From a new 120-acre nature park to trackside dining at a world-class racing circuit, this North Georgia mountain town is mixing outdoor adventure, motorsports heritage and fresh experiences for visitors
DAWSONVILLE, GEORGIA—MARCH 2026—Located about an hour northwest of Atlanta and two hours south of Chattanooga in the North Georgia Mountains, Dawsonville, sets the stage for a town where speed and scenery share equal billing. Here, visitors can spend the morning walking wooded trails, the afternoon learning about the birthplace of stock car racing and the evening enjoying live music, craft spirits and hometown cooking. From a newly opened nature park to trackside dining overlooking a world-class racing circuit, Dawsonville offers fresh experiences in a mountain getaway that blends outdoor adventure with authentic local character.
Styles Park
New to Dawson County, the 120-acre Styles Park (Hwy 183 at 425 Rock Cellar Road) offers five miles of nature trails (no motorized vehicles) and a half-mile paved ADA-accessible loop. There’s even a bike repair and cleaning station on site! The new park was gifted to the county by lifelong resident Anne L. Styles because her father’s dream was to donate the family land for public use. She passed just before the grand opening, but the family wish is complete.
Fuel Kitchen at Atlanta Motorsports Park
Get behind the wheel of high performance cars, motorcycles and karts to take off on the two-mile, F1-designed circuit created by the renowned Hermann Tilke and the .85-mile pro kart tracks with more than 43 feet of elevation change at the Atlanta Motorsports Park (20 Duck Thurmond Road, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 678-329-8051). Road and Track Magazine called Atlanta Motorsports Park one of the “Top 10 racetracks in North America” and SPEED SPORT awarded the track a 2023 Outstanding Facility Award for its “excellence and innovation in the high-performance driving and racing industry.”
New at Atlanta Motorsports Park is Fuel Kitchen within the karting clubhouse that overlooks the F1-style racetracks. Executive Chef Jason Perry, with his background in country club dining and tenure with Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, serves up fresh, farm-to-table ingredients with locally sourced meats, artisan breads and seasonal produce from Georgia’s finest purveyors.
Georgia Racing Hall of Fame
There’s so much to see at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame (415 Highway 53 East, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 706-216-7223), a non-profit organization preserving the region’s motorsports heritage. In addition to exhibiting both original and replica racers from the 1940s to today, the museum features the Elliott Family Room, showcasing the triumphs of award-winning NASCAR drivers Bill “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville” Elliott and his son, Chase Elliott. And every year the museum hosts the Racing Hall of Fame, dedicated to honoring the influential figures of the sport.
New to this must-see attraction is the Moonshiners Hall of Fame Exhibit. Back in the early 20th century, Dawsonville residents supercharged their cars for speed to outrun those aimed at halting their bootlegging. Over time that need for speed became a stock racing car sport in the North Georgia Mountains, leading to the creation of NASCAR and securing Dawsonville as the Birthplace of Stockcar Racing. Visitors to the museum may also witness Chase Elliott’s next generation show car on display.
Grandaddy Mimm’s
Grandaddy Mimm’s Distilling Co. (415 Highway 53 East, Suite 130, Dawsonville, Georgia, 30534; 706-781-1829) produces a variety of fun moonshine flavors in addition to vodka, whiskey, sorghum rum and their latest, a popular collection of Border Hop Beer Co. brews. The family- and pet-friendly distillery located at “The Garage” at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame now offers trivia on Fridays, music bingo twice a month and live music performances on a regular basis.
North Georgia Premium Outlets
North Georgia Premium Outlets (800 Highway 400 South, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 706-216-3609) turns 30 this year with a celebration of “Thirty and Thriving” this May. The outlet features more than 100 premium stores that keeps growing every year. In 2025, stores Carhart, Sephora, Offline by Aerie, Dolce & Gabbana, Psycho Bunny, Hey Dude, Miss A and Simply Southern came on board. Opening this year will Buckle, Vineyard Vines, Hollister and Bubble World Tea.
The Dawsonville Pool Room
Situated in the center of town lies a landmark restaurant where folks gather for good food, company and to celebrate when their own wins big. Such was the case when Chase Elliott won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship and Dawsonville Pool Room (9 Bill Elliott Street, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 706-265-2792) owner Gordon Pirkle sounded the tornado siren. In other words, this long-running establishment serving up its famous Bully Burger and true hospitality remains the community’s heart and soul and celebrates its 60th anniversary later this year.
Summer Events
Dawsonville’s free Concert in the Park series continues at downtown Dawsonville’s Main Street Park with tentative shows scheduled for May 2 and September 12.
The Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Museum will host several car shows this summer as well as the July 12 Quaker State 400 Fan Zone Display at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Where to Stay
Dawsonville and the surrounding area offers several hotels and vacation rentals to suit any traveler, whether for a quick getaway or an extended stay. Click here for a full list of lodging options.
The town’s nesting location in the North Georgia Mountains also provides for some unique options, such as glamping at Timberline Glamping (418 Amicalola Falls Lodge Road, Dawsonville, Georgia, 30534; 706-204-9245). It’s not your standard camping accommodations; we’re talking a furnished tent with a comfortable bed, cooling and heating and amenities such as hammocks, string lights, a firepit and a charcoal grill. Timberline’s inside Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge (418 Amicalola Falls Lodge Road, Dawsonville, Georgia, 30534; 706-265-8888) where modern amenities and gorgeous views—don’t miss the daily sunset show!—may be had at the Lodge’s comfortable and stylish rooms. The state park also features top recreation—hiking, zip-lining, archery and, of course, the park’s spectacular 729-foot waterfall, the tallest cascading waterfall in the state.
For something truly unique, take a five-mile hike from Amicalola Falls State Park to the sustainable Len Foote Hike Inn (Len Foote Hike Inn, 280 Amicalola Falls State Park Road, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 706-344-1547). It’s a relaxing, easy-to-moderate hike through the mountains where at trail’s end visitors will enjoy family-style meals, a soft bed and the Sunrise Room with its board games and library. This secluded backcountry lodge experience—and a gateway to the Appalachian Trail!—is a respite in nature with sweeping mountain views visitors will talk about for years.