Pine Mountain and Warm Springs, GA: Callaway Gardens, FDR’s Little White House, Wild Animal Safari and State Park Prices (2026)

Callaway Gardens is $19.99 online, Wild Animal Safari from $32.99, FDR State Park $10 a car. The Little White House is closed for renovation; its museum is open.

By Hank Whitlock·Updated September 21, 2026·10 min read

A day in Pine Mountain costs $19.99 per adult at Callaway Gardens (online price for dates through Oct. 10), from $32.99 at Wild Animal Safari, and $10 per car at F.D. Roosevelt State Park. Roosevelt’s Little White House in nearby Warm Springs charges $13, but the house itself is closed for renovation until further notice, so you’ll only see the museum and the Unfinished Portrait. Callaway’s Fantasy In Lights runs November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027, priced per person by date: $15.99 to $39.99 in Callaway’s ticket store on our first check (see the note in the Fantasy In Lights section).

Every price, hour and rule below comes from the operators’ own sites (checked September 21, 2026). Georgia State Parks puts F.D. Roosevelt State Park 80 miles southwest of Atlanta; Wild Animal Safari says it’s 65 minutes southwest of the Atlanta airport.

How much do Pine Mountain and Warm Springs attractions cost?

Callaway and Wild Animal Safari prices change by date and are online prices before tax (checked September 21, 2026).

Stop	Adult	Kids and seniors	Hours	Good to know
Callaway Gardens daily admission	$19.99 (ages 13–64); listed regular price $39.99	Child 4–12 or senior 65+: $15.99. Ages 3 and under free	Main gardens entrance, Discovery Center, Chapel and Butterfly Center: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.	$19.99 on every store date through Oct. 10, 2026. Military 20% off in person
Fantasy In Lights (Callaway)	$15.99–$39.99 per person, by date	Ages 4–12 pay the same as adults on the dates we checked. Ages 3 and under free	Nov. 13, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027. Hourly entry slots from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.	Includes same-day Gardens admission
Roosevelt’s Little White House State Historic Site	$13 (ages 18–61)	Seniors 62+: $9.75. Ages 6–17: $7.50. Under 6 free	Daily 9 a.m.–4:45 p.m.; last ticket 4:30 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day	House closed for renovation; museum and grounds open
F.D. Roosevelt State Park	$10 ParkPass per vehicle, per day	Per car, not per person. Annual ParkPass $70	Park 7 a.m.–10 p.m.; office 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Dowdell’s Knob 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Oct.–Mar.	Seniors 62+ half price, bought in person
Wild Animal Safari	From $32.99 (ages 13–64)	Ages 3–12, seniors 65+ and military: from $30.99. Ages 2 and under free	10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily through December 2026. Last ticket 1 hour before closing. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas	Covers drive-thru and walk-through zoo. No same-day online sales

What’s included in a Callaway Gardens ticket?

One General Gardens Admission ticket covers the Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center, the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, the Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel, the Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl, the walking trails, the 10-mile Discovery Bike Trail and Robin Lake Beach when it’s open. You can drive your own car between stops on the 2,500-acre property (checked September 21, 2026).

Hours: the main gardens entrance, Discovery Center, Chapel and Butterfly Center are all listed at 10 a.m.–5 p.m. The Beach and Events entrance is 10 a.m.–7 p.m. in summer and fall, and closed in winter and spring.
Butterfly Center in September: the Blue Morpho and Butterfly Festival runs September 1–30, 2026 and is included with General Gardens Admission.
Robin Lake Beach: beach activities and swimming run from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, so they’re over for 2026. Swimming is allowed only when lifeguards are on duty.
Pumpkins at Callaway (Sept. 19–Nov. 1, 2026): this is a separate ticket that includes the gardens and the evening festivities. The store lists it at $17.99 on Sept. 25–27 and $24.99 on the October dates shown.
Staying overnight: Callaway adds a $40 per room, per night Resort Services Charge at the Lodge and Spa. It covers daily gardens admission for everyone on the reservation.

Fantasy In Lights 2026: dates, prices and what to know

Callaway’s FAQ says Fantasy In Lights runs November 13, 2026 through January 3, 2027 (checked September 21, 2026). The route is about seven miles through 18 light scenes and takes at least 45 minutes to drive. You can do it in your own car, on a guided trolley, or on a bike night.

Price not confirmed by a second check. The $15.99 to $39.99 per-person prices on this page were read from Callaway’s online ticket store on September 21, 2026. A second check the same day found the store showing no ticket products, and Callaway’s Fantasy In Lights and Tickets pages list no prices. Confirm the price for your date when you book. Tell us if you see something different.

