No Car? No Problem: Inside America’s Largest Golf Cart Community That’s Taken Hollywood by Storm

by Julie Taylor

Many people work their whole lives so that they can ditch their daily commute in a car for a more leisurely life tooling around rolling green hills in a golf cart.

And now, there’s no need to wait for retirement to make this dream a reality: There’s a town with a sweet name where living car-free is not only an option, but also the norm: Peachtree City, GA.

Located just 30 miles outside of Atlanta, Peachtree City (or PTC as the locals call it) is an award-winning master-planned community that’s now the largest, most golf cart-friendly municipality in the country.

Chartered 65 years ago in 1959, it boasts five verdant golf courses (which are best traversed by golf cart, of course). But since then, this easy mode of transportation has spilled beyond the greens to become the main way everyone gets around—including people who’ve never picked up a bag of clubs.

By last count, 11,000 registered golf carts owned by the city’s 38,244 residents meander over 100 miles of paved paths. While you can own a car, you certainly don’t have to; many are more than happy to leave their automobiles behind.

“It is truly an identity piece of our community,” says Tyler Runyon, executive director of Peachtree City Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Residents are well aware of golf carts, kids to adults enjoy them, and much of the city’s planning revolves around golf carts, multiuse paths, and keeping the integrity of nature and scenic nature of our paths. Golf carts provide an alternative that is more relaxing, fun, and scenic.”

The rise of car-free and golf cart communities

While golf cart-friendly towns abound in the United States, most cater to retirees and seniors. PTC is one of the only U.S. cities that promotes golf cart living for all ages—and plenty of younger people are flocking to the area.

“We love the family atmosphere and, of course, the golf cart paths,” says Chelsea Thompson, a social media creator who has lived in the area for 17 years and built her dream home there.

In fact, many local high school students get to and from class in golf carts, and there’s even a “golf cart parking lot” at the high schools, according to Johanna Styne Sullivan, a real estate adviser with Engel & Volkers Atlanta.

The biggest advantages of golf carts over cars are their added safety, and being able to avoid vehicle traffic, according to Runyon. Peachtree City is even called “The Bubble” because the city is its unique little world that’s safe and sheltered.

“The city encompasses a resortlike vibe mixed with everyday living,” says local home inspector Kareem Mincey. “The city provides anything and everything one could crave, and it’s just a golf cart ride away.”

Golf cart communities also play into Americans’ growing desire to ditch automobiles for a simpler, more budget-friendly way of life, appealing to those seeking a walkable or bike-friendly environment.

“Peachtree City is one of the most walkable and bike-friendly cities in Georgia, offering various ways to enjoy life and access local amenities,” says Michael Crute, a real estate agent with Keller Williams First Atlanta who is familiar with homes in the PTC area.

Golf cart communities for all ages are catching on elsewhere, too. Charleston, SC, promotes golf carts as an alternative to cars. Westfield, IN, is in the process of being converted into a golf cart community, and city officials are planning a trip to Peachtree City this fall for ideas and inspiration.

Golf cart community in Peachtree City GA — Surrounded by mature trees, this two-story Peachtree City, GA, home has four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms and is listed for $530,000.
Realtor.com

“The emergence of car-free environments will be an interesting trend to follow,” says Realtor.com senior economist Ralph McLaughlin. “As alternative modes of transport become more popular, it’s quite possible car-free neighborhoods could be a design trend that becomes a more permanent staple in U.S. cities.”

Peachtree City’s most famous fan

Peachtree City even has some famous fans frequenting the area.

While filming “Megalopolis” in PTC, Francis Ford Coppola stumbled across a run-down Days Inn in the area and decided to renovate it into the All-Movie Hotel, which opened just last month.

“I fell in love with Peachtree City during my two years of residency here while shooting ‘Megalopolis’: the people, the easy access to nature and peaceful spots via the famed golf cart paths,” he wrote on the hotel’s website.

A large part of his affection for the area stems from the peace and quiet made possible by golf carts.

“When I went on the golf cart into the forest, it was cool and I saw animals and it was just so wonderful,” he said in a video about his hotel.

His enthusiasm makes sense: Georgia has drawn so many film and TV shoots, the state has earned the moniker “Y’allywood.” Last year alone, Georgia’s film and TV industry generated $4.3 billion, according to Variety, thanks to state tax credits and production incentives.

Peachtree City in particular has played a major role in putting Georgia on the map for the movie industry: Films such as “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” and “Fried Green Tomatoes” have all shot scenes in PTC, as has the TV show “The Walking Dead.”

But film jobs aren’t all that’s on offer here. Some of the area’s top employers include Porsche’s North American headquarters, Chick-fil-A’s world headquarters, and Delta Airlines’ world headquarters—all of which are located nearby in Atlanta.

“I have helped many people relocate to Peachtree City from other areas around the country and the world for employment opportunities nearby,” says Sullivan.

Why Peachtree City homes sell for a premium

As interest in this golf cart haven grows, so does the cost of real estate in PTC.

The median list price in Peachtree City in July was $621,000, which is an increase of 4.9% year over year. That’s nearly $200,000 higher than the median price in the larger Atlanta metro area in July 2024, according to Hannah Jones, Realtor.com® senior economic research analyst.

That bucks the trend of homes in exurbs being cheaper than the closest metro, highlighting Peachtree’s desirability.

There are currently 87 houses for sale in PTC, an astonishing 141.7% increase from last year. Though home shoppers have more homes to choose from, they shouldn’t wait to make an offer: Eager buyers snapped up homes in an average of 37 days in July. (In the rest of the country, homes spent an average of 50 days on the market in July.)

“Peachtree City saw a more significant increase in inventory than the Atlanta metro over the last year, but homes sold about a week faster,” says Jones.