10 Incredible Spring Break Destinations in Georgia
Spring in the South is an exciting time, and Georgia is one of the best Southern states for spring break fun! If you’re planning a spring break getaway in Georgia, check out these top destinations.
Whether you’re looking for a beautiful hike, an arts festival, or a beach getaway, Georgia has you covered!
There are tons of beautiful state parks for spring camping and enjoying the new blooms. Spring ushers in the festival season in Georgia with art and music festivals popping up all over the state. Georgia is the perfect place for a spring break getaway!
Best Georgia Spring Break Destinations
1. Atlanta
Spring is the best time to visit Atlanta. The season brings mild temperatures, pleasant weather, and not too much of a tourist crowd. Many airlines and hotels offer cheap flights and hotel deals for Atlanta during the spring.
Festival season in Atlanta begins in spring. Nearly every weekend, you can find a fun event to attend. Many of Atlanta’s most popular outdoor events are held during the spring, like the Atlanta Dogwood Festival and the Shaky Knees Music Festival.
This is also the perfect season to check out some of Atlanta’s best hiking spots. You can stay within the city limits and explore the popular BeltLine trails, or you can head outside the Perimeter to Sweetwater Creek State Park and other trails in the greater Atlanta area.
2. Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island is the perfect spot for a spring break getaway with coastal breezes and the warm spring sunshine. This southernmost Golden Isle is one of the most popular islands in coastal Georgia.
There’s plenty of wildlife and nature to explore during the spring. Go horseback riding on the beach, explore the island by bike, walk along the iconic Driftwood Beach, take a dolphin boat tour, and visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.
Spring is full of fun events on Jekyll Island as well. Take part in the Turtle Crawl, a set of races benefiting the Georgia Turtle Center; celebrate the local arts scene with the Jekyll Island Arts Association Arts Festival; and more!
3. Augusta
If you want a spring vacation full of history and outdoor adventures, head to Augusta. This city on the border of Georgia and South Carolina is full of educational opportunities.
Learn about Native American history through today’s Masters of Golf at the Augusta Museum of History. See what life was like back in 1845 at the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area. You can also visit the childhood home of President Woodrow Wilson or the historic home of one of Georgia’s signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Once you’ve exercised your mind, exercise your body with a bike ride along the Augusta Riverwalk, a kayak adventure on the Serene 18 paddle trail or at the Augusta Canal National Historic Area Headgates, or a hike through Phinizy Swamp Nature Preserve.
4. Okefenokee Swamp Park
The Okefenokee Swamp is one of the seven wonders of Georgia. Head to the Okefenokee Swamp Park in Waycross for an adventure of a lifetime.
Located at the northern entrance into the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, the Okefenokee Swamp Park gives you access to the beautiful lily-decked waters of the swamp. And spring is a great time to experience this unique wilderness before the stifling heat of Georgia summer sets in.
Take a boat tour on the waterways and learn about alligators, turtles, snakes, and other swamp creators. Ride on the Okefenokee Railroad Tour with a stop on Pioneer Island. And go on a hike to the observation tower along a wilderness trail.
5. Pine Mountain
Pine Mountain is most known for being home to Callaway Gardens, a year-round resort and beautiful natural gardens. During the spring, the gardens explode with color. There’s no better time for a tour of the gardens, a visit to the butterfly house, a bike ride along the trails, and a game of tennis or golf at the resort.
Beyond the gardens, Pine Mountain has plenty of outdoorsy things to do. Spring is a great time for hiking and biking the trails in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. F.D. Roosevelt State Park is a great location for fishing and hiking.
Make time for a visit to the Pine Mountain Gold Museum or a drive through the Wild Animal Safari where you can get up close and personal with animals from bison to bears.
6. Valdosta
Valdosta is known as the Azalea City for the many azalea bushes that bloom on nearly every corner in the spring. What better city is there to spend your spring break in?
The best thing to do during spring in Valdosta is to visit Wild Adventures Theme Park. This amusement park has roller coasters, water slides, and an exotic animal zoo. They also have an all-star concert line up throughout the season.
Get outdoors and explore the pine forests and cypress wetlands at Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area where you can kayak, hike, and traverse a 54-foot viewing platform.
7. Tybee Island
Head to the coast for sunny days on the beaches of Tybee Island this spring. Soak up the sun during the warm days and enjoy cool nights with live outdoor music at the island’s hot spots.
Explore the waterways around the barrier island on a kayak expedition or a dolphin cruise. You’ll get to see the island from a whole new perspective. Learn to surf, or take a bike tour so you can explore the island. Then enjoy educational and historical attractions like the Tybee Island Marine Science Center and the Tybee Light Station & Museum.
Spring season on Tybee Island kicks off with the Irish Heritage Parade. You won’t want to miss other fun spring events like the Tybee Island Wine Festival, the Tybee Tour of Homes, Mermaid Festival, or the SCAD Sand Arts Festival.
8. Savannah
Spring is one of Savannah‘s most popular seasons. With great weather, tons of activities, and exciting festivals, there’s are plenty of great reasons to visit Savannah in the spring!
The Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the third largest parade in the world. Spring is also prime time for music festivals: the Savannah Stopover Music Festival, the Savannah Music Festival, and the Phil the Squares with Song free concerts are just a few of the city’s many spring festivals.
