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Known for a plethora of exciting venues, like the Georgia Aquarium, the sprawling metropolis of Atlanta, Georgia, is home to around a half million people. This makes it one of the most populous cities east of the Mississippi River. It also makes it less than ideal to get that break from a hectic work week. Luckily, several great towns and state parks are within a few hours’ drive of Atlanta. Find ten of the most unforgettable autumn spots, and they are located less than three hours away. From an annual chili cook-off in Madison to an apple-picking festival in Ellijay, these idyllic, tranquil places provide a unique taste of community connectivity through a variety of fall-inspired events, historic sites, and natural attributes.

Madison, Georgia

Perhaps one of the closest (about an hour's drive from Atlanta), following two-lane roads through the stunning brilliance of autumn in Georgia, the charming town of Madison is in close proximity to several natural attributes that deliver a fall beauty that urges visitors to return each year. The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, home to Hard Labor Creek State Park in nearby Rutledge and Stephens State Park in nearby Crawfordville, offers a plethora of hiking, bird-watching, and camping options.

Downtown Madison has exciting festivals catering to autumn, as well. The most prominent of these is a Chili Cook-Off Fall Festival, which is held each October, presenting some of the best music by local bands, a tasty chili-cooking contest, and a variety of individualized food and craft vendors.

Tallulah Gorge State Park

Situated just under two hours northeast of Atlanta, the Tallulah Gorge State Park covers nearly 3,000 acres of land. Tallulah Gorge itself descends almost 1,000 feet at its deepest and is around two miles long. This stunning state park offers several hiking trails, like the North Rim Loop and South Rim Loop trails, five majestic waterfalls, and even opportunities for whitewater kayaking and canyon climbing.

Whether you choose to hike down to the suspension bridge, which is suspended 80 feet above the floor of the gorge, or tackle waves in a boat or kayak, or just camp under the stars for the evening at one of the best state parks in Georgia, Tallulah Gorge is the perfect fall getaway.

Helen, Georgia

The picturesque town of Helen possesses a wealth of natural beauty, no matter the season. During the autumn season, this quaint Bavarian-influenced town of around 500 people offers a plethora of activities that showcase the wonder and beauty of nature. Located south of Unicoi State Park, north of Smithgall Woods State Park, and just under 2 hours from Atlanta, Helen presents a variety of natural attributes that showcase the majestic beauty of the landscape.

Unicoi Lake, Raven Cliff Falls, and Dukes Creek are just three of many scenic options. Helen also has a welcoming cultural aspect. Known for its German heritage, it hosts the largest Oktoberfest in the United States, held annually from the beginning of September to the end of October.

Cloudland Canyon State Park

Hidden in the northwestern corner of the state, just over two hours from the city, Cloudland Canyon State Park is a perfect place to go to get away for the day or even a whole weekend, especially during the autumn season. This remarkable state park, located just west of Lookout Mountain and 30 minutes from the quaint village of Rising Fawn, offers a variety of natural activities. Hiking, camping, picnicking, and even horseback riding are popular within this park.

There are also several great ways to experience the changing of the season in Cloudland Canyon, including exploring a plethora of hiking trails. Overlook Trail is only a mile long and suitable for everyone, while Sitton’s Gulch Trail is six miles long and is considered quite difficult for most.

East Ridge, Tennessee

The town of East Ridge, about two hours from Atlanta and only a few minutes from Chattanooga, is home to a variety of natural venues, like Camp Jordan Park and East Ridge Park. Several great fall festivals are held in and near town as well. The East Ridge Fall Festival, held in the Camp Jordan parking lot, presents local food and craft vendors, pony rides, a pumpkin patch to wander through, and a petting zoo.

There are also interesting historical activities to be enjoyed in East Ridge. This small town has its own Antique District, an East Ridge History Archive, and is quite near to two great venues for younger children, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and the Creative Discovery Museum.

Barnsley Resort

Barnsley Resort, situated an hour and a half north of Atlanta and just over an hour south of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a haven for those who wish to get away from city living for a short while. Located in the town of Adairsville, on 3,000 acres of immaculate, unspoiled wilderness, Barnsley Resort offers everything from subtle tranquility to exhilarating adventure, including relaxing at a bonfire at sunset or riding a horse through a dappled forest while experiencing the beauty of autumn.

There are even several community-influenced activities to try out at Barnsley Resort, like stopping by the Fall Beer Garden, enjoying a fireside concert, trying your hand at paintball, and learning how it was influenced during the Civil War.

Lake Oconee

Around an hour and 20 minutes east of Atlanta, picturesque Lake Oconee is an oasis of fun and excitement while also being a haven for peace and tranquility. Calling the town of Greensboro home, this 20-mile-long reservoir offers great amenities like hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, boating, and even camping overnight in Oconee Springs Park in nearby Eatonton.

It is also home to several events, many of them catering to music and festivities of the autumn season, like the Jazz Legacy Project and Andrew Brothers Dueling Pianos, both held in the month of October. In downtown Greensboro, Lake Oconee presents its annual fall festival, with games and snacks showcasing autumn and the changing of the leaves.

Amicalola Falls State Park

The town of Dawsonville is famous for the haunted covered bridge at Burt’s Farm, the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, and Uncle Shucks Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch, which has a 15-acre corn maze, a haunted trail, hayrides, a kiddie maze, and even a large pumpkin patch to explore. This quaint town of less than 4,000 permanent residents is also home to Amicalola Falls State Park (1.5 hours from Atlanta), which offers visitors amenities such as hiking the "Base of the Falls" trail, capturing photos of the 729-foot waterfall, ziplining through the Chattahoochee National Forest, and camping at some of the most nature-inspired sites in the state of Georgia.

There are even several fall events held annually in downtown Dawsonville, including the Mountain Moonshine Festival, which takes place every October.

Gadsden, Alabama

Two hours west of the city of Atlanta, the charming town of Gadsden, Alabama, is a hidden gem in terms of natural and historic attributes, urging visitors to return each year. The Martin Wildlife Park bird sanctuary has several trails with elevated boardwalks, making it ideal for viewing birds in their natural habitats, including an active Heron Rookery, while Noccalula Falls Park provides ample photographic opportunities, including a stunning 90-foot waterfall.

Neely Henry Lake offers more than 300 miles of shoreline, while the Lookout Mountain Parkway, 93 miles of two-lane road running through pristine forests, by magnificent waterfalls, and past jaw-dropping scenic overlooks, displays the beauty of the autumn season and journeys from Gadsden to Chattanooga.

Ellijay, Georgia

The small town of Ellijay, hidden away in Gilmer County, is home to a vast amount of natural amenities, as well as autumn-inspired festivities and events. The Georgia Apple Festival and the Dancing Goats Folkfest cater to the stunning changing of the foliage in autumn, offering wagon rides, storytelling, apple-picking, and many other children-oriented activities. This town of less than 2,000 people, located about an hour and a half from the city of Atlanta, is also home to a variety of apple orchards, including R&A Orchards and B.J. Reece Orchards, and several wineries, including Bear Claw, Buckley’s, and Cairn View.

While there are many exciting venues in the city of Atlanta, like the Centennial Olympic Park and Zoo Atlanta, there are several small towns, state parks, lakes, and even resorts in close proximity to the city as well. From state parks with whitewater kayaking and spelunking opportunities to towns with experiences like the Dancing Goats Folkfest and Uncle Shucks Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch, the area around Atlanta is filled with great amenities to share with friends or the family. These are only ten of the most unforgettable fall getaways within three hours of Atlanta; there are a plethora of others out there in the state to discover.