Decision tool · arrival and parking planner
Where should you park?
Tell us where you are driving in from and who is with you. You get the computed drive, the festival lots the Gilmer County Chamber lists, ranked for your side of town and how far you want to walk, and what the organizers publish about the shuttle, accessible parking, service animals and paying for parking.
Festival parking lots, nearest the gate first
| Lot | Address | To the gate | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellijay Lions Club (fairgrounds lot) | 1729 South Main Street, Ellijay, GA 30540 | At the fairgrounds | Fee varies; cash preferred | The festival site itself. The Chamber lists it first under 'Parking within festival walking distance'. The Cha |
| Larry Walker Education Center | 1860 South Main Street, Ellijay, GA 30540 | About 0.2 mi from the gate in a straight line | Fee varies; cash preferred | Shuttle stop. Listed by the Chamber under 'Parking with Shuttle Service' as the lot with handicap parking and an accessible |
| Gilmer County Civic Center | 1561 South Main Street, Ellijay, GA 30540 | About 0.2 mi from the gate in a straight line | Fee varies; cash preferred | Listed by the Chamber under 'Parking within festival walking distance'. Gilmer County's elections page gives t |
| Gilmer County Parks & Rec (South Main Street) | 1361 South Main Street, Ellijay, GA 30540 | About 0.3 mi from the gate in a straight line | Fee varies; cash preferred | Listed by the Chamber under 'Parking within festival walking distance'. Space count and fee amount are not pub |
| River Gate Parking | Soccer Field Rd, East Ellijay, GA 30540 | About 0.3 mi from the gate in a straight line | Fee varies; cash preferred | Listed by the Chamber under 'Parking within festival walking distance'. Space count and fee amount are not pub |
| Gilmer High School | 408 Bobcat Trail, Ellijay, GA 30540 | About 0.5 mi from the gate in a straight line | Fee varies; cash preferred | Shuttle stop. Listed by the Chamber under 'Parking with Shuttle Service' with the instruction '[Follow Traffic Patterns]'. T |
| Mountain View Elementary School | 350 Calvin Jackson Drive, Ellijay, GA 30540 | About 0.8 mi from the gate in a straight line | Fee varies; cash preferred | Shuttle stop. Listed by the Chamber under 'Parking with Shuttle Service'. The lot operator, space count and fee amount are n |
| Gilmer County Head Start | 305 Calvin Jackson Drive, Ellijay 30540 | About 0.9 mi from the gate in a straight line | Fee varies; cash preferred | Shuttle stop. Listed by the Chamber under 'Parking with Shuttle Service'. The lot operator, space count and fee amount are n |
| Downtown Ellijay (Hipp Street) | Hipp Street, Ellijay, GA 30540 | About 1.7 mi from the gate in a straight line | Fee varies; cash preferred | Shuttle stop. Listed by the Chamber under 'Parking with Shuttle Service'. Hipp Street is one block east of the courthouse sq |
| Gilmer County Parks & Rec (Old Hwy 5) | 2150 Old Hwy 5, Ellijay, GA 30540 | Distance not computed (no map match for this address) | Fee varies; cash preferred | Listed by the Chamber under 'Parking within festival walking distance'. Space count and fee amount are not pub |
Lots, addresses and fees as the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce lists them for the 2026 festival (checked October 19, 2026). Distances to the gate are straight lines on OpenStreetMap coordinates, not walking routes; a lot whose address has no map match is listed without one. Gilmer County Chamber: Festival Parking (linked as 'Parking Info' from georgiaapplefestival.org)
Drive times to the fairgrounds
| From | Distance | Drive | Main roads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Blue Ridge (Blue Ridge depot) | 17.7 mi | about 25 min | US-76/GA-2/GA-5/GA-515 (APD Highway) → US-76/GA-282 (Industrial Boulevard) → South Main Street |
| Jasper (Pickens County Courthouse) | 19.0 mi | about 26 min | GA-53 Business (East Church Street) → GA-5/GA-515 (APD Highway) → Old Highway 5 South → South Main Street |
| Chatsworth (Murray County Courthouse) | 24.7 mi | about 36 min | US-76/US-411/GA-61 (South 3rd Avenue) → US-76/GA-282 (Old Highway 411) → South Main Street |
| Downtown Canton (Cannon Park) | 37.9 mi | about 47 min | I-575/GA-5 (Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway) → GA-5/GA-515 (APD Highway) → Old Highway 5 South → South Main Street |
| Dalton (City Hall) | 37.4 mi | about 54 min | GA-52 (East Walnut Avenue) → US-76/GA-52 (Chatsworth Road Southeast) → GA-225 → Spring Place Smyrna Road → Smyrna Ramhurst Road → US-76/GA-282 (Old Highway 411) → South Main Street |
