Free Stuff in the Georgia Mountains – Maps, Travel Guides, Food & More!
What could be better than getting something for free? There are many different ways to score great deals in North Georgia if you know where to look. Enjoy these great free Georgia mountain resources!
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Free Stuff in the Georgia Mountains
There are a handful of different categories of North Georgia freebies. Find the ones most interesting and relevant to you and learn below how to sign up for these great offers.
Free Georgia Maps & Travel Guides
Free Road Maps
Free State of Georgia Road Map
Plan a great trip in Georgia no matter which part of the state you’d like to see. Use the online form to request a free printed map and area brochures to be mailed to you from Georgia’s tourism organization. Online versions of the official state map of Georgia are also available. For anyone interested in Georgia’s counties, click here to view an online map of Georgia counties (note there are no roads printed on the county map).
Free Georgia travel guide
Download or request a hard copy of this guide via mail — available in 9 different languages (Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, UK English).
Free Travel Guide for Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
interactive guide featuring Georgia’s state park
Free Exploring Georgia’s Wildlife Coloring Book
download this free book for kids and learn more about Georgia’s wildlife
Free Entrance to Museums & Parks
See these posts for details about visiting some of the area’s premier spots on their annual free days! Georgia residents and visitors can both take advantage of these great free offers!
Free Entrance Days at National Parks
Get free entrance to all of the US National Parks on these 5+ free days each year. No signup required.
Free Entrance Days at National Forest Sites
Take advantage of free admission to National Forest Sites during these dates occurring 4+ times per year! No signup required.
Free Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day
Free admission to Smithsonian Museums across the country on Museum Day!
- 1 time per year (September 18, 2021)
- Requires advance signup to a single museum
Georgia History Festival’s Super Museum Sunday
Free admission to historic sites all across the state of Georgia!
- 1 time per year (Sunday, May 2, 2021)
- No advance signup required
Free Fishing Days
Georgia law requires that anyone 16 and older have a fishing license in their possession — purchase one online from the Electronic Georgia Licensing (EGAL) system or call 1-800-366-2661. Anyone can also take part in the free fishing days in 2021 (June 5, June 12, and Sept 25, 2021).
- Also, take advantage of the Fishing Tackle Loaner Program at select Georgia state parks and borrow gear for free!
The Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) of Georgia DNR provides rods, reels and tackle box equipment to participating State Parks and Historic Sites Offices. Interested visitors can inquire at the park office and check out the equipment for the day. This program provides a way for budding anglers to try fishing without having to purchase any equipment.
Also, Georgia residents with a library card may be able to check out park admission passes and parking permits from the Library Loan Program to get free access to many of Georgia’s State Parks and Historic Sites. These passes can be checked out at any time of year (subject to availability). Check with your local library for more details and to check out your pass!
Free Legal Consultations
Georgia Attorneys Corales and Woody
Have the law team of Corales & Woody review your legal case at no charge with a free consultation. Legal consultations are free and are available over the phone in English or Spanish. Learn more about the Corales & Woody team online or call +1 (678) 961-3999 anytime (24/ 7).
- Phone: +1 (678) 961-3999
- Website: CoralesWoody.com
Free Attractions
Let your wallet take a break with these free activities in the North Georgia mountains. Always call to confirm participation or reserve your space where necessary.
Free Admission to Babyland General Hospital
Free admission daily to Babyland General Hospital where the iconic Cabbage Patch Kids are born.
- Address: 300 N.O.K. Drive, Cleveland, GA
Free Visit and Demonstrations at Barker’s Creek Grist Mill
Barker’s Creek Mill Free First Saturdays in Rabun Gap GA
Barker’s Creek Mill has been providing the community with milling services since the mid-1800s. The current mill was built by Mary Hambidge in 1944 at the site of an older mill. Barker’s Creek Mill is still operated by Hambidge on the First Saturday of each month and by appointment (to provide milling services to local farmers). The volunteer miller is happy to answer your questions.
Organic grits and cornmeal are stone ground at the mill and can be purchased in 2-pound bags at the mill on First Saturdays.
