Traveling has always been one of my husband’s and my favorite things to do, but in this season of life, long trips just aren’t realistic for us. We do our best to set aside one week each year for a vacation, but between busy work schedules, unexpected illnesses, and the challenges of traveling with a little one, it’s not always easy to plan more getaways. Since we love giving our son hands-on experiences, we put real effort into exploring local attractions, parks, and seasonal events throughout the year. We especially love outings where we can head out early, have a full day of fun, and still make it home in time to sleep in our own beds — because, honestly, there’s just no place like home.
One of the great things about living in Athens, GA, is it's truly a prime location near bustling cities and rural exploration that offer a lot for families to enjoy, all within a short drive. Here's a handful of day trip ideas within 2(ish) hours or less from Athens to spark some inspiration, no matter what season you're in!
Browse this list by category:
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Adventure |
 Image Credit: Andretti Indoor Karting & Games |
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games
🚗 1 hour from Athens, GA
2925 Buford Drive, Suite 300
Buford, GA 30519
Wanna go fast? Andretti Indoor Karting & Games is known for their electric go-kart racing on professionally designed tracks. These carts are powerful. After some high-speed racing, both kids and parents can enjoy the facility's large arcade packed with the latest games, plus fun attractions like laser tag and mini-golf. When you get hungry, take a seat in their full-service restaurant that offers plenty of burgers, sandwiches, pizza, and kid-favorite appetizers.
Did you know the Buford, GA location has Mini Mario karts for ages 4-7 years old??
Georgia Mountain Coaster
🚗 1.5 hours from Athens, GA
8409 S Main Street
Helen, GA 30545
Let me start with: I love Helen, GA. The town is known for it's novelty shops and tubing, but have you taken a ride on the Georgia Mountain Coaster? It's a single-to-double seat coaster where you control the speed. You can create a ride suitable for ages as young as 4 (with an adult), or crank up the speed for a thrilling ride through the forest.
Fun fact: My husband and I rode this when we were dating and chose to go full-speed. I can confirm that it goes very, very fast.
 Image Credit: Treetop Quest Gwinett |
Treetop Quest Qwinett
🚗 1 hour from Athens, GA
2020 Clean Water Drive
Buford, GA 30519
If you don't mind heights, this park offers over 120 obstacles and zip lines across seven courses, including the Chickpea Course for young children aged 4–6 and Spider Quest, a unique harness-free obstacle course above a giant net trampoline . This self-guided adventure promotes physical activity, confidence-building, and teamwork, with courses ranging from beginner to challenging levels. Additionally, Treetop Quest provides a scenic, shaded environment for those hot summer days.
Urban Air Adventure Park
🚗 1 hour from Athens, GA
3480 Financial Center Way
Buford, GA 30519
Enjoy an afternoon of sky-high jumping at Urban Air Adventure Park! Kids can engage in activities like the Warrior Course, Sky Rider indoor zipline, and the Tubes Indoor Playground, while parents can relax in designated seating areas. The park also offers special events such as Sensory Friendly Playtime and summer camps, and is a great spot to host a birthday party. If you plan on visiting throughout the summer, check out their Unlimited Play Summer Pass which gets you all-access to the park, 7 days a week.
Wild Rice Adventures
🚗 30 minutes from Athens, GA
1332 Pioneer Circle
Watkinsville, GA 30677
Okay, okay, so this one technically isn't a day trip outside of the Athens area, but it can definitely make for an afternoon of fun. Wild Rice Adventures helps you build your own adventure by hosting group events and classes at David Henry Hardigree Wildlife Sanctuary, Oconee Veteran's Park, and throughout other local parks and forests. There's plenty of activity options for young and new climbers! Sign-up for rope-assisted tree climbing, archery, fishing, wilderness survival, and more on their website.
