Lake Sidney Lanier, one of the most popular inland water destinations in the United States, surrounds the city on three sides. Gainesville is small enough to be friendly, but it's large enough to offer visitors lots of fun things to do. The city has a variety of hotels. You can find an inexpensive spot, a great deal with plenty of amenities, or a luxurious retreat by the lake. With the right place to stay, you can enjoy everything Gainesville has to offer.
When to Visit Gainesville, GA
The best time to visit Gainesville is in spring, when the weather is nice and not too hot. You can enjoy beautiful flowers and relax at Lake Lanier. However, hotel rates tend to be higher at this time of year, so you should make reservations early to get the best deal. The city has several fun annual events in spring.
The popular Spring Chicken Festival celebrates Gainesville's history in poultry farming, and it's near the end of April in Downtown Gainesville Square. It has a 5K Chicken Run and a Spring Chicken Parade with chicken-themed floats and vintage cars. You can shop at the Re-Hatched Market for art and crafts made from recycled or repurposed materials and try delicious samples at the Spring Chicken Cook-Off.
The Jaemor Farms Strawberry Festival is just a week later in May at Jaemor Farms. You can enjoy live music, pick your own strawberries, go on a hayride, shop for arts and crafts from local vendors, and sample dishes from the strawberry cook-off. There's also skeeball and a petting zoo for kids.
Hotels are usually least expensive in winter, because the weather isn't warm enough for most lake activities. Visit Gainesville in summer or fall for great weather and hotel prices that are still low. You can find fun events, as well. The Georgia Belle Peach Festival near the beginning of August at Jaemor Farms has all the same fun activities as the Strawberry Festival, including strawberry picking. In October, Jaemor Farms hosts a corn maze and a pumpkin patch where you can pick your own pumpkins.
The Historic Downtown Gainesville Market On The Square is a traditional farmers' market that's open every Friday from the end of May to September. It offers fresh fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers, homemade bread, jams, and jellies, and handmade jewelry, soaps, and clothing.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Gainesville, GA:
Gainesville, GA: Prices by Star Rating Class
Below are 3 charts illustrating avg. rate trends by star rating class in Gainesville, GA. Browse these line graphs to calculate the least expensive time to book a room in Gainesville for upcoming travels.
Luxury Hotel Options in Gainesville, GA
4 Star Average Prices: $139.88
Lanier Islands Legacy Lodge is on an island in the middle of Lake Lanier. It's about 10 miles from the center of Gainesville and just a few minutes from Pine Isle Golf Course.
The rooms have unique decor and luxurious features such as marble countertops in the bathrooms and hardwood floors in some rooms. They all feature refrigerators, iPod docking stations, pillowtop beds, private balconies or patios, flat-screen cable TVs, free wired and wireless internet access, hair dryers, and complimentary toiletries. You can visit the spa or relax at the private beach. The hotel has a complimentary beach shuttle, two restaurants, a bar, a coffee shop, childcare, a 24-hour business center, limo or town car service, free valet parking, and more than 22,000 square feet of event facilities. There's even a water park.
Chateau Elan is also about 10 miles from the middle of Gainesville, next door to the Chateau Elan Winery. The rooms at this resort have refrigerators, flat-screen cable TVs, complimentary wireless internet access, desks, and safes. Many also offer beautiful mountain views. The spacious bathrooms have complimentary toiletries, deep soaking bathtubs, and separate showers. There's also a full-service spa, a golf course, tennis courts, 24-hour fitness facilities, a 24-hour business center, a coffee shop, a gift shop, and six restaurants. The outdoor pool has a Jacuzzi and a poolside bar. This beautiful resort has 40,000 square feet of conference space and meeting rooms. You can enjoy a breakfast buffet for an extra fee.
Lower Cost Hotel Options in Gainesville, GA
3 Star Average Prices: $124.57
It's easy to find a low-cost hotel in Gainesville. Sun Suites Of Gainesville is near Smithgall Arts Center and Wilshire Trails Park. The rooms have kitchenettes with refrigerators, microwaves, and stovetops, comfortable recliners, cable TV, and complimentary wireless internet access. Laundry facilities are available, but housekeeping only comes once per week.
