Callaway Resort & Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia has three separate entrances, and picking the right one is the single biggest difference between an easy fall day and a frustrating one. General Gardens admission is as low as $19.99 for adults ages 13 and up during weekdays and $24.99 on the weekends, it covers the trails, the butterfly conservatory, the Birds of Prey programs, and the chapel, and the property runs to 2,500 acres, so a first visit rewards a little planning.
This guide covers which gate to drive to, what your ticket actually includes, when a Season Pass is the better buy, what to wear in a Georgia October, where to eat, and how to build a day that does not feel like a forced march.
Planning a Fall Visit at a Glance
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Gardens Main Entrance: 17617 US Highway 27, Pine Mountain, GA 31822
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Robin Lake Beach Entrance: 17800 US Highway 27, Pine Mountain, GA 31822
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Resort Lodging Entrance: 4500 Southern Pine Drive, Pine Mountain, GA 31822
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Gardens admission: $19.99 weekdays and $24.99 weekends (kids 5 less)
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Season Pass: Starting at $49.99, valid the rest of 2026 and all of 2027
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Property size: 2,500 acres, more than ten miles of walking trails, a 10-mile paved bike trail
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Included with admission: Butterfly Center, Birds of Prey, chapel, all trails, Discovery Center
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Drive from Atlanta: about 1 hour 20 minutes. From Columbus: about 40 minutes
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Fall event: Pumpkins at Callaway, select nights September 19 through November 1, 2026, separate event ticket required
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Winter event: Fantasy in Lights, November 13, 2026 through January 3, 2027
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Guest services phone: 1-800-225-5292
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Tickets: buy online, scan from your phone, nothing to print
Which Entrance Should You Use?
Use the Gardens Main Entrance at 17617 US Highway 27 for a standard day visit. It is the gate for the Discovery Center, the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, the Birds of Prey amphitheater, and the trail network. Use the Robin Lake Beach entrance at 17800 US Highway 27 if the beach, Cason's Garden, or the corn maze is your first stop. Use the Resort Lodging entrance at 4500 Southern Pine Drive only if you are checking into the Lodge & Spa, the Cottages, or the Villas.
This trips up more first-time visitors than anything else, because the two US Highway 27 entrances are close together in address but not in what they access. Decide your first stop before you leave the house, then set your navigation to the matching gate. Walking or driving between areas after you have parked in the wrong place is the most common way people lose the first hour of a fall day.
What Does Admission to Callaway Resort & Gardens Include?
General Gardens admission is as low as $19.99 on the weekdays and $24.99 on weekends for adults ages 13 and up and includes the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, the Birds of Prey flighted programs, the Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center, the Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel, the Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl, the 10-mile Discovery Bike Trail, and all walking trails. Seasonal Robin Lake Beach access is included as well.
Not everything is included, and knowing the difference before you arrive saves an awkward conversation at a gate. Pumpkins at Callaway and Fantasy in Lights are special events that require their own event ticket, and a general admission ticket alone will not get you in on those nights. Guided Pink Adventure Tours, bike rentals, spa services, and golf are all booked and paid separately.
There is one nice piece of overlap worth planning around. A Pumpkins at Callaway event ticket includes same-day Gardens admission, so on an event night you do not need to buy both.
When is a Season Pass the better buy?
For a limited-time until November 1, Season Passes are on sale for as low as $49.99 or $6 per month after down payment. General admission is as low as $19.99, so a Season Pass pays for itself in less than three visits, plus the Season Pass is good for the rest of 2026 and all of 2027. If there is any chance you will come back for fall color, Fantasy in Lights, or spring azaleas, the pass is the obvious choice.
The tiers add resort savings on top:
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Silver Pass ($49.99): Includes 10% off lodging, dining, and merchandise, plus 20% off special event tickets.
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Gold Pass ($79.99): Includes 15% off lodging, dining, and merchandise, plus 20% off special event tickets.
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Diamond Pass ($124.99): Includes 20% off lodging, dining, and merchandise, plus 50% off special event tickets.
Is there a military discount?
Yes. Callaway Resort & Gardens offers a 20% military discount for U.S. active and retired military, veterans, reservists, and their spouses and dependents, verified through ID.me. It covers daily Gardens admission, Season Passes, and overnight lodging. Special event tickets for Pumpkins at Callaway and Fantasy in Lights are discounted through the Season Pass tiers instead, so a military family planning more than one visit often does best buying a discounted Season Pass first.
