Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad, Georgia

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Stone Mountain, Georgia · Updated October 19, 2026 · 10 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesRuns on select dates; the park lists it as closed for scheduled maintenance, so check the calendar

The Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad is a standard gauge train that circles the base of Stone Mountain, with a full-size 1940s locomotive pulling open-air cars on a roughly five-mile loop through the park.

  • Full-size 1940s locomotive
  • Open-air passenger cars
  • About a five-mile loop
  • 25 to 30 minute ride
  • Boards at Marketplace Depot
  • Included with Attractions Ticket

Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad at a glance

Hours
Select dates on the park calendar; departure times posted at the depot
Admission
Included with a park Attractions Ticket or Mountain Membership; parking permit required
Train rides
About 25 to 30 minute loop around the mountain on select dates
Plan for
About 45 minutes including boarding
Best for
Families with young kids
Best ages
All ages
Parking
Daily or annual park parking permit required; $20 per vehicle per day
Accessibility
Bench seating in open-air cars; provisions to assist guests with mobility challenges

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Stone Mountain.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A quarry spur turned mountain loop

The Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad is a standard gauge heritage line that loops around the perimeter of Stone Mountain Park, about 15 miles from downtown Atlanta. Rail historians note that it uses a former industrial spur dating back to the Civil War era, a line laid to the base of the mountain to haul out stone. Quarrying shaped the mountain's history, and the park's Quarry Exhibit says more than 7.6 million cubic feet of granite were removed over the years.

Today the railroad is one of the park's attractions. A full-size locomotive from the 1940s pulls open-air cars with bench seating from the Marketplace Depot in Crossroads, and the train runs on select dates set by the park calendar. Rides depend on the weather and the park's maintenance schedule, so confirm before you go.

Around the mountain in open-air cars

The ride circles the base of Stone Mountain in about 25 to 30 minutes, with views of the granite mountain and the woods and lakes around it. Departure times are posted at the Train Depot on the day. Elsewhere in the park you can ride the Summit Skyride cable car to the top, tour Historic Square's restored Georgia buildings from 1793 to 1875, and see the Grist Mill, Covered Bridge and Quarry Exhibit.

Don’t miss

  1. The 1940s locomotiveA full-size engine from the 1940s leads every trip around the mountain.
  2. Marketplace DepotThe boarding point in Crossroads, where departure times are posted.
  3. The Quarry ExhibitAn outdoor display explaining the stone industry that first brought rails to the mountain.

An easy first train ride for little ones

At about 25 minutes, the ride is a good length for small children, and the park describes it as suitable for all ages. Children under 16 need adult supervision. The open-air cars can be hot in summer and the ride closes in bad weather, so plan around the forecast and pair it with other Crossroads attractions.

Plan your visit: tips for Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad

  • Check the park calendar; the train runs on select dates and was listed as closed for scheduled maintenance.
  • Rides close in bad weather.
  • Every vehicle entering the park needs a parking permit.
  • Groups of 15 or more can book group attraction tickets in advance.

Part of Stone Mountain Park

The Scenic Railroad is operated as one of Stone Mountain Park's attractions. Questions about tickets, accessibility and schedules go to park Guest Services, open daily from 9 am to 7 pm. A Mountain Membership covers the train along with the park's other attractions for repeat visitors.

Bigger train collections nearby

For a deeper look at trains, the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth is only about 12 miles away, with more than 90 railcars. The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History is about 31 miles west. See the full list of Georgia train museums for more.

Every train museum in Georgia

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Open-air cars rolling around a granite mountain sound like a corgi's dream. In our book, Rally watches the world go by through an arched train window and spots the ocean and a white bird, and he cannot help but say hello. My kids always point to that bird when we read together. If your little ones like that page too, it is waiting for crayons on our coloring pages.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad: 20 rider questions

Where is the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad station?

The train boards and unloads at the Marketplace Depot in the Crossroads area of Stone Mountain Park. The park's street address is 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083, about 15 miles from downtown Atlanta. Departure times are posted at the Train Depot on the day of your visit.

How long is the train ride at Stone Mountain?

The ride lasts about 25 to 30 minutes. The park describes it as a five-mile loop around the base of Stone Mountain, while some rail histories measure the line at about four miles. Either way, it is a short, relaxed trip that suits young children well.

How much are Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad tickets?

The train is not sold as a separate ride; it is included with a Stone Mountain Park Attractions Ticket or a Mountain Membership. Attractions Ticket prices change by date, so check stonemountainpark.com. As of October 2026, group attraction tickets for 15 or more people are $24.99 for ages 3 and up, plus tax.