Price: the drive-through is priced per person, not per car. On the Callaway store calendar, prices range from $15.99 (Jan. 1–3, 2027) to $39.99 (Nov. 27–28 and Dec. 18–22). Weeknights such as Nov. 16–19 and Nov. 30–Dec. 3 are $19.99. On the date we opened, adults (13+) and children (4–12) both cost $19.99. Children 3 and under don’t need a ticket. Prices are before taxes and fees.
Gardens included: every Fantasy In Lights ticket includes one same-day Gardens Admission, so arriving in the afternoon adds the Butterfly Center at no extra cost.
Time slots: tickets are for a specific date and one-hour slot. On the weeknight we checked, the 8, 9 and 10 p.m. slots were already full. Tickets aren’t refunded for weather.
Opening nights: the store calendar starts at Nov. 15. We couldn’t find drive-through tickets for Nov. 13–14 on it; the bike-through product starts on Nov. 13.

We compare this show with Lake Lanier, Stone Mountain, Life University and Rock City in our Georgia Christmas lights guide, and the rest of the season is in Christmas in Georgia.

Is the Little White House open right now?

Partly. Georgia State Parks says that until further notice the historic area (the Little White House, the servants’ quarters and the guest house) is closed for renovation (checked September 21, 2026). You can still visit the museum, the grounds, the Walk of Flags and Stones, and the Unfinished Portrait. The Historic Warm Springs Pools and Museum are also listed as “Closed – Under repair.” Admission is still $13 for adults, and the site doesn’t mention a reduced rate. The same page also advertises weekend guided tours of the Little White House at 10 a.m. for $20. That conflicts with the closure notice, so call 706-655-5870 before you plan around a tour.

Georgia State Parks says Franklin D. Roosevelt first came to Warm Springs in 1924 hoping to cure the polio that struck him in 1921; the 88-degree spring water helped but didn’t cure him. He built the house in 1932 as governor of New York, and on April 12, 1945 he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage there while posing for the portrait now shown unfinished in the museum. The New Georgia Encyclopedia adds that the house has been open to the public since 1948.

What’s in downtown Warm Springs?

Meriwether County says the town has “a population of nearly 500” and draws more than 300,000 visitors a year. Its Welcome Center, built in 2000, replicates the old depot where Roosevelt arrived; the county gives its number as 1-800-337-1927 but no opening hours. The New Georgia Encyclopedia says Roosevelt’s treatment center became the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation, later the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation, and that merchants revived downtown as a shopping and dining street in the late 20th century. No official source lists shop hours.

F.D. Roosevelt State Park: trails, Dowdell’s Knob and parking

Georgia State Parks calls F.D. Roosevelt “Georgia’s largest state park,” at 10,874 acres (checked September 21, 2026). It has more than 40 miles of trails, including the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail, which runs through hardwoods and pines, over creeks and past small waterfalls. For more options, see our best hikes in Georgia.

Dowdell’s Knob: an overlook above King’s Gap where Roosevelt sometimes picnicked, now with a life-size sculpture of him. It’s open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. from October to March and 8 a.m.–8 p.m. from April to September.
Parking: a $10-per-day ParkPass covers one vehicle. An annual pass is $70. Seniors 62 and older get 50% off, and active military and veterans 25% off, if they buy in person. Historic sites aren’t covered, so the ParkPass doesn’t get you into the Little White House.
Swimming: the Liberty Bell pool was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and is fed by cool springs. It’s seasonal and charges a fee, but the page doesn’t list the dates or the price. Swimming isn’t currently allowed in Lake Franklin.
Staying over: 21 cottages and 115 tent, trailer and RV sites, plus backcountry sites that need a permit.

Wild Animal Safari: own car or tour bus, and can the dog come?

One General Admission ticket covers the drive-thru safari and the Walkabout Adventure Zoo; you can’t buy either on its own (checked September 21, 2026). You can drive the safari as many times as you like during your visit, but only until one hour before closing.