Zipline Canopy Tours of Blue Ridge
🚗 2.5 hours from Athens, GA
891 Old Cashes Valley Road
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
Soar through the sky on a scenic zip-line ride through the mountains! These thrilling tours are designed for ages 6 and up and can provide 45 minutes to 2-hours of adventure. This location also offers an Adventure Park that features suspension bridges, climbing walls, and other challenging obstacles, suitable for all ages.
Animals |
Atlanta Safari Park
🚗 40 minutes from Athens, GA
6210 GA-326
Commerce, GA 30530
Open 7 days a week, families are invited to hop in the car experience their drive-thru safari where you can feed animals from all around the world within the comfort of your own car. This 156 acre park features over 100 different types of animals you get to meet up-close for a true hands-on wildlife experience. Kids will love the walk-through parakeet aviary, where they can hand-feed over 200 colorful birds, and the petting area featuring friendly goats, pigs, and sheep. A family experience that is both educational and memorable.
 Image Credit: The Georgia Aquarium |
Georgia Aquarium
🚗 1.5 hours from Athens, GA
225 Baker Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30313
Did you know that the Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the United States? Filled with over 11 million gallons of water and over 1,000 creatures, this location features interactive exhibits, live animal shows, a 4D Theatre experiences, moving underwater sidewalks, and their newest addition - hands-on touch pools at Explorers Cove. If you're looking to spark some curiosity, let your kiddos get to know the world's oceans up-close (and safely!) while they browse each of the nine themed exhibits.
Lake Hartwell Drive Thru Safari
🚗 1.5 hours from Athens, GA
915 Boleman Hill Road
Hartwell, GA 30643
Take a ride on a Safari adventure from the comfort of your car! Families are welcome to drive as much as they like to hand-feed zebras, ostriches, camels, reindeer, kangaroos, and more with only the cost of one admission per person and a $5 bag of feed. If you would prefer to enjoy the experience without worry of being behind the wheel, register your family or large group for the Safari Bus! Lake Hartwell Drive Thru Safari also offers birthday party packages, a Parakeet Bungie Experience, Walkabout animal encounters, and a stroll down Tortoise Lane. This trip is budget-friendly and is sure to make for a day of fun -- Just remember to wash your hands before you leave!
 Image Credit: North Georgia Wildlife and Safari Park |
North Georgia Wildlife and Safari Park
🚗 1.5 hours from Athens, GA
2912 Paradise Valley Road
Cleveland, GA 30528
Do your kids love wild animals? Stop by to enjoy VIP Guided Walking Tours, hands-on animal encounters (like their Otter Meet and Greet), Safari Drive Thru, and seasonal experiences like their Summer Day Camps and Safari Fun Run. The park's petting farm, one of the largest in Georgia, lets kids interact with and feed a variety of friendly farm animals, including miniature goats and donkeys - lots of fun for both parents and children.
Zoo Atlanta
🚗 1.5 hours from Athens, GA
800 Cherokee Avenue SE
Atlanta, GA 30315
All ages are welcome to come and explore the zoo's diverse habitats—from the African Savanna to the Asian Forest— to observe the world's greatest (and most fierce) wild animals like elephants, gorillas, giant pandas, tigers and more. Young explorers can enjoy interactive playgrounds like the KIDZone, featuring a petting zoo, Splash Fountain, and rides such as the Endangered Species Carousel. For the older and more adventurous ages, the Treetop Trail offers an aerial playground with rope ladders and bridges, and even sign up for hands-on programming throughout the year.
Discovery |
Center for Puppetry Arts
🚗 1.25 hours from Athens, GA
1404 Spring Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
Learn and enjoy puppetry arts through live puppet shows for all ages (both in-person and online), kid-friendly workshops, and make your way through the Center for Puppetry Arts Museum. Kids can take a look at some of their favorite characters like Kermit the Frog, The Cat in the Hat, Sesame Street favorites, and even Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. While you're there, participate in the interactive Scavenger Hunt to search for puppets as you explore the museum.
