Stone Mountain Without A Car??

Question

Hi,

I could really use some advice especially from someone who has had some experience with this. I know I can take the marta or a lyft/uber to the park.

However, I'm worried about the way back? Would I be able to get an uber on the way back in the evening (8.30pm)

I wanted to see the pumpkin festival..

Answer

Visiting Stone Mountain Park without a car is absolutely possible, but you do need to plan ahead—especially for the return trip in the evening after the Pumpkin Festival. Transit options become more limited after dark, and rideshare availability inside the park can vary depending on the night and crowds.

Here’s what to expect, plus the safest and most reliable ways to get back to Atlanta.

Getting to Stone Mountain Park Without a Car

MARTA + Uber/Lyft – The most common method. Take MARTA Rail to either Kensington Station or Indian Creek Station, then call an Uber/Lyft from there to the park gate. This is a short and inexpensive ride.
Direct Uber/Lyft from Atlanta – Fast and easy, usually 25–35 minutes depending on traffic.
MARTA Bus + Walk – There is a MARTA bus (#221) that runs to Stone Mountain Village, but it does NOT go into the park. You’d have a long walk to the attractions, so it isn’t recommended for evening events.

Getting Back After the Pumpkin Festival (Around 8:30 PM)

This is the part where planning matters. You can get an Uber or Lyft back in the evening, but there are a few things to know:

Riders DO get pickups at Stone Mountain Park at night – especially during major events like Pumpkin Festival, Holiday Lights, or Laser Show nights. Drivers are usually circulating because demand is strong.
However, availability is not guaranteed instantly – sometimes there’s a 10–20 minute wait because drivers prefer sticking to the Atlanta core.
Pickup locations inside the park can be tricky – the park is big, very dark at night, and cell signal can be spotty in certain areas.
Surge pricing is very common during festivals – expect higher rates than daytime.

How to Make Your Return Trip Safe and Reliable

Schedule your Uber/Lyft ahead of time – both apps allow scheduled rides. Set a pickup for 8:30 or 8:45 PM. Drivers usually honor it.
Walk to a designated rideshare-friendly spot – the safest and most reliable place is the area near the Main Gate / Crossroads, where other guests get picked up.
Don’t request pickup deep inside the park – drivers sometimes cancel because they can’t navigate the interior roads at night.
If rideshare fails, go to Stone Mountain Village – it’s a short walk (15–20 minutes) from the front gate and has much better rideshare availability.
As a backup plan, go to Kensington MARTA Station – if you catch a rideshare to Kensington (only 10 minutes from the park), you can easily train back to any Atlanta destination before MARTA’s nightly cutoff.

Recommended Strategy for the Pumpkin Festival

Your most reliable return plan is:

Take Uber/Lyft directly to the Main Entrance.
Enjoy the festival.
Have a scheduled Uber/Lyft for your return at 8:30–9:00 PM.
If the driver cancels or doesn’t show, walk to Stone Mountain Village and request a pickup from there.

Final Notes

You are not the only traveler visiting Stone Mountain without a car—people do this regularly for festivals, and rideshare drivers are accustomed to it. With a scheduled ride and a good pickup spot, you should have no trouble getting back into Atlanta safely after your evening at the Pumpkin Festival.