Helen

Helen is a tourist town that is a re-creation of an alpine village. It is located in Georgia's Northeast High Country.

Get in

By car

From Atlanta, GA Approximately 1 1/2 hrs.

I-85 North. Go north to Gainesville Exit 113, which is I-985 and turns into Hwy. 365. Go 42 miles continuing on Hwy. 365 to Hwy. 384. Turn left, go 16 miles to GA Hwy. 75, turn right and go three miles into Helen.

From Atlanta, Georgia via GA 400 GA 400 North. Take 400 North until it ends. Continue ahead on GA Hwy. 115. Go 5 miles to the traffic light. Turn right on to Hwy. 115. Go 13 miles to Cleveland. At traffic light, turn left onto US 129 North. Go to the next traffic light and turn right on Hwy. 75 North. 9 miles to Helen.

From Chattanooga, TN Approximately 132 miles - 3 hrs.

I-75 South. Go South on I-75 to Dalton, GA. Take Hwy. 76 to Ellijay. From Ellijay continue south on Hwy. 52 to Dahlonega. At Dahlonega continue on 52/115 to Cleveland, GA. At 1st traffic light in Cleveland, turn left on Hwy. 129 North to next light and then right on GA Hwy. 75 and travel 9 miles to Helen.

From Birmingham, AL Approximately 3 1/2 hrs.

I-20 E take I-20 East to Atlanta, then I-285 by-pass north toward Chattanooga. Take GA 400 North to the end. Continue straight ahead on a county two-lane road (Long Branch Rd.) for 5 miles to a traffic light. Turn right on Hwy. 52/115 for 13 miles to Cleveland, GA. At traffic light turn left on Hwy. 129 North. At next traffic light turn right on Hwy. 75 and go 9 miles to Helen.

From Florida I-75 to I-675 to I-285 to I-85 and see above from Atlanta.

Get around

Most of downtown Helen can be seen on foot and there are several public parking lots that are convenient.

Pegasus Horse Drawn Carriages can take you throughout the city.

See

Anna Ruby Falls. A waterfall located in the Chattahoochee National Forest. A trail to the waterfall is also provided for the visually impaired.
Babyland General Hospital - Cabbage Patch Kids. Where Cabbage Patch Kids are "born". Located in the neighboring Town of Cleveland.
Charlemagne's Kingdom. An Alpine Model Railroad.
Nora Mill Granary & Country Store. A Granary Mill built in 1876 on the Chattahoochee just 2 miles south of Helen.
Sautee Nacoochee Center. A museum/nature preserve/heritage site.
Sautee Store. An old store museum that carries Scandinavian gifts.
Scarlett's Secret. A Plantation style museum that contains memorabilia from the movie Gone With the Wind and of the Civil War.

Do

Unicoi State Park. The park offers camping, hiking and biking trails, trout fishing, a lodge with rooms and a restaurant and rental cabins.
Ana Ruby Falls. A hiking trail leads to a viewing platform at the base of two falls.
Unicoi Outfitters. Fly fishing.
Horseback Riding.
Southeastern Expeditions.
Wildwood Outfitters.
Helen Tubing.
Cool River Tubing.
Innsbruck Golf Club.
Pirates Cove. Mini-golf.

Festivals and events

Fasching. Best described as a German Mardi Gras. It is held before Lent.
Annual Trout Tournament. A Trout fishing tournement held in Helen every year.
Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race & Festival. Held the first weekend in June every year.
Oktoberfest. Helen hosts one of the longest Oktoberfest in the South. Oktoberfest in Helen starts in September and lasts through November.

Buy

Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen (dead link: January 2023), 8651 N Main St. The owner of this "Candy Kitchen" knows how to make candy so well that he was asked to and did write Candy Making for Dummies.
Scandinavian European Import Company, 8669 N Main St, +1 706 878-2357. Selling handcrafted cuckoo clocks, Rhythm & Seiko Movement Clocks, Beer Steins, Russian Nesting Dolls, Amber Jewelry, Rare German Pewter, Nyform Trolls, as well as many other items.

Eat & Drink

Nacoochee Grill, 7277 South Main Street, +1 706 878-8020.
Hofer's of Helen Bakery and Cafe, 8758 North Main St, +1 706 878-8200.
Pauls Steakhouse, 8537 S Main St., +1 706 878-2468.
Troll Tavern & Restaurant, +1 706 878-3117.
Bigg Daddys American Tavern & Music Club, 807 Edelweiss Strasse, +1 706 878-2739. Not too raucous unless someone at the bar starts throwing money around.
Cafe International, Main Street, +1 706 878-3102.
Old Bavaria Inn Restaurant, 8619 S Main St, +1 706 878-3729.
Hofbrauhaus Restaurant & Pub, 9001 N Main St, +1 706 878-2248.

Sleep

Motels

Alpine Village Inn, 1005 Edelweiss Strasse, +1 706 878-2296.
Castle Inn, N Main St, +1 706 878-3140.
Econo Lodge, 100 Edelweiss Strasse, +1 706 878-8000.
Sylvan Valley Lodge, 747 Duncan Bridge Rd, +1 706 865-7371. Sautee, Ga
Hampton Inn on the River, 147 Unicoi St, +1 706 878-3310.
Helendorf Inn, 33 Munichstrasse. The Helendorf River Inn and Conference Center is located on the banks of the Chattahoochee River in downtown Alpine Helen, Georgia in the Northeast Georgia Mountains.
Red Roof Inn Helen, 8171 S Main St, +1 706 878-8888.
Quality Inn, 15 Yonah St, +1 706 878-2268.
Riverbend Motel and Cabins, 134 River Street.
SureStay Hotel By Best Western Helen Downtown, 8396 S Main St, +1 706 878-2191.
Unicoi State Park Lodge & Restaurant Hwy 356 Sautee, GA 30571 +1 706 878-2201 or +1-800-573-9659

Cabins

Cedar Creek Cabin Rentals.
Tanglewood Cabins, 3387 GA-356, +1 706 878-3286.
Chimney shadows Cabins, 224 Shadows Dr Sautee, +1 706 865-4935.
Georgia Mountain Rentals, 2271 GA-17, Sautee Nacoochee, +1 855 441-2466.
Pinnacle Cabin Rentals, 8047 S Main St, +1 706 754-2533.
Sautee Mountain Retreat, 595 Georgia 255, Clarkesville, +1-404-985-7859.

Campgrounds & RV Resorts

Go next

The neighboring town of Cleveland where you my find Babyland General Hospital - Cabbage Patch Kids Where cabbage Patch Kids are "born".

Helen - city in White County, Georgia, United States