Children's Museum of Atlanta
🚗 1.5 hours from Athens, GA
275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW
Atlanta, GA 30313
The Children's Museum of Atlanta offers dozens of hands-on activities that kids (and parents!) will love. All ages are welcome to participate at the interactive exhibits whether it's role play shopping at the grocery store, milking a cow at the farm, or cooking up meals at the diner. Young explorers can climb the two-story globe in "Gateway to the World" to experience geography through features like earthquake simulations and glacier temperatures. Creative minds can show their artistic expression through painting walls, moon sand play, and sensory play.
 Image Credit: Fernbank Museum |
Fernbank
🚗 1.5 hours from Athens, GA
767 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30307
This one is personally on my Summer Bucket List. I've never been and my 4-year-old is a dinosaur enthusiast - it looks like there's quite a lot to enjoy here: a museum featuring fossils and prehistoric exhibits, Fernbank Forest with canopy walks and nature playground to explore, and extra large theater screens with 3D experiences. They also offer seasonal fun like Fernbank After Dark for adults during the summer months and A Turtles Shell-ebration with crafts and activities for kids.
High Museum of Art
🚗 1.5 hours from Athens, GA
1280 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
This Midtown spot could make for a great rainy day getaway option. Offering dynamic and diverse exhibits, guests of all ages can spend their afternoon exploring galleries and participating in the museum's seasonal programming. The Greene Family Learning Gallery offers two interactive spaces—CREATE and EXPERIENCE—where kids can explore art through hands-on activities and immersive environments. Programs like Toddler Thursdays and UPS Second Sundays provide opportunities for young visitors to participate in art-making, storytelling, and performances, making the museum experience both educational and fun for the whole family.
LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta
🚗 1.5 hours from Athens, GA
3500 Peachtree Road NE, Stuite G-1
Atlanta, GA 30326
Looking for an indoor (and air conditioned) adventure with your kids? Check out the interactive world of LEGOS in Atlanta! Create your own LEGO figures and cars to race, take a ride on Kindgom Quest to save a princess, and experience the 4-D Cinema for see and feel what you watch on the screen. For children under the age of 5, visit DUPLO Park for some duck fishing and a ride on the dinosaur carousel. This summer, guests can save 30% when their purchase Annual Passes.
Savoy Automobile Museum
🚗 2 hours from Athens, GA
3 Savoy Lane
Catersville, GA 30120
If you enjoy classic and unique cars, the Savoy Automobile Museum offers frequently rotating exhibits, educational programming for all ages, and seasonal events to enjoy. Learn about car history while browsing custom and vintage designs of all makes and models from all over the world, including NASCAR! An indoor cafe is available for families who need to take a quick break from their tour.
 Image Credit: Tellus Science Museum |
Tellus Science Museum
🚗 2 hours from Athens, GA
100 Tellus Drive
Cartersville, GA 30120
This spot offers some pretty cool hand-on learning: get your hands sandy when you dig for gems and fossils, explore space in the museum's Planetarium Projector or Observatory, experience some of Mother Nature's natural disasters at the Fury: The Power of Nature exhibit, plus play with lights, magnets and mirrors in the My Big Backyard exhibit. Before your head home, let your little ones climb on the indoor treehouse and meet some wildlife at the Tellus Discovery Garden. Memberships are available for those who want to revisit throughout the year.
World of Coke
🚗 1.5 hours from Athens, GA
121 Baker Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30313
Learn the history of Coca-Cola in it's hometown of Atlanta, Georgia! Get to know the founding family and the famous formula through interactive exhibits, presentations, and some taste tests of other cola versions -- heads up, Beverly is not tasty. While you're there, snag a photo with a polar bear, browse the gift shop, grab a snack from the Bottle Cap Cafe, and observe a functioning bottling line to get a behind-the-scences view of how Coca-Cola is produced and packaged.
Outdoor |
Amicalola Falls State Park
🚗 1.75 hours from Athens, GA
418 Amicalola Falls State Park Road
Dawsonville, GA 30534
One of Georgia's treasures: Amicalola State Park.Take a hike to see the incredible 729-foot waterfall! Kids will love exploring the park's adventure activities like zip-lining, archery, and guided nature programs. With beautiful picnic areas and kid-friendly trails, it's a great spot for a fun and active day outdoors.
