Decision tool · open on your day
What's open downtown on your day?
Downtown Clayton's shops and kitchens keep their own weeks: some close Sundays, some Mondays, some open only for dinner. Pick your day and time and we will build a walk from the places that are actually open, using each place's own published hours.
Which days each place is open
| Place | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rabun County Historical Society Museum source | — | — | 11 a.m.–3 p.m. | 11 a.m.–3 p.m. | 11 a.m.–3 p.m. | 11 a.m.–3 p.m. | — |
| Rabun County Public Library source | 9 a.m.–6 p.m. | 9 a.m.–6 p.m. | 9 a.m.–6 p.m. | 9 a.m.–6 p.m. | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. | — |
| Fortify Pizza & Burger Bar source | 11 a.m.–8 p.m. | 11 a.m.–8 p.m. | 11 a.m.–8 p.m. | 11 a.m.–8 p.m. | 11 a.m.–9 p.m. | 11 a.m.–9 p.m. | — |
| Universal Joint Clayton source | 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | 11 a.m.–11 p.m. | 11 a.m.–11 p.m. | 11 a.m.–10 p.m. |
| Friends American Grill (Clayton) source | 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | 11 a.m.–11 p.m. | 11 a.m.–11 p.m. | 11 a.m.–9 p.m. |
| The Vandiver source | — | 4 p.m.–9 p.m. | 4 p.m.–9 p.m. | 4 p.m.–9 p.m. | 4 p.m.–9 p.m. | 4 p.m.–9 p.m. | 10 a.m.–2 p.m., 4 p.m.–9 p.m. |
| FarmHouse PoundCakes Bakery source | — | — | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | noon–4 p.m. |
| The Sunday Diner source | 9 a.m.–7 p.m. | 9 a.m.–7 p.m. | 9 a.m.–7 p.m. | 9 a.m.–3 p.m. | 9 a.m.–7 p.m. | 9 a.m.–3 p.m. | 9 a.m.–3 p.m. |
| The Rusty Bike Cafe source | 7 a.m.–3 p.m. | 7 a.m.–3 p.m. | 7 a.m.–3 p.m. | 7 a.m.–3 p.m. | 7 a.m.–3 p.m. | 7 a.m.–3 p.m. | 7 a.m.–3 p.m. |
| Currahee Brewing Company (Clayton) source | noon–9 p.m. | noon–9 p.m. | noon–9 p.m. | noon–9 p.m. | noon–10 p.m. | noon–10 p.m. | 1 p.m.–9 p.m. |
| BCI Coffee & Co. (Bridge Creek Inn) source | 6 a.m.–midnight | 6 a.m.–midnight | 6 a.m.–midnight | 6 a.m.–midnight | 6 a.m.–midnight | 6 a.m.–midnight | 6 a.m.–midnight |
| Wander North Georgia source | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–7 p.m. | 10 a.m.–7 p.m. | 11 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Outdoor 76 (Clayton) source | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | noon–5 p.m. |
| Keels & Kollars Co. source | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 1 p.m.–5 p.m. |
| Idle + Wild source | 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 11 a.m.–4 p.m. |
| Lulu & Tully's Mercantile source | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | noon–5 p.m. |
| Isadora Popper source | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | 11 a.m.–4 p.m. |
| Main Street Gallery source | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Closed |
| Soul Intention Gallery source | 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | — | 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | 11 a.m.–6 p.m. | 11 a.m.–6 p.m. | noon–4 p.m. |
| Butler Galleries & Two Sisters Shop source | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | noon–4 p.m. |
| Reeves Ace Hardware (Clayton Main Street) source | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | Closed |
Hours as each place publishes them on its own website, checked October 18, 2026. A dash means the place does not publish that day. Places that publish no hours at all are left out of this grid.
Opening hours come from each place's own website (checked October 18, 2026); none are guessed. A stop counts as open if it is open for at least an hour of your visit. Walking figures are straight-line estimates from OpenStreetMap coordinates, not measured routes. Holiday hours and private events can change things, so call ahead for anything you would hate to miss.
Coming up every weekend already? See what is for sale around Clayton and Rabun County.
