Three days in Atlanta gives you enough time to hit the highlights without exhausting everyone. The key is grouping activities by neighborhood — Atlanta has bad traffic and spread-out attractions, so driving back and forth kills the day. Here's how to do it right.
Day 1: Midtown + Grant Park
Start where the best parks and cultural anchors cluster together.
Morning: Piedmont Park (Free)
Open the trip with the Noguchi Playscape inside Piedmont Park. It's an architecturally designed playground — toddlers and big kids both find something here. Combine it with Mayor's Grove Playground just a short walk away. Both are free. Parking in Piedmont Park lots runs $3–$10; street parking on 10th or 14th Street is often free on weekday mornings.
Midday: Children's Museum of Atlanta
Head to the Children's Museum in downtown. It's 2–3 hours and runs $17–$20/person plus $10–$15 parking nearby ($80–$100 total for a family of 4). ASTC and ACM members get free or discounted admission — check your home museum's reciprocal network before you go. The Fundamentally Food exhibit where kids shop, cook, and serve meals is the consistent hit across age groups.
Afternoon: Grant Park
Grant Park (the neighborhood) is a short drive from the museum. The park itself is free — playground, trails, picnic areas. If the kids have energy left, Zoo Atlanta is inside it. Zoo admission runs $120–$160 all in (admission + $10 parking + food). Save it for Day 2 if budgets are tight — the park visit alone is worth the drive.
Day 1 cost estimate: Free park morning + Children's Museum + Grant Park = $80–$100 without Zoo Atlanta.
Day 2: Zoo Atlanta + Intown Neighborhoods
Morning: Zoo Atlanta (Grant Park neighborhood)
Start at opening — animals are most active in the morning. Budget 3–4 hours. Admission runs $25–$30/adult and $20–$22/child. Add $10 parking and plan for $25–$40 in food. Total: $120–$160 for a family of 4. Bring a packed lunch to eat at the picnic areas inside and cut food costs. The Kids Playground at Zoo Atlanta is included with admission — use it as a mid-visit energy break. Seasonal splash pad: bring swimwear in warm months.
Afternoon: Puttshack Atlanta Midtown
After the zoo, recharge for a couple hours and then head to Puttshack in Midtown for tech-infused mini golf. Every shot is automatically tracked — kids get competitive immediately when they see the live leaderboard. Plan $120–$180 for a family of 4 including food. Book a tee time online; walk-in waits on weekends are long.
OR: Free afternoon at Candler Park
If the zoo wiped everyone out, Candler Park Playground and the surrounding neighborhood is a zero-cost afternoon. Disc golf, park trail, and walkable food options in adjacent Candler Park. This is the better choice if you have toddlers in the group.
Day 2 cost estimate: Zoo Atlanta + Puttshack = $240–$340 (the big spend day). Zoo Atlanta only + Candler Park = $120–$160.
Day 3: Adventure + Your Choice of Energy Level
High-energy option: XtremeHopp or Trampoline Parks
XtremeHopp in Johns Creek combines trampolines, rock climbing, and an on-site café in one venue. It's 2–3 hours and runs $100–$160 for a family of 4 including food. Saturday morning opening at 9AM is the sweet spot — go before the crowds arrive. Older kids especially love that there's real challenge in the rock climbing section alongside the jumping.
For a less expensive alternative, Altitude Trampoline Park in Marietta runs $80–$120 (timed sessions ~$20–$25/person/hour). Bring your own socks. The 2-hour session has better per-hour value.
Outdoor adventure option: Treetop Quest Dunwoody
If you haven't burned through the budget, Treetop Quest Dunwoody Adventure Park is the best pure-outdoor challenge in metro Atlanta. Kids zip through treetop courses at their own pace — different levels for different abilities. Budget $120–$160 for a family of 4 (courses $30–$45/person). Book online for a small discount.
Relaxed final day option: Bubble Planet + Free Park
If three days of high energy has left the crew depleted, Bubble Planet is a 1–2 hour immersive experience that's visually engaging without requiring athletic effort. Tickets run $20–$28/person ($80–$120 for a family of 4). Buy online. Pair it with a final visit to Abernathy Greenway Park North for a free afternoon walk.
Day 3 cost estimate: XtremeHopp = $100–$160. Treetop Quest = $120–$160. Bubble Planet + free park = $80–$120.
Practical Tips for the Trip
- Atlanta traffic is real. Don't schedule activities on opposite sides of the city on the same day. Midtown, Grant Park, and Intown neighborhoods are all within 15 minutes of each other. Marietta, Kennesaw, and Dunwoody are north — keep those together.
- Book weekend slots a week out. Sandbox VR, Puttshack, and Treetop Quest all fill up quickly on Saturday.
- Bring trampoline socks. Every park charges $2–$3/pair at the door. Buy once before the trip.
- Pack lunch for the zoo. The picnic areas inside Zoo Atlanta are good — bringing your own food saves $25–$40 vs. eating on-site.
- Piedmont Park parking: Street parking on 10th or 14th Street is often free on weekday mornings. Park lots cost $3–$10.
- Kids Empire is a solid rainy-day backup. Kids Empire Marietta or Kids Empire Plaza Fiesta — always buy tickets online, never at the door.
3-Day Budget Summary
| Day | Activities | Estimated Cost | |-----|-----------|----------------| | Day 1 | Piedmont Park (free) + Children's Museum | $80–$100 | | Day 2 | Zoo Atlanta + afternoon activity | $120–$340 | | Day 3 | Adventure/trampoline/relaxed option | $80–$160 | | Total | | $280–$600 |
The range is wide because Day 2 swings from $120 (zoo only) to $340 (zoo + Puttshack). If you're watching the budget, use Day 2 afternoon for a free park instead of Puttshack and you'll land in the $280–$380 range for the full three days. That's a solid family trip without anyone feeling like they missed out.