What Should You Wear to Callaway Resort & Gardens in the Fall?
Wear layers and closed-toe walking shoes. Georgia October mornings often start in the low 50s and warm into the 70s by afternoon, then drop fast after sunset, so a light jacket or flannel you can tie around your waist handles the whole day better than a heavy coat. Shoes matter most, because almost everyone walks further here than they planned to.
If you are staying into the evening for Pumpkins at Callaway, pack one more layer than the afternoon suggests. Evenings in the Pine Mountain foothills cool off quickly once the sun is down, and the glow trail runs through wooded paths rather than around a heated pavilion. Put that extra layer in the car before you leave home, not after you are already cold.
Two more small things that make a real difference. Bring a rain shell in late fall, because the Butterfly Center and the Discovery Center Auditorium make good indoor fallbacks but you still have to walk to them. And charge your phone, because it is holding your tickets and your camera.
How Should You Pace a Fall Day Here?
Arrive early and plan your route around your first must-see stop rather than around the map. The property covers 2,500 acres, so the difference between a relaxed day and a rushed one is almost entirely about the order you do things in. Early arrival buys you the easiest parking, the shortest lines, and the best light.
A shape that works well for most families is to start indoors at the Butterfly Center while the morning is still cool, walk a short trail while everyone has energy, break for lunch, then take the Birds of Prey program in the afternoon when legs are tired and sitting down sounds good. If you are staying for Pumpkins at Callaway, keep the late afternoon light and easy so nobody is worn out before the lights come on at 5 p.m.
Do not try to see all of it. Pick three things you actually care about, do them properly, and let the rest be a reason to come back. That is also the argument for the Season Pass.
Where Should You Eat?
You have both quick options and sit-down options, and the choice mostly comes down to whether you want to keep moving. On a normal day, the resort's dining rooms give you a real break with table service, including the Piedmont Dining Room and Cason's Tap Room.
On a Pumpkins at Callaway night, the food is deliberately spread across the property so no single line becomes the bottleneck. You will find the Pumpkin Cafe by the beach pavilion, Sunflower Snacks in Cason's Garden, the Pumpkin Emporium, and Cason's Beer & Wine Garden for the adults. If one line looks long, walk to the next one.
What Is There to Do in the Fall?
The four highest-return stops for a fall visit are the Butterfly Center, the Birds of Prey program, the trail network, and a guided Pink Adventure Tour. Each one works for a wide age range, and together they fill a full day without repeating themselves.
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The Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center. One of North America's largest tropical butterfly conservatories and the second oldest in the United States, typically holding 1,000 or more free-flying butterflies. The warm indoor stop on a cold morning. Monarch 101 runs weekdays at 11 a.m. through September and October.
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The Birds of Prey program. Daily flighted programs at the Discovery Amphitheater where hawks, owls, and other raptors fly overhead while experts tell their stories. It has educated over a million visitors since 2000 and moves indoors in bad weather.
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The trails. More than ten miles of walking trails, most of them short. Mountain Creek Lake Trail is 1.5 miles and has the best water views. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Trail is 0.6 miles and easy with small children.
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The Discovery Bike Trail. Ten paved, gently rolling miles with multiple entry points, so you can ride two miles or the whole thing. Rentals are at the Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center.
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Pink Adventure Tours. Guided rides in an open-air Pink Jeep Wrangler, Fridays through Sundays at 9 a.m., 12 p.m., and 3 p.m., from $40 for adults with child pricing ages four to twelve.
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The Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel. A fieldstone chapel beside the water with nature-themed stained glass and a custom Moller pipe organ. Five quiet minutes and the best photograph of the day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Callaway Resort & Gardens
How much does it cost to get into Callaway Resort & Gardens?
General Gardens admission is as low as $19.99 for adults ages 13 and up on the weekdays and $24.99 on the weekends. That includes the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, Birds of Prey programs, the Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel, the Discovery Center, all walking trails, and the 10-mile Discovery Bike Trail. Special events like Pumpkins at Callaway require a separate event ticket.
Which entrance should you use at Callaway Resort & Gardens?
Use the Gardens Main Entrance at 17617 US Highway 27 for a standard day visit. Use the Robin Lake Beach entrance at 17800 US Highway 27 for the beach, Cason's Garden, or the corn maze. Use the Resort Lodging entrance at 4500 Southern Pine Drive only if you are checking into the Lodge & Spa, Cottages, or Villas.
Is a Callaway Resort & Gardens Season Pass worth it?
