Lodging

     Helen is an odd town, with a kitschy Alpine/German/Swiss theme, and almost every restaurant, bar, hotel, and shop in the town conforms with this “architecture.”  It attracts crowds of folks looking for cheesy Xmas decorations, mountain crafts, fudge, river tubing, and cheap fun. The 2024 MTMS does not have a primary hotel, but instead we will let participants find the location that makes the most sense for them.  There are LOTS of choices with diverse pricing.  

Note that although mid-April is not a busy time for Helen, the Tour of Georgia Gran Fondo is taking place on Sunday, April 21.  As registration for that event ramps up, so too might the cost of lodging in the town.  Don’t delay once you know you will be attending the MTMS.

Hampton Inn:  It’s an older hotel a few blocks off the main drag (read:  quiet), but still walkable to everything.   It also has the benefit of being just a block from a quality deli and general store.  Note that most (but not all) of the parking is underneath the hotel, and the clearance is only 8 feet.  If your bikes travel on the roof of your car, be very careful!   Free breakfast.  

Holiday Inn Express: Nice, newer property on the main drag.  Indoor pool and fitness center, lovely outdoor dining space.  Free breakfast and a very comfortable dining area and public lounge.  

Fairfield Inn: This hotel is only 3 years old and still shiny and new.  Smaller property, three floors.  Free breakfast and lots of community seating throughout.  Fitness Center and a saltwater heated swimming pool. 

Alpine Village Inn:  Not really an inn at all, but cute.  This place is 5 two story buildings that look like Hobbit houses, with four units in each building.  In the heart of Helen, across the street from a city park on the Chattahoochee River, and a super easy ride to each day’s route.  If you want a highly rated local place that went all-in on the German theme, this is your place.   

Hearthstone Camping, RVs and Cabins:  Located 1.5 miles from the ride start, they have tent sites from $30/night, RV sites from $65, and a variety of cabins available.

Helen has a dozen other hotels/motels, including national chains. Better values for hotels can be found in nearby Dahlonega and Cleveland, but you would be 10-15 miles away from the core of the MTMS.

This area also has a HUGE number of cabin rental companies, VRBO rentals, Air BnBs, and local companies renting homes/cabins.   We encourage all MTMS participants to ride their bikes to the start of each day’s ride (all of which will start very close to downtown Helen).  

The city maintains a $10 flat daily parking rate in all of its municipal public parking.  

MACC members have seen cabin/house rentals from $180/night for 2-3 BR homes to nearly $900/night for large homes sleeping a dozen people.    There is also a gated community with lots of rental homes that have reasonable prices for large homes, but…..

Before you commit to a property that you think you can ride from/to each day, check to see what the terrain is to get to the cabin.    The farther the property is from the Chattahoochee River, the more likely there is a double-digit grade on the road leading to it.  On the other hand, the nicest properties are the ones outside of the town center.