Getting your bearings
- The ground at the traffic signal at Main Street and Savannah Street sits at about 1,932 feet above sea level, according to a U.S. Geological Survey elevation point query (1,931.8 ft). USGS Elevation Point Query Service (3DEP), Main St at Savannah St, Clayton
- Measured in a straight line from the Main Street and Savannah Street signal, downtown Clayton is about 97 miles (156 km) from the Census internal point of Atlanta city and about 68 miles (109 km) from that of Asheville city. These are computed figures; driving distances are longer and are not published by the City or County. U.S. Census Geocoder internal points for Atlanta city (1304000) and Asheville city (3702140); haversine computed by the editors
- Foxfire describes its museum, next to Black Rock Mountain State Park, as "just under two hours from Atlanta, Asheville, Greenville, and Knoxville." Foxfire: Visit
- The Rabun Gap, a natural passage through the southern Appalachians, runs north for more than 20 miles from Clayton to Franklin, North Carolina. People have used it as a travel corridor for thousands of years. Rabun County Historical Society: Highway 441, A History Spanning Centuries
The visitor center and the city
- The Rabun County Welcome Center (Rabun County Tourism) is at 10 Seed Tick Road, Clayton, GA 30525, phone 706-782-4812. It runs the Explore Rabun visitor site, and the welcome center has its own manager on the Forward Rabun staff. Opening hours are not published on either site. Explore Rabun (Rabun County Tourism) site footer; Forward Rabun: Our Organization
- Clayton City Hall is at 837 Highway 76 West, Clayton, GA 30525. Telephone (706) 782-4512, fax (706) 782-4596, email info@cityofclaytonga.gov. The City Police Department uses the same address. City of Clayton: official site footer; Live Feed (Police Department blood drive post, May 2026)
After downtown
Pair a morning on Main Street with an afternoon outdoors: the outdoor day matcher ranks waterfalls, overlooks and lakes by the time you have left.
Questions
What county is Clayton, GA in?
Clayton is in Rabun County, in the far northeast corner of Georgia, and it is the county seat. The Census Bureau lists Clayton city in Rabun County. It has nothing to do with Clayton County, which is a separate Georgia county. Rabun County's government offices are on Courthouse Square in Clayton, and the county had 16,883 residents at the 2020 Census.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Geocoder (Census2020); 2020 Census P1
How far is Clayton, GA from Atlanta?
In a straight line, downtown Clayton is about 97 miles from Atlanta; driving is farther. Neither the City nor the County publishes an official driving distance. Foxfire, whose museum sits beside Black Rock Mountain just north of Clayton, describes itself as "just under two hours from Atlanta, Asheville, Greenville, and Knoxville." Check live traffic before you leave.
Source: Foxfire: Visit; Census Geocoder internal points (straight-line distance computed by the editors)
How far is Clayton from Asheville, North Carolina?
In a straight line, downtown Clayton is about 68 miles from Asheville; the drive is longer through the mountains. Foxfire, just north of Clayton, says it is "just under two hours" from Asheville. The old route north follows the Rabun Gap, a natural corridor that runs more than 20 miles from Clayton to Franklin, North Carolina.
Source: Foxfire: Visit; Rabun County Historical Society: Highway 441; Census Geocoder (computed)
Is Clayton, GA worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you like mountains, water and small-town streets. From downtown, Georgia's highest state park, Black Rock Mountain, is about two miles away as the crow flies, and Tallulah Gorge is roughly ten. Foxfire's museum of more than 20 log buildings is nearby. Main Street holds a free festival, a Halloween parade, a Christmas parade and a Cookie Crawl.
Source: Georgia State Parks; Foxfire; CMBA 2026 events; City of Clayton
Is Main Street in Clayton part of US 441?
No, not today. Highway 441 once ran through town, and Main Street was paved with it in 1927-28. The four-lane US 441 built by the early 1960s bypassed downtown. In 1964 East Savannah Street was extended to meet the new highway, and the Rabun County Historical Society credits that link with saving downtown Clayton.
Source: Rabun County Historical Society: Highway 441, A History Spanning Centuries
Is there a history museum in downtown Clayton?
