Independent guides to Georgia, the U.S. state16 days to Halloween
The Georgia that’s worth a visit.
Waterfalls, sea islands, mountain towns, and the small places in between. What it costs, where to park, how long the drive really is, and whether the dog or the stroller can come. Checked against official sources and dated.
- 128 guides
- 11 free tools & datasets
- Corrections logged in public
Pictured: Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah. Photo: Phyllis Lilienthal on Pexels
Start here
What are you planning?
A weekend away
Two- and three-day plans with where to stay, eat, and park.
A day outside
Hikes, state parks, and waterfalls, rated for kids, dogs, and strollers.
A beach trip
Barrier islands, Savannah, and the quieter corners of the coast.
A move to Georgia
Cost of living, family-friendly towns, and relocation checklists.
In season now
Georgia in October
Peak color in the mountains, and a festival every weekend.
What October is usually like
- Mountains70° / 43°FBlairsville · 6 wet days
- Atlanta74° / 55°FAtlanta · 4 wet days
- Middle Georgia79° / 53°FMacon · 4 wet days
- Coast79° / 59°FSavannah · 4 wet days
When Georgia’s Fall Color Peaks, by Elevation
Measured ground elevation and the usual peak fall-color window for 88 Georgia destinations, from the USGS 1-metre digital elevation model.
Georgia Fall Festivals 2026, Weekend by Weekend (Sept 19 – Nov 29)42 Georgia fall festivals with 2026 dates confirmed by organizers, listed weekend by weekend from Sept 19 to Nov 29. Ten are free, and Oct 10–11 is the busiest weekend.
Pumpkin Patches Near Atlanta: Hours, Prices and What to ExpectBurt's in Dawsonville is free to enter; the ticketed farms run $12–$24.95 a head. 2026 opening dates, hours, dog rules and which patches are free, checked Sept 27, 2026.
Halloween Events in Atlanta for Kids: Age and Scare-Level GuideEvery major metro Atlanta Halloween event sorted by the age it is actually built for, with 2026 dates, ticket prices and parking costs taken from each venue's own site.
Georgia Apple Festival (Ellijay): 2026 Dates, Tickets & OrchardsThe Georgia Apple Festival hits the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds two weekends every October. Here's what's confirmed for 2026, plus where to actually pick apples nearby.Dated and checked
What’s on in the next six weeks
Confirmed dates with what it costs to walk in, taken from each organizer’s own page. See what’s on this weekend. Or plan by month: Georgia events in October 2026 · Georgia events in November 2026.
- Helen OktoberfestOn nowSep 10 – Nov 1HelenEntry$0–$25
- Stone Mountain Pumpkin FestivalOn nowSep 19 – Nov 1Stone MountainEntry$36.99–$39.99
- Georgia National FairOn nowOct 8–18PerryEntry$0–$20
- Cumming Country Fair & FestivalOn nowOct 8–18CummingEntry$0–$10
- Georgia Mountain Fall Festival (second run)On nowOct 15–17HiawasseeEntry$0–$10
Where to go
Pick a region
Georgia is a big state. Here’s the short version of each region and how far it is from Atlanta.
Nine regions. Tap one to explore; the lighter one is still being written.
North Georgia
About 1.5 to 2.5 hrs from Atlanta
Waterfalls, mountain towns like Blue Ridge and Helen, and cabin weekends.
How Far Apart Are the North Georgia Mountain Towns?
Helen vs Gatlinburg: Which Mountain Town Fits Your Trip?
Ellijay, Georgia
Things to Do in Ellijay, GA: Apple Orchards, the Apple Festival and Tubing the Cartecay River
Coastal Georgia
Savannah is about 4 hrs from Atlanta
Savannah’s squares, Tybee Island, and the Golden Isles.
The Marshall House, Savannah: The 1851 Broughton Street Hotel’s History
Jekyll Island Club Resort: The 1888 Millionaires’ Clubhouse, Now a Hotel
Cumberland Island vs Tybee Island: Ferry, Cost, Dogs and Which to Choose
Which Georgia Beach Should I Visit?
Atlanta Metro
Your home base
Big-city parks and museums, plus the suburbs and towns families move to.
The Georgian Terrace Hotel, Atlanta: Its History Since 1911
Stone Mountain vs Kennesaw Mountain: Which Atlanta Day Trip Fits You?