Motel 6 Gainesville is also near Smithgall Arts Center, as well as Interactive Neighborhood for Kids. The rooms offer complimentary wireless internet access and expanded cable TV. Each room comes with a full kitchen with a microwave, a refrigerator, a stovetop, a coffee maker, and cooking utensils. All rooms are nonsmoking, and you can also enjoy an outdoor pool, a restaurant, laundry facilities, and a 24-hour front desk. Pets are welcome.
2 Star Average Prices: $86.29
Best Discounts in Gainesville, GA
If you pick the right place to stay, you can take advantage of great discounts during your Gainesville trip. Hilton Garden Inn Gainesville, for instance, is near Wilshire Trails Park and Smithgall Arts Center. If you stay at least three nights, you can get the Family Fun Package with free breakfast for up to two adults and two kids under 12 and premium internet service. AAA members also get 5 percent off. If you don't get the Family Fun Package and you're a AAA member, you can save up to 5 percent on weekdays and 10 percent on weekends. AARP members and seniors 65 and older can save up to 10 percent. Active members of the military, veterans, and their families can also get a great discount. Groups save up to 25 percent.
The rooms at Hilton Garden Inn Gainesville have refrigerators, microwaves, free wired and wireless internet access, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, desks, coffee makers, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers. There's also an outdoor pool, an indoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center, a 24-hour front desk, dry cleaning and laundry services, a fireplace in the lobby, a bar, a restaurant, a deli, and more than 1,500 square feet of event facilities.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Gainesville is also near Wilshire Trails Park and Smithgall Arts Center. AAA members, government employees, active members of the military, and employees of some businesses can get special discounted rates. Seniors 62 and older can also save at least 15 percent. The rooms feature microwaves, refrigerators, cable LCD TVs, complimentary wireless internet access, coffee makers, and sofa beds. You can also enjoy an indoor pool, a fitness center, and a deli.
Best Value Options in Gainesville, GA
Gainesville has several mid-range hotels that can give you great value for your money. For instance, Holiday Inn Gainesville-Lanier Centre is a few minutes away from Smithgall Arts Center and Quinlan Visual Arts Center. The rooms have cable LCD TVs, complimentary wireless internet access, and desks. There's an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a fireplace and free newspapers in the lobby, a picnic area, a restaurant, a bar, a 24-hour business center, a 24-hour front desk with multilingual staff, and more than 1,800 square feet of meeting rooms and conference space. An airport shuttle is available for a fee, breakfast is free, and kids can stay and eat for free.
The Guest Lodge Gainesville is near the Smithgall Arts Center and Interactive Neighborhood for Kids. The clean rooms have modern decor, and they offer refrigerators, microwaves, free wireless internet access, satellite TV, desks, and complimentary toiletries. Amenities include an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a picnic area, a free breakfast buffet, a business center, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, dry cleaning and laundry services, and 1700 square feet of event space.
Great Gainesville, GA, Attractions
In Gainesville, you'll be near great attractions no matter where you decide to stay. The Quinlan Visual Arts Center offers art education for people of all ages, along with a variety of changing exhibits. On Saturdays you can enjoy a guided tour and create your own piece of art. Take a walking tour of Historic Green Street downtown to learn more about what the city was like in the late 1800s. A guide can make sure you don't miss any of the beautiful homes.
For family fun, visit the Frances Meadows Aquatic Center next door to Gainesville Middle School. It has an outdoor water park, two indoor pools, and a fitness center. The Elachee Nature Science Center is inside the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve. It has an interactive museum with live animal exhibits and hiking trails.
If you stay a little farther away from the city, you'll be closer to fishing, boating, canoeing, swimming, and more on Lake Lanier. Whether you're looking for a luxury resort or a good bargain, you can find a great place to stay in Gainesville.
FAQs about hotels in Gainesville