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 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Gainesville has to offer.

Where to Eat in Gainesville

If you’re looking for affordable options, Bistro at the Oaks (2719 Tumbling Creek Rd) and Soco South Soastal Seafood (1701 Browns Bridge Rd) are great picks.

When to visit Gainesville

Gainesville in December
Estimated hotel price
$126
1 night at 3-star hotel
Gainesville in December
Estimated hotel price
$126
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
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 Canada, Air France, Aeromexico and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Gainesville departs from Detroit and takes around 1h 53m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Gainesville. The train journey from Gainesville to Greenville takes 3h 12m and costs around $40 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Charlotte, expect to pay about $60 for a 5h 48m 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 Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Ace, among others, in Atlanta.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Gainesville, including FlixBus, Greyhound and Bus. From Charlotte, the bus ride to Gainesville takes 195 miles and will cost you around $70. From Valdosta, the ticket costs about $38 for a journey of 235 miles. Gainesville’s bus station is located 1.7 miles from the city center.

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 Canada, Air France, Aeromexico and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Gainesville departs from Detroit and takes around 1h 53m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Gainesville. The train journey from Gainesville to Greenville takes 3h 12m and costs around $40 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Charlotte, expect to pay about $60 for a 5h 48m 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 Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Ace, among others, in Atlanta.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Gainesville, including FlixBus, Greyhound and Bus. From Charlotte, the bus ride to Gainesville takes 195 miles and will cost you around $70. From Valdosta, the ticket costs about $38 for a journey of 235 miles. Gainesville’s bus station is located 1.7 miles from the city center.

Airlines serving Gainesville

Lufthansa
Good (7,409 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,385 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,361 reviews)
Delta
Good (7,960 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,731 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,968 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,929 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,937 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,469 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,334 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,624 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (850 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,139 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,484 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,114 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,250 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (359 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,883 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,323 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (993 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Gainesville

Average rates range from around $206 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $2,086 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

The Guest Lodge Gainesville
2 stars
Excellent (8, 808 reviews)
$95+
Hilton Garden Inn Gainesville
3 stars
Excellent (8, 306 reviews)
$142+
Econo Lodge
2 stars
Good (7.4, 113 reviews)
$93+
Ramada by Wyndham Gainesville
3 stars
Okay (5.7, 1079 reviews)
$86+
Motel 6 Gainesville Ga
2 stars
Okay (5, 469 reviews)
$68+
Hometowne Studios by Red Roof Gainesville
2 stars
Mediocre (3.9, 221 reviews)
$57+

Renting a car in Gainesville

Renting a car in Gainesville costs $49 per day, on average, or $146 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 7% cheaper than airport locations in Gainesville.

Expect to pay $3.52 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 $42.25 and $56.33. The most frequently booked car type in Gainesville is Premium (BMW X3 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Ford Fiesta or similar) are, on average, 73% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Gainesville costs $49 per day, on average, or $146 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 7% cheaper than airport locations in Gainesville.

Expect to pay $3.52 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 $42.25 and $56.33. The most frequently booked car type in Gainesville is Premium (BMW X3 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Ford Fiesta or similar) are, on average, 73% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Car rental agencies in Gainesville

Hertz

Hertz
Find car rentals in Gainesville

Gainesville Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Gainesville city guide for the best Gainesville travel tips. To help you organize your Gainesville trip ideas, this Gainesville visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.