- FIRST SATURDAY of each month from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Located at 4507 Betty’s Creek Road, Rabun Gap, GA
Free Planetarium Show and Night Sky Telescope Viewing
Enjoy free telescope viewing of celestial objects! Free public shows may be reserved online.
The free shows have been incorporating a full-dome video and a live presentation of the current night sky. Show content changes throughout the year to reflect changes in the evening skies and new developments in science. The format for upcoming shows is expected to change in June 2021.
- Free 45 minutes shows most Wednesday, Thursday, and Fridays
- Coleman Planetarium is located at Health and Natural Sciences Building, 159 Sunset Drive (Room 234), Dahlonega, GA
- Observatory is located at North Georgia Astronomical Observatory, Day Drive, Dahlonega, GA
- Weather permitting, after the planetarium show visitors are invited to view the real night sky through telescopes on the UNG Drill Field
Free Young Harris College Observatory Open House Events
NOTE: “Due to COVID-19, the 2020-2021 season at O. Wayne Rollins Planetarium is on hold.”
The Young Harris College Observatory is open to the public for telescopic viewing (if the skies are clear) on these open house nights. Visit the observatory that features a 14-inch telescope for observing sessions that may last up to one hour. Located ~1.5 miles from the main campus at Twiggs Overlook on the exit road leading from Brasstown Valley Resort. Maps are available at Rollins Planetarium at 1 College St, Young Harris, GA.
Please note that there is limited parking, an uphill walk from the parking area, and no restroom facilities are available.
Enjoy other shows starting at $5 / adult that open to the public on select Friday nights throughout the year. Visit the website for Rollins Planetarium schedule.
Free Visit to Mauldin House and Garden
Historic in-town farmstead with exhibits on family and local history. A millinery shop (the oldest wood commercial building in Clarkesville) with antique clothes, hats, and other millinery items. The Big Holly Cabin, an original one-room log cabin, is also located on the grounds.
- Phone: +1 (706) 754-2220
- Address: 458 Jefferson Street, Clarkesville, GA
- Guided tours on Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m – 4:00 p.m. or by appointment
Free Classes & Workshops
Free Home Depot Workshops
FREE workshops at local stores for kids and adults on a DIY-kick
- Blairsville Home Depot store at 17 Highway 515, Blairsville, GA
- Blue Ridge Home Depot store at 10012 Blueridge Drive, Blue Ridge, GA
- Clayton Home Depot store at 1551 Hwy 441 South, Clayton, GA
- Dahlonega Home Depot store at 140 Maxwell Lane, Dahlonega, GA
- Dawsonville Home Depot store at 226 Power Center Dr, Dawsonville, GA
- Gainesville Home Depot store at 924 Dawsonville Hwy, Gainesville, GA
- Jasper Home Depot store at 205 Bill Wigington Pkwy, Jasper, GA
- Toccoa Home Depot store at 302 Memorial Drive, Toccoa, GA
Free Lowe’s Workshops
FREE workshops at local stores include Building a Keepsake Time Capsule, Installing Laminate Floors, and Building a Tabletop Basketball Set.
- East Ellijay Lowe’s store at 380 Highland Crossing, E Ellijay, GA
- Cumming Lowe’s store at 935 Marketplace Blvd, Cumming, GA
- Gainesville Lowe’s store at 1514 Skelton Rd, Gainesville, GA
- Cornelia Lowe’s store at 281 Carpenters Cove Lane, Cornelia, GA
- Use the Lowes.com “Find a Store” lookup tool to find other locations
Free classes at REI stores
Enjoy a wide variety of classes for all age levels (advance online registration required). Available for both REI members ($20 for lifetime membership) and non-members (members usually get discounted rates).
- Search for FREE classes at REI including riding a bike, climbing, yoga, running with your dog, and more!
Free Food & Drink in the Georgia Mountains
This local shop offers visitors a free pour-over coffee on most Sundays throughout the year.
