Looking for things to do in McDonough GA? Located “Comfortably South of Atlanta”, this charming Metro neighborhood has it all and is only 30 minutes outside of Atlanta.
Henry County is dotted with beautiful farms, creeks, rivers, and parks. It also has some great shopping and restaurants. We’ve got tons of fun in this city and the surrounding area of Henry County, Georgia.
LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO IN MCDONOUGH GA? DON’T MISS THESE!

Southern Belle Farms Open seasonally, this adorable 330-acre farm is a great activity for family fun. It’s not all technically free here, $11.95 for activities, plus the cost of picking strawberries. In the Spring, they have fresh u-pick strawberries along with homemade strawberry ice cream. During the Summer, they have peaches, blackberries, and blueberries that you can pick or purchase from their Market. In the fall they have a corn maze, pumpkin patch, and more.
“Tasty Tuesday’s” Food Trucks at City Hall in Stockbridge Georgia’s town square. This fun community event takes place every Tuesday in June and July from 5:30 pm to 9 pm. There is a cost associated with the different food trucks but the parking and fun are FREE! Make sure to bring a blanket and/or lawn chairs and a big appetite.
Locust Grove Train Watching Platform Entertain your little Engineer at this fun and FREE spot. More than 40 trains pass through this location each day. There is a new train platform with speakers that broadcast the conversations between conductors. Open 7 days a week, with FREE parking, this would be a fun outing anytime. Located in historic downtown, the platform is just steps away from unique shops and restaurants.
Cubihatcha Outdoor Center This nature center was developed by the Henry County Water Authority as a way to protect and enhance the wetlands and spread knowledge of wildlife and nature conservation. Take a walk on one of the trails, check out the raised boardwalks, and see how many species of wildlife you can spot near the wetlands.
Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary This free non-profit organization is home to over 1500 animals! Located in Locust Grove (near the Cubihatcha Outdoor Center) there is a fantastic picnic and playground area for kids. While the sanctuary opens at 9 am, the wild animal habitat is only open from 12-3pm, so check their site before you go. Note: They close for the winter and reopen in late Spring.
Heritage Park Veteran’s Museum Located at the beautiful Heritage Park on Lake Dow Road, this museum has military vehicles, uniforms, and artifacts. Additionally, this park has a nice play structure, walking trails, historic buildings and is a popular spot for Pokemon Go players.
Army Aviation Heritage Foundation Take a tour of the helicopter hangar, climb into a Vietnam-era Huey or Cobra helicopter and learn the history of how aviation contributed to the war effort (all for FREE!)
Sandy Ridge Bike Park This premier racing facility is sanctioned by the new USABMX Association and is FREE and open to the public along as they are not having an event. The track features a 50-foot starting hill with three paved high-banked turns connected by 800 feet of jumps, whoops, rollers, and step-ups.
Note: There are fees for BMX members for gate practice. And during USA BMX events membership may be required to access the track. We recommend checking their calendar before a visit!
Alexander Park Trails It’s described as having “picturesque bridges and forestry”. There is a water fountain and bathrooms located at the trailhead and it’s convenient to shops and restaurants around McDonough.
JP Moseley Disc Golf Located in Moseley Park in Stockbridge, bring your own discs and enjoy this free 18 hole course. Labeled a “championship-caliber course” this park is great for all ages and skill levels.
Self-Guided Filming Tour If you’d like to see where some of your favorite shows and movies have been filmed around Henry county, check out this guide. From the Atlanta Motor Speedway Tours, to Walk on the Wild Side Tour, and the Walking Dead, there’s probably something on the list that interests everyone in the family.
PorchFest (mid-October) A grassroots musical festival that turns porches into stages for local bands and musicians. Incorporated in Hampton’s Porch Fest is art with “pop-up” art shops mixed throughout the fest. Image an afternoon where porches, close to downtown, become stages or an artist’s shop. People walk or bicycle around listening to live music, checking out the arts, hanging out on lawns and sidewalks, and connecting/reconnecting with their neighbors.
Yellow Pollen Street Festival – held on Main Street in the heart of downtown Hampton, this event features arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, live music and more!
Summer Movies and Concerts Head to Stockbridge in Summer for FREE movies and concerts at the City Hall lawn. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, and prepare for a great time. Just a note that Hampton, Ga also has a FREE summer concert series.
Henry County Library System The library is continually holding FREE events for children, tweens and young adults alike. The calendar is always changing so be sure to check out the website.
Yellow Jacket Hot Dogs Make time for a family dinner here on the weekends. Kids enjoy authentic Homemade Ice Cream served Friday and Saturday FREE of charge.
Gezzo’s Surf & Grille. Taking inspiration from their roots in California and Hawaii, the owners wanted to create a place where beach culture, art, healthy eating, and a concern for the environment were a part of everyday life. Kids Eat Free on Tuesdays (two locations – McDonough & Locust Grove)
Red Hawk Nature Preserve The Henry County RC Club Red Hawk Nature Preserve is a 39-acre nature preserve featuring a radio-controlled airplane and helicopter landing strip. Aircraft vary from small electric aircraft made for sport flying, to giant WW2 gasoline-powered warbirds. Kids will LOVE watching these planes fly over the 39 acres.
Panola Mountain State Park Parking is $5 or FREE with an annual membership. Panola Mountain is a 100-acre granite outcrop similar to Stone Mountain, but smaller and much more pristine. Park visitors will see the outcrop and its rare ecosystem just as Native Americans did centuries ago.
Visitors can picnic while children work off energy on the playground. The park offers archery, boat rental, geocaching, orienteering, birding and tree-climbing programs. A paved trail is open for biking, roller blading, jogging and dog-walking, while forested fitness trails are open for hiking and running.
The Henry Players Established in 1991 and completely reliant on local volunteers the Henry Players bring Broadway to Henry County! Check their schedule for upcoming performances and shows. The Henry Players is part of the Henry Arts Alliance, which offers so much more!
Hood Street Arts Center is a 20,000 square foot collective of artistic talents all in one space. Anchored by the Gallery at Hood Street: Art Gallery and Event Venue.
FREE THINGS FOR KIDS AT ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY

