Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Gainesville travel guide

Gainesville Tourism | Gainesville Guide

You're Going to Love Gainesville

With a population of 124,354, Gainesville is a must-see destination in Florida, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Gainesville deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Activities & attractions in Gainesville

Matheson History Museum
Museums•Free

Where to Eat in Gainesville

If you’re looking for affordable options, Amelia's Italian Cuisine (235 S. Main Street #107) and Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza - St. Augustine (200 Cbl Dr #101) are great picks.

When to visit Gainesville

Gainesville in September
Estimated hotel price
$110
1 night at 3-star hotel
Gainesville in September
Estimated hotel price
$110
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Gainesville in June, when the average temperature is 80.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 89.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 42.8 °F, with an average temperature of 53.6 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 7.1″. In contrast, November is usually the driest month of the year in Gainesville, with an average rainfall of 2.1″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Gainesville

Plane

When flying to Gainesville, you’ll arrive at Gainesville Regional (GNV), which is located 4 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Gainesville include Air France, Aeromexico and Delta. The shortest domestic flight to Gainesville departs from Washington, D.C. and takes around 3h 53m.

Car

Another option to get to Gainesville is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 96 miles from Gainesville. You’ll find branches of Advantage and America Car Rental, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Gainesville Commuter Lot Parking Garage, located 1.6 miles from downtown Gainesville. Gainesville 3509 Sw Williston Rd is also a commonly used station, and is 5 miles from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Gainesville, you’ll arrive at Gainesville Regional (GNV), which is located 4 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Gainesville include Air France, Aeromexico and Delta. The shortest domestic flight to Gainesville departs from Washington, D.C. and takes around 3h 53m.

Car

Another option to get to Gainesville is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 96 miles from Gainesville. You’ll find branches of Advantage and America Car Rental, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Gainesville Commuter Lot Parking Garage, located 1.6 miles from downtown Gainesville. Gainesville 3509 Sw Williston Rd is also a commonly used station, and is 5 miles from the city center.

Airports near Gainesville

JAXJacksonville
DABDaytona Beach
ORLOrlando All airports

Airlines serving Gainesville

KLM
Good (1,405 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,522 reviews)
Delta
Good (7,982 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,472 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,772 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,025 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,998 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,996 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,477 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,384 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,657 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (862 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,357 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,541 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,282 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,136 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,172 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,333 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,038 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,387 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Gainesville

Where to stay in Gainesville

Average rates range from around $177 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $120 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include AC Hotel by Marriott Gainesville Downtown and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Gainesville I-75. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Gainesville, with prices from $52 to $344 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Gainesville are about 77% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Gainesville by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Gainesville

Most booked hotels in Gainesville

See all
Drury Inn & Suites Gainesville
3 stars
Excellent (9.4, 2387 reviews)
$118+
View
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Gainesville, FL
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 1304 reviews)
$87+
View
Hotel Indigo Gainesville-Celebration Pointe By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 713 reviews)
$105+
View
Hilton University of Florida Conference Center Gainesville
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1118 reviews)
$89+
View
Doubletree by Hilton Gainesville
4 stars
Good (7.5, 996 reviews)
$95+
View
Red Roof Inn Plus + Gainesville
2 stars
Good (6.9, 2063 reviews)
$65+
View

Renting a car in Gainesville

Renting a car in Gainesville costs $51 per day, on average, or $102 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz and Alamo are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Gainesville is the Dollar branch at 3880 Northeast 39th Avenue, which is 4 miles from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 10% cheaper than airport locations in Gainesville.

Expect to pay $3.48 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 $41.79 and $55.72. The most frequently booked car type in Gainesville is Intermediate (Honda Civic or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Ford Fiesta or similar) are, on average, 53% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Gainesville costs $51 per day, on average, or $102 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz and Alamo are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Gainesville is the Dollar branch at 3880 Northeast 39th Avenue, which is 4 miles from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 10% cheaper than airport locations in Gainesville.

Expect to pay $3.48 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 $41.79 and $55.72. The most frequently booked car type in Gainesville is Intermediate (Honda Civic or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Ford Fiesta or similar) are, on average, 53% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Gainesville

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$31/day

Compact

Intermediate

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$32/day

Intermediate
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.