Day Trip to Helen from Atlanta
About 3 hours 40 minutes of driving, a waterfall, lunch and a village walk. Here is how to fit it in.
The short answer
A realistic day, hour by hour
| Time | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 AM | Leave Atlanta | Leaving early keeps you ahead of weekend traffic. See thedrive page for routes. |
| 9:30 AM | Arrive in Helen | Roughly 1 hr 50 min without traffic. Park once; the parking guide covers the lots. |
| 9:45 AM | Anna Ruby Falls | About 20 minutes from downtown. Open 9 AM to 6 PM, last ticket 5 PM. $6 ages 16+. Paved path about 0.4 mile each way, with steep sections. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours. |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch downtown | Fast: Hofer's Bakery & Cafe. Sit-down: Troll Tavern or Old Heidelberg. |
| 1:30 PM | Walk the village | The Alpine village walking tour is free. Add the Georgia Mountain Coaster if you have kids ($17 adults, $10 ages 3-6). |
| 3:00 PM | One more stop | Nora Mill Granary (open until 5) or Habersham Winery for a tasting if someone else is driving. |
| 4:00 PM | Head home | Leaving by about 4 means you are back in Atlanta around 6 PM on a clear road. Sunday returns run slower. |
Swap the middle for the season
Summer
Tubing is the signature Helen activity. Cool River Tubing runs daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, at $14 Monday to Friday and $16 Saturday and Sunday. Plan 1 to 2.5 hours on the water.
Fall (now)
The daily tubing season is over; some outfitters open on warm weekends, so check their calendar and call ahead. Spend the time on the Lake Trail at Unicoi (2.5 miles) or the Alpine walking tour. Oktoberfest opens at 6 PM weeknights and 1 PM Saturday and Sunday, so a day trip can end there.
Winter
Color is gone, crowds are thin and the Christmas Market (Nov 28-29, Dec 5-6) and village lights are the draw. Check road conditions on GA-75 after cold nights.
Spring
Waterfalls run strong and Dukes Creek Falls (2.2 miles round trip, $4 per vehicle) is a good second hike.
What to skip on a day trip
Brasstown Bald
It is about 40 minutes from Helen each way. Save it for a night in town.
Long hikes
The Smith Creek Trail to Anna Ruby Falls is 4.8 miles one way. Drive to the falls instead.
Wine tastings
A tasting room stop eats an hour. Only add one if you have a designated driver.
Dinner in town
A sit-down German dinner and a two-hour drive home do not mix well. Make that the weekend version.
What the day costs in fees
| What | Fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Oktoberfest, Festhalle | Mon-Thu $10, Fri-Sat $15, Sunday free | Adults. Kids 6-12 pay $5 or $7; under 6 free. |
| Anna Ruby Falls | $6 ages 16+, 15 and under free | Parking included. The state ParkPass is not accepted. |
| Unicoi State Park | $10 per vehicle per day | Good at any Georgia state park that day. Annual pass is $70. |
| Smithgall Woods | $10 per vehicle per day | Same ParkPass. Every visitor registers at the visitor center. |
| Brasstown Bald | $10 per adult 16+ | Shuttle to the summit is included. |
| Dukes Creek Falls | $4 per vehicle per day | Forest Service site. |
| Georgia Mountain Coaster | $17 adults, $14 ages 7-12, $10 ages 3-6 | Height rules apply. |
Lodging, meals and festival food and drink are not listed here. Rates change by date, so check cabin and hotel prices for your exact weekend.
Day trip questions
Can you do Helen, GA as a day trip from Atlanta?
Yes. Leave Atlanta around 7:30 AM and you arrive about 9:30 AM, which leaves roughly 6 hours in town before a 4 PM departure. Pick one waterfall, lunch and a downtown walk.
How long is the drive?
About 87 miles and 1 hour 50 minutes each way from downtown Atlanta without traffic, so about 3 hours 40 minutes of driving round trip.
Is Anna Ruby Falls worth it on a short trip?
Yes if you like a waterfall without a long hike. It is about 20 minutes from downtown, costs $6 for ages 16 and up, and the paved path is about 0.4 mile each way with steep sections. Plan 1 to 1.5 hours.
Is tubing open right now?
The daily tubing season ran Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Some outfitters open on warm weekends in the off season, so check their online calendar and call ahead.
When should I leave Helen to avoid traffic home?
Southbound traffic builds on Sunday afternoon. On a Saturday, leaving around 4 PM usually works. Leaving by midday on Sunday or after dinner is better.
Should I make it a weekend instead?
If you want a sit-down dinner, a winery stop or Brasstown Bald, yes. Two nights costs more but removes the rush and the long drive home after a day of walking.
Keep planning
Related Imagery from Around Helen
