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Things to Do in Pine Mountain and Warm Springs, Georgia

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Sweeping valley view from Dowdell's Knob at F. D. Roosevelt State Park near Pine Mountain

Photo: Dsdugan, public domain (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons

Pine Mountain and Warm Springs sit side by side about an hour and a half southwest of Atlanta, and together they make one of the best weekend trips in the state. Callaway Gardens has the azaleas, a butterfly conservatory and one of the biggest Christmas light shows in the South. F. D. Roosevelt State Park, Georgia’s largest, has the ridge-top views. And in Warm Springs you can stand in the house where President Roosevelt spent his last days. Here are the best things to do.

Top Things to Do in Pine Mountain and Warm Springs

1. Callaway Gardens

Gardens, lakes and woodland trails across thousands of acres. In spring the Azalea Bowl blooms with more than 3,400 hybrid azaleas, and in summer the white-sand Robin Lake Beach opens.

2. Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center

A glass conservatory inside Callaway Gardens with about 1,000 tropical butterflies of more than 50 species flying free. A great rainy-day stop.

3. Fantasy In Lights

Callaway’s holiday drive-through light show, with millions of lights. The 2026 season runs November 13, 2026, to January 3, 2027, and tickets include a one-day admission to the gardens. Buy ahead for weekends.

4. F. D. Roosevelt State Park

At 10,874 acres, Georgia’s largest state park. Drive up to Dowdell’s Knob, Roosevelt’s favorite picnic spot, or hike a section of the Pine Mountain Trail, which runs about 23 miles along the ridge.

5. Roosevelt’s Little White House

The cottage Roosevelt built in Warm Springs in 1932 and where he died in April 1945, kept as he left it, with a museum next door. Open daily 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; adults are $13.

6. Roosevelt’s Warm Springs pools

The 88-degree spring-fed pools that first drew Roosevelt here in 1924 while he searched for relief from polio. Our page explains how to see them.

7. Wild Animal Safari

A drive-through animal park in Pine Mountain where giraffes, zebras and other animals walk right up to your car. Opens daily at 10 a.m.; check animalsafari.com for prices.

Events and Seasons

Late March and April are peak azalea season at Callaway Gardens. Summer brings Robin Lake Beach and long days on the trails, though the heat is real by July. Fall color on Pine Mountain is a quiet alternative to the north Georgia crowds, and Fantasy In Lights fills November and December, so book lodging early for holiday weekends.

Nearby and Trip Planning

Pine Mountain is about 50 minutes north of Columbus and an hour from LaGrange. Nearby, the Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery is a good stop with kids, and the Meriwether-Pike scenic byway makes a pretty drive home. See our Harris County parks page for more.

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Common Questions

What is there to do in Pine Mountain, GA?

The big draws are Callaway Gardens, with its azaleas, butterfly center and Fantasy In Lights, F. D. Roosevelt State Park and Wild Animal Safari, plus Roosevelt’s Little White House in nearby Warm Springs.

How far is Pine Mountain from Atlanta?

Pine Mountain is about 79 miles from downtown Atlanta, roughly 1 hour 35 minutes by car without traffic.

When is Fantasy In Lights at Callaway Gardens?

The 2026 season runs November 13, 2026, through January 3, 2027. Tickets include a one-day admission to Callaway Gardens.

How much is the Little White House?

Adult admission is $13, seniors 62 and older are $9.75, ages 6 to 17 are $7.50, and children under 6 are free. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Sources we checked

Facts on this page were checked against official sources and our own detailed pages. Drive times are from downtown Atlanta (Five Points) using OpenStreetMap routing and do not include traffic. Hours, prices and event dates change, so confirm before you go:

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.