There are so many great family-friendly things to do in Atlanta; unfortunately, a lot of them are quite expensive. So I wanted to put together this guide of free or cheap things to do in Atlanta with kids! I strongly believe that travelling, exploring and enjoying new places doesn’t have to break your bank account. So if you’re visiting Atlanta on a budget, or like me, just like to mix a few free activities with the treats, this guide is perfect for you!
When we visited Atlanta, our boys were almost 4 years old and 8 months old. The weather was mixed, two sunny days and two with torrential rain.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
FULL GUIDE TO ATLANTA WITH KIDS
WE ALSO HAVE GUIDES ON:
– DALLAS – NASHVILLE – NEW ORLEANS – NEW YORK – CHARLESTON –
The Best Free Or Cheap Things To Do In Atlanta With Kids
1. Explore Centennial Olympic Park
This beautiful 22-acre park is completely free to enjoy. We spent the best part of the day here in the sunshine.
There is a small playground, but it looks like a newer one is under construction! The park has many fountains, and the boys enjoyed splashing in them. This is the perfect place for a picnic, which is also a cheap thing to do in Atlanta compared to eating out.
2. Search for Tiny Doors
Our 4-year-old absolutely loved hunting for the Tiny Doors that are part of Atlanta’s Tiny Doors Project! These tiny doors have been designed by local artists and have been hidden across Atlanta. You can download the free map here.
I would suggest you use the map, because they are hard to spot. They’re also quite spread out; we didn’t see them all, but looking for them is a nice way to explore more of the city. This is a free thing for kids to do in Atlanta; however, a few of the doors are in places such as the Georgia Aquarium that require an entrance fee.
TIP: You can see 3 of the doors at the Visitors Centre in Centennial Olympic Park, remember to look up! The lady in the visitors centre was also very helpful!
3. Graffiti in Krog Street Tunnel
While hunting for a tiny door, we came across the Krog Street Tunnel. This is a tunnel covered in graffiti and street art. Someone had left a spray can there, so we let our son have a little turn! Looking at street art is free, buying a spray paint can would be a fun and cheap thing to do in Atlanta with kids!
Just through the tunnel is a street (Wylie St SE) that is lined with beautifully painted murals. This is also fun for little kids to look at and pick out their favourite.
4. Walk the Beltline
The BeltLine is a huge 22-mile loop that is great for walking or cycling around Atlanta. Obviously, 22 miles is a long way, but you can pick a section to walk. We planned to start near the Krog Street Tunnel and end at Piedmont Park.
Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. Being soaking wet with two little kids is just no fun, so we had to abandon and head back to our hotel.
See the map and plan your Beltline route here.
5. Play in Piedmont Park
Piedmont Park was one place I wanted to visit, but didn’t get to. Unfortunately, the rain was just too heavy and we had to abandon. It looks big and like it has great free playgrounds for kids.
6. Get Cultural at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park
The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site is free to enter, and the museum has lots of interesting information about black history. Honestly, this isn’t a specific kid’s activity, but we like to do something for everyone when we travel!
First, we headed to the playground behind the museum. This was a good way for our toddler to burn some energy before heading into the museum. Luckily, it was nap time for our baby.
I gently explained to our son in a child-friendly way that people weren’t always kind and how it’s important to treat everyone fairly.
7. Ride the Atlanta Streetcar
Not only is this a great way to get around, but it’s also a really fun thing to do in Atlanta with toddlers or young children. At $1 per ride for an adult ticket (or $3 for a day pass), it is a really cheap thing to do in Atlanta. To make it even better, kids under 46 inches ride free.
You can buy tickets from the ticket machine, which requires getting a Breeze Card. Or, if you have the right money, you can pay on board.
More information can be found on their website, linked here.
That concludes my guide on free and cheap things to do in Atlanta with kids. I hope it’s helped you plan your trip to Georgia and you have an amazing time!
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
FULL GUIDE TO ATLANTA WITH KIDS
WE ALSO HAVE GUIDES ON:
– DALLAS – NASHVILLE – NEW ORLEANS – NEW YORK – CHARLESTON –
Happy Travelling,
A London mum sharing stylish, family-friendly travel guides.
I In our travel guides, I show you that you can still travel as a family and create beautiful memories, even when trips aren’t full of kid-centric activities.
When I’m not planning our next adventure, I also share timeless style inspiration and ideas for living more thoughtfully and sustainably.