Parking in downtown Dahlonega is free. The Dahlonega DDA counts about 300 spaces on and around the Public Square plus three free lots with 140 spaces; its parking page was last edited in 2022. The rules that matter are a 3-hour limit on the prime spaces during weekday business hours and a few all-day lots a block or two away.
- Parking on and around the Public Square is free; the downtown authority counts about 300 spaces around the Square plus three free lots with 140 spaces. Dahlonega DDA / Main Street
- The prime 'Shop & Dine' spaces around the Public Square are 3-hour spaces, enforced 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visitors Bureau
- For all-day parking, the Park & Stay spaces are in the North Park Street lot and the Warwick Street lot. Visitors Bureau
- The UNG parking deck off South Chestatee Street and Choice Avenue is open to visitors after 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday. Visitors Bureau
- There is a Level 2 EV charging port in the Choice Street public lot behind the Holiday Inn Express, a short walk from downtown. City of Dahlonega
- The Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Center is at 13 South Park Street, just off the Square, and is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors Bureau
Where to park, by how long you are staying
| Option | Where | Time rule (as published) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Street spaces around the Square | Both sides of Main Street around the Gold Museum | 15-minute loading, 3-hour and accessible spaces; 3-hour limit enforced 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday | A quick fudge or ice cream stop |
| North Park Street lot | North Park Street, off the Square | Park & Stay all-day spaces | A long afternoon on the Square |
| Warwick Street lots | One block from the Gold Museum, beside Hancock Park | Ample all-day parking, plus 3-hour and accessible spaces | Market Saturdays and Hancock Park events |
| Choice Street public lot | Behind the Holiday Inn Express | All-day parking; Level 2 EV charging port | Charging an EV |
| UNG parking deck | Off South Chestatee Street and Choice Avenue | Public after 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, all day Saturday and Sunday | Evenings and weekends |
Around the Square
The City of Dahlonega says there is parking along both sides of Main Street around the Gold Museum, with 15-minute loading, 3-hour and accessible spaces. The Visitors Bureau’s parking guide calls these the “Shop & Dine” spaces and says the city enforces the 3-hour limit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Most of the sweets stops in this guide are on the Square or a few doors off it, so one 3-hour space can cover a cafe stop, a fudge counter and an ice cream cone on a weekday.
All day
For a longer visit, the Visitors Bureau points to the Park & Stay spaces in the North Park Street lot and the Warwick Street lot. The city describes the Warwick Street lots as ample all-day parking one block from the Gold Museum. North Park Street is also where The Dahlonega Fudge Factory (8 N Park St) and Connie’s Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop (18 North Park Street) are.
Evenings and weekends: the UNG deck
The University of North Georgia’s deck off South Chestatee Street and Choice Avenue is open to visitors after 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and all day on Saturdays and Sundays, per the Visitors Bureau; the city confirms UNG allows public parking there on weeknights and weekends. The Smith House at 84 South Chestatee St is next to the entrance.
EV charging
The city lists a Level 2 EV charging port in the Choice Street public lot behind the Holiday Inn Express, within walking distance of downtown.
Streets, paths, the rail line, water and buildings from OpenStreetMap; the green is Hancock Park. Pin positions come from OpenStreetMap or an address lookup (each place's details name which); businesses not confirmed operating are left off. A planning map, not turn-by-turn directions.
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The historic square around the Gold Museum, ringed by shops and free 3-hour street parking on both sides of Main Street.
Address: Public Square, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Source: City of Dahlonega, checked Oct 19, 2026 · Directions
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State historic site in the 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse in the middle of the Public Square; the landmark every downtown sweets walk circles.
Address: 1 Public Square, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Hours: Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m.-4:45 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's Day
Source: Georgia State Parks, checked Oct 19, 2026 · Directions
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City park just off the Square at North Park and Warwick streets, home of the May-October Saturday Dahlonega Farmers Market (with home bakers among its 2026 vendors), the December Christmas Market and an all-abilities playground. The DDA's event listing gives its address as Hawkins St.
Address: 54 North Park Street, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Hours: Park: sunrise to sunset. Farmers market: Saturdays 8:00am-1:00pm, May-October (2026 season ended Oct 10)
Source: City of Dahlonega, checked Oct 19, 2026 · Directions
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Family-owned chocolate shop on the square that handcrafts its chocolates in small batches and says about 90% of what it sells is made on location, including soft caramels cooked in a copper kettle.
Address: 102 Public Square North, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Hours: Mon–Thu 10am–8pm; Fri–Sat 9am–9pm; Sun 12:30pm–8pm (ET). No holiday/December hours published.