Your own car: the park allows only fully enclosed vehicles. Motorcycles, convertibles, open-top Jeeps, doorless vehicles and trailers are banned.
Tour buses: free, first come, first served, leaving every hour or every 30 minutes depending on crowds. They only run on some days. The 2026 calendar shows buses on fall weekends, Nov. 21–29 (except Thanksgiving) and Dec. 19–31 (except Christmas), with no buses on fall weekdays. Wild Animal Safari no longer lists van rentals.
Hours: the 2026 calendar shows 10 a.m.–5 p.m. every day from September 8 through December. The last ticket is sold one hour before closing, and the park suggests arriving at least 2 hours before it closes. Allow 3–4 hours for the whole park, says the FAQ.
Feed: you can only use feed bought on site, sold at the Ticket Booth and Gift Shop. The park doesn’t publish its feed price. Throw pellets on the ground rather than hand-feeding zebras, emus or ostriches.
Pets: not allowed in the drive-thru under any circumstances, not even service animals. There’s a free kennel, and you can’t leave a pet in your car.
Strollers: allowed, and sometimes for rent. The Walkabout is wheelchair accessible.

The site’s own descriptions of the drive don’t match: the homepage says a 3.5-mile trail, and the ticket page says a 2.5-mile route.

What should you do in your situation?

With kids: Start at Wild Animal Safari when it opens at 10 a.m., on a weekend if you want the free tour bus. Then spend the afternoon at Callaway ($19.99 adult, $15.99 ages 4–12, free for 3 and under). Kids under 6 get into the Little White House museum free.
A couples weekend: Stay at Callaway, where the $40-a-night resort charge covers gardens admission for both of you. Drive up to Dowdell’s Knob in the afternoon, since it closes at 5 p.m. from October to March. The next morning, visit the Little White House museum in Warm Springs ($13 each) and walk downtown.
A holiday lights trip: Book a Fantasy In Lights weeknight: $19.99 a person on Nov. 16–19 and Nov. 30–Dec. 3, compared with $39.99 on Thanksgiving weekend and Dec. 18–22. Arrive in the afternoon to use the included gardens admission, and book an early slot.
With a dog: F.D. Roosevelt State Park is the dog-friendly option, with dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet on the trails and at the overlooks. Callaway allows leashed pets outdoors but not in any building (so not in the Butterfly Center), on the beach, in picnic areas or in Cason’s Garden. During Fantasy In Lights, pets may ride in your car. Wild Animal Safari doesn’t allow pets in the drive-thru; use its free kennel. Pets aren’t allowed in any Georgia State Parks historic-site building.
On a budget: A $10 ParkPass covers the whole car at F.D. Roosevelt State Park, including the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail and Dowdell’s Knob. Callaway’s online ticket is $19.99 through Oct. 10, against a listed regular price of $39.99.

Our weekend getaways from Atlanta guide compares other two-night trips, and the Andersonville, Plains and Providence Canyon loop continues south.

Pine Mountain pairs well with Columbus, the nearest city; see our things to do in Columbus guide.

FAQ

How much are Callaway Gardens tickets?

Callaway Gardens general admission is $19.99 for ages 13–64 and $15.99 for children 4–12 or seniors 65 and older when bought online for dates through Oct. 10, 2026, plus tax. Children 3 and under are free. The ticket page shows $39.99 as the regular adult price (checked September 21, 2026).

What are the Fantasy In Lights 2026 dates and prices?

Fantasy In Lights at Callaway Gardens runs November 13, 2026 through January 3, 2027. The drive-through is priced per person by date, from $15.99 to $39.99, and children 3 and under are free. Each ticket includes same-day Gardens admission (checked September 21, 2026).

Is Roosevelt’s Little White House open?

The museum and grounds are open daily 9 a.m.–4:45 p.m., but Georgia State Parks says the Little White House itself, the servants’ quarters and the guest house are closed for renovation until further notice. The historic pools are also closed for repair. Adult admission is $13 (checked September 21, 2026).

How much is Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain?

General admission starts at $32.99 for ages 13–64 and $30.99 for ages 3–12, seniors 65 and older, and military. Ages 2 and under are free. The ticket covers both the drive-thru safari and the Walkabout Adventure Zoo (checked September 21, 2026).

Is F.D. Roosevelt State Park Georgia’s largest state park?

Yes. Georgia State Parks describes the 10,874-acre park as Georgia’s largest state park. It has more than 40 miles of trails, including the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail, and parking costs $10 per vehicle per day.

How far is Pine Mountain from Atlanta?

About 80 miles. Georgia State Parks puts F.D. Roosevelt State Park 80 miles southwest of Atlanta, and Callaway Resort & Gardens also says it is 80 miles from Atlanta.

How we checked this guide: Dates, hours, admission and parking prices, and access details were verified against the official sources listed below on September 21, 2026. Operators change schedules and raise prices without notice, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you drive. The figures in this guide also feed our Georgia Attraction Transparency Index and Family Day-Out Cost Index.

Sources

About Hank Whitlock

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.