It pays for itself on the second visit. A Silver Season Pass is $49.99 and a single adult admission is $19.99, and the pass is valid for the rest of 2026 and all of 2027. Passes also include 10% to 20% off lodging, dining, and merchandise depending on tier, plus 20% to 50% off special event tickets.
Do you need a separate ticket for Pumpkins at Callaway?
Yes. Pumpkins at Callaway is a special event that requires its own event ticket, and general Gardens admission alone will not get you in on those nights. The reverse is not true, though, because a Pumpkins at Callaway event ticket includes same-day Gardens admission.
What should you wear to Callaway Resort & Gardens in the fall?
Wear layers and closed-toe walking shoes. Georgia October mornings often start in the low 50s and warm into the 70s by afternoon, then cool quickly after sunset. A light jacket or flannel you can tie around your waist works better than a heavy coat, and shoes matter most because most visitors walk further than they expect.
How long should you plan to spend at Callaway Resort & Gardens?
Plan a full day for a first visit, or four to five hours if you are focused. The property covers 2,500 acres, so most people pick three main stops and do those properly rather than trying to see everything. If you are staying for an evening event, arrive by mid afternoon.
Do you have to print your tickets?
No. Tickets are scanned directly from your phone, so nothing needs printing. Buy online in advance rather than at the gate, since date-specific event nights can sell out and advance purchase saves you time at entry.
Is Callaway Resort & Gardens good for young children?
Yes. The named walking trails are short, from 0.5 to 1.6 miles, and the Discovery Bike Trail is paved and stroller-friendly. The Butterfly Center and the seated Birds of Prey program give you indoor and low-energy options when small legs give out.
Is there anywhere to eat inside Callaway Resort & Gardens?
Yes. The resort's dining rooms include the Piedmont Dining Room and Cason's Tap Room for a sit-down meal. On Pumpkins at Callaway nights, food is spread across the property at the Pumpkin Cafe by the beach pavilion, Sunflower Snacks in Cason's Garden, the Pumpkin Emporium, and Cason's Beer & Wine Garden.
What happens at Callaway Resort & Gardens if it rains?
Several attractions are indoors. The Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center is a glass conservatory, the Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center is fully indoors, and the Birds of Prey program moves into the Discovery Center Auditorium during inclement weather. Bring a rain shell, since you will still walk between them.
Are dogs allowed at Callaway Resort & Gardens?
Dogs are welcome in outdoor areas across the property, provided they remain on a 6-foot leash at all times.
Daytime Gardens Visits & Special Events Policy
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Indoor Buildings: Pets are strictly prohibited inside any Callaway Gardens building.
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Special Events & Programs: Pets are not allowed at special events such as Pumpkins at Callaway (PAC), Fantasy in Lights (FIL) (except inside personal vehicles during the drive-through experience), or near the Birds of Prey program.
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Service Animals: Trained service animals in accordance with the ADA are welcome across all areas, including indoor facilities and special events.
For full guidelines and lodging policies, check the Callaway Guest FAQs & Visitor Policies.
How far is Callaway Resort & Gardens from Atlanta?
Callaway Resort & Gardens is in Pine Mountain, Georgia, roughly an hour and twenty minutes southwest of Atlanta and about forty minutes north of Columbus. It is a straightforward highway drive with no flights and no mountain switchbacks, which makes it a practical day trip or an easy overnight.
What else is nearby in Pine Mountain?
F.D. Roosevelt State Park is minutes away and is Georgia's largest state park at 10,874 acres, with over 40 miles of trails including the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail and the Dowdell's Knob overlook where Franklin D. Roosevelt used to picnic. The Little White House is also nearby and is included on the off-property Pink Adventure Tour.
Make a Weekend of It in Pine Mountain, Georgia
The nicest fall days here have a way of stretching past closing time, and the simplest fix is to not drive home. Staying overnight means you wake up already inside the gardens with admission in hand, which is the version of this trip that repeat visitors end up defaulting to.
The Bed & Breakfast Package takes 15% off lodging and includes breakfast at the Piedmont Dining Room or a la carte at the Country Kitchen, plus daily Gardens admission during your stay and on departure day. If you are timing your visit around the pumpkins, the Glow & Save Getaway bundles a room with two event tickets for travel through November 1, 2026.
Whether you are driving over from Atlanta, up from Columbus, or in from somewhere just down the road, a fall visit to Callaway Resort & Gardens in Pine Mountain is the kind of day your family asks to repeat. Plan your fall stay and give yourself the extra morning.