Source: paulthomaschocolates.com, checked Oct 19, 2026 · Directions
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Cajun restaurant on the square whose own menu lists beignets (French Market doughnuts in powdered sugar), a Paul Thomas Beignet filled with locally made dark chocolate, seasonal bread pudding and Bananas Foster.
Address: 90 Public Square N., Dahlonega, GA 30533
Hours: Mon 11:00 AM-9:00 PM; Tue-Wed CLOSED; Thu 11:00 AM-9:00 PM; Fri 11:00 AM-10:00 PM; Sat 9:00 AM-10:00 PM; Sun 9:00 AM-8:00 PM; Saturday & Sunday brunch 9AM-2PM
Source: thebourbonstreetgrille.com, checked Oct 19, 2026 · Directions
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Ice cream and sandwich shop by the square serving scoops in cups, cake cones and waffle cones, milkshakes, floats, sundaes and espresso-and-ice-cream drinks, plus cookies and brownies.
Address: 18 North Park Street, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Hours: Mon–Thu 11am–6pm; Fri–Sat 11am–9pm; Sun 12pm–8pm (shop's Toast ordering page hours panel). No holiday/December hours published.
Source: conniesicecream.com, checked Oct 19, 2026 · Directions
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Family-style Southern restaurant (serving since 1922) whose own menus list a to-go dessert case of pies and cheesecakes, strawberry shortcake with family-style meals, and cinnamon rolls on Friday evenings.
Address: 84 South Chestatee St, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Hours: October Restaurant Hours: Tues-Thurs lunch 11:00am-3:00pm; Friday 11:00am-7:30pm; Saturday 11:00am-7:30pm; Sunday 11:00am-7:00pm (Monday not listed)
Source: smithhouse.com, checked Oct 19, 2026 · Directions
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Second-generation candy shop at the corner of North Park and Main, open since 1982, making hand-dipped chocolates, Southern confections and more than 15 varieties of cream and butter fudge, plus caramel-dipped apples in fall and winter.
Address: 8 N Park St, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Hours: Sun–Thu 11am–8pm; Fri–Sat 11am–9pm (site banner 'New Store Hours'). Open seven days; hours vary seasonally. Same page still shows older 'Winter Store Hours: Daily 11:00am–7:00pm'.
Source: dahlonegafudgefactory.com, checked Oct 19, 2026 · Directions
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Old-fashioned country store on the square that stocks old-fashioned candy, sells fresh peanuts roasted daily and pours a 5¢ cup of coffee.
Address: 24 South Public Square, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Hours: Sun–Thu 10am–6pm; Fri–Sat 10am–9pm. No holiday/December hours published.
Source: dahlonegageneralstore.com, checked Oct 19, 2026 · Directions
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Family-recipe cafe on the square, started in 2001 as The Dahlonega Dessertery, serving breakfast and lunch plus homemade muffins, scones, pastries, whole cakes and whole pies.
Address: 30 Public Square South, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Hours: 7am-6:30pm everyday (cafe's own site; the DDA directory lists different day-by-day hours: Mon 7:30 AM-6 PM, Tue-Thu 7:30 AM-7 PM, Fri-Sat 7:30 AM-8 PM, Sun 7:30 AM-7 PM; call ahead)
Source: thepicniccafe.wixsite.com, checked Oct 19, 2026 · Directions
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Franchise chocolate, fudge and ice cream shop just off the square that makes Mackinac Island Fudge in the store on marble tables, dips caramel apples in made-in-store caramel and scoops Original Recipe Ice Cream in fresh waffle cones.
Address: 40 Public Square S, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Hours: Sun–Thu 12pm–8pm; Fri–Sat 12pm–9pm. No holiday/December hours published.
Source: kilwins.com, checked Oct 19, 2026 · Directions
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Shady University of North Georgia deck that the Visitors Bureau names first for evening and weekend visitors; free to the public outside weekday business hours.
Address: Entrance next to the Smith House, 84 S Chestatee Street, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Hours: Public: after 5:30 PM Mon-Fri and all day Sat-Sun
Source: Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Bureau, checked Oct 19, 2026 · Directions
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Free city lot behind the Holiday Inn Express with all-day and accessible spaces and a Level 2 EV charging port.
Address: Choice Avenue (behind the Holiday Inn Express), Dahlonega, GA 30533
Hours: All-day parking; Level 2 EV charger
Source: City of Dahlonega, checked Oct 19, 2026 · Directions
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Historic theatre on West Main Street that hosts the free family Christmas movie on December 21, 2026.
Address: 69 W Main St, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Hours: Not published online
Source: Christmas in Dahlonega, checked Oct 19, 2026 · Directions
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The county visitors center just off the Square, staffed by information specialists and volunteers; it hands out Chocolate Crawl passports and is the venue for the Lighting of the Square and Santa visits.
