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One of the most popular takes on The Nutcracker comes from Atlanta Ballet, performed at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Photo by Kim Kenney
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Overtime Elite games are exciting for all ages! City Reapers and RWE faced off in the OTE Finals in March 2024 at Atlanta's Overtime arena. Photo courtesy Overtime Elite
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Test your physical and mental prowess at Activate Atlanta, a gaming facility perfect for big kids, teens, and adults!
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Historic Fourth Ward Skate Park was designed with input from the local skateboard community and received funding from Tony Hawk's foundation. Photo by Bill Leffler
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Kidmoto car service addresses the all-too-common challenge of getting families with young kids to the airport safely.
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Best Free and Affordable Summer Camps in Atlanta

Kids can spend the day playing in the park at one of several camps across Gwinnett County. Photo courtesy of Gwinnett Park and Recreation
Kids can spend the day playing in the park at one of several camps across Gwinnett County. Photo courtesy of Gwinnett Park and Recreation
2/18/24 - By Elsa Simcik

Finding affordable summer camps in Atlanta can feel like trying to find a unicorn. But unlike unicorns, these summer camps are out there! Check out our list of affordable summer camps in Atlanta — helping parents get the most out of their buck and helping kids have an awesome summer.

For this article, we've capped "affordable" summer camp cost at $225 per week or less for 2024. Luckily, Atlanta's suburbs and counties have awesome parks and recreation departments that offer parents lots of affordable camp options. 

Need more ideas for keeping kids entertained all summer? Check out our Atlanta Summer Camp Guide, which includes Atlanta Summer Camps for Tweens and Teens, and more great ideas.

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Aurora Day Camp is a free summer day for children with cancer and their siblings. Photo courtesy of the camp
Aurora Day Camp is a free summer day for children with cancer and their siblings. Photo courtesy of the camp

Free and Affordable Camps for Atlanta Kids

YMCA of Atlanta Summer Day Camps

$187 facility members/$196 program members
Various locations
The YMCA gives parents lots of options when it comes to summer day camp. With over a dozen locations across metro Atlanta, parents can easily choose the campus closest to them. With the traditional day camps, kids ages 5-12 play for seven hours, with extended time available. Many locations also have affordable specialty camps, like sports, cheer, STEM, and nature. The Y offers financial assistance to families based on their ability to pay. ​ READ MORE

Cobb County Summer Recreation Camps

$125
Various locations
Families send kids ages 6-13 to Cobb County camps at various recreation centers around the community. Campers enjoy weekly themes like sports and gaming. Camp starts at 9am and runs until 4pm. Parents can drop off their campers between 7:30am - 9am, and pick-up their campers between 4pm - 5:30pm. Drop-off and pick-up times are included in the cost of camp. Some sites offer breakfast and lunch through the Summer Food Service Program. Cobb County also offers sibling discounts.  READ MORE

City of Roswell Day Camp

$126 residents/$189 non-residents
Two Roswell locations
Full-day camp runs from 9am-4pm (with early and late hours available for additional costs) and includes arts and crafts, indoor and outdoor games, and a different theme each week. Depending on the selected campus (Roswell Area Park on the westside and East Roswell Park on the east), kids will either get to visit the swimming pool or library a few times each week. Kids ages 5-10 are welcome. City of Roswell offers additional interest-based camps as well.  READ MORE

City of Alpharetta All-Day Summer Camp

$175 residents/$263 non-residents
Alpharetta
Alpharetta offers full-day summer camps for ages 6-12 that run from 7:30am-6pm. The Wills Park camp for ages 6-10 offers swimming, arts and crafts, field trips, and more; MVP Sports Zone camp is for kids ages 8-12 who love athletics. Alpharetta also offers affordable adaptive camps for kids with special needs. Happy Hearts is for children ages 6-12. Older children with special needs (ages 13-22) can attend Camp Joyful Soles.  READ MORE

