Why We Love Biking in Atlanta with Kids

With more opportunities through a growing network of pathways, bicycle lanes and bicycle friendly areas, families are biking together all around Atlanta and finding lots of benefits, from a healthier lifestyle to together time. Metro Atlanta likely has a bike trail or bike friendly area near your home, so it’s easy to get started. Everyone has their favorites, from biking through Piedmont Park to tooling around Freedom Park or Stone Mountain Park and Yellow River Park in Gwinnett County. If your family wants to give it a try, now is the perfect time, with a confluence of great greenways, mild temperatures and the Atlanta Cycling Festival from May 11-18.

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Where to Bike in Atlanta with Kids

Atlanta BeltLine

Made up of multi-use trails and colorful art and murals, the Atlanta BeltLine is a pedestrian friendly area that can be used for biking as well as jogging and walking. The BeltLine links many of Atlanta’s existing parks and trails together with dining and retail options nearby. Take stops for playgrounds at Piedmont Park or the Old Fourth Ward Park. You can also reserve a spot on one of the bike tours.
Where: 24 Fairlie St. NW, Atlanta.

Chastain Park Trail

This trail is made up of a three-mile path around Chastain Park, and on any given day you can find it full of bikers and joggers. The trail is marked as two 5K courses and a separate 3K course. It is an asphalt trail with a few hills, which may be more challenging with a stroller, or young child.
Where: Chastain Park Trail, Atlanta.

East Cobb Trail

In Marietta next to Roswell Road, it is a short trail, around two miles long, but perfect for young bikers and with parents walking or running beside them. It is also an easy connector to many neighborhoods in the area. Make sure to also check out the events listed on their website, as well as the playground.
Where: 3322 Roswell Rd., Marietta.

Stone Mountain Trail

This 19-mile on-street and dedicated trail offers great views of Atlanta (bring a camera to take a picture at the Jackson Street bridge near Downtown), and has several great stopping points along the way. Take a stop at Stone Mountain village, Milam Park in Clarkston, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, Candler Park, and Downtown Decatur.
Where: Begins at Piedmont Ave. in Downtown Atlanta and ends at the loop around Stone Mountain.

Arabia Mountain Trail

Made up of 30 miles of biking, hiking and running trails, the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Trail takes you past exposed granite and lakes along the way.
Where: Arabia Mountain Trail, Stockbridge.

Silver Comet Trail

This 61.5-mile trail is named after the Silver Comet Rail Train that once ran from Atlanta to Birmingham. Ride your bikes across a 500-foot trestle and bring a picnic basket on this woodsy, paved trail.
Where: Mavell Road Trailhead, Smyrna.

Big Creek Greenway

This 9-mile paved trail runs through the deciduous woods along Big Creek, between Windward Parkway and Mansell Road. You’ll also find dirt trails for mountain biking.
Where: Access points include Alpharetta YMCA, Haynes Bridge Road and Northpoint Mall.

North Cooper Lake Park

More Paths to Try

Help your kids learn to bike at the mountain bike trail at North Cooper Lake Park.
Sykes Park has trails for everyone from new to advanced riders.
Olde Rope Mill Park has paved trails for biking.
Stockbridge’s Reeves Creek Trail spans three miles and winds along the creek.
The Suwanee Creek Greenway runs through four miles of wooded areas, wetlands and wildlife habitat.

Atlanta Biking Resources

There are several biking organizations and groups throughout metro Atlanta, including the Propel ATL, Bike Roswell, Decatur Bicycle Coalition, and Families Bike Atlanta, which can get you connected with other bike enthusiasts in and around Atlanta.
The Propel ATL and Georgia Tech’s Students Organizing for Sustainability offer “starter bikes” ranging in price from free to $150. Bikes can be viewed on the Georgia Tech campus 4-6 p.m. Fridays. Find more information at atlantabike.org/starterbikes.
The Atlanta Cycling Festival from May 11-18 includes cycling fun, rides, events and more.
Find more biking trails with the PATH Foundation.