Georgia’s self-declared Apple Capital and Mountain Bike Capital: two U-pick orchards, a two-weekend Apple Festival every October, and the Cartecay River running tubers through town every summer. The closest of the North Georgia apple towns, and the only one built around a working river.
Ellijay at a glance
- Drive from Atlanta
- 78.1 mi, about 1h 33m free-flow via GA-515/GA-5no traffic model · full drive-time table
- Apple orchards
- Admission $12.75–$22.75; picked apples $12–$24 a bagour Ellijay guide
- Georgia Apple Festival
- $10 admission, kids under 12 free; Oct 10–11 & 17–18, 2026our Ellijay guide
- Tubing the Cartecay River
- $15 tube / $30 kayak (cash); Memorial Day–Labor Day; no reservationsour Ellijay guide
- Carters Lake day use
- $5 per vehicle at most developed areasour Ellijay guide
- Dogs
- Leashed OK at B.J. Reece orchard; banned at Mercier; service animals only at the Apple Festival (not on shuttle buses)our Ellijay guide
- Downtown parking
- Could not confirm a single policy — mix of free and paid, unlike Dahlonega’s free downtownour Ellijay guide
- Best months for color
- Late October into the first week of November (Ellijay sits around 1,290 ft)fall foliage timing
- Ideal length
- Day trip to a weekend
- Last verified
Where an operator doesn’t publish a figure, or we couldn’t confirm one, we say so rather than estimate it. How we check · Verification log
Ellijay questions
When is the Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay?
October 10–11 and October 17–18, 2026, at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds. Admission is $10; children under 12 are free. (Our Ellijay guide, checked 22 September 2026.)
How much does it cost to tube the Cartecay River?
$15 cash ($18 by card) for a tube, $30 cash ($34 by card) for a kayak, shuttle included, at Cartecay River Experience. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day; no reservations taken. (Our Ellijay guide, checked 22 September 2026.)
Can I bring my dog apple picking in Ellijay?
Leashed dogs are generally welcome at B.J. Reece Orchards. Mercier Orchards (closer to Blue Ridge) bans pets outright. Dogs are not allowed at the Georgia Apple Festival except service animals, which cannot ride the shuttle buses. (Our Ellijay guide, checked 22 September 2026.)
How far is Ellijay from Atlanta?
About 78 miles, roughly 1 hour 33 minutes free-flow — the closest of the North Georgia apple towns. (Georgia drive times, OSRM routing, collected 17 September 2026.)
Is downtown Ellijay parking free like Dahlonega?
Not reliably. Ellijay has a mix of free street spaces and paid lots, and affordable downtown parking has been a live local issue. Check posted signage on arrival. (Our Ellijay guide.)
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Hank Whitlock is the pen name of the It's Georgia editor. Every guide is built around the questions a busy family actually asks before a trip: how long is the drive, what does parking cost, can the stroller make it, are dogs allowed. Details are checked against official park, city, and venue sources, and each guide shows the date it was last updated.