What is the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad schedule?

The train runs on select dates set by the park calendar, with exact departure times posted at the depot. As of October 2026, the park listed the railroad as closed for scheduled maintenance, so check the calendar at stonemountainpark.com or call Guest Services at (478) 478-6686 before planning your day around it.

Is the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad open right now?

Check before you go. As of October 2026, the park's railroad page carried a closed for scheduled maintenance notice, and the park's daily calendar showed attractions closed on some weekdays. Call Guest Services at (478) 478-6686, open daily 9 am to 7 pm, to confirm the train is running.

What kind of train is the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad?

It is a standard gauge railroad with a full-size locomotive from the 1940s pulling open-air passenger cars with bench seating. The train makes a loop around the perimeter of Stone Mountain Park, giving views of the mountain along the way.

Is there free parking at Stone Mountain Park?

No. Every vehicle entering Stone Mountain Park needs a daily or annual parking permit. As of October 2026, the daily permit is $20 per vehicle, sold online or at the entrance gates. Public school and government buses with a permanent logo are exempt, but chaperone cars are not.

How much is parking at Stone Mountain?

As of October 2026, a daily parking permit is $20 per vehicle, and annual parking passes are also available. The permit is required on top of any Attractions Ticket you buy for the train. Buses park in the Triangle Parking Lot or the Memorial Hall Parking Lot.

Does MARTA go to Stone Mountain Park?

Stone Mountain Park does not post public transit directions on its railroad page. Check MARTA's trip planner for current bus routes toward Stone Mountain, or call park Guest Services at (478) 478-6686 to ask about the best way to reach the park without a car.

What are the Stone Mountain tram hours?

The cable car to the top of the mountain is the Summit Skyride, a Swiss cable car that climbs more than 825 feet. Its hours change by season; on October 19, 2026 it ran from noon to 6 pm. Check the park's daily schedule at stonemountainpark.com, since the Skyride and train keep separate hours.

Is the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad good for kids?

Yes. The park calls it family friendly for all ages, and the 25 to 30 minute loop is a manageable length for toddlers and preschoolers. Children under 16 must be supervised by an adult. Bring sun protection in summer, since the cars are open air.

Is the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad wheelchair accessible?

The park says the railroad is designed to accommodate all guests, with bench seating in the open-air cars and provisions to help guests with mobility challenges. For specific needs, read the park's accessibility guide or call Guest Services at (478) 478-6686 before your visit.

Does the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad run in the rain?

The railroad may close during bad weather. Stone Mountain Park itself operates rain or shine, but individual attractions such as the train can shut down for storms. On uncertain days, call Guest Services at (478) 478-6686 before you go.

What is the history of the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad?

The railroad uses a former industrial spur dating to the Civil War era, laid to the base of the mountain to carry out quarried stone. Stone was a major industry here; the park's Quarry Exhibit says more than 7.6 million cubic feet of granite were removed. The line now carries visitors instead.

Can groups ride the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad?

Yes. Groups of 15 or more can buy Group Attractions Tickets, which include park attractions, with advance reservations required. As of October 2026 they are $24.99 for ages 3 and up, plus tax, and nonrefundable. Use the group request form on stonemountainpark.com.

Does the Stone Mountain train run at Christmas?

The railroad's posted season runs through January 3, 2027, overlapping Stone Mountain Christmas, which runs November 7, 2026 to January 3, 2027 with more than two million lights. The park does not say which attractions run each holiday night, so check the calendar for train dates.

What else is there to do at Stone Mountain Park?

Besides the train, the park has the Summit Skyride, Historic Square's restored Georgia buildings, the Grist Mill, Covered Bridge, Carillon, Quarry Exhibit and nature trails. Seasonal events include the Pumpkin Festival, Highland Games and the Native American Festival and Pow Wow.

Can you get off the Stone Mountain train partway around?

The park lists only the Marketplace Depot in Crossroads as the place to board and leave the train, so plan to ride the full loop and return there. Ask at the depot if you have questions about the day's operations.

How do I contact Stone Mountain Park about the railroad?

Call Guest Services at (478) 478-6686, daily from 9 am to 7 pm, or use the Ask a Question form on the park's contact page. The mailing address is Stone Mountain Park, P.O. Box 778, Stone Mountain Park, GA 30086.

What train museums are near Stone Mountain?

The Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth is about 12 miles away and has more than 90 railcars plus caboose rides. The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw is about 31 miles away, and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is about 74 miles north.

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