- Kids under 5 can take a FREE Atlanta Motor Speedway Track Tour with a paying adult
- Children 17 and under will be admitted FREE with a paid adult in the general admission seating areas for NASCAR Qualifying Day. There’s no limit to the number of children each adult can bring.
- Tickets are affordably priced at $12 per day, $5 for ages 6-11 and FREE for ages 5 and under and include access to all areas of the show including the vendor midway, show car garage, extreme motorsports and so much more.
- Thursday Thunder (June & July) Thursday Thunder is one of the most affordable, exciting family activities in Atlanta. Every Thursday night from early June into late July, a smorgasbord of games, contests, giveaways and hot on-track racing excitement take place at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Grandstand tickets are just $5 for adults and ages 5 and under are admitted FREE for each evening of fun and grass-roots racing on the paved quarter-mile track at AMS, the Thunder Ring. Drivers as young as 8-years-old come from all over the nation to battle each night in eight different classes for the right to be called champions at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Read More: NASCAR AMS: YOUR GUIDE TO GEORGIA’S KID-FRIENDLY SPRING NASCAR RACE WEEKEND (2023)
For more budget-friendly ideas, check out the Visit Henry County website.
MORE TO DO IN AND AROUND HENRY COUNTY (BUT NOT FREE)

Stone Mountain Park – While admission to Stone Mountain Park is not free, the laser show is included within the price of admission!
Camera Museum and Escape Room: The Camera Museum features hundreds of exhibits with more than 1200 cameras, accessories, vintage images, advertisements, books, and more right in the middle of town in McDonough, Georgia.
Escape the Museum is not your average escape room experience. The game is played inside an authentic 4500 square foot museum in McDonough, GA. These games are family-friendly with no scary themes and a lot of fun for those eight years old and up!
Starlite Family Fun Center offers a family atmosphere where you can roller skate, play laser tag, jump, slide and swing in our soft playground; or win tickets for prizes in our huge arcade.
Neighboring Clayton County International Park was originally built for the beach volleyball competition for the 1996 Summer Olympics, is now a park and event complex. The complex offers a water park, bike trails, fishing and sports.
C.O. Polk Interactive Museum brings history to life in the Museum’s galleries and through its exhibitions and events, revealing both new ideas and unexpected connections across residents and visitors.
MCDONOUGH/HENRY COUNTY GA FAQ
Who is McDonough GA named after?
McDonough was named in honor of Commodore, Thomas McDonough, whose victory on Lake Champlain was one of the most brilliant naval exploits in the War of 1812.
Henry County is comprised of which Georgia cities?
Henry County is comprised of four cities: Stockbridge, McDonough, Hampton and Locust Grove.
What products are made in Henry County?
Several well-known products are made locally in Henry County including Ken’s Salad Dressing, Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce, and Behr Paint,
MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO GEORGIA
- YOUR GEORGIA VACATION
- FREE ATLANTA: 50+ FREE THINGS TO DO IN ATLANTA (THAT DON’T SUCK)
- FREE DECATUR: 19 AMAZING FREE THINGS TO DO IN DECATUR GA FOR EXCITING FAMILY FUN
- ATLANTA: 53+ THINGS TO DO IN ATLANTA YOU SHOULD NOT MISS (FROM LOCALS IN THE KNOW)
WHERE TO STAY IN HENRY COUNTY



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