| Dahlonega public square (Gold Museum) | 39.9 mi | about 59 min | GA-9/GA-52 (Morrison Moore Parkway West) → GA-52 (Highway 52 East) → US-76/GA-282 (Industrial Boulevard) → South Main Street |
| Marietta Square (Glover Park) | 58.8 mi | about 71 min | I-575/GA-5 (Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway) → GA-5/GA-515 (APD Highway) → Old Highway 5 South → South Main Street |
| Alpharetta City Hall | 53.8 mi | about 76 min | Rucker Road → GA-140 (Houze Road) → I-575/GA-5 (Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway) → GA-5/GA-515 (APD Highway) → Old Highway 5 South → South Main Street |
| Gainesville square (Roosevelt Square) | 55.5 mi | about 84 min | GA-60 (Thompson Bridge Road) → GA-136 (Price Road) → GA-136/GA-183 (Elliott Family Parkway) → GA-52 (Highway 52 East) → US-76/GA-282 (Industrial Boulevard) → South Main Street |
| Downtown Atlanta (Georgia State Capitol) | 76.3 mi | about 90 min | I-75/I-85 (Downtown Connector) → I-75 (Horace E Tate Freeway) → I-575/GA-5 (Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway) → GA-5/GA-515 (APD Highway) → Old Highway 5 South → South Main Street |
| Downtown Chattanooga, TN (Hamilton County Courthouse) | 67.5 mi | about 91 min | I-24/US-27 → I-75 → US-41/US-76/GA-3 (Chattanooga Road) → US-76/GA-52 (Chatsworth Road Southeast) → GA-225 → Spring Place Smyrna Road → Smyrna Ramhurst Road → US-76/GA-282 (Old Highway 411) → South Main Street |
| Knoxville, TN (Market Square) | 137.2 mi | about 178 min | I-40/I-75 → I-75 → SR-305 (Highway 305) → SR-30 (David W Lillard Memorial Highway) → US-411/SR-30 → US-411 → US-411/GA-2/GA-61 (North 3rd Avenue) → US-76/US-411/GA-61 → US-76/GA-282 (Old Highway 411) → South Main Street |
| Greenville, SC (City Hall) | 160.9 mi | about 208 min | US-29 (South Church Street) → I-85 (Ernest Vandiver Highway) → US-129/GA-11 (Athens Highway) → GA-60 (Thompson Bridge Road) → GA-136 (Price Road) → GA-136/GA-183 (Elliott Family Parkway) → GA-52 (Highway 52 East) → US-76/GA-282 (Industrial Boulevard) → South Main Street |
Computed routes on OpenStreetMap data (OSRM), one way, with no traffic. Festival weekends are slower, so allow extra time.
Lots, fees, the shuttle and the accessibility and animal rules are what the Gilmer County Chamber and the festival publish (checked October 19, 2026); anything they do not publish, such as shuttle hours, is left out rather than guessed. Drive times are computed one-way routes on OpenStreetMap data with no traffic. Lot rankings weigh the straight-line distance to the gate and which side of town the lot is on; they are our suggestion, not the organizer's.
Know the back roads into Ellijay already? Maybe it is time to live on one of them.
How festival parking works
- Parking at the fairgrounds is limited. Parking is also offered at local schools, with buses shuttling visitors to the festival. Eventeny, Georgia Apple Festival 2026 (hosted by Gilmer Chamber)
- Paid parking is available at several lots around Ellijay, and a free shuttle runs from them to the festival. Gilmer County Chamber, Festival Parking
- Local community organizations run the parking lots. Fees vary by lot, and cash is preferred. Gilmer County Chamber, Festival Parking
- The festival itself does not manage the parking lots. SimpleTix, 2026 Georgia Apple Festival Tickets
- The City of Ellijay says festival parking donations go to local civic and school groups, and the amount requested can vary. City of Ellijay, Georgia Apple Festival 2023 2nd weekend
Shuttle lots and walking-distance lots
- The Chamber's 2026 shuttle lots were Downtown Ellijay (Hipp Street), Gilmer County Head Start (305 Calvin Jackson Drive), Mountain View Elementary School (350 Calvin Jackson Drive), Gilmer High School (408 Bobcat Trail) and the Larry Walker Education Center (1860 South Main Street). Gilmer County Chamber, Festival Parking
- Lots within walking distance of the festival are the Ellijay Lions Club (1729 South Main Street), Gilmer County Parks & Rec (2150 Old Hwy 5 and 1361 South Main Street), the Gilmer County Civic Center (1561 South Main Street) and River Gate Parking (Soccer Field Road, East Ellijay). The Chamber advises arriving early because lots fill up quickly. Gilmer County Chamber, Festival Parking
- The Chamber says free shuttles typically run from designated parking areas around Ellijay and that shuttle details are posted closer to each festival. Gilmer County Chamber blog, Know Before You Go: Georgia Apple Festival (updated Oct. 7, 2026)
Accessible parking
The Chamber’s parking page says two different things about accessible parking, so we show both. Call the Chamber at (706) 635-7400 before you go if it decides your day.