Yes. The Rabun County Historical Society runs a free museum at 81 North Church Street in downtown Clayton. It is open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Exhibits cover Cherokee heritage, the Tallulah Falls Railroad, the hydroelectric dams, logging and moonshining. Call (706) 782-5292 to confirm before a special trip.
Where do I park in downtown Clayton?
Use the signed public parking areas. The City of Clayton does not publish a year-round downtown parking guide, but for big events it posts signs, arrows and a map pointing to public lots. On Ramshackle day in 2026 it asked drivers not to park on the street, on sidewalks or next to no-parking signs, and not to block anyone in. See our parking page for details.
Source: City of Clayton: Live Feed (Ramshackle parking post, June 2026)
How far is Black Rock Mountain from downtown Clayton?
Black Rock Mountain State Park is about two miles in a straight line north-northwest of downtown Clayton, measured from Main and Savannah Streets to the park's published GPS point. The road climbs steeply, so the drive takes longer. The address is 3085 Black Rock Mountain Parkway, Mountain City, and the park is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Source: Georgia State Parks: Black Rock Mountain (GPS, address, hours); distance computed by the editors
How much does it cost to visit Black Rock Mountain or Tallulah Gorge?
Parking costs $10 per vehicle per day at Georgia State Parks, including Black Rock Mountain and Tallulah Gorge. One daily pass covers more than one state park on the same day. An annual ParkPass costs $70, with 50% off for seniors 62 and older and 25% off for military and veterans if bought in person.
Source: Georgia State Parks: ParkPass
Do I need a permit to hike the Tallulah Gorge floor?
Yes. A free gorge-floor permit is required, and only 100 are issued each day. You get one at the Interpretive Center on the day of your hike after a safety briefing at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. or noon; you cannot reserve ahead. Permits often run out early on busy days. None are issued on water-release dates.
Source: Georgia State Parks: Tallulah Gorge State Park (Gorge Floor Permits)
How far is Tallulah Gorge from Clayton?
Tallulah Gorge State Park is about 9.6 miles in a straight line south of downtown Clayton, in the town of Tallulah Falls; the drive is longer. The gorge is two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep, with 20 miles of park trails. The park is open 8 a.m. to dark at 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Drive.
Source: Georgia State Parks: Tallulah Gorge (GPS, facts, hours); distance computed by the editors
What is Foxfire, and where is the museum?
Foxfire is a magazine started in 1966 by a teacher and students at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, which became a bestselling book series. Royalties bought land on Black Rock Mountain in 1974. The Foxfire Village Museum there has more than 20 historic log buildings. It is open Monday to Saturday 9-4 and Sunday 12-4, and adult admission is $20.
Where is the Rabun County visitor center?
The Rabun County Welcome Center is at 10 Seed Tick Road in Clayton, phone 706-782-4812. It is run by Rabun County Tourism, part of Forward Rabun, which also publishes the Explore Rabun visitor website. Neither site lists the center's opening hours, so call before you go. Explore Rabun also links to an online travel guide for the county.
How high is Clayton, GA above sea level?
Downtown Clayton sits about 1,930 feet above sea level. A U.S. Geological Survey elevation query at the Main Street and Savannah Street signal returns 1,931.8 feet. That puts Black Rock Mountain State Park's 3,640-foot high point roughly 1,700 feet higher than downtown. Georgia State Parks warns that the mountain is often cooler and may close in ice.
Source: USGS Elevation Point Query Service; Georgia State Parks: Black Rock Mountain
Is there Sunday brunch in downtown Clayton?
Yes. The Vandiver, in the Bridge Creek Inn building at 60 S. Main St., about 100 meters from the Main and Savannah Street signal, serves Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 4 to 9 p.m., according to its own hours page checked October 18, 2026. It serves dinner Tuesday to Saturday, 4 to 9 p.m., and does not publish Monday hours.
Source: The Vandiver: Hours & Location
Where can I get coffee early in downtown Clayton?
BCI Coffee & Co., in the lobby of the Bridge Creek Inn at 60 S. Main St., is open to the public every day from 6 a.m., according to the inn's own page checked October 18, 2026. It also serves pastries, wine and local beer, and it sits about 100 meters from the Main and Savannah Street signal, so it suits an early start before a drive to Black Rock Mountain.
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organizers have the final word: City of Clayton