Free Coffee at Trailful Outdoor Co in Hiawassee
Free Coffee on Sundays at Trailful Outdoor Company in Hiawassee GA
Enjoy a free pour-over coffee on select Sundays in Hiawassee! Trailful Outdoor Co. in Hiawassee, GA hosts “Free Coffee Sunday” on select Sundays from 12:00 p.m – 5:00 p.m. from their shop at 75 North Main Street in Hiawassee. Watch their Facebook Events page for details.
- Phone: +1 (706) 521-HIKE
- Address: 75 North Main Street, Hiawassee, GA
Plus, these national chains offer annual freebies for special occasions. Take advantage of them in any part of the country! NOTE that you should make sure to confirm that each location is participating as locally-owned franchise stores occasionally choose to opt-out of nationwide promotions.
Free Coffee at Barnes & Noble
Free Coffee on National Coffee Day (Sep 29)
Annual Free coffee on National Coffee Day on September 29th.
- Buford store located at Mall of Georgia, 3333 Buford Drive, Buford, GA
- Cumming store located at 410 Peachtree Pkwy, Cumming, GA
Free Coffee at Cinnabon
Annual Free coffee on National Coffee Day on September 29th.
- Buford location inside Mall of Georgia, 3333 Buford Drive, Buford, GA
- Rabun Gap location inside Clipper Petroleum, 4548 Highway 441, Rabun Gap, GA
Free Entree at Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A Cow Appreciation Day (Jul 14)
Free Entree when dressed as a cow on Cow Appreciation Day until 7:00 p.m. (annually on the 2nd Tuesday of July). The Chick-fil-A “Cow Appreciation Day” gives everyone who participates a FREE entree choice.
Adults dressed like a cow will receive a free entrée of their choice (see store for choices for breakfast and lunch/dinner). Children wearing anything cow-like will receive a free Kid’s Meal of their choice.
Redeem at North Georgia mountain locations including:
- Blairsville Chick-fil-A restaurant at 152 Highway 515 E, Blairsville, GA
- Young Harris College Chick-fil-A restaurant at 228 Maple Street, Rollins Campus Center, Young Harris, GA
- Cleveland Chick-fil-A restaurant at 25 W Underwood St, Cleveland, GA
- Dahlonega Chick-fil-A restaurant at 488 Morrison Moore Pkwy E, Dahlonega, GA
- Clayton Chick-fil-A restaurant at 151 Highway 441 N, Clayton, GA
- Cornelia Chick-fil-A restaurant at 330 Furniture Plaza Dr, Cornelia, GA
- Ellijay Chick-fil-A restaurant at 475 Howard Simmons Rd, Ellijay, GA
- Or use the Chick-Fil-A location finder to locate more Chick-Fil-A restaurants
Free Queso with Entree at Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle National Burrito Day on 1st Thursday in April
Free Queso: Customers who order from Chipotle on National Burrito Day (annually on the 1st Thursday of April) will receive free Queso Blanco when it is added to an entrée (build your go-to entrée and add queso blanco as a topping). Chipotle will also continue to offer free delivery on orders of $10 or more made via the Chipotle app or Chipotle.com through April 30, 2020.
Redeem at North Georgia locations including:
- Canton Chipotle Restaurant at 2026 Cumming Hwy Ste 110, Canton, GA 30115
- Dawsonville Chipotle Restaurant at 285 Marketplace Blvd, Dawsonville, GA 30534
Or use the Chipotle location finder to locate more Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants.
Free Burrito with Purchase at Del Taco Restaurants
Free food via app: Get a Free Chicken Crunch Burrito on National Burrito Day (annually on the 1st Thursday of April) with any purchase made through the Del App for drive-thru, takeout, or delivery. Take advantage of free Del Taco delivery offers in your area from Postmates, Doordash, or Grubhub.
Redeem at North Georgia locations including:
- Calhoun Del Taco Restaurant at 250 E. Highway 53, Calhoun, GA 30701
- Gainesville Del Taco Restaurant at 1198 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville, GA 30501
Or use the Del Taco location finder to locate more Del Taco restaurants.
