"Jim went out of his way to help me out after I left an item in his car after a ride. Would have been a nightmare with a rideshare app, highly recommend."Jared C.Rider
Jim GoodyearYour driver · Helen, Georgia
A private driver for Helen, the mountains, and the airport.
Jim lives five minutes from Helen, drove a truck for more than thirty years, and spent six more as a limousine driver. Airport runs to Hartsfield-Jackson with your flight tracked, full-day winery tours, rides to weddings, concerts and dinner. Sedan for three, van for seven. The fare is in writing before you ride, and it never surges.
Where Jim drives
Helen
Cleveland
Dahlonega
Clarkesville
Blairsville
ATL Airport ↔ the mountains
Anywhere around Atlanta
Fares & booking
Two taps for a fare. A few more and the text writes itself.
Pick the kind of ride and where, and your estimate appears from Jim's rate card with any rush hour, late night or holiday add-on already counted. Keep going and the text to Jim writes itself. Nothing is sent until you tap send in your own messaging app.
Your estimate
$0
Pick a ride type and your fare shows here.
An estimate from the published rates, not a quote. Jim confirms the exact fare by text before your ride. Gratuity is appreciated and never required.
Jim Goodyear
(770) 329-6313
(770) 329-6313
Open in Messages
On a phone this opens your texting app with the message filled in. On a computer, copy it or email it.
What Jim does
One driver, one clean car, no app to argue with.
Jim lives minutes from downtown Helen. Book ahead and he is at your door when he says he will be.
Airport runs
Helen and the mountains to Hartsfield-Jackson and back. Give Jim your flight number and he tracks it. Fares by town.
Winery tours
The Dahlonega wine trail and the vineyards around Helen. Usually a full day. Jim drives, you taste everything. Plan a wine day.
Weddings
Guests to the venue and safely back to the cabin. Sedan for the couple, van for the party.
Concerts & events
Atlanta shows, Oktoberfest in Helen, festival weekends. Skip parking and the drive home.
Date nights
Dinner in Helen or Dahlonega without anyone drawing the short straw on driving.
Girls' nights & group outings
Bachelor and bachelorette weekends, birthdays, the whole cabin. Seven seats and a bag for everyone.
Private Driver
Jim Goodyear
Jim drove a truck for more than thirty years, then spent six years as a limousine driver before settling just outside Helen. He knows which roads fog in, which wineries are worth the detour, and where to eat on a Tuesday. He answers his own texts, quotes the fare up front, and shows up early.
30+ yearsRetired truck driver
6+ yearsLimousine driver
Helen, GALives minutes from town
What riders say
Rides people wrote home about.
"I worked with Jim to help our group as a driver in Helen, 10/10 would recommend. He was always on time, very kind, and had great recommendations for our group in and around town. Made our weekend much easier and we had a great time in Helen for Oktoberfest!"AJ V.Group weekend, Oktoberfest in Helen
Vehicles
Pick the sedan or the van.
Both fares cover the first 50 miles. Past that, you pay only for the extra miles.
SEDAN · X
Toyota Prius Touring
2018, quiet hybrid, great for one to three travelers. Backpacks and purses ride at your feet.
3 passengers
2 big suitcases
or 4 small
$110first 50 miles
$1.85per mile after
VAN · XL
Honda Odyssey Elite
Black, leather, room for the whole group. Fewer riders means more room for bags.
7 passengers
4 big suitcases
or 8 small
$135first 50 miles
$2.15per mile after
Rates & policies
Straight prices, no surge.
Prices never go up with demand. The only extras are the three set add-ons below, and the booking form counts them for you.
Sedan base fare1 to 3 passengers, first 50 miles$110
Sedan, each mile past 50$1.85
Van base fare1 to 7 passengers, first 50 miles$135
Van, each mile past 50$2.15
Day rate, sedanKeep Jim with you, four to eight hours$360
Day rate, vanKeep Jim with you, four to eight hours$520
Weekday rush hour6:30–9:00 AM and 2:30–7:00 PM, Monday to Friday+$15
Late nightPickups between midnight and 5:00 AM+$30
Holiday and the day before+$30
CancellationInside 24 hours of the ride$40
Payment
Due at the time of service. Cash is preferred. Zelle and Venmo are just as good. Every major card works with a 3.99% processing fee.
