The Best Things To Do At Stone Mountain Park In Every Season

Explore Georgia’s most-visited attraction all year round.

Just 16 miles southeast of Atlanta lives the world's largest exposed granite outcrop: Stone Mountain.The name of this natural wonder is more than fitting; Stone Mountain weighs more than a trillion pounds and covers 583 acres, with only about a third of its mass visible on the surface. Stone Mountain Park is Georgia’s most-visited attraction, with a wide variety of events and activities going on all year round. No matter what season you find yourself at the park, there’s always something to do; we’ve gathered some of the best ways to spend the day at Stone Mountain any time of the year.

Year Round

Take a Ride on the Summit Skyride

Hop on the Summit Skyride, a high-speed Swiss cable car that takes guests on a half-mile trip all the way to the top of Stone Mountain. From the top, you’ll be able to see a great view of the Atlanta skyline and more from over 45 miles away. This activity is safe for all ages and is wheelchair accessible.

Hop on the Scenic Railroad

All aboard! Grab a seat on the park’s 1940s train that goes five miles around the mountain for stunning views. The train has open-air cars and will take you on a trip that lasts about 30 minutes. If you’re looking for some time to sit down and relax, this is the perfect opportunity that all ages will enjoy.

Take a Hike Up To Or Around the Mountain

If you're in the mood to get your blood pumping, you can take on one of the six hiking trails in the park, including a mile-long trail up to the top of the mountain. Stone Mountain Park has 15 miles of hiking and walking trails with varying degrees of difficulty. You can enjoy the five mile Cherokee Trail around the base, the 3/4 mile Nature Garden Trail around an oak-hickory forest, and more.

Take the Kids to the Dinotorium

Go back to Jurassic times with Dinosaur Explore, a walk-through collection of 20 life size dinosaurs. You’ll start your exploration with a trip through a time machine and come across dinos like the T-Rex, Triceratops, and more. There are also interactive paleontology tents, photo ops, and a dinosaur feeding wall to keep the kids entertained.

Catch a 4-D Movie

Pop into the 4-D theater for a movie experience like you’ve never seen before. The 4-D films change every season and are typically less than 15 minutes in length, so it’s an easy stop and a great way to grab a seat for a little bit.

Fall Season

Attend the Pumpkin Festival

If you’re headed to Stone Mountain for a fall weekend, the Pumpkin Festival is not to be missed. During the day, the park is beautifully decorated for the season and offers character meet-and-greets, storytelling with Mother Goose, comedy shows, and even a pie eating contest.

The real stars of the show happen once the sun goes down; you’ll be able to experience the world’s largest pumpkin light show displayed on the side of Stone Mountain, a captivating drone show, and a parade to celebrate the season.

Winter Season

Experience Stone Mountain Christmas

Stone Mountain Park during the holiday season is something that locals and visitors look forward to all year. While all of the year-round activities are open during the day, the nighttime offers special experiences for holiday magic.

Find a spot on Memorial Lawn and experience the world’s largest Christmas light show displayed on the side of the mountain, as well as a Christmas drone show that lights up the sky with some of your favorite holiday motifs. After the shows, you can meet Santa Claus himself, catch the holiday parade, and even hear from renowned carolers to put you in the Christmas spirit. There will be a great selection of food and beverage options including traditional holiday treats, hot drinks, and other seasonal favorites. It's a one-of-a-kind holiday experience.

Spring Season

Visit Some of the Picnic Pavilions

Many people claim that spring is the best season to visit Stone Mountain Park. During the spring, you’ll see colorful blooms all around the park. From cherry blossoms to azaleas, the park is covered in seasonal growth that make for many beautiful areas to relax and enjoy the weather. With multiple spots around the park like the Woodard Pavilion and Studdard Picnic Area, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take in the scenery. Both of these sites have charcoal grills available for a cookout.

Summer Season

Check Out the Light Show

To many Atlanta residents, the Stone Mountain Lasershow Spectacular was the most iconic activity at Stone Mountain Park–especially in the summer months. After 40 years of lighting the mountain with colorful lasers and fireworks, the park introduced a new Music Across America Drone & Light Show in summer 2023 that offered just as much energy as the classic show. This new immersive show included ten times more lumens, ten times larger video projection, and ten times more laser beams than the Lasershow.

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