Things To Do In Stone Mountain With Kids

Whether you are visiting for a weekend or a week, Atlanta, Georgia is a GREAT city to visit with kids. One of the best things to do in Atlanta with kids, is visit Stone Mountain. In this post you’ll find tons of things to do in stone mountain with kids, including permanent and temporary attractions, dining options, and hiking options.

Where is Stone Mountain?

Atlanta, Georgia is located in southeastern United States, and is one of the busiest airports in the world.  Meaning it’s one of the cheaper airports to fly ingo.  If you are arriving by car, Atlanta is about 4 hours southeast of Nashville, 2.25 hours east of Birmingham, 5 hours northwest of Jacksonville, Florida, and 4 hours southwest of Charlotte, North Carolina.

From downtown Atlanta, Stone Mountain is approximately 30 miles due east.    

GPS Address: 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd Stone Mountain, GA 30083.

Alternative Address: US Highway 78 East, Exit 8, Stone Mountain, GA 30087

Atlanta City Pass

If you’ll be visiting several attractions in Atlanta, then I recommend considering an Atlanta CityPass.  You get to visit up to 5 attractions with the pass, including the (1)Georgia Aquarium, (2) Zoo Atlanta, (3) World of Coca-Cola, and then you can pick to of the following three attractions: (4) Fernbank Museum of Natural History, (5) National Center for Civil and Human Rights, or the (6)College Football Hall of Fame.  Atlanta CityPass touts a savings of 45%, but even if you only visit 3-4 of these attractions with the pass, you’re likely to still save money.

What is Stone Mountain?

Stone Mountain is literally a mountain located about 30 minutes east of downtown Atlanta.  Stone Mountain is a mini amusement park, meets outdoor adventure park.  Stone Mountain features family friendly attractions, seasonal festivals, rides, outdoor recreational activities, and much more.

Hours & Admission

Park attractions and light shows are open daily, beginning Memorial Day weekend.  During the winter months Stone Mountain is open; however, attractions may be closed.  The Summit Skyride and the Hiking Trails generally remain open, even when rides and other park attractions are closed. 

Hours

During the summer and holidays Stone Mountain is generally open from 10am-10:30pm.  The Summit Skyride is generally open from 10am-8pm, Park attractions are generally open from 11:30am-9pm, and the LightShow is generally on after sunset, from 9:30pm-10:30pm. However, Stone Mountain publishes open times, by the day, as time change depending on the day of the week and time of year, be sure to check the Stone Mountain daily schedule here.

Admission

There are several different admission levels; the two most common are (2) Attractions + Festivals OR (1) Attractions + Festival + Meal. 

The Attractions + Festivals gets you access to Stone Mountain, all of the park attractions, seasonal live entertainment, and whatever festival is on.  The permanent attractions include Dinosaur Explore, Dinotorium, mini-golf, the scenic railway, Summit Skyride, the Skyhike Complex, and the 4D theater.  They also have really cool parades, that are seasonal.  Regular admission (for Attractions + Festival) is $39.99 for adults and $34.99 for kids.

General admission + a Meal deal will cost you $39.99 for a child and $44.99 for adults.

Check here for current pricing, and check here for the current meal deal.

Parking is included in admission.  Parking is not included with the Attractions Ticket.

Stone Mountain Park

Stone Mountain Park is an outdoor recreational area, surrounding the fun park.  Stone Mountain park is actually free, and includes hiking and natural trails, a 363 acre lake, children playground, and other outdoor recreational activities. They’ll charge you $20 for parking, but then you can spend the day hiking, and frolicking outdoors. 

Membership

There are two membership levels, the Mountain Membership and the Moutnain Membership Platinum.  

Mountain Membership: The Mountain Membership provides you with 12 months of access to Stone Mountain Park, Park Attractions, Festivals and Events.  It’s $54.99 for children 3-11, and $64.99 for children and adults ages 12 and older. 

Included in the membership are three ‘bring a friend free day passes,’ and many other discounts and other freebies.

Regular membership does not include free parking, nor does it include admission to the Highland Games in October. 

Mountain Membership Platinum: The Platinum membership includes everything that the regular membership includes, plus some extras. Additional benefits include: two additional ‘bring a friend days,’ free annual parking, free souvenir bottle, and front of the line access to several seasonal festivals.  You also get free admission to the Highland Games in October.  

FREE 2024 Pre-K Pass: 3-5 year olds can get a Free membership, including unlimited visits to Stone Mountain Park and attractions for 12 months. The deadline to register and activate is May 15, 2024.

