7 Truck-Envy Activities Around Atlanta

Looking for some fun activities that involve trucks? Whether you watch or drive the trucks, the Atlanta area has plenty of spring truck-related activities. If you like racing, off-roading, camping, or hunting, this post about local Atlanta events and venues has lots to offer around the outdoors. Heck, there’s even a little history out there.

Spectator Racing

Monster Jam will be in Atlanta on February 22, 2020, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a two-day series of events: timed and head-to-head racing, two-wheeled skill challenges, freestyle, and donuts will all be featured during the judged competition. Spectators willing to download an app can join in the judging to help determine the winners of each event. A pit party before the competition begins will also take place, where fans can meet the drivers, mingle, and get autographs when purchasing a special admission ticket with their ticket to the regular events.

For those who aren’t familiar with Monster Jam, drivers outfit their trucks with specialized tires, roll cages, engines, and bodies to be able to perform stunts like wheelies, donuts, flips, launches, and many other tricks. Each type of stunt is part of the competition, and both pro judges and the audience give scores to the driver for their performance. Dirt tracks made to challenge the drivers and allow for them to be set up for the stunts are built in the stadium, and drivers are expected to navigate them in different ways, depending on the event. Watching these drivers perform is nothing short of exhilarating!

If you prefer straight-up racing, Atlanta Motor Speedway is hosting the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series. In the only truck event NASCAR runs, spectators in Atlanta will get a double-header with the Atlanta 250 and the Georgia 200. Fans who buy a grandstand ticket can stick around for the full day of action, plus be able to watch the Sunday practice session

Off-Roading

Durhamtown Off-Road Resort, about 1.5 hours east of Atlanta, is like a magical kingdom of all things off-road. No doubt about it that driving a truck through trails in the woods or over challenging terrain can be the kind of fun that, once you get hooked, you want to have as often as possible. You lifted your truck and fit those massive tires onto your off-road-ready vehicle so you could drive it through mud and over boulders, right? If off-roading is your favorite thing, you might feel like you found the Holy Grail of trail systems when you visit Durhamtown.

Established in 1991, Durhamtown has a 6,000-acre plot of land chock full of places to ride. The resort has 150 miles of trails for every kind of 4×4, and if you get excited about trying new toys, you can rent one of their many options, from dirt bikes to side-by-sides and Jeeps. Trails were built for a variety of skill levels, so even if this is your first time out in your 4×4, you should be able to find a trail for your driving ability. Pros can enjoy the challenge of trails made for those who can handle the toughest of conditions, so there’s a trail for anyone who wants to ride.

In case of blow-outs or other mechanical trouble (let’s face it—off-roading has its hazards), an on-site shop with experienced mechanics can repair your vehicle for low prices. A pro shop outfitted with parts, helmets, and all things off-road is more like a candy store than anything else, and after you shop and ride, you can enjoy a meal at Bev’s Kitchen, where you can order your favorite Southern food. In case you want to stay overnight, Durhamtown also has a campground that caters to RVs and tents, or there are cabin rentals from rustic to primo accommodations.

In deer season, hunters are welcome to set up a spot in the plentiful woods full of both deer and hogs. The resort keeps the herds healthy in preparation of hunting season to keep the numbers balanced, and when you need target practice, you can head to the range at the resort. Both target and skeet shooting are available. You can check out the accommodations, trail maps, and other amusements at the resort website.

Camping

It goes without saying that trucks are made to haul and tow, but your truck can also be your home away from home. A lot of people camp with towable RVs, some as big as a small house, but campers for the bed of a truck are actually a lot easier to load and unload than you might think. Modern truck-bed campers are getting tricked out with all the same conveniences as towable trailers, too.

In the past, truck-bed campers were limited to very cramped quarters and could be uncomfortable for any more than one person. Newer campers have slide-outs, creative storage, and plenty of tech to make better use of the space and easier to attach to the bed in only minutes (if you know what you’re doing). Imagine if you could take advantage of a weekend to drive out to a campground to one of your favorite local spots with nothing more than your truck and the camper you attach.

One of the best features of truck bed campers is that you can now get them with an actual bathroom, and a kitchen with the capability to cook meals while you travel. As long as you keep your camper stocked and ready for trips, you can be ready to hit the road in less than half an hour. This type of freedom can be a nature lover’s dream, to just attach the camper and go out into the woods so you can escape the city for a night or two.

A few campgrounds in the Atlanta area are within a short drive of the city so you can make the most of a weekend. Red Top Mountain State Park has a campground in Acworth, GA, which caters to RVs, but also has bathhouses in case your truck camper doesn’t have a bathroom on board. This park has a lot of outdoor activities around Lake Allatoona, like swimming, fishing, and hiking, but this is also a historic area. Battlefields, Indian mounds, a history museum, and Civil War and locomotive history are all nearby spots to visit and learn about historic areas in the region. Visit the park’s website to learn more.

If you like amusement parks, Stone Mountain might make a fun weekend getaway. Living in Georgia has the advantage of nicer weather for longer periods of the year, so if you need to travel with the kids, you might be able to bring a separate tent to place on the site. Most campers, even those for the truck bed, do come with a means for sleeping at least four, so if you want to keep it simple, you should be able to forgo the tent. Stone Mountain is an outdoor park that operates year-round, so even in winter, you can head out for some outdoor fun. Spring is one of the best times of year to get outside in Georgia, though the sites are expensive. Learn more about camping on the park’s website. If you want to visit Stone Mountain for a less expensive camping experience, you could try Atlanta South RV Resort, which has prices about half that of the amusement park.

Another family-oriented park is Jellystone, located in Bremen, GA. This park is all about bringing the activities to you, so you never need to leave the park. Mini-golfing, swimming, a bounce house, gem mining, go-carts, and themed activities are all designed for family fun. Yogi himself is likely to make an appearance for photo ops. The price to stay with full hook-ups starts at a decent rate, considering the park will actually amuse your children if you prefer to relax in the shade. Find out more on the campground’s website.

It doesn’t matter which of these truck-related activities suits you, anyone in Atlanta without a truck will envy your freedom to experience these fun times. If you’re in the market for a truck or thinking about an upgrade, come visit us at Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth to check out our inventory. Forget van life; truck life is better.