Downtown Helen on a real map
The street map is OpenStreetMap, the same map our parking times are measured on. It loads only when you ask for it.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Places below are numbered from the north end of downtown.
Library and Pete's Park lot
Free city lot, 2-hour limit. Unicoi Hill Park, its playground and the Helen trailhead are here.
City pay lot by the Davidson Bridge
The one city lot that charges. Best for a long day.
Helen Festhalle
1074 Edelweiss Strasse. Oktoberfest, New Year's Eve and Fasching.
Helen Square and the Arts & Heritage Center
Free history museum, gallery and public restrooms.
Chattahoochee River at Helen
Where the U.S. Geological Survey measures the river in town.
Fussen Platz and River Street
Riverside square with a band shell and public restrooms.
Riverside Park
City park on the river; the Lighting of the Village is held here. Free lot, 2-hour limit.
Helen City Hall
25 Alpenrosen Strasse. Parking questions: 706-878-2733.
Cool River Tubing, Chattahoochee Outpost
590 Edelweiss Strasse. One of two tubing outfitters in town.
Helen Welcome Center
726 Bruckenstrasse. Maps, brochures and restrooms; open every day.
Reading the town
Main Street is the spine. Address numbers run along it as North Main and South Main, and the west-side cross streets on the city map are Hamby, Yonah, Spring, Dye and River streets. East of Main, Chattahoochee Strasse leads to the city pay lot and across the Davidson Bridge, and Edelweiss Strasse carries on past the Festhalle and down toward the Welcome Center.
The river is the thing to keep track of. According to the city map, the Chattahoochee runs north to south, west of Main Street at the north end, crosses under Main near River Street and Fussen Platz, then flows past the Festhalle, Riverside Park and the Welcome Center.
Walking times from the pay lot
These are our estimates from map distance at an easy pace, not official figures. No official source publishes walking times in Helen.
| From the city pay lot to | About |
|---|---|
| Helen Square and the Arts & Heritage Center | 4 minutes |
| The Festhalle | 3 minutes |
| Fussen Platz and the river at River Street | 6 minutes |
| Cool River Tubing’s Chattahoochee Outpost | 17 minutes |
Restrooms
The city map shows public restrooms at Helen Square beside the Arts & Heritage Center, at Fussen Platz on River Street, at the Welcome Center on Bruckenstrasse and by the river near Riverside Park. Helen Square, Fussen Platz and the Welcome Center are marked accessible.
Crossing Main Street
Main Street is a state highway, so use the marked crossings. Golf carts may cross Main at marked crossings but may not cross the bridge, the city reported in June 2026.
The Welcome Center
The Helen Welcome Center at 726 Bruckenstrasse has paper maps and brochures and is open every day: Monday to Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 4 PM.
Quick answers
Where are the public restrooms downtown?
The city map shows them at Helen Square beside the Arts & Heritage Center, at Fussen Platz on River Street, at the Welcome Center on Bruckenstrasse and by the river near Riverside Park.
Source: City of Helen records
Is the Welcome Center open on Sundays?
Yes. It is at 726 Bruckenstrasse and is open Monday to Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 4 PM.
Source: Helen Welcome Center (CVB)
Hours, prices and dates change. The official visitor center has the final word: Helen Welcome Center (Alpine Helen/White County CVB)