Photo: Dsdugan, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Stone Mountain is a dome of bare granite rising more than 800 feet above the trees east of Atlanta, and the 3,200-acre park around it is one of the most visited places in Georgia. You can hike to the top in about 30 minutes or ride a cable car, then spend the rest of the day on the lake, the trails or the seasonal attractions. Here is what it costs in 2026, what is free with parking, the best trails and what to know before you go. We checked these details against Stone Mountain Park on October 21, 2026.
- From AtlantaAbout 17 miles, 30 minutes without traffic
- Parking$25 daily or $40 annual per vehicle; required for everyone who drives in
- SummitAbout 1,686 feet; 1-mile Walk-Up Trail or the Summit Skyride
- Not a state parkThe Georgia State Parks ParkPass is not valid here
- What It Costs
- Getting to the Top
- Free With Parking
- Attractions
- Where to Stay
- History
- Tips
- Common Questions
What Stone Mountain Park Costs in 2026
Stone Mountain Park is owned by the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, a state authority, and its attractions are run by a private company, so it has its own fees. Everything starts with a parking pass:
| Ticket | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Daily parking, $25 per vehicle | Entry for the day to the trails, the Walk-Up Trail, the lake, picnic areas, playground, Grist Mill, Covered Bridge and Quarry Exhibit |
| Annual parking, $40 per vehicle | The same for 12 months; a second pass in the same purchase is $25 |
| Attractions ticket | One-day access to the Summit Skyride and the park’s seasonal attractions, live shows and festivals; parking is extra |
| Annual membership | 12 months of attractions and special events such as Stone Mountain Christmas |
| Skyride-only ticket | Sold at the park on the day of your visit |
Walkers and cyclists can enter free through the South Woods Gate. If you plan to come back two or more times in a year, the $40 annual parking pass pays for itself on the second visit. Attraction prices change by season and are sold online, so check the park’s site the week you go.
Getting to the Top: Walk-Up Trail or Summit Skyride
Summit SkyrideMore than 825 feet up
Stone Mountain Lake363 acres of water
The MountainA granite dome east of Atlanta
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Rundvald, public domain; Dsdugan, CC0; Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Hike the Walk-Up Trail
The 1-mile trail starts near the Confederate Hall area on the west side and climbs steadily up bare rock, with handrails on the steepest final stretch. Most people take about 30 minutes each way. Wear shoes with grip, carry water and skip it when the rock is wet or icy, or when storms are in the forecast.
Ride the Summit Skyride
A Swiss cable car carries you more than 825 feet up the side of the mountain, a half-mile round trip, with views of the Atlanta skyline and, on clear days, the Appalachian foothills. It is wheelchair accessible and closes in high winds and lightning. It is included with an attractions ticket, or buy a Skyride-only ticket at the park.
A good plan for families is to hike up and ride down. Note that the Skyride’s lower station is about 1.5 miles from the bottom of the Walk-Up Trail, so leave a car at each end or plan to walk back around. At the top, the views reach the skyline on most days; on very clear days you can see the mountains to the north.
Free Things to Do With a Parking Pass
You do not need an attractions ticket to have a full day here. Your parking pass covers:
Cherokee Trail
An approximately 5-mile loop around the base of the mountain through woods and past the lake, crossing the Walk-Up Trail. It is rocky in places, so wear real shoes.
Stone Mountain Lake
363 acres of water for shore fishing (with a Georgia fishing license), picnics and paddling. Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available in season.
Covered Bridge and Grist Mill
A historic covered bridge moved here from Athens and a historic grist mill, both on short lakeside walks. See our Stone Mountain covered bridge page.
Quarry Exhibit, playground and picnic areas
A small outdoor exhibit on the granite quarrying that built the area, plus a playground and shaded picnic spots near the lake.
The town of Stone Mountain Village sits just outside the park’s west gate, with shops and restaurants for lunch. For more free options around the metro, see free things to do in Atlanta.
Attractions, Shows and Festivals
The paid attractions change with the seasons, and some close on weekdays outside summer, so check the park calendar. In 2026 the park lists:
Summit Skyride
Open most days; included with an attractions ticket.
Lakeside Zip Line and rentals
A zip line over the edge of the lake, plus kayak and paddleboard rentals on Stone Mountain Lake.
Drone and Light Show
The summer evening show on the mountain’s face, which replaced the classic Lasershow in 2023, with choreographed drones, lights and fireworks on the lawn.
Seasonal festivals
Pumpkin Festival in the fall, Stone Mountain Christmas in winter and Dino Fest, among others, all on the attractions ticket.
The Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad is closed for scheduled maintenance. Visiting in winter? See our list of the best Christmas lights in metro Atlanta.
Where to Stay at Stone Mountain
You can sleep inside the park. The lakeside campground has more than 400 RV, pop-up and tent sites, plus yurts with heat, air conditioning and a back deck over the lake (no pets in yurts, and bathrooms are in nearby bathhouses). The Atlanta Evergreen Lakeside Resort, also inside the park, has rooms with balconies, pools and golf. For more ideas, see our Georgia lodging listings and glamping in Georgia.
The Carving and the Mountain’s History
The north face of the mountain carries a huge carving of Confederate leaders Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson on horseback, begun in 1923 and finished in 1972. Stone Mountain is also where the Ku Klux Klan was refounded in 1915, and after the state bought the mountain in 1958, the memorial park was developed during the fight over desegregation as a symbol of resistance to it. In recent years the Stone Mountain Memorial Association has moved Confederate flags from the Walk-Up Trail area and approved a new exhibit in Memorial Hall that tells the mountain’s full history; check with the park for its current status.
Long before the carving, the mountain was a landmark for Native Americans and later a granite quarry whose stone was shipped across the country. For more Georgia history, see our historic sites and Atlanta History Center pages.
Tips for Visiting
Hike early
The Walk-Up Trail is crowded and hot by late morning in summer. Start at opening, or go in the last couple of hours before sunset.
Watch the weather
Bare granite is slick when wet and dangerous in lightning. The Skyride closes in storms and high winds.
Bring a dog?
Leashed dogs are welcome on the trails, but not on the Skyride or in the yurts.
Pair it
Arabia Mountain and Panola Mountain, two quieter granite domes, are 20 minutes south. See outdoor things to do in Atlanta.
Common Questions
How much does it cost to go to Stone Mountain?
Parking is $25 per vehicle per day or $40 for an annual pass in 2026. Hiking, the lake, the playground and the covered bridge are free with parking. The Skyride and other attractions cost extra.
How long does it take to walk up Stone Mountain?
The Walk-Up Trail is 1 mile each way and takes most people about 30 minutes up and a little less coming down. Allow more time with small children.
Is Stone Mountain a state park?
No. It is owned by the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, a state authority, and run by a private company. The Georgia State Parks ParkPass is not accepted.
Can you bring dogs to Stone Mountain?
Leashed dogs are welcome on the park’s trails, but not on the Summit Skyride or in the campground yurts.
Sources we checked
Facts on this page were checked against official sources on October 21, 2026. Prices, hours and closures change, so confirm before you go:
- Stone Mountain Park: Parking: 2026 daily and annual parking, what is free with parking, Scenic Railroad closure
- Stone Mountain Park: Summit Skyride: Skyride height, tickets, weather rules
- Stone Mountain Park: Walk-Up Trail: trail length and summit elevation
- Stone Mountain Park: Campground: campsites and yurts
- Georgia State Parks: FAQs: Stone Mountain is not run under state park rules
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.