Free Donut with Purchase at Dunkin Donuts
Free Donut Wednesdays at Dunkin through Apr 21, 2021
Free donut w/purchase for Free Donut Day (annually on the 1st Friday in June) and other offers for rewards club members, like Free Donut Wednesdays through April 21, 2021. DD Perks Members receive offers throughout the year with a free enrollment!
- Blairsville restaurant located at 16 Bracketts Way, Blairsville, GA
- Blue Ridge area restaurant located at 8200 Appalachian Hwy, Mineral Bluff, GA
- Cleveland restaurant located at 212 S Main St, Cleveland, GA
- Dahlonega restaurant located at 25 Morrison Moore Pkwy, Dahlonega, GA
- Ellijay restaurant located at 600 Howard Simmons Rd, Ellijay, GA
- Dunkin’ Donuts Delivery may be available (select locations) via DoorDash and/or GrubHub
Free Chocolate Covered Apple at Edible Arrangements
Free Chocolate Covered Cored Apple for Free Donut Day (annually in June)
- Flowery Branch store located at 5887 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch, GA
- Cumming store located at 2315 Market Pl Blvd, Cumming, GA
Free Pancakes at IHOP
Get a free short stack of pancakes and a chance to win additional prizes on National Pancake Day (February).
- East Ellijay restaurant located at 90 Highland Crossing S, East Ellijay, GA
Free Coffee and Donuts at Krispy Kreme
Multiple promotions and free offers throughout the year!
- Free donut for Free Donut Day (annually on the 1st Friday in June)
- Free coffee on National Coffee
DayWEEKEND (annually on September 29th) - Free rewards year-round through loyalty club
- Redeem at North Georgia locations including:
- Delivery may be available (select locations) via DoorDash and/or GrubHub
Free Queso at Moe’s Southwest Grill
Ongoing offers: Currently offering for free delivery on orders of $10 or more. Ongoing offer of free kid’s entree with every adult entree purchased (check location for participation).
Annual Free Queso Day in late September.
- Dahlonega Moe’s restaurant at 25 Morrison Moore Parkway, Dahlonega, GA
- Dawsonville Moe’s restaurant at 837 Highway 400 North, Dawsonville, GA
- Ellijay Moe’s restaurant at 212 Highland Parkway East, Ellijay, GA, 30540
Free Donut at Wal-Mart
Free donut for Free Donut Day (annually in June).
Check with local stores for specific offer details.
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What are your favorite freebies in the Georgia mountains?
These are some incredible free offers that are more than enticing. I would have never dreamed that there were so many free “perks” to visit the state of Georgia. I was particularly impressed by the free passes for the public on certain days.
Free entrances to museums and parks. 5 free days available for the Georgia state parks with no sign-up required. Free entrance days to the national forest sites. Free admission for historical sites all across the state of Georgia on May 2 of 2021. This is good information for those of us on a very limited budget.
My favorite “perk” was a free planetarium show and night sky telescope viewing. Super awesome info. I have a totally different perspective on traveling there now. Who would have guessed there was so much to offer.
Hello K E N! I am happy to hear that you are considering a trip to Georgia for your next vacation!
Many of the offers you mention are available across the country (national parks and Smithsonian museums), but the planetarium and observatory freebies are definitely a local perk. Hopefully, those will be able to open up to the public again soon.
hello, it is a great and nice feeling to know that someone will create a great website like this and also create a write up on an article like this. someone once told me that the best things in life are free. this is a typical example. i would not want to miss stuffs like this
Hi Benny, I’m very happy to hear that you enjoy the article and website!!
I hope you have a fantastic time in the Georgia mountains with whatever adventures you choose!
I like how there are a lot of free things to do in GA, and when I am able to come to visit, I will definitely revisit this website. I love science and would check out the Night Sky Telescope Viewing. The fishing gear loaner program is something I wish they had here in California, and if they do have it, no one knows about it lol. Ok, with all of the free stuff I see here makes me want to move to GA. So many things to do and you don’t have to spend much money if that nothing at all just show up. I love how much information is included on your website.
Thanks Meka, hopefully you can visit soon and share in all the great things that the Georgia mountains have to offer!
