Gainesville travel guide

Gainesville Tourism | Gainesville Guide

You're Going to Love Gainesville

With a population of 33,804, Gainesville is a must-see destination in Georgia, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 2 days in order to fully appreciate everything Gainesville has to offer.

What to do in Gainesville

Activities & attractions in Gainesville

Where to Eat in Gainesville

If you’re looking for affordable options, Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse and Tavern - GA (312 Jesse Jewell Pkwy) and Soco South Soastal Seafood (1701 Browns Bridge Rd) are great picks.

When to visit Gainesville

Gainesville in February
Estimated hotel price
$108
1 night at 3-star hotel
Gainesville in February
Estimated hotel price
$108
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Gainesville in July, when the average temperature is 77 °F, and the highest can go up to 87.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 32 °F, with an average temperature of 41 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in March, when precipitation is around 5.8″. In contrast, October is usually the driest month of the year in Gainesville, with an average rainfall of 3.4″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Average
Fahrenheit (°F)
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Gainesville

Plane

Although Gainesville doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Atlanta De Kalb/Peachtree (PDK), which is located 40 miles from Gainesville. Atlanta De Kalb/Peachtree is the most popular, with regular flights from Air France, Aeromexico, Delta and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Gainesville departs from Orlando and takes around 1h 34m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Gainesville. The train journey from Gainesville to Greenville takes 3h 12m and costs around $34 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Birmingham, expect to pay about $23 for a 4h 36m trip. The train station in Gainesville is called Gainesville, and is located 0.7 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Gainesville is to pick up a car rental from Atlanta, which is about 49 miles from Gainesville. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Atlanta.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Gainesville, including Greyhound, FlixBus and Wanda Coach. From Chattanooga, the bus ride to Gainesville takes 125 miles and will cost you around $52. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about $57 for a journey of 150 miles. Gainesville’s bus station is located 1.7 miles from the city center.

Airlines serving Gainesville

Lufthansa
Good (3,709 reviews)
KLM
Good (687 reviews)
SWISS
Good (813 reviews)
British Airways
Good (3,455 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,189 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,060 reviews)
Air France
Good (838 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,266 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,210 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (1,811 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (406 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,400 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (4,028 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (203 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (759 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (732 reviews)
Finnair
Good (949 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,007 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (601 reviews)
LOT
Good (634 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Gainesville

Average rates range from around $148 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $1,513 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Gainesville and Super 8 by Wyndham Gainesville.

Where to stay in popular areas of Gainesville

Most booked hotels in Gainesville

Best Western Plus Lake Lanier Gainesville Hotel & Suites
Excellent (8.5, 490 reviews)
$152+
Hampton Inn Gainesville
Excellent (8.3, 206 reviews)
$164+
Hilton Garden Inn Gainesville
Excellent (8.3, 166 reviews)
$157+
The Guest Lodge Gainesville
Good (7.8, 644 reviews)
$119+
Super 8 by Wyndham Gainesville
Good (6.4, 139 reviews)
$105+
Ramada by Wyndham Gainesville
Good (6.1, 698 reviews)
$116+

Renting a car in Gainesville

Renting a car in Gainesville costs $53 per day, on average, or $106 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 11% cheaper than airport locations in Gainesville.

Expect to pay $4.16 per gallon in Gainesville (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $49.97 and $66.62. The most frequently booked car type in Gainesville is Supplier choice (Class Special Car or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Mitsubishi Lancer or similar) are, on average, 66% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.