Panola Mountain State Park is a 1,815-acre state park in Stockbridge, Georgia, about 18 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was updated in July 2026. Two details are often listed incorrectly elsewhere: the daily ParkPass fee is now $10 per vehicle, not the older $5 figure, and reaching the granite summit requires a ranger-led guided hike booked in advance, rather than open access.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Park: 7 a.m.–sunset, daily. Office: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Ticket prices | Free entry. Parking: $10 per vehicle per day, or $70 for an annual pass |
| Address | 2620 Highway 155 SW, Stockbridge, GA 30281 |
| Nearest transport/parking | No public transport serves the park; on-site paid parking is available off I-20 |
| Typical time needed | 1–3 hours, longer with a guided summit hike |
Panola Mountain State Park opening hours
Panola Mountain State Park opens at 7 a.m. and closes at sunset, every day of the year. Closing time follows sunset, so it varies from around 6 p.m. in winter to around 9 p.m. in summer.
The park office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nature Center hours can vary, so call ahead, especially if you plan to join a guided hike.
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Panola Mountain State Park ticket prices
There is no admission fee for Panola Mountain State Park. Visitors instead pay a parking fee, known as a ParkPass, on arrival.
A daily ParkPass costs $10 per vehicle and can be bought at the entrance kiosk, online, or at the park office. An annual ParkPass costs $70, with 50% discounts for seniors aged 62 and over and 25% discounts for military and veterans (discounted passes must be bought in person). Overnight guests pay the daily fee only once, regardless of stay length.
The granite summit itself is closed to unguided visitors. Reservations for the ranger-led hike are made through the park’s online event calendar or by phone, separate from the standard ParkPass.
Panola Mountain State Park is not included in Atlanta city pass schemes such as Go City or CityPass Atlanta. Those passes typically bundle indoor attractions such as the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Zoo Atlanta and the College Football Hall of Fame.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official Panola Mountain State Park page and last updated in July 2026.
How to get to Panola Mountain State Park
Most visitors reach Panola Mountain State Park by car via Interstate 20. From Atlanta, take I-20 East to exit 68 at Wesley Chapel Road.
Turn right off the exit, then take the next left onto Snapfinger Road. After about 1.5 miles, this becomes Highway 155 South; continue roughly 6.5 miles to the park entrance on the left. No public bus or rail service reaches the park directly.
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Parking at Panola Mountain State Park
Parking requires a ParkPass, priced at $10 per vehicle per day or $70 for an annual pass. Passes can be bought at the entrance kiosk, online in advance, or at the park office.
Overnight guests using the park’s pioneer campground pay the daily fee only once, regardless of stay length. Parking is not included in event room or pavilion reservations and must be paid separately.
How long to spend at Panola Mountain State Park
Most visitors spend one to two hours at Panola Mountain State Park, enough time for the short Rock Outcrop Trail or a walk around Alexander Lake. Visitors joining the ranger-led summit hike should allow roughly three hours in total, since the guided route covers about 3.5 miles and is moderately strenuous.
Anglers, archers, and cyclists using the wider PATH network often stay longer, particularly if combining a visit with nearby Arabia Mountain.
Accessibility at Panola Mountain State Park
Some facilities at Panola Mountain State Park are wheelchair accessible. These include one day-use restroom, picnic shelters #3 and #4, group shelter #1, the event room, and the paved seven-mile PATH trail around Alexander Lake.
An all-terrain track chair is available for hikers who need it; contact the park in advance to arrange use. The granite summit, reached only via the guided ranger hike, crosses natural, uneven rock and is not suitable for wheelchairs.
Inside Panola Mountain State Park: what to see
The Nature Center has exhibits on the park’s rare ecosystem, a gift shop, and is the meeting point for guided summit hikes.
The ranger-led summit hike is the only way to reach the top of Panola Mountain, a 100-acre granite outcrop. The roughly 3.5-mile route explains the geology and rare plant life found on the exposed rock.
Alexander Lake and the PATH Trail form a paved loop around the park’s 35-acre lake system, connecting to the wider 31-mile Arabia Mountain PATH network for walking, running, and cycling.
The Rock Outcrop Trail is a short, easy 0.75-mile loop with a boardwalk offering views of the granite mountain from below, without requiring a guided hike.
Vaughters’ Farm, a historic barn and agricultural landscape, sits within the wider Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, of which Panola Mountain is a central part.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Book the ranger-led summit hike well ahead, since spaces are limited and reservations are nonrefundable. |
| Crowds | Weekend mornings are busiest at the Nature Center car park; arrive early for easier parking. |
| Layout | Start at the Nature Center for trail maps and to check in for any booked programme. |
| Entry process | Pay the parking fee at the kiosk or online before you head onto the trails. |
| On-site logistics | Wear sturdy shoes for the summit hike, which is moderately strenuous over rocky terrain. |
Frequently asked questions about Panola Mountain State Park
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Panola Mountain State Park suitable for children? | Yes, though the guided summit hike is recommended for ages 10 and up. |
| Can you climb Panola Mountain on your own? | No, the summit is closed except on ranger-led guided hikes booked in advance. |
| Is Panola Mountain State Park open on Sundays? | Yes, the park is open daily, including Sundays, from 7 a.m. until sunset. |
| Are dogs allowed at Panola Mountain State Park? | Yes, on a leash on the paved PATH trail, but not in the conservation area or on the mountain. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Panola Mountain State Park? | General entry needs no ticket, but the guided summit hike must be reserved beforehand. |
Things to do near Panola Mountain State Park
Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, another granite outcrop with connecting trails, is about 10 minutes away.
Stone Mountain Park, a larger granite monadnock with additional attractions, is about 30 minutes away.
Atlanta Motor Speedway, home to NASCAR races and track tours, is about 20 minutes away.
High Falls State Park, featuring a waterfall and riverside trails, is about 35 minutes away.
The Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, a working Trappist monastery with gardens open to visitors, is about 20 minutes away.
What to visit tomorrow
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, a forested mountain with a summit trail and Civil War history, is about 45 minutes away.
Sawnee Mountain Preserve, a granite ridge near Cumming with nature trails, is about one hour away.
Pine Mountain, home to Dowdell’s Knob and FDR State Park’s ridge trails, is about one hour 45 minutes away.
Currahee Mountain, a granite peak near Toccoa with a summit trail, is about one hour 45 minutes away.
Fort Mountain State Park, with forested ridge trails and a historic stone wall, is about one hour 30 minutes away.
More Atlanta travel
Other Atlanta travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Practical guide to visiting the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
- Why you should book Zoo Atlanta tickets in advance.
- Why the Fernbank Museum of Natural History offers more than you’re probably expecting.
- Plan your visit to the Atlanta History Center.
- Visiting the home of the Gone With The Wind author – Margaret Mitchell House.
- Guides to state parks near Atlanta: Sweetwater Creek State Park and Red Top Mountain State Park.