This is a great resource! Georgia and its mountains are gorgeous, and it’s nice that there are so many things to do that are completely free. I think it’s great the state offers a day where anyone can fish for free, and that there are free museums visitors can go to.
It is definitely nice that there are these kinds of various opportunities for everyone to enjoy a fun activity without a big expense.
You really included a lot of activities in this article, thanks for putting it all together. My sister-in-law lives in Georgia during the winter months so a lot of this information will be useful when we go visit her. We enjoy doing a lot of hiking so those guides will be really useful for us. I also am especially interested in the Planetarium Show and Night Sky Telescope viewing, but all of these activities look great. Thanks again!
Hi Andrew, I hope that you all find some great ways to spend your visits to Georgia!
Of all the things in Georgia that are free. I miss the free fishing the most. Georgia has some of the best fishing and hunting in the world, with people traveling to places from Atlants, to Macon, Brunswick to Savanah to enjoy good food and good old southern hospitality. Some of the spookiest ghost hunter attractions in Georgia are free as well, just don’t bring anything home with you that is otherworldly.
Haha… I haven’t encountered any ghosts yet, but with all the rich history in the state, there are bound to be more than a few great ghost stories!
Hi Alyce,
That’s a nice post you have made here, and it’s so resourceful! You make Georgia to be a top list place right about now!
I like the indicator you have given us on what to find where and how to go about it. And all these would come in handy, each at their own special time. For instance, the maps in different languages would be so helpful when traveling to a vacation destination. Actually, one would very well plan to get most of these free treats as part of the vacation and they could be so enjoyable and memorable. Like fishing, free coffee/donut, free entries to some National Parks- timing here is key!
What times of the year could most of these treats be available?
Boniface from AndroidBix
Some of the free resources are available all year — including the free maps and travel guides. I’d recommend that you request those right away as they could help when planning your trip. The others are scattered throughout the year (and will change from year to year), so once you’ve planned your trip, be sure to check to see if you’ll be able to take advantage of free activities in the Georgia mountains.
While probably a little hot right now to travel to Georgia, free stuff is always appealing. I live in FL so wouldn’t take me too long to make it up there. it’s been some time since I’ve gone fishing. Maybe, we’ll have to make it up there on September 28. 🙂
Thanks for the valuable resources.
My boyfriend and I love to camp. Any suggestions for camping?
Hi Wendy, The Georgia mountains have a very different climate than South Georgia along the Florida border… so you may be surprised by the nice weather year round! It does get hot on occasion though, so it’s great to have ideas for ways to cool off (rafting and tubing are 2 personal favorites).
There are plenty of camping sites available — you’ll find sites that are suitable for completely roughing it and also hookups for modern RV’s. It just depends on what kind of camping that you enjoy most!
Hi, Alyce (unusual spelling).
As you say, everyone likes “free” stuff and my wife and I are no different. When we plan trips in our RV we are always looking for ways to cut expenses so this is going to come in handy when we eventually make our way to the state of Georgia and other eastern states to discover the beauty of your mountains.
We have just recently retired and are looking to expand our horizons and planning a trip North and south through the parks and towns of the mountain ranges along the eastern states sounds like a great idea.
Going through the lists it looks like if we could plan to hit your state in September (next year), we could take in more of the activities and freebies.
One thing I didn’t see mentioned in your post was what kind of “Free” camping was available. We are into Boondocking and would love to find some great spots to camp on BLM land. Any suggestions?
Wayne
Hi Wayne! September is a wonderful time of year to visit as the weather is near perfect. The fall colors will start to arrive towards the end of the month, and with that a lot more visitors to the area.
I found a free camping site at Dicks Creek Falls in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Reviewers give it high ratings, but one reviewer did mention that they aren’t sure how well suited it would be for RV’s.
So… if that one doesn’t suit you, I would recommend looking on https://freecampsites.net/#!Georgia&query=region to look up places in the Georgia Mountains where you would be able to camp with no fees.
Hope you have a great trip!