 Image Credit: docpintor |
Atlanta Botanical Garden
🚗 1 hour from Athens, GA
1345 Piedmont Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30309
This destination has so much to do - a splash pad for cooling off, climbing structures, hands-on activities, and drop-in kid's programming (they host weekly storytimes throughout the year). Take a stroll around Alice's Wonderland to see larger-than-life plant sculptures, join-in for public frog feeding, and play together in The Lou Glenn Children's Garden. Visit during the holiday season to see exhibits like Garden Lights, Holiday Nights. Their website help you plan your day whether you'd like to stay one hour, a few hours, or all day.
Callaway Resort & Gardens
🚗 3 hours from Athens, GA
17612 US-27
Pine Mountain, GA 31822
It's been several years since I visited this location, but it offers a lot of outdoor family-friendly fun: walking trails through landscapes gardens and grounds, a walk-in butterfly dome exhibit, zip line courses, sun and fun along Robin Lake Beach, and seasonal attractions like Hot Air Balloon Festivals and Christmas light shows. If you would like to have an extended stay, reserve a lodge, cottage, or villa for you and your family.
Fort Yargo State Park
🚗 30 minutes from Athens, GA
210 S Broad Street
Winder, GA 30680
Located in our neighboring town, Fort Yargo State Park offers families a variety of engaging activities to enjoy. Kids can explore the park's playgrounds, go hiking and biking on scenic trails like the easy-to-moderate Yellow Trail and the paved, ADA-accessible Wilkins Greenway Trail. The park also has plenty of picnic areas, providing spots for families to play and relax together. If you're interested in an overnight adventure, guests can choose from fully equipped cottages, cozy campsites, or unique lakeside yurts to rent for a weekend getaway.
Red Top Mountain State Park
🚗 2 hours from Athens, GA
50 Lodge Road SE
Cartersville, GA 30121
Does your family enjoy the lake life? Located on Lake Allatoona, Red Top Mountain State Park sits at the Northwest side of the lake and offers a lot of outdoor adventures for all ages. Visitors can enjoy a sandy beach and swimming, biking and hiking trails, tent and RV campgrounds, picnic shelters for rent, and ideal fishing spots. On the website, it shares that there are 3 playgrounds within the park but I was unable to find any details or pictures. If you have any, send them my way any time to share with other families!
 Image Credit: Stone Mountain Park |
Stone Mountain Park
🚗 1.5 hours from Athens, GA
1000 Robert E Lee Boulevard
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
This outdoor family park offers several scenic attractions and seasonal entertainment like their upcoming Dino Fest in the Spring, the Fourth of July Celebration in the Summer, and the Yellow Daisy Festival in the fall. Visitors can take a ride on the scenic Summit Skyride or full-sized railroad train, go putt-putting on their mini golf course, take a walk along hiking trails, and stop and dine at their restaurants or outdoor picnic areas. Kids can also play and explore in the Dinotorium playground when in season!
Fun fact: My husband took me here for our first date during the Christmas season! The decorations were beautiful and we had a great time singing carols on the train, decorating cookies, watching live performances, and stuffing our faces with funnel cake.
Theme Park |
Six Flags Over Georgia
🚗 2 hours from Athens, GA
275 Riverside Parkway
Austell, GA 30168
Many Georgia natives would call this location a "childhood core memory". Six Flags over Georgia is home to 12+ roller coasters and thrill rides for guests that are at least 54" tall, and 10+ rides for youth who are 36" and up. If you need to beat the heat, make your way over to Hurricane Harbor for water experiences like the Bonzai Pipelines and Calypso Wave Pool. When you get hungry, there's plenty of quick snacks, drinks, and sit-down restaurants throughout the park. During the holiday seasons, stop by to enjoy spooktacular celebrations during Kids Boo Fest and Fright Fest (one of my personal favorites), Star-Spangled Nights to see Independence Day fireworks, and Holiday in the Park to see the park surrounded in colorful lights.
