Gibbs Gardens Daffodil Festival: A Spring Day Trip Guide From Atlanta 🌼

If you’re in Atlanta and craving a true spring escape, the Gibbs Gardens Daffodil Festival is one of the easiest and most spectacular day trips you can take. Millions of daffodils bloom across rolling hills and lakes, turning the gardens into a sea of yellow and white—usually well before Atlanta’s city trees fully leaf out.

This guide walks you through what to expect, when to go, how to get there from Atlanta, ticket tips, and how to make the most of your visit.

What Is the Gibbs Gardens Daffodil Festival?

The Gibbs Gardens Daffodil Festival is a seasonal celebration at Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground, Georgia, featuring one of the largest daffodil displays in the country. For several weeks every late winter and early spring, daffodils bloom in waves, followed by tulips and other spring flowers.

For Atlantans, it’s a popular spring festival and flower show alternative to in-town events, offering:

• Sweeping fields of daffodils in different varieties and colors
• Lake and hillside views framed by early-blooming trees
• Walking paths that work for casual strollers and photography lovers
• A quieter, nature-focused experience than many city festivals

You can treat it as a half-day or full-day trip from Atlanta—many people pair it with brunch, lunch, or a stop in Canton, Woodstock, or Ball Ground’s small downtown.

When Does the Daffodil Festival Happen?

Exact dates change year to year based on weather, but some patterns are consistent.

Typical Timing

• Season: Late February through March (often extending into early April)
• Peak bloom: Usually early to mid-March, depending on temperatures and rainfall
• Bloom “waves”: Early, mid, and late-season daffodils bloom in succession, so the display shifts over time

Because this is a flower-based festival, the timing is highly weather-dependent. From Atlanta, it’s smart to:

• Check Gibbs Gardens’ official site or phone line before you go to confirm opening dates and bloom status.
• Watch regional weather: a warmer winter can mean earlier blooms, while cold snaps may delay them.

Where Is Gibbs Gardens and How Far Is It From Atlanta?

Gibbs Gardens is in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains, in Ball Ground, GA, north of metro Atlanta.

• Approximate drive time from Midtown Atlanta: 1 hour 15 minutes–1 hour 30 minutes (longer with traffic)
• Distance: Around 60–70 miles, depending on your starting point

Address (for GPS):
Gibbs Gardens
1987 Gibbs Drive
Ball Ground, GA 30107

(Addresses and directions can change; verify before your trip.)

Getting There From Atlanta: Best Routes and Tips

Main Driving Routes

From most intown Atlanta neighborhoods (Midtown, Downtown, Old Fourth Ward, Virginia-Highland, Grant Park, Westside):

1. Take I-75/85 North out of Atlanta.
2. Continue on I-75 North and then take I-575 North (which becomes GA-515).
3. Follow signs toward Ball Ground and local directions to Gibbs Gardens.

From Buckhead, Sandy Springs, or Brookhaven:

• You may prefer using GA-400 North, then cutting over on connecting roads (such as GA-20 or GA-369) toward Canton and then Ball Ground, depending on traffic.

Atlanta-Specific Driving Tips

• Avoid heavy rush hour:
  • Leaving Atlanta between 8:30–10:30 a.m. often avoids peak traffic and still gets you there by late morning.
• Weekday vs weekend:
  • Weekdays can be calmer on the garden paths.
  • Weekends will feel more crowded but are still manageable if you arrive early.
• Plan for I-285 bottlenecks:
  • If you have to circle the Perimeter from places like Decatur, Tucker, or East Atlanta, build in extra time.

Public transit from Atlanta does not reach Gibbs Gardens directly; you’ll need a car, rideshare (for the very committed), or a private group shuttle.

Tickets, Hours, and Practical Info for Atlantans

Details can change, so use this as a planning framework and check for the latest info close to your visit.

Typical Hours

• Open most days during the festival season, often from mid-morning to late afternoon.
• Closing times can vary by season and day of the week.

Ticket Basics

You can generally expect:

• Per-person admission fee (adult, senior, and child pricing may differ)
• Children under a certain age often pay reduced rates or enter free
• Parking: Usually available on-site; plan for walking from the lot to the main entrance

💡 Atlanta tip: On popular festival weekends, buy tickets in advance if pre-purchase is offered. It can help you avoid lines and confirm that the gardens are open and in good bloom.

Daffodil Festival Highlights (From an Atlanta Visitor’s Perspective)

1. Massive Fields of Daffodils

You’ll see:

• Hillsides and valleys lined with millions of daffodils
• Varieties ranging from classic bright yellow to pale cream, multi-colored, and frilled shapes
• Changing displays as early and late-blooming varieties rotate through the season

For Atlantans used to tight city parks, the sheer scale feels like stepping into a landscape painting.

2. Strolling Garden Paths

Most visitors follow marked paths that wind through daffodil fields, trees, and water features.