Click here for the Stone Mountain Membership FAQs.

Facilities for Nursing Moms

Most of Stone Park is outside.  You can breastfeed your baby anywhere you are authorized to beà covered or uncovered.  If you’d prefer to nurse in private, there are several secluded areas around the park, although, unfortunately, there is no designated nursing room.

Georgia Breastfeeding Law

“A mother may breastfeed her baby in any location where the mother and baby are otherwise authorized to be.” – Per the Georgia legislature.

Changing stations are available in most of the bathrooms.

Stone Mountain Café’s & Restaurants:

There are several café/casual dining options, several grab n’go snack joints, and two proper restaurants in Stone Park.  Many are located near the Crossroads area; however, there are dining options all over the park, including:

Casual Dining:

• Marketplace: casual, market style dining
  • Serves pizza, burgers, grab n’go type food, but also complete dinners, and some healthy options
  • Open style market situation
  • Where: Crossroads

• Basecamp Café: sandwich type snacks and lunch
  • Serves coffee, specialty drinks, gourmet salads, salads, and soft pretzels
  • Where: Crossroads

• Campfire Smokehouse: fast casual dining with southern comfort BBQ
  • Serves southern style BBQ
  • Serves alcohol
  • Where: Crossroads

• Big Rock Café: park food at the base of the mountain
  • Dine at Big Rock before or after summiting the mountain
  • Pizzas, burgers, and hotdogs
  • Where: Skyride Plaza

Grab n’ Go:

• Krazy Taterz: Serves potatoes in various states
  • Specialty fries, potatoes on a stick, with a variety of toppings and seasonings
  • Where: Crossroads

• Hydrate!: Quickly grab a drink
  • Kids drinks like soda and Artic Blasts
  • Where: Crossroads

• Summit Snacks: Snacks
  • Soda, Arctic Blast, popcorn, pretzels and ice cream
  • Where: Skyride Plaza

• Funnel Cakes: Funnel Cakes!
  • Where: Crossroads

Proper Restaurants:

• The Commons Restaurant: Nice lunch or early dinner
  • Nice sit down restaurant overlooking Stone Mountain and the nature views
  • Indoor and outdoor seating
  • Where: Stone Mountain Golf Club

• Waterside Restaurant: Breakfast, lunch and dinner options
  • Lakeside dining
  • Where: Atlanta Evergreen Lakeside Resort

Exhibits Geared Towards Children

Permanent Exhibits

• Summit Skyride
• Scenic Railroad
• Putt-putt (mini golf)
• Dinosaur Explore
• Dinotorium
• Geyser Splash Pad
• Skyhike (Spring-Summer)
• Camp Highland Outpost (Spring-Summer)

Temporary Exhibits

• 4D-Theater Exhibit-Mowgli: For 2024 it runs from 5/4/2024-9/8/2024. The movie is 12 minutes in length, and you’ll need an Attractions Ticket, or a Mountain Membership to see the movie.

Dinosaur Explore

This was our son’s favorite attraction.  Stroll through this outside Jurassic world exhibit of 20 life size dinosaurs, in their habitats. 

The exhibit is replete with special effects, and interactive features.  You stroll through the exhibit along wooded walking paths, suitable for strollers. 

A stroll through the Dinosaur Explore attraction is included with an Attractions Ticket or a Mountain Membership.

Dinotorium

Dinotorium is an indoor exhibit, perfect for rainy days, or for folks looking for a more ‘contained’ experience.  The Dinotorium is a place for kids to get their wiggles out! It’s like an indoor jungle gym featuring trampoline floors, climbing structures, slides, and lots of interactive games.  This exhibit is primarily suitable for kids aged 5-12, although with proper adult supervision smaller children can play too. Playing in the Dinotorium is included with an Attractions Ticket or a Mountain Membership.

Summit Skyride

Take this Swiss cable car to the top of Stone Mountain.  There are two ways to get to the top of Stone Mountain—(1) Summit Skyride, and (2) the walk up trail.  Note that the trailhead for the walk up (or walk down) trail is not near Skyride Plaza where you catch the Summit Skyride.  Keep this in mind if you buy a one way ticket on the Summit Skyride.  

Stone Mountains recommends that pregnant women do not ride the Summit Skyride.

A ride on the Summit Skyride is included with an Attractions Ticket or a Mountain Membership.

Scenic Railroad

This is a five mile train ride around the base of the mountain.  It’s open air, and last approximately 25-30 minutes.  The train holds a lot of people but when its busy at Stone Mountain you may have to cue quite some time before you get on a train. 

