Gainesville is a city in Georgia's Historic High Country. The city of Gainesville is one of the larger cities in the Historic High Country along with Rome (Georgia) both with populations around 30,000. The city is located in Hall County (Georgia) in the Central High Country. The city is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is close to the shores of Lake Lanier and less than an hour's drive to downtown Atlanta. Gainesville is home to an Amtrak station.

Understand

Known as "The Poultry Capital of the World", Gainesville is where the big city merges with small farming communities. It is home to a racially diverse population with 42.21% White, 37% Latino, and 14.26% African American. It is a transportation hub for the surrounding communities so it's a great base. In-between Atlanta and the country side and many small tourist towns, it would be easy to overlook the several reasons to stay in Gainesville.

Get in

By plane

Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport has two runways and is used mainly for private and corporate charter flights.

The closet international airport is Atlanta's Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

By train

Gainesville is served by Amtrak via its Crescent route that operates daily between New York City and New Orleans.

• 1 Gainesville railway station, 116 Industrial Boulevard. (updated Nov 2021)

By car

From Atlanta, GA Approximately 1 hr.

Take I-85 North. At exit 113 I-85 forks. The right fork, I-85, continues to Greenville, SC. Stay left and take I-985 to Gainesville.

From Greenville, SC Approximately 2 hrs.

Take I-85 South. Take exit 137 for US-129/GA-11 toward Gainesville/Jefferson.

From Athens, GA Approximately 1 hr.

Take GA-15 Alt N/US-129 out of Athens and follow until entering Gainesville.

By bus

There is a Greyhound bus station located at 1780 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Get around

A car is most convenient for getting around town.

Gainesville Connection is the bus service for Gainesville. It operates six lines. Fares are $1 with free transfers within the hour.

See

• Gainesville Ballet Company, 615 Oak St # F1100, ☏ +1 770-532-4241. Performances usually take place at Brenau University's Pearce Auditorium. Located at 1 Centennial Circle, Gainesville, GA. 
• Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St SW, ☏ +1 770 534-2787. The Smithgall Arts Center is home to live music performances and a permanent art gallery. Most live music performances $30.. 
• Northeast Georgia History Center, 322 Academy St NE (on Brenau University campus), ☏ +1 770-800-4044. W-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM. Relates the past and future of the area. 
• 1 Alta Vista Cemetery, 521 Jones St, ☏ +1 770-535-6883. M-F 8AM-4PM. Where you'll find the grave of Confederate General James Longstreet and poultry pioneer Jesse Jewell, who probably deserves the credit for all the chicken processing plants you see around here, among other individuals. (updated Nov 2021)
• Poultry Monument. Chicken sitting on top of an obelisk at the corner of West Academy Street and Jesse Jewell Parkway in Poultry Park. (updated Nov 2021)

Do

Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia, USA 2014-01-06 22-43

Gainesville has lots of shoreline and coves along Lake Lanier, though depending on climactic conditions around the time of your visit it may look inundated or like a shrunken puddle.

• Attend the annual Gainesville Spring Chicken Festival.
• Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, ☏ +1 770-535-1976. Visitor's Center and Museum: Monday - Saturday 10AM- 5PM, Hiking Trails:Hours: 8AM - Dusk. The Elachee Nature Center works closely with local schools in environmental education. Also open to the public there is a gift shop, museum, and 13 miles of hiking trails and mountain bike trails. Visitors Center and Museum: Adults: $5 Children 2-12: $3 Under age 2: Free. 
• Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1911 Sweetbay Dr, ☏ +1 404-888-4760. Daily 9AM-4PM. Demonstration gardens to appreciate and explore. $10 adult, $8 youth. 

Learn

• Brenau University

Buy

• Lakeshore Mall, 150 Pearl Nix Parkway, ☏ +1 770-535-8877. Su Noon-6PM, M-Sa 10AM-9PM. Dying mall. 

Eat

• Zen Ramen and Sushi Burrito, 115 Washington St NE, ☏ +1 678-696-5739. Spicy ramen bowls and sushi. 

Drink

• Recess Southern Gastro-pub, 118 Bradford St, ☏ +1 678-450-0444. 
• Luna's, 200 Main St SW, ☏ +1 770 531-0848. 

Sleep

• Ramada by Wyndham Gainesville, 400 E.E. Butler Parkway, ☏ +1 770-744-3913. Number of Rooms: 122, Restaurant, Bar, Fitness Center 

Go next

• Helen
• Buford
• Dahlonega
• Dawsonville
• Cumming

Routes through Gainesville

Charlotte ← Clemson ←	N  SW	→ Atlanta → New Orleans
Asheville ← Clayton ←	N  S	→ Buford → Atlanta
Knoxville ← Blairsville ←	N  S	→ Jct → Athens → Macon