CashZelleVenmoVisaMastercardDiscoverAmex
Airport timing
Jim's rule of thumb: two hours at the airport for a domestic flight, three for international, plus the drive. From Helen that means a pickup about four hours before departure. Give the booking form your flight time and it fills in his suggested pickup.
Big groups and multi-day trips
Bachelor weekends, wedding parties, all-day outings. Text Jim the dates and he will put together a flat price and hold it with a deposit.
Questions
Things people ask before they text Jim.
Straight answers on fares, timing and where Jim drives. Anything else, text (770) 329-6313.
Where Jim drives
Based in Helen, Georgia. Regular pickups in Helen, Sautee Nacoochee, Cleveland, Dahlonega, Clarkesville, Blairsville, Hiawassee, Clayton and Gainesville, with rides to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and anywhere around metro Atlanta.
How much is a ride from Helen to the Atlanta airport?
About $199 one way in the sedan and about $238 in the van. Helen to Hartsfield-Jackson is roughly 98 miles, so the fare is the base rate for the first 50 miles plus the per-mile rate after that. Rush hour, late night and holiday pickups add a set $15 to $30, and Jim confirms the exact fare by text before the ride.
How much is a ride from Dahlonega to the Atlanta airport?
About $156 one way in the sedan and about $189 in the van. Dahlonega to Hartsfield-Jackson is roughly 75 miles, about an hour and 25 minutes without traffic.
How long is the drive from Helen to Hartsfield-Jackson?
About an hour and 50 minutes without traffic. Jim suggests two hours at the airport for a domestic flight and three for international, so from Helen a pickup about four hours before departure. For arrivals, give Jim your flight number and he tracks it, so a delay does not cost you the ride.
How do I book a ride with Jim?
Text (770) 329-6313 with your date, pickup address, destination and passenger count, or use the booking form on this page, which writes that text for you. Jim answers his own texts and puts the fare in writing before you ride. Book ahead when you can. Airport runs, weddings and winery days fill up on fall weekends and during Oktoberfest.
Is a private driver better than a rideshare app in Helen?
Rideshare pickups in the mountains can be hard to get, especially before dawn for an early flight or late at night after dinner. Jim is booked in advance, lives five minutes from downtown Helen, quotes a flat fare that never surges, and is the same driver every time.
Does Jim do winery tours in Dahlonega and Helen?
Yes. Winery tours are one flat day rate: $360 for the sedan or $520 for the van, for anywhere from four to eight hours. Most groups make it a full day on the Dahlonega wine trail or at the vineyards around Helen, Sautee and Cleveland. Jim drives, you taste everything.
How many passengers and bags fit?
The sedan, a Toyota Prius Touring, seats three with two large suitcases or four small ones. The van, a Honda Odyssey Elite, seats seven with four large suitcases or eight small ones. Fewer riders means more room for bags.
What are the rates, and do they surge?
Fares never surge with demand. The sedan is $110 for the first 50 miles and $1.85 a mile after. The van is $135 for the first 50 miles and $2.15 a mile after. The only extras are fixed and posted up front: $15 for weekday rush hour pickups, $30 for pickups between midnight and 5 AM, and $30 on holidays and the day before. Cancellations inside 24 hours are $40.
How can I pay?
Payment is due at the time of service. Cash is preferred, and Zelle and Venmo are just as good. Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express are accepted with a 3.99% processing fee. Gratuity is appreciated and never required.
Can Jim drive a wedding party or a bachelorette weekend?
Yes. The van carries seven, and for wedding parties, bachelor and bachelorette weekends or multi-day trips Jim puts together a flat price for the whole booking and holds it with a deposit. Text him the dates and venues.