It’s sunflower season and you might be wondering where you can find sunflower fields in GA that are within driving distance from Atlanta. Well, you’ve landed in the right place, as this guide contains gorgeous sunflower farms that will make the perfect day trip. I’ve also included what you should know before you go and photography tips for capturing these beauties.
What to Know Before Visiting a Sunflower Field
- Sunflower blooms in GA usually last around 7 to 20 days, so you want to be ready before these flowers drop and wither. Of course, this depends on the weather, the type of sunflower, and how it is grown. Check out the farm’s website, Facebook, or other social media outlets for when their sunflowers are ready to welcome visitors.
- Wear a good pair of closed-toe walking shoes (e.g., tennis shoes) that you don’t mind getting muddy, especially after a recent rain or if you visit in the morning and there is dew on the grass. Or bring an extra pair of shoes you can change into after seeing the sunflower field. Closed-toe shoes are also a good choice because of biting insects. My husband made the unfortunate mistake of wearing sandals to Copper Creek Farm and got bit by fire ants in the sunflower field. You’ll want to be careful where you step!
- Bring a hat, sunglasses, bug spray, and water when you visit these sunflower fields in GA. Also, use sunscreen with a higher SPF. These fields don’t offer much shade; if you are from Georgia, you know summer and early fall are hot and humid! When we went to Copper Creek Farm, I saw someone using a small umbrella for shade. Smart idea!
- Try to visit early in the morning or towards the evening as it will usually be less hot, and there will be fewer people.
- Be careful where you walk or set a tripod while taking photos, as you might accidentally step on a sunflower and its leaves or stems.
- Sunflowers mean lots of bees and wasps. You will want to be extremely cautious if you are allergic to bees and/or wasps.
- You can usually take some sunflowers home, but not all sunflower fields in GA allow you to pick or cut the sunflowers. Some places cut them for you and sell them by the stem or bouquet.
Visitor Tip: The best way to determine sunflower peak time is to check the farm’s social media (e.g., Facebook) or website. If you search for the farm’s name on social, you may see posts that visitors recently made, giving you an idea of what to expect.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Sunflower Fields in GA?
Sunflower season in GA usually runs from June to early October, depending on which farm you visit and when their sunflowers are ready for visitors. Depending on how many crops they grow, some farms will have multiple chances for you to see them during various times of the year. For example, in 2022, Henderson’s Lakeside Farm had sunflowers in late July and another crop in early October.
Four Sunflowers Fields in GA Within Driving Distance of Atlanta
Below are four beautiful sunflower fields in GA that you do not want to miss. However, before going, you will want to check their websites and social media for any updates or changes regarding their opening day, hours, and prices. Also, while these farms may take Venmo or credit cards, it is probably best to bring some cash just in case.
1 – Fausett Farms Sunflowers in Dawsonville, GA
Address: 11336 Highway 136 West, Dawsonville, GA 30534
Seasonal Hours: Opened 7 days a week from 8am to 7pm. Hours are subject to change. For 2023, they are aiming for a mid-September opening.
Cost: $6 per person; children five and under get in free. Prices are subject to change. Professional photography is $35 per session.
Fausett Farms is a family-owned farm in North Georgia with over 900,000 sunflowers on their large thirty-plus acre farm! You will have many chances to see their numerous sunflowers since they remain open for a few weeks. For example, in 2022, they were open for several weeks.
We visited on their opening weekend when their side field was in bloom, but they have different fields of sunflowers that bloom in stages. They are usually ready for visitors around mid to late September or early October.
You must pay extra if you plan to do professional photography, but they welcome people to take as many pictures as they like. There are props, including tractors and hay bales. Don’t forget to get a nice photo on the bridge if you visit while their side field is in bloom.
Can you cut your sunflowers here? No, you cannot, but they have pre-cut sunflowers ready to purchase. They also have cold drinks to help keep you hydrated in the scorching GA sun.
Regarding crowds, expect more people on the weekends or if you visit during fall foliage in North GA. We had no trouble finding a parking spot on their grassy field, but quite a few people were there on their opening weekend on late Sunday afternoon.
Fausett Farms’ location is excellent if you plan on picking apples at the nearby apple farms in Ellijay, GA, or if you want to visit Amicalola Falls and Burt’s Pumpkin Patch. Or, if you have a horse, you can enjoy their horse trails for an additional fee.
2 – Henderson’s Lakeside Farm in Cumming, GA
Address: 3055 Pilgrim Mill Road, Cumming, GA 30041
Seasonal Hours: They usually open in the fall. Hours are Saturday, 10am to 7pm, and Sunday, 1pm to 7pm. They welcome visitors when staff is not there but ask that you pay using the honor system with Venmo or the cashbox on the property. Hours are subject to change.