Dekalb County Camp Superstars

Starting at $66
Multiple locations
DeKalb residents can send their children to Camp SuperStars from 7am-6pm at either N.H. Scott III Recreation Center. Campers ages 5-12 experience a traditional day camp with arts and crafts, games, and swimming. There's also a teen camp for ages 13-15. Camp SuperStars even includes breakfast and lunch!  READ MORE

Kennesaw Camp Venture Summer Day Camp

Starting at $120 residents/$135 non-residents
Kennesaw
Kids ages six to 12 can play and have fun at Kennesaw’s Camp Venture Summer Day Camp. Each week of camp is based on a different theme and some weeks include field trips. Camp hours are from 9am – 4pm. Early care is available from 7:30am – 9am. Extended care is available from 4om – 6pm. Kennesaw camps maintain a low camper-to-staff ratio of approximately 10:1.     READ MORE

Gwinnett County Summer Camps

$151 residents/$171 non-residents (scholarships available)
Multiple locations
Gwinnett County has affordable summer camps in Buford, Lilburn, Suwanee, Lawrenceville, and more cities for kids ages 5-13. The Summer Adventure Camps (ages 7-13) and The Summer Adventure Jr Camps run from 7:30-6pm throughout summer. Each municipality hosts its own camp, with weekly themes. Lunch and snack provided.  READ MORE

Cherokee County Adventures Express Camps

$225
Woodstock and Canton
Campers have a blast at Cherokee County's Adventures Express Camp, which has three locations for 2024 (The WREC, The Hickory Flat Gym and The Buzz).  Besides traditional summer camp fun, children also venture out on field trips to roller skate, bowl, and swim at Cherokee's aquatic center (all included in the price of camp). Camp runs from 7am-6pm for ages 5-12.  READ MORE

Henry County Parks and Recreation Summer Day Camp

2024 rates TBA
Multiple locations
On the south side of Atlanta, families have access to Henry County's summer day camps that go from 7:30am-6pm for children ages 5-12. These lucky campers play games, do arts and crafts, swim, and go on field trips. Camps are held at five different recreation centers and parks.  READ MORE

City of Marietta Gem City Summer Camps

$100 residents/$120 non-residents
Marietta
Campers ages 6-12 get lots of physical activity as well as participate in STEM, art, and music activities and go on field trips through Gem City Summer Camps. Camp runs from 9am to 4pm with options for extended hours from 7:30am to 6pm. ​ READ MORE

City of Duluth Summer Camps

2024 rates TBA
Multiple locations
Summer camps in Duluth are affodable, fun and last all day--8:30am - 5:30pm. Each week is filled with indoor and outdoor play. Campers 5-12 experience sport games, traditional P.E. type of games, arts and crafts, and the occasional science experiment.  READ MORE

City of Atlanta Camp Best Friends

$35 residents/$110 non-residents
Multiple locations
City of Atlanta offers extremely affordable camps to residents 5+ most weeks in the summer at various locations.  The camps area all day, 7:30am - 6:00pm, and parents can choose different types of camps too like art, sports, or therapeutic. Teens ages 15-18 can attend the Teen Academy and seniors 55+ who are City of Atlanta residents can attend Prime Time camp for free.  READ MORE

Aurora Day Camp

Free for children with cancer and their siblings
Dunwoody
Aurora Day camp is an amazing summer camp specifically for children going through cancer treatment (or follow-up treatment) and their siblings, located at The Davis Academy in Dunwoody. While medical staff members are always around, these children (ages 3.5 to 16), forget about being sick while they play sports, participate in theater, play water games, do yoga, and just have fun! The camp is provided free to all participants.  READ MORE

Camp Dream. Speak. Live.

Free for qualifying children and teens who stutter
Atlanta
The Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering and Education Research has a satellite location in Atlanta (main center is in Austin, TX) and offers a week-long camp for children and teens who stutter. The camp is free and interesed parents should fill out a form to receive more information.  READ MORE

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