Things to Do at Kennesaw Mountain: Fees, Hours and Dog Rules
Stone Mountain, Georgia
Historic Heartland
About 1.5 to 2 hrs from Atlanta
Athens, Madison and Macon: historic downtowns, Ocmulgee Mounds and game-day weekends.
Boutique Hotels in Athens, GA: Rivet House, The Athenian and The Bell Hotel Compared
Macon, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Madison, Georgia Day Trip: Museum Prices, Hours and the “Too Pretty to Burn” Story
East Georgia
Augusta is about 2 hrs 45 min from Atlanta
Augusta’s canal towpath, the Masters and river-town history.
The Partridge Inn, Augusta: From Family Home to Winter-Resort Hotel
Augusta, Georgia- Things to Do in Augusta, GA (Beyond the Masters): Canal Boat Tours, the Riverwalk, Museums and Masters Ticket Facts, With Prices
West Georgia
About 1.5 to 2 hrs from Atlanta
Columbus whitewater and RiverWalk, plus Warm Springs and Pine Mountain.
Columbus, Georgia- Things to Do in Columbus, GA: Whitewater Rafting, the National Infantry Museum, the RiverWalk and Providence Canyon, With Prices (2026)
Pine Mountain and Warm Springs, GA: Callaway Gardens, FDR’s Little White House, Wild Animal Safari and State Park Prices (2026)
Northwest Georgia
Fort Mountain is about 2 hrs 15 min from Atlanta
Cloudland Canyon, Fort Mountain, Etowah Indian Mounds and the Cherokee history sites.
All Northwest Georgia guides (1)
Southwest Georgia
Reed Bingham is under 6 miles off I-75
Kolomoki Mounds, Reed Bingham and Seminole state parks, plus the Lapham-Patterson House in Thomasville.
All Southwest Georgia guides (1)
Georgia, by the numbers
Tools that do the math for you
Free calculators, trackers and datasets built from figures operators publish themselves, each one dated.
Fresh off the road
Latest guides
Southwest Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites: Costs, Hours and How to Plan a TripKolomoki Mounds, Lapham-Patterson House, Reed Bingham and Seminole State Park: what each costs, when it is open and how to combine them, checked .Dogs in partsUpdated Oct 15, 2026
Northwest Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites: Costs, Hours and How to Plan a DayCloudland Canyon, Fort Mountain, Etowah Indian Mounds, New Echota and Chief Vann House: what each costs, when it is open and how to combine them, checked .
New Year’s Eve in Georgia 2026: Possum Drop, Helen, Stone Mountain and Kids’ Early CountdownsNew Year’s Eve is Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026: Stone Mountain’s 9 p.m. countdown, Zoo Atlanta, the Children’s Museum, Tallapoosa’s Possum Drop and Helen’s Edelweiss party.
Savannah Lighted Boat Parade 2026 (Nov. 28): Time, Where to Watch, Parking and Holiday KickoffThe 25th Savannah Lighted Boat Parade is Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, 7 to 9 p.m., free: where to watch, the Eastern Wharf Holiday Kickoff, parking and tips for families.
Big Pig Jig 2026 in Vienna, GA (Nov. 6-7): Schedule, Tickets, Free BBQ Tasting and RulesBig Pig Jig 2026 is Nov. 6-7 in Vienna, GA: Georgia’s barbecue championship with a free tasting, kids zone and live music. Dates, last year’s prices, rules and lodging.
Savannah Christmas Market 2026 (Nov. 19–Jan. 3): Free Entry, Hours, Parking and What’s ThereThe Savannah Christmas Market at Plant Riverside District runs Nov. 19, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, daily 11 a.m.-9 p.m., free: events, parking, kids and weather.
Celebration Bowl 2026 in Atlanta (Dec. 12): Kickoff, Tickets, Fan Fest, MARTA and Bag RulesThe 2026 Cricket Celebration Bowl, the HBCU national championship, is Dec. 12 at noon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta: who plays, tickets, fan fest, MARTA and bags.How we work
The answer first. Then the details you would otherwise have to hunt for.
- At a glance, before anything elseDrive time, cost and parking, dog and stroller access, and the best time to go sit at the top of every guide.
- Every figure dated and sourcedPrices and hours come from the operator or agency that sets them, with a link to where each one came from.
- Corrections in publicWhen something changes or we get it wrong, the fix is logged where anyone can read it.
Know a place we should cover?
Tell us about the trail, small town, or barbecue spot you think deserves a guide. Corrections are welcome too.