Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park map (click to enlarge)

There is a fee to use any of the parking lots within Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. You can purchase a daily pass or an annual Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield pass. The various National Park annual passes are also good for parking. If you have a physical pass (size of a credit card), either leave it on the dashboard of your vehicle or hang it from the rear view mirror in the hang tag that it comes with. Be sure Rangers can read the expiration date, which is on the backside of the pass. Electronic passes are tied to your license plate number.

All of the parking lots except for the Gilbert Street, Kolb Farm, Kennesaw Mountain Summit, and Horse Trailer lots have pay stations that take credit cards for day and annual Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield parking passes. These are also available at the Visitor Center and online at Recreation.gov. Purchase annual National Park passes either at the Visitor Center or online at the USGS Store. For the latest fees, see the National Park Service’s official Fees and Passes web page for Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.

Fee pay station at the Cheatham Hill Road Parking Lot, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Each parking lot has its own hours, and all vehicles must be out by closing time or they will be ticketed and towed.

Visitor Center

There are two parking lots at the Visitor Center. One is located at the actual Visitor Center building (82 spaces) and the other is an overflow lot (262 spaces) located around the corner about a quarter mile away on Old Hwy 41 just west of Stilesboro Road. The main lot fills up year-round. On weekends it will be full by 9 AM, if not sooner. If you don’t mind the walk, park at the overflow lot where there are plenty of spots.

The Visitor Center parking lot is open 6:30 AM to 8 PM (Daylight Savings Time) and 6:30 AM to 6 PM (Standard Time). No vehicles are allowed in a half hour prior to closing time, but the gate lets people out.

The parking lot on Old Hwy 41 is open 6:30 AM to 8:30 PM (Daylight Savings Time) and 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM (Standard Time).

There are credit card pay stations at each parking lot, and the Overflow Lot has a bicycle rental station as well (also operated by credit card).

Pay station and bike rental area at the Overflow Parking Lot on Old Highway 41, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Kennesaw Mountain Summit

Kennesaw Mountain Drive, the road to the top of Kennesaw Mountain, is open to private vehicles on the weekdays only. There is a parking lot at the top with 26 spaces. There is no pay station, so be sure to get a permit by some means prior to accessing the road.

On weekends, visitors not wanting to hike to the top of the mountain must take a park shuttle bus, which runs every 30 minutes and is included in the park fee (which is considered purchasing a parking permit).

Kennesaw Mountain Drive is open from 8:30 AM to 7 PM (Daylight Savings Time) and 8:30 AM to 5 PM (Standard Time).

Parking lot near the top of Kennesaw Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Gilbert Road

There is parking at the western trailhead for the 24-Gun Battery Trail on Gilbert Road. The National Park Service claims there are only three parking spaces, but there is actually room for a dozen vehicles. The official lot may only hold three cars, but people have parked along the side of the road so often that there is now a well-worn parking area that can hold another ten cars.

The parking lot is open 6:30 AM to 8:30 PM (Daylight Savings Time) and 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM (Standard Time). There is no pay station here, so be sure to purchase a parking pass at an alternative location prior to arrival.

Gilbert Road Parking Lot at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Pigeon Hill

The Pigeon Hill parking lot (68 spaces) has open spots at most any time, even on weekends. It is located on Burnt Hickory Road near the corner of Old Mountain Road. The parking lot is open 6:30 AM to 8:30 PM (Daylight Savings Time) and 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM (Standard Time).

Pigeon Hill parking lot on Burnt Hickory Road, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Illinois Monument

If your goal is to visit Cheatham Hill, this is the closest parking lot. It is located at the end of Cheatham Hill Drive, a side road that branches off from Dallas Highway. There are 40 parking spaces. The lot is open from 8 AM to 7:30 PM (Daylight Savings Time) and 8 AM to 5:30 PM (Standard Time).

Cheatham Hill Road (Sherman/Thomas Headquarters)

This is the second closest parking lot to Cheatham Hill, and it is where you should park if you plan on doing the Kolb Farm Loop Hike. It is located on Cheatham Hill Road not too far down from the John Ward Road intersection. There are 68 parking spaces. It is open a little later than the Illinois Monument parking lot. Hours are 6:30 AM to 8:30 PM (Daylight Savings Time) and 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM (Standard Time).

Kolb Farm

The Kolb Farm parking lot only holds about six cars. This is not a popular spot, and I have never had a problem getting a parking space even on a busy day for the park. Since it is not located near the trails, it is only used by those visiting the Kolb Farm site. Hours are 6:30 AM to 8:30 PM (Daylight Savings Time) and 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM (Standard Time). There is no pay station here, so be sure to purchase a parking pass at an alternative location prior to arrival.

Horse Trailer Parking

There is a dirt parking area for those with horse trailers located off of Cheatham Hill Road just north of the Kolb Farm parking lot. It can hold four vehicles with trailers. Hours are 6:30 AM to 8:30 PM (Daylight Savings Time) and 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM (Standard Time). There is no pay station here, so be sure to purchase a parking pass at an alternative location prior to arrival.

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