Ellijay

Ellijay is a city in Georgia's Historic High Country. It is considered the Apple Capital of Georgia.

Gilmer County courthouse in Ellijay

Get in

By car: take Interstate 575/515 off Interstate 75 from Atlanta.

Get around

Ellijay has a quaint downtown area with various speciality and antique shops and restaurants but the shopping centers and all the chain restaurants are on the highway.

See

• 1 Springer Mountain. Serves as the southern terminus to the Appalachian Trail 
• Fort Mountain state park is about 20 min away from Downtown Ellijay on Hwy 52 West
• Downtown Ellijay
• Carter's Lake
• Ridgeway Area
• Appalachian Trail
• Apple Orchards, mostly located on "Apple Alley" A.K.A. Hwy 52 East
• The Cartacay and Ellijay River
• Amicalola Falls is about 20 min away away from Downtown Ellijay on Hwy 52 East
• Burt Pumpkin Farm, located just before Amicalola Falls on Hwy 52 East
• Hillcrest Orchards, located on Hwy 52 East about 10 mins from Downtown.
• Bear Creek Trail. 

Do

• Buy some apples at apple orchards in Apple Alley
• Raft, canoe, kayak or tube the Cartacay River
• Hike at the Ridgeway Area
• go to Carter's Lake
• Shop in Downtown Ellijay
• Hike near or at Fort or Walnut Mountain
• Go to the Georgia Apple Festival in October
• Amicalola Falls
• Horseback riding
• Mountain biking
• Visit surrounding waterfalls
• Wildlife viewing
• Ride the nearby Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
• Pan for gold in nearby Dahlonega

Buy

• Downtown Ellijay
• East Ellijay Shopping Center
• Chewing baccer
• Shine'
• sweet tay

Eat

• Pink Pig Barbeque
• Longhorns
• Charlie's
• River Street Grill
• Poole’s Real Pit Barbecue
• Cantaberry
• Okinawa Restaurant‎

Drink

There aren't many bars in Ellijay due to a very religious population.

• River Street Tavern, 40 River Street, ☏ +1 706 635-6166. 

Sleep

• Best Western Mountain View Inn 43 Coosawattee Dr, East Ellijay. The hotel offers mountain views and a friendly staff of locals. Be sure to pet the hotel cats. Tel: 706-515-1500 or Toll Free 866-515-4515.
• Rainbow Cabin Rentals of North Georgia riverfront cabin rentals in the North Georgia mountains with direct access to trout fishing, canoeing, and tubing. Make reservations online.
• Stafford Inn
• Cabin Rentals Of Georgia, 801 E Main Street Ste B Blue Ridge, ☏ +1 706-925-9059. Beautiful vacation homes available for rental in all areas of Gilmer county. Fully equipped kitchens, hot tubs, fireplaces, and many with pool tables. Some are pet friendly. 
• 1 The Overlook Inn (North Georgia Getaway), 9440 GA-52 (15.3 miles west of Ellijay on GA-52), ☏ +1 706-517-0300, info@theoverlookinn.com. Check-in: 3:00-8:00pm, check-out: 11:00am. Boutique lodging offering six private guest rooms and breakfast at the top of the mountain, between Chatsworth and Ellijay. Private bathrooms, hot tubs, and fireplaces. Rooms: $169-$239. (updated Mar 2021)

Go next

Jasper is 30 minutes south. Blue Ridge is 20 minutes away. Atlanta is 1 hour and 10 minutes south.

Routes through Ellijay

Chattanooga ← Chatsworth ←

W  E

→ Blue Ridge → Anderson