls, near Unicoi State Park. If your child loves babies, then you must check out Babyland General, home to the Cabbage Patch doll.

Clayton

Distance: 108 miles
Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Minnehaha Falls, photo credit: R. Schwartz

Clayton is nestled into my favorite nook of North Georgia, the far corner in the northeast. Its beautiful mountain setting, quaint downtown and easy access to the great outdoors makes this a wonderful weekend outing.

First, spend some time browsing the shops in downtown Clayton. My kids love the little toy store and the book store at the button of Wander.

Outside of town, you can rent a boat for the day on Lake Burton, a short drive west on Highway 76. Or head south for an easy hike at Minnehaha Falls or a more intense one at the Tallulah Gorge. Black Rock Mountain State Park is another great option just north of town.

Asheville, NC

Distance: 198 miles
Time: 3 hours, 9 minutes

Asheville is one of our absolute favorite family destinations. The Biltmore Estate is very family-friendly, and most breweries, like Sierra Nevada, have outdoor games. Downtown, there’s an incredible Pinball Museum.

In the summer, we love tubing the French Broad River in town or the Nolichucky River, a bit further north on 26 across the TN state line. Hiking options are abundant, too, and don’t miss out on driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway for scenic views, especially in the fall.

Just outside of town, you’ll discover the charming downtown of Hendersonville, the artistic community of Black Rock, and the stunning Chimney Rock and Lake Lure.

Greenville, SC

Distance: 145 miles
Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes

Greenville is a wonderful weekend trip from Atlanta for families

Greenville, photo credit: R. Schwartz

Greenville is one of my favorite destinations with kids. I’ve visited numerous times during various seasons, and I love it.

First of all, it is a very family-friendly city. Many hotels downtown have easy access to restaurants, parks, and shops. In addition, several hotels have pools, which are always a great outlet to burn off energy.

If you have toddlers and little kids, I recommend bringing scooters to explore the trails around Falls Park at the Reedy, the Swamp Rabbit Trail, and the Fairy Garden near town.

Greenville has a great Children’s Museum and a fun playground at Unity Park. There are also several splash pads in warmer months.

For older kids, there’s minor-league baseball in the summer. Check out the Otter Creek water park for adventurous slides.

If you visit around the 4th of July, there are fun festivities to celebrate the holiday your kids are bound to enjoy.

Chattanooga, TN

Distance: 118 miles
Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Chattanooga is one of the most popular kid-friendly destinations in our area. Just a short drive north on I-75, you’ll cross the state line and enter scenic Chattanooga.

The city sits above the Tennessee River, and there’s a great pedestrian bridge that your kids can run across. The Tennessee Aquarium, the Creative Discovery Museum, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, and the Pinball Museum are highlights of the town.

You can explore Ruby Falls & Lookout Mountain just a little outside of town. There’s a new park with a Little Debbie dessert theme east of town! You could also easily do this as a day trip from Atlanta.

Huntsville, Alabama

Distance: 191 miles
Time: 3 hours, 6 minutes

Space & Rocket Center, photo credit: R. Schwartz

Huntsville is home to the US Space & Rocket Center. You can experience one of the two space shuttle displays in the US and see the Saturn V Rocket up close. Beyond that, the center has excellent exhibitions, rides, and artifacts.

If you visit in the warmer months, catch a Trash Pandas game, Huntsville’s minor league baseball team. In downtown Huntsville, a fun scavenger hunt of ducks is hidden around the historic area.

Dollywood Resort

Distance: 251 miles
Time: 3 hours, 40 minutes

Ok, this is further than 3 hours, but Dollywood is a family favorite in the Southeast. Built by Dolly Parton, there’s an amusement park and indoor water park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It is also far more affordable than Disney World.

Beyond the resort, Pigeon Forge and neighboring Gatlinburg have much to offer. Year around, there are entertaining shows, putt-putt, an aquar–ium, and access to the Great Smokey Mountains.

In the warmer months-

white water rafting
a waterpark
rides
minor league baseball

In the colder months-

snow tubing
holiday lights
skiing

Additional Weekend trips from Atlanta for Families

If you don’t mind driving longer than 3 hours, here are some great ideas for families. Many of these are our favorites-

beaches of 30A Florida
Amelia Island, FL
Savannah & Jekyll Island, GA
Charleston, SC
Blowing Rock, NC
Nashville, TN
Louisville, KY

In Conclusion: Fantastic Weekend trips from Atlanta for Families

I hope my guide on the best family getaways helps you plan your next great adventure.

Atlanta Resources
Spring Break in Atlanta
Day trips from Atlanta, Georgia
Fall in Atlanta, Georgia
Weekend Trips from Atlanta, Georgia
Weekend trips from Atlanta for families