Cost: $20 per car to walk the sunflower field or take photos. It’s $1 per stem if you want to just pick your own beautiful bouquet. A cup to cut your own sunflowers is $10. Professional photography costs $60 for up to a one-hour session. Prices are subject to change.
Henderson’s Lakeside Farm is a lovely sunflower field located near Lake Lanier. The farm is not hard to miss as it is located right on Pilgrim Mill Road. When you arrive, you are welcomed by the warm and hospitable family that operates this farm.
It is a smaller farm, but they have many gorgeous sunflowers and props you can use for pictures. They even had a small stepping ladder available so I could take overhead shots of the flowers!
They also have a cute red barn across the street that you will probably want to include in your pictures. If you angle your camera just right, you can make it seem like the barn is in the field of sunflowers without the road in between. With that said, however, there are power lines, but nothing a little Photoshop editing can’t fix.
Another thing I love about Henderson’s Lakeside Farm is that you can pick and cut your own sunflowers here. They give you a reusable cup and a cutting tool, and you can collect however many sunflowers you can get into that cup for $10! And if you don’t want to cut the flowers yourself, you can buy pre-cut flowers at $1 per stem.
Visitor Tip: Henderson’s Lakeside Farm is approximately 30 minutes away from the other farm listed in this article (Hopewell Sunflower Farm). Since they are not too far from each other, you can probably see both in a day or in the morning or afternoon.
3 – Copper Creek Farm in Calhoun, GA
Address: 1514 Reeves Station Road, Calhoun, GA 30701
Seasonal Hours: They usually welcome visitors for their sunflower festival around mid-June to late July. Hours are 10am to 5pm on Thursdays, 10am to 6pm on Fridays, and 10am to 7pm on Saturdays. They are closed Sunday-Wednesday (except they are open on July 4th). Hours are subject to change.
Cost: $19.63 plus tax per person; children three and under get in free. There is a $2 discount for people ages 60+. It’s an additional fee (around $12) to pick flowers. They will give you a bucket and a tool to cut the flowers. Food is also extra, but the general admission ticket includes the activities. Prices are subject to change.
One of GA’s most popular sunflower fields, Copper Creek Farm, has a sunflower festival that is great for the whole family. It is more expensive to visit this farm, but there are thousands of sunflowers, colorful zinnias, and many activities for children, including wagon hayrides, gem mining, pony rides, a zip line, a splash pad, and a petting barn. They even have a Fourth of July fireworks show! You can find their complete list of activities on their website, along with admission information.
It’s extra to pick flowers, but they will give you a flower bucket and a blunt knife to cut the sunflowers. Before heading to the sunflower field, don’t forget to fill up your flower bucket with water next to the entrance to pay. When we visited, they also gave us back $1 when we returned the cutting knife.
Their farm is usually open from mid-June to late July, but you will probably want to visit in late June or early July to see the best blooms. Free parking is available, and they provide options for food, drinks, and many choices for your sweet tooth.
4 – Hopewell Sunflower Farm in Cumming, GA
Address: 4745 Hopewell Road, Cumming, GA 30028
Seasonal Hours: Friday through Saturday, 9am to 5pm, and Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Hours are subject to change. For 2023, they are aiming for a July 4th opening.
Cost: It’s free to roam the field with the purchase of flowers. Flowers are $25 for the jar arrangement and $3 per stem. The professional photography fee is $40 (no appointment necessary). Prices are subject to change.
Hopewell Sunflower Farm is a small, beautiful farm located about fifty minutes from Atlanta, and it is easy to spot the sunflower field next to Hopewell Road.
The farm is family-owned and makes a great place to take sunflower pictures with fewer crowds. Their flowers usually bloom around early July to mid-August, lasting for a few weeks before the sunflowers start to wither.
You cannot cut your sunflowers here, but you can purchase a gorgeous arrangement they’ve assembled in a mason jar. I thoroughly enjoyed having these lovely flowers on my dining table for weeks!
Tips for Taking Sunflower Photos
- Don’t forget a macro lens to get up-close photos of the sunflowers, bees, and butterflies. Or bring a wide-angle lens to get a sweeping landscape image of all the sunflowers.
- Go early in the morning or during golden hour in the late afternoon for the best lighting conditions. You will want to know which way you will face for photos, as mature sunflowers typically face east.
- If you want to make the sunflower colors pop, bring a polarizer to make your photos more vibrant.
- Try different angles for your composition. Don’t be afraid to take pictures really low, pointing your camera upwards towards the flowers or taking a photo from above if you have a way to get above the flowers. Some farms have stools or ladders that you can use to get shots from above.
- Utilize the props that some sunflower fields provide for a more interesting photo composition. These can be tractors, hay bales, and chairs.
What is your favorite sunflower field in GA? Please comment and share below!
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Wow! Thisis why I love living in GA
Thank you
You are very welcome! It definitely is a beautiful state!