Address: 13 South Park Street, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Hours: Open every day 10:00am-5:00pm
Source: Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Bureau, checked Oct 19, 2026 · Directions
Civic
Dahlonega Public Square
The historic square around the Gold Museum, ringed by shops and free 3-hour street parking on both sides of Main Street.
- Public Square, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Source: City of Dahlonega, checked Oct 19, 2026
Parking
UNG parking deck (S. Chestatee St & Choice Ave)
Shady University of North Georgia deck that the Visitors Bureau names first for evening and weekend visitors; free to the public outside weekday business hours.
- Public: after 5:30 PM Mon-Fri and all day Sat-Sun
- Entrance next to the Smith House, 84 S Chestatee Street, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Source: Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Bureau, checked Oct 19, 2026
Parking
Warwick Street parking lots
Free city lots one block from the Gold Museum and next to Hancock Park, with ample all-day parking plus 3-hour and accessible spaces.
- 3-hour and all-day (Park & Stay) spaces
- Warwick Street, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Source: City of Dahlonega, checked Oct 19, 2026
Parking
N. Park Street parking
City parking near the shops on North Park Street; the Visitors Bureau lists the North Park Street lot as a Park & Stay (all-day) option.
- 15-minute loading, 3-hour and accessible spaces; Park & Stay lot
- North Park Street, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Source: City of Dahlonega, checked Oct 19, 2026
Parking
Choice Avenue public parking (EV charging)
Free city lot behind the Holiday Inn Express with all-day and accessible spaces and a Level 2 EV charging port.
- All-day parking; Level 2 EV charger
- Choice Avenue (behind the Holiday Inn Express), Dahlonega, GA 30533
Source: City of Dahlonega, checked Oct 19, 2026
Getting here
Dahlonega is the county seat of Lumpkin County, in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains, about 70 miles north of Atlanta, per the City of Dahlonega. We do not publish drive times; use your map app for the route on the day. Aim for the Public Square: the Dahlonega Gold Museum sits in the middle of it, in the 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse at 1 Public Square, so it is easy to spot from any side. Once you are parked, the sweet walk planner shows walking order and times.
The Visitors Center
The Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Center is at 13 South Park Street, just off the Square, and is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Visitors Bureau’s phone numbers are (706) 864-3711 and (800) 231-5543. It hands out the Chocolate Crawl passports and hosts the Lighting of the Square.
Restrooms
We found no city, DDA or Visitors Bureau page that lists public restroom locations downtown, so we cannot point you to one. Ask at the Visitors Center during its hours. Out on South Chestatee Street, the DQ Grill & Chill at 60 S Chestatee St lists restrooms among the amenities on its own store page.
Busy days to plan around
Plan ahead on event days: the Lighting of the Square on November 27, 2026, the Christmas parade on December 12, 2026 (the organizer says to plan parking early), and Gold Rush Days on October 16 and 17, 2027. On those days, the all-day lots and, on weekends, the UNG deck allow longer stays than the 3-hour spaces. Dates are on the sweets calendar, and opening times for each sweets stop are on bakery hours.
Is parking free in downtown Dahlonega?
Yes. The downtown authority counts about 300 free spaces on and around the Public Square plus three free parking lots with 140 spaces.
Source: Dahlonega DDA, checked Oct 19, 2026
How long can I park on the Dahlonega Square?
The prime Shop & Dine spaces are 3-hour spaces. The Visitors Bureau says the city enforces the 3-hour limit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Source: Visitors Bureau, checked Oct 19, 2026
Where can I park all day in Dahlonega?
Use the Park & Stay spaces in the North Park Street lot or the Warwick Street lot.
Source: Visitors Bureau, checked Oct 19, 2026
Can visitors park in the UNG parking deck?
Yes, outside weekday business hours. The deck off South Chestatee Street and Choice Avenue is open to visitors after 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday.
Source: Visitors Bureau, checked Oct 19, 2026
Is there an EV charger in downtown Dahlonega?
The city lists a Level 2 EV charging port in the Choice Street public parking lot behind the Holiday Inn Express, within walking distance of downtown.
Source: City of Dahlonega, checked Oct 19, 2026
Where are public restrooms in downtown Dahlonega?
We found no city or Visitors Bureau page that lists public restroom locations. Ask at the Visitors Center at 13 South Park Street, open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Source: Visitors Bureau, checked Oct 19, 2026
How far is Dahlonega from Atlanta?
The city says Dahlonega is approximately 70 miles north of Atlanta, in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains.
Source: City of Dahlonega, checked Oct 19, 2026