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. Gainesville deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Where to Eat in Gainesville

If you’re looking for affordable options, Bistro at the Oaks (2719 Tumbling Creek Rd) and Chattahoochee Grill (301 Tommy Aaron Dr) are great picks.

When to visit Gainesville

Gainesville in February
Estimated hotel price
$127
1 night at 3-star hotel
Gainesville in February
Estimated hotel price
$127
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 France, Aeromexico, Delta and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Gainesville departs from Fort Lauderdale and takes around 1h 53m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Gainesville. The train journey from Gainesville to Birmingham takes 4h 36m and costs around $18 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Charlotte, expect to pay about $57 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 Kyte and Hertz, among others, in Atlanta.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Gainesville, including Megabus, RedCoach and FlixBus. From Charlotte, the bus ride to Gainesville takes 285 miles and will cost you around $48. From Jacksonville, the ticket costs about $28 for a journey of 365 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 France, Aeromexico, Delta and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Gainesville departs from Fort Lauderdale and takes around 1h 53m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Gainesville. The train journey from Gainesville to Birmingham takes 4h 36m and costs around $18 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Charlotte, expect to pay about $57 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 Kyte and Hertz, among others, in Atlanta.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Gainesville, including Megabus, RedCoach and FlixBus. From Charlotte, the bus ride to Gainesville takes 285 miles and will cost you around $48. From Jacksonville, the ticket costs about $28 for a journey of 365 miles. Gainesville’s bus station is located 1.7 miles from the city center.

Airlines serving Gainesville

Lufthansa
Good (4,678 reviews)
KLM
Good (845 reviews)
SWISS
Good (950 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,622 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,257 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,582 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (488 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,601 reviews)
Air France
Good (979 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,109 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,434 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,983 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,996 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (228 reviews)
Finnair
Good (856 reviews)
LOT
Good (677 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (812 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (934 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,169 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (837 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Gainesville

Average rates range from around $216 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $1,486 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Gainesville

Most booked hotels in Gainesville

Best Western Plus Lake Lanier Gainesville Hotel & Suites
2 stars
Excellent (8.5, 478 reviews)
$140+
Hilton Garden Inn Gainesville
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 177 reviews)
$170+
The Guest Lodge Gainesville
2 stars
Good (7.8, 574 reviews)
$103+
Econo Lodge
2 stars
Good (6.9, 94 reviews)
$98+
Super 8 by Wyndham Gainesville
2 stars
Good (6.4, 132 reviews)
$88+
Ramada by Wyndham Gainesville
3 stars
Good (6, 546 reviews)
$95+

Renting a car in Gainesville

Renting a car in Gainesville costs $52 per day, on average, or $104 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 20% cheaper than airport locations in Gainesville.

Expect to pay $3.90 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 $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Gainesville is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Mazda Mazda3 or similar) are, on average, 68% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Gainesville costs $52 per day, on average, or $104 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 20% cheaper than airport locations in Gainesville.

Expect to pay $3.90 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 $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Gainesville is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Mazda Mazda3 or similar) are, on average, 68% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Car rental agencies in Gainesville

Hertz

Hertz
Find car rentals in Gainesville