• Paths vary from gentle slopes to moderate hills
• Many are fine for people used to city walking, but wear sturdy shoes, not dress shoes
• Benches and resting areas appear throughout, which helps if you’re coming from Atlanta with multi-generational family

3. Photo Opportunities

If you love photography or just want spring photos with an Atlanta backdrop alternative:

• Golden hour (early morning or late afternoon) is ideal
• Overcast days can be great, too—colors pop without harsh shadows
• Atlanta families often use this as an informal spring portrait setting

Check any posted guidelines on tripods, drones, and professional shoots before planning a full photo session.

What Else Blooms Around the Same Time?

The Daffodil Festival overlaps with other early spring displays at Gibbs Gardens:

• Tulips – Often bloom shortly after or during the later part of the daffodil season
• Early flowering trees – Including cherry and other ornamental varieties
• Seasonal shrubs and perennials – Add layers of color beyond just yellows and whites

For Atlanta residents, this means you can:

• Catch daffodils early in the season and
• Return later if you want to overlap with tulip time (if membership or multiple visits fit your budget and schedule)

Sample Day Trip Plan From Atlanta

Here’s how a typical Atlanta-based visit might look.

Morning

• 8:30–9:30 a.m.: Leave from Atlanta (Midtown, Buckhead, or Decatur)
• 10:00–10:30 a.m.: Arrive at Gibbs Gardens, park, and enter
• Late morning: Walk the main daffodil areas, taking photos and exploring at an easy pace

Midday

• Lunch options:
  • On-site café or concessions (if available during festival season)
  • Packed picnic (if current rules allow; check policies)
  • Or leave and eat in Ball Ground or Canton after your visit

Afternoon

• Explore other sections of the gardens (lakes, Japanese garden areas, or woodland sections depending on what’s open)
• 2:30–3:30 p.m.: Head back toward Atlanta before peak evening traffic

This keeps the trip manageable for families, couples, or solo visitors coming from the city.

What to Bring From Atlanta (And What to Leave at Home)

Helpful Things to Pack

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Light layers: Atlanta weather in late winter and early spring can swing from chilly mornings to warm afternoons
• Rain jacket or compact umbrella if the forecast looks iffy
• Water bottle (within posted rules)
• Sun protection: Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen—sun can be strong in open fields
• Camera or phone with extra battery

Things to Check Before You Bring

Policies can vary by season, but it’s useful to confirm:

• Outside food and drink rules
• Pet policy (many botanical gardens limit or prohibit pets)
• Rules about professional photography setups or props

For Atlanta residents used to Piedmont Park or neighborhood greenspaces, note that gardens typically have stricter rules to protect plantings and maintain pathways.

Crowds, Parking, and Accessibility

Crowd Patterns

• Weekends in peak bloom attract the most visitors from Atlanta and surrounding areas.
• Earlier in the day is typically less crowded than midday.
• Overcast or slightly cool days are often quieter and still beautiful.

Parking

• Parking is usually on-site, included with admission or priced separately.
• On busy festival days, you may park farther from the main entrance, so plan for an extra walk.

Accessibility Considerations

• Some paths are gentler and more accessible than others.
• If mobility is a concern for anyone in your Atlanta-based group, check for:
  • Availability of accessible parking
  • Recommended routes for wheelchairs or strollers
  • Any tram or shuttle options that may exist within the gardens (if offered during your visit)

Because Gibbs Gardens is more spread out than most Atlanta in-town parks, reviewing accessibility details ahead of time is especially helpful.

Comparing the Daffodil Festival to In-Town Atlanta Spring Activities

If you’re deciding whether it’s worth leaving the city, it helps to understand the contrast.

In-town Atlanta spring experiences often include:

• Dogwood blossoms in neighborhoods (Virginia-Highland, Inman Park, Druid Hills)
• Atlanta BeltLine blooms and murals
• City festivals like neighborhood tours, markets, and art shows

Gibbs Gardens Daffodil Festival offers:

• A much larger, concentrated floral display than any single city park
• A full “escape from the city” feel, with mountain foothill views
• A quieter, nature-centric day, compared to food-and-music-focused Atlanta festivals

For many Atlanta families and couples, the Daffodil Festival becomes an annual ritual, paired with local city events so they get both the urban and countryside sides of spring.

Quick Reference: Planning Your Trip From Atlanta

How to Decide if the Daffodil Festival Is Right for You

The Gibbs Gardens Daffodil Festival is likely a good fit if you:

• Live in Atlanta and want a scenic spring drive that’s not too far
• Enjoy flowers, photography, and quiet walks more than loud, crowded festivals
• Are hosting out-of-town guests in Atlanta and want to show them North Georgia’s landscape
• Want a day trip that pairs well with lunch in a small town or a relaxed weekend drive

If you prefer short outings within the city and don’t enjoy longer drives or walking on hills, you may be happier sticking with Atlanta’s in-town parks and neighborhood blooms. But for many Atlantans, the daffodil fields are a standout spring experience they remember long after the season ends.