- The Larry Walker Education Center lot at 1860 South Main Street is listed as handicap parking with an accessible shuttle. Gilmer County Chamber, Festival Parking
- Accessibility on the shuttle buses is limited. For accessible parking, the Chamber points visitors to the Ellijay Lions Club lot, where spaces are first come, first served. Gilmer County Chamber, Festival Parking
- Handicap parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Georgia Apple Festival (official site), FAQs
- The festival does not rent wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Georgia Apple Festival (official site), FAQs
- The Chamber notes that the fairgrounds have uneven outdoor ground, which may limit accessibility for some visitors. Gilmer County Chamber blog, Know Before You Go: Georgia Apple Festival (updated Oct. 7, 2026)
Service animals and pets
- Service animals cannot ride the shuttle buses, which must stay allergen-free for school use. Visitors with service animals should park at a walking-distance lot or be dropped off at the gates. Gilmer County Chamber, Festival Parking
- Visitors with a service animal are asked to be dropped off at the gate before parking, because animals are not allowed on the shuttle buses under school policy. Georgia Apple Festival (official site), FAQs
- Pets are not allowed at the Georgia Apple Festival. Service animals are allowed. Georgia Apple Festival (official site), FAQs
On the road
- Festival traffic patterns can change and may not show up in map apps. Drivers should follow the instructions of law enforcement officers. Gilmer County Chamber, Festival Parking
- Ellijay is at the junction of Georgia 515, Georgia 52 and U.S. 76. New Georgia Encyclopedia, Ellijay (last modified June 29, 2022)
- The New Georgia Encyclopedia places Ellijay 75 miles north of Atlanta. New Georgia Encyclopedia, Ellijay (last modified June 29, 2022)
Questions
Are service animals allowed at the Georgia Apple Festival?
Yes, service animals are allowed at the fairgrounds. They cannot ride the shuttle buses, which are school buses that must stay allergen-free, so the organizer asks you to be dropped off at the gate before parking. The Chamber also suggests using a lot within walking distance, such as the Ellijay Lions Club lot.
Source: Gilmer County Chamber, Festival Parking; Georgia Apple Festival (official site), FAQs
Where do I park for the Georgia Apple Festival?
Parking at the fairgrounds is limited, so most visitors use paid lots around Ellijay served by a free shuttle. In 2026 the Chamber listed shuttle lots on Hipp Street downtown, at Gilmer County Head Start, Mountain View Elementary, Gilmer High School and the Larry Walker Education Center. Community groups run the lots, fees vary and cash is preferred.
Source: Gilmer County Chamber, Festival Parking
Is there a shuttle to the Georgia Apple Festival?
Yes. A free shuttle runs from paid parking lots around Ellijay to the fairgrounds. The Chamber says shuttle details are posted closer to each festival and warns that accessibility on the buses is limited. Remember which lot you used so you catch the right bus back, and note that no animals, including service animals, may ride.
Source: Gilmer County Chamber, Festival Parking; Know Before You Go
How much does parking cost at the Georgia Apple Festival?
There is no single published price. The Chamber says the lots are run by local community organizations, fees vary by lot and cash is preferred. The City of Ellijay says parking donations go to local civic and school groups. The shuttle from those lots is free, but the parking fee is separate.
Source: Gilmer County Chamber, Festival Parking; City of Ellijay, Georgia Apple Festival page
Can I park within walking distance of the fairgrounds?
Yes, but space is limited. The Chamber lists walking-distance lots at the Ellijay Lions Club, Gilmer County Parks & Rec on Old Hwy 5 and on South Main Street, the Gilmer County Civic Center and River Gate Parking on Soccer Field Road. It advises arriving early because the lots fill up quickly.
Source: Gilmer County Chamber, Festival Parking
Is there handicap parking at the Georgia Apple Festival?
Yes, on a first-come, first-served basis. The Chamber points visitors who need accessible parking to the Ellijay Lions Club lot, and it lists the Larry Walker Education Center lot at 1860 South Main Street as handicap parking with an accessible shuttle. Accessibility on the other shuttle buses is limited.
Source: Gilmer County Chamber, Festival Parking; Georgia Apple Festival (official site), FAQs
Where is the Apple Arts Festival?
The Apple Arts Festival is in downtown Ellijay, in the parking area behind the Downtown Ellijay Welcome Center at 10 Broad Street. That is a separate site from the main festival at the Lions Club Fairgrounds on South Main Street. In 2026 the Chamber also listed a downtown lot on Hipp Street among the main festival's shuttle lots.
Source: Gilmer County Chamber blog, The Apple Arts Festival Returns To Ellijay This Fall; Festival Parking
Where does the Apple Festival 5K start?
The race page lists 32 McCutchen Street in Ellijay and describes a double-loop course through downtown that finishes on McCutchen Street. The Chamber's 2026 listing named the Gilmer Scout Hut at 75 McCutchen Street instead. The race page says there is free parking around Ellijay Elementary School.
Source: RunSignup, Apple Festival 5K; Gilmer County Chamber, 2026 Georgia Apple Festival 5K & Road Race
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organizers have the final word: Georgia Apple Festival (official site)