Hi! Thank you for putting this list together. I want to visit the Smithsonian Museum, and I think our trip to Georgia will coincide with Museum Day (so it’s good to know that we can enter free that day).
I’ll also watch out for free monthly workshops at HOME DEPOT. DIY has recently become my thing.
Good to hear that you can take advantage of the freebies!
Thank you for listing out these free good deals. I normally fish here in Texas, but it requires an expensive fishing license. If I go to Georgia on the free fishing days on, “June 1, June 8, and September 28” will it still require me to get a Georgia fishing license? Because I have family in Georgia and I wouldn’t mind having fun free activities to do with them when I visit.
Hi, you can go fishing on those days without a license! Hope you and your family have a good catch!!
Hi!
It seems like there are many things you can get for free in the Georgia Mountains. I think the one people will like the most is the food. But I am a bit late to go now and get some free food, since most of the free food promos are in June. I wish I could go in September, but it’s too far away from my country.
I also think it also great that they have free travel guides in different languages. There are a lot of people from my country that would be very interested in visiting the Georgia Mountains, but don’t speak English (my country’s language is Spanish by the way.)
Best,
Mariana
It’s great to attract a diverse group of people to visit the area — the inclusion of 9 different languages for the travel guides definitely helps!
The Georgia Mountains seems like a beautiful place to plan a vacation stop at no matter if there were freebies available or not, but the extensive list of the ones you can grab while there provides the icing on the cake so to speak. It is like getting a bonus to an already great prize.
I have traveled through that part of the world several times over the years and enjoyed each visit. There is always something going on. Each of my visits has been at different times of the year, and there was always some community activities no matter the time.
Thanks for the tips on the free stuff, I will have a look at this post again right before I head through that part of the USA so I can tap into whatever freebies that are available. I do not suppose there are any free 5-star hotels I can tap into (kidding)? Great post, thanks much!
Hi Dave, I haven’t found any free hotels, but if you ever find those, please come back and share the hot tip!! 🙂
Wow the Georgia Mountains look exceptional. Honestly I hadn’t heard a whole lot about the Georgia Mountains before so this peaks my interest and is making me want to go visit. To me, what would interest me the most are the National Parks and Forests, as well as the museum. I’ll save your post for when it’s time to go check out the area, well done!
Wonderful! I hope you have a fantastic visit!! The busiest time of year to visit is in the fall when the autumn colors peak, but it’s a wonderful area no matter when you arrive.
Warm Regards, Alyce
This is a great list of free Georgia mountain resources. The Babyland General Hospital sounds like something my girls would love. Do you have any personal experience with Babyland General Hospital? Do you think it is a worthwhile experience? My family and I would like to visit Georgia but are struggling to find places worth visiting.
Hi Clare, If your girls are still at the age where they enjoy dolls, then the Babyland General Hospital is definitely worth the stop. Older kids and most boys probably wouldn’t appreciate it quite as much.
It’s easy to stay occupied with fun activities in the North Georgia mountains. There are so many fun typical family things to do like visit zoos, mini golf, horseback riding, and some unique things to the area like panning for gold! This area of Georgia was home to the country’s first gold rush — 20 years before California!!
The views of the mountains are amazing too. There are lots of great cabins in the area that will accomodate a large family – complete with kitchen, vaulted living room with mountain views, hot tubs, and game rooms with pool table or foosball table.
I hope you do get a chance to visit soon. I’ve seen all 50 states and this is still one of my most favorite areas!
Warm Regards, Alyce
Being from Canada, I have never been to the Georgia mountains, but I sure want to go now. There is so much to do and so much free stuff you can get who doesn’t want to go. Krispy Kreme alone has me wanting to go. Then you throw in the others too and my bag is almost packed. I really enjoyed your post. Thank you
Hi Coralie,
Those are definitely some good doughnuts! It’s great to have so many free options throughout the year.
For your visit, I’d recommend that you go ahead and order the FREE guides and travel maps and start planning your Georgia mountains trip!
In addition to the free options, I highly recommend checking out a few of the local barbecue joints too. They may not be free but they are always a great deal… and so delicious! 🙂
Warm Regards, Alyce