 Image Credit: Wild Adventures Theme Park |
Wild Adventures Theme Park
🚗 4 hours from Athens, GA
3766 Old Clyattville Road
Valdosta, GA 31601
Rides, animals, and a water park - all in one. The themed adventure park features over 40 rides, including kid-friendly options like the Safari Train and Ohana Bay, a Hawaiian-themed water play area with seven kid-sized slides. Children can also enjoy feeding giraffes at the Wanyama Observation Deck and exploring the Liberty Farms Petting Zoo. When you're ready to cool down, head over to Splash Island because this waterpark is included with your regular admission ticket! If you feel like staying after a long day of playing, guests are welcome to book a stay at the campground, RV park, or at one of the private cottages.
Water |
Great Wolf Lodge
🚗 2.5 hours from Athens, GA
150 Tom Hall Parkway
LaGrange, GA 30240
We've considered visiting Great Wolf Lodge a few times and just haven't committed to the thought. This location is a popular family getaway destination that features a temperature-controlled indoor water park with pools, water slides, and play area for the smaller ages. The all-inclusive resort offers dining experiences, entertainment and family-friendly activities like character appearances, arts and crafts, plus kid's dance parties. You can often snag Day Pass deals throughout the year for half-day and full-day park access.
Lake Lanier Islands
🚗 1.25 hours from Athens, GA
7000 Lanier Islands Parkway
Buford, GA 30518
This island resort has grown so much since I was a kid! If you enjoy lake life, this spot has a little bit of everything. From year-round beach access and multiple water attractions, to jet ski rentals and an 18-hole golf course, there's plenty for the whole family to explore together. If you'd prefer winter weather over sand in your shoes, Margaritaville at Lanier Islands transforms into Snow Island that offers tubing, holiday lights, and ice skating.
 Image Credit: Seven Springs Water Park |
Seven Springs Water Park
🚗 2 hours from Athens, GA
3820 Macedonia Road
Powder Springs, GA 30127
Located in Cobb County, Georgia, this new water park features two exciting water slides, a relaxing lazy river, and a splash pad with zero-depth entry, making it ideal for younger children. With daily entry fees as low as $6 per child, it's a budget-friendly option for summer fun. Additionally, the on-site concession stand offers a variety of snacks and refreshments to keep everyone energized throughout the day. P.S. Summer Passes are available for those who plan to return during the summer season.
Six Flags White Water Over Georgia
🚗 1.75 hours from Athens, GA
250 Cobb Parkway N
Marietta, GA 30062
Hot weather + water parks go hand-in-hand when you live in the south. As Georgia's largest water park, this location includes large family raft rides, both plunge and tube slides, a lazy river, plus splash pads and interactive water playgrounds for the smaller ages. There's plenty of snack and dining spots and shops with souvenirs within the park gates to visit before you head home.
Splash in the Boro Family Waterpark and Aquatic Center
🚗 3 hours from Athens, GA
1388 Highway 24
East Statesboro, GA 30461
Soon-to-be open 7 days a week for the summer season, this family waterpark offers plenty of water attractions suitable for all ages. Small children can have fun in the shallow play pool featuring a splash bucket and interactive treehouse, while older kids and adults can enjoy the excitement of the dual FlowRider and the five-lane racer slide. For relaxation, the 800-foot lazy river and the 340,000-gallon wave pool offer enjoyable, relaxing options. The park also offers amenities such as cabana rentals, concessions, and swim lessons in the aquatic center.
Macaroni KID Athens is the area's largest parent-focused online resource helping to connect local families to kid-friendly events, activities, and seasonal happenings.
Ran by one local mom, this site also offers a free weekly e-Newsletter featuring 20 upcoming events, articles, local guides, crafts, recipes and more. Take a look at some of the go-to family fun nearby using the buttons below.
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