No strollers on the train, and the seats are small, so be prepared to hold baby or babywear. 

We rode the Scenic Railroad at during the Christmas Fest and it was so much fun, they played Christmas carols the entire time, and the whole train sang along.

A ride on the Scenic Railroad is included with an Attractions Ticket or a Mountain Membership.

Great Locomotive Chase Adventure Golf (mini golf)

18 hole mini-golf right across from the line for the Scenic Railroad.  It’s a pretty standard putt-putt course with a train inspired theme.

Playing Putt-Putt is included with an Attractions Ticket or a Mountain Membership.

Geyser Splash Pad

Newly renovated splash pad, is a hit with all ages! Includes water jets, palm tree showers, dumping buckets, a creek/mini river, gushing geyser, and a sandbar!  The sandbar is really cool for all ages, and you can even build sandcastles. 

For the ‘structure portion’ of the Splash Pad closed toed shoes are required and kids must be a minimum of 32 inches. There is no height restriction or shoe requirement for those playing on the ground level attraction.

Adult supervision requires for those under 16.

SkyHike

Skyhike is an outdoor climbing course with obstacle and ropes courses.  Participants must be at least 44” tall and less than 300 lbs.  Participants can choose between a 12 foot-high, 24 foot-high, or 40 foot-high ‘trail’ (obstacle courses).  Closed toed shoes are required. 

SkyHike is only open during the spring and summer.  SkyHike is an additional charge during busy times.  May also require a timed reservation during busy times.

Camp Highland Outpost

Camp Highland Outpost has a low ropes course for smaller kids, along with a splash area for smaller kids at the Crooked Creek play area. Timed reservations are not required (even during busy times).

Camp Highland Outpost is located within the SkyHike complex. Closed toed shoes are required. Camp Highland is open early spring through mid-summer and children under 16 require adult supervision.

Lightshow

The lightshow is included with the Attractions ticket or the Mountain Membership.  As soon as the sun sets, you are in for a spectacular light and drone show.  It’s an immersive experience including surround sound, a laser show, 250 drones, fireworks, flame cannonsà all synchronized to music. It’s over the top flashy, and a great way to end an evening.

When is the Lightshow?

The lightshow runs nightly from the end of May through approximately the beginning of August.  Then, it runs every Saturday through Labor Day. 

You’ll also catch the Drone & Light show during special festivals including the Pumpkin Festival and Stone Mountain Christmas (see below). 

Additional Programing & Events

Tons of celebrations and short term festivals, such as the Pumpkin Festival (September-October), Stone Mountain Highland Games (usually one weekend in October), Fourth of July Celebration, Native American Festival (one weekend in November), Stone Mountain Christmas (November-January), and Kid’s NYE Celebration.  See here for current Stone Mountain Festivals and Celebrations.

Christmastime at Stone Mountain

Christmas at Stone Mountain is one of my favorite things.  When we visited Stone Mountain, unbeknownst to us, Christmas festivities were going on, and it totally made our trip!  There are lots of festive activities and entertainment options; however, my son’s favorite (and mine too) were the Sing-Along Train Ride, and the parade.  As soon as we walked into the park, this joyful and energetic parade came through, and set the stage for the rest of the night. 

Some of the other festive goings ons include visiting Santa, holiday stories and performances, a tree lighting ceremony, and an extravagant Christmas Light and Drone Show.  Additionally, the place is decorated to the 9’s and is lit up with 1000’s of Christmas lights.

Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, it’s worth visiting for the lights, and pomp and circumstance. The park has great energy during this season, and its great fun for children of all ages.

Hiking Trails

Stone Mountain Park features 15 miles of hiking trails.  You can spend half the day hiking or walking, and half the day in the park, or you can come just for the hiking.  There are 5 mile and 1 mile hikes, strenuous and easy.  There really is something for everyone.  Plenty of nature, wildlife, and bird watching, and also paved trails for those with strollers.   

Things to Bring for the Family

• Baby carrier and stroller
• Snacks
• Water
• Blanket
• Good walking shoes

Takeaway

Stone Mountain is iconic, and is one of the best things to do with babies, toddlers, or big kids, in Atlanta.   Whether you are visiting Atlanta for a weekend or a week, be sure to add Stone Mountain to the itinerary.  What makes Stone Mountain such a great place for families are the diverse activities for all age ranges and tastes.  The 15 miles of hiking trails also makes it attractive for those that love the outdoors. 

Whether you are looking for an amusement park feel, or more of a laid back Americana vibe, Stone Mountain has got you covered.