Visiting the Parks of Atlanta, Georgia

Centennial Olympic Park is the perfect park to start exploring on a sunny day.

Chastain Park is Atlanta’s largest city park, encompassing 268 acres near the city’s northern border. It was originally known as North Fulton Park and was renamed in 1945 in honor of Fulton County Commissioner Troy Green Chastain. The Chastain Park Conservancy operates Chastain Park, which receives more than two million annual visitors. Major amenities include the three-mile PATH jogging trail system, North Fulton Golf Course, the Chastain Park Tennis Center, Chastain Horse Park, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The park is also home to the Chastain Arts Center, the Galloway School, and the recreational activities of Northside Youth Organization. During the summer months, the State Bank Amphitheatre presents Live Nation and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra concerts.

4001 Powers Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30342, Phone: 404-237-2177, Map

Cochran Shoals is one of Atlanta’s most popular scenic trails, offering opportunities for visitors to go jogging, hiking, and biking. The trail is located near Atlanta’s I-285 perimeter along the banks of the Chattahoochee River, which provides picturesque scenery for visitors such as dramatic rock shoals and marshland areas full of native flora and fauna. As the trail runs nearly level throughout its entire duration, it is highly accessible for both beginner and veteran pedestrians and athletes. Trail areas include a boardwalk trail offering wildlife viewing opportunities, a loop area along the region’s grassland marsh, and a bridge running over tributary creeks of the Chattahoochee River. Trail connections to the nearby hiking trails and Civil War ruins of Sope Creek Park are provided.

1978 Island Ford Parkway, Sandy Springs, GA 30350, Phone: 678-538-1200, Map

Spend a morning in Grant Park, Atlanta’s oldest city park.

Historic Fourth Ward Park is the first urban park developed under the Atlanta BeltLine initiative, which strives to develop a 22-mile recreational corridor surrounding the city’s downtown area. The 17.5-acre park was completed in 2012 and is located between the city’s Old Fourth Ward district and Freedom Parkway, near the Ponce City Market and the Carter Center. The park is centered around the 2.5-acre Clear Creek Basin stormwater detention reservoir, which was designed to reduce flooding and support environmental sustainability.

Historic Fourth Ward Park is home to the city’s first public skatepark, which opened in the spring of 2011. Other major amenities include a children’s playground and splash pad that was named as one of the city’s best playgrounds by Atlanta Magazine. It features climbing structures, rock walls, slides, swings, and a water jet play area.

Historic Fourth Ward Park, 680 Dallas Street, Atlanta, GA 30308, Phone: 404-546-6757

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is located near Marietta and Kennesaw, approximately a half-hour drive from Atlanta’s city center. The park commemorates the 1864 Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, a key battle of the American Civil War. Three battlefield areas are preserved within the 2,923-acre park, along with three monuments honoring battle soldiers from Illinois, Georgia, and Texas.

Other major park features include a preserved historic farmhouse and 17.3 miles of visitor hiking trails with informational displays about the area’s historic significance. A visitor center offers a small museum featuring Civil War exhibits and screenings of an 18-minute documentary film. Field trips for elementary and secondary school students are led by park rangers, and public programming is presented throughout the year, including living history demonstrations and free butterfly walks.

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, 900 Kennesaw Mountain Dr, Kennesaw, GA 30188, Phone: 770-427-4686

Go for a stroll or a jog in the scenic Piedmont Park.

Stone Mountain Park is a family outdoor activity park located on 3,200 acres of natural landscape just outside the city of Atlanta. A variety of outdoor attractions are offered, including a Summit Skyride tram ride, a Geyser Towers rope bridge and net tunnel play area, and Sky Hike, one of the largest adventure courses in the country. 15 miles of nature trails are available, along with two golf courses, a 363-acre fishing lake, and duck vehicle tours.

The park is also home to the Confederate Memorial Carving, the world’s largest high relief sculpture. Full-service dining options, boutique and crafts shopping, and overnight hotel and campground accommodations are available. Special events throughout the year include a Yellow Daisy Festival, a Native American Festival, Stone Mountain Christmas, and an interactive laser light show presented regularly.

1000 Robert E Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083, Phone: 770-498-5690, Map

Woodruff Park is a great place to spend a day in Atlanta.