If you want a vacation with both beach and city, then combine Savannah and Tybee Island for a great getaway. You can enjoy the shade of Savannah’s famous squares, the moss-lined oaks of Wormsloe Historic Site, the secret private gardens of the Annual NOGS Tour of Hidden Gardens, and the warm sun and sand of the beach all in one trip.
9. Macon
Macon is a great spring destination full of history. Start your journey through time at the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park to learn about the early Native American tribes in the area, then visit the 19th century Cannonball House and Hay House to learn about Macon’s Civil War history, before moving on to the Allman Brothers Band Museum at The Big House to hear about Macon’s music history.
Celebrate the spring blooming of the Yoshino Cherry Trees with the International Cherry Blossom Festival held in Macon throughout March. Drive the Cherry Blossom Trail of over 350,000 Yoshino cherry blossom trees, attend nightly concerts, enjoy amusement rides and games, attend a parade, and more.
Get out and enjoy the great outdoors this spring with a visit to Amerson River Park, Tattnall Square Park, and Coleman Hill Park. And then end your day with dinner at one of Macon’s top restaurants.
10. Helen
Helen is the perfect spring mountain getaway, offering plenty of outdoor activities that the whole family can enjoy. And you may find yourself wanting some physical activity after dining on all the delicious German cuisine in town. There’s a lot that makes Helen one of the best small towns to visit in Georgia.
There are two great state parks nearby — Unicoi State Park and Smithgall Woods State Park — with trails for hiking and outdoor activities likes ziplining and fishing. Anna Ruby Falls is one of the state’s best waterfall hikes. And in town, you can tube on the Chattahoochee River and ride the Georgia Mountain Coaster.
Spend your spring among the vines on a winery trip in Helen. There are a ton of great wineries in the area where you can spend the weekend relaxing and sipping on reds and whites.
What’s the Weather Like in Georgia in Spring?
In destinations all across Georgia, spring is a beautiful season. The flowers are blooming, the trees have taken on a vibrant shade of green, and the entire state is awash in color.
Spring weather in Georgia ranges from an average low o 65 degrees to an average high of 80 degrees. In March to April, you can expect temperatures in the 60s to 70s, with lows in the 40s. In May into early June, you can expect temperatures ranging from the 70s to the low 90s, with lows in the 50s.
March is typically the wet season with plenty of rain to bring rise to flowering spring plants. June is the start of the of the hot and humid season as it’s just on the cusp of summer.
Of course, the weather in South Georgia will warm up quicker than in the mountains of North Georgia. You can expect warmer and sunnier days on the coast as you head south for a beach spring break.
The sunset in Georgia happens between 7-7:30 p.m. in March, between 7:30-8 p.m. in April, between 8-8:30 p.m. in May, and around 8:30 p.m. in early June.
For what to pack and wear during spring in Georgia, I recommend light layers that you can easily shed throughout the day as the temperatures get warmer. When visiting the beach in Georgia during spring, don’t forget to pack sunscreen; just because the weather isn’t as warm as summer doesn’t mean you can’t still get a sunburn!
Spring Break Destinations in Georgia FAQ
Is Jekyll Island a spring break destination?
Jekyll Island is one of the most popular spring break destinations in Georgia for a beach getaway.
What is the best Georgia spring break destination for families?
The best Georgia spring break destination for families is Atlanta, which offers plenty of family-friendly museums, attractions, and festivals.
What is the best Georgia spring break destination for couples?
The best Georgia spring break destination for couples is Savannah, which offers fun music festivals, romantic moss-lined squares, and easy access to the beach for a combined city-and-beach getaway.
Spring in Georgia Map
Ready to explore Georgia during the spring? Use the map below to help you plan out your spring break getaway and find the perfect accommodation.
I hope you have an amazing time exploring Georgia in the spring!
Read Next:
- The Best Spring Break Destinations in the South
- 10 Exciting Summer Destinations in Georgia
- 10 Incredible Fall Destinations in Georgia
- 10 Incredible Winter Destinations in Georgia
Ready to take a vacation? Plan your trip with these tips.
- Find cheap accommodation: Use my tips for finding cheap accommodation for travel every time.
- Book your flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
- Pack for your vacation: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need by checking out my packing list resources.
Cheers!
Paige
What are your favorite spring destinations in Georgia? Let me know in the comments!
Great post! We flew over Atlanta on our way to New York in 2004. I remember that they had a lot of trees! It is a beautiful state with a lot of history. I love azaleas so would like to visit Valdosta to see all the azalea bushes. Thank you for sharing!
There is a surprising amount of greenspace in Atlanta! I’m very excited for azalea season, they’re some of my favorite flowers
Atlanta and Jekyll Island are two places I’d love to visit, been on my bucket list for a while. Will definitely go in spring when I do finally go.
I’m so glad to hear that!
Great post! I’d never heard of Jekyll Island but now I feel like I need to go–thanks so much for sharing.
So glad I could introduce you to a new place!
Beautiful photos! Thanks.
Thank you!
I’ve been to Atlanta and Savannah. I have always wanted to visit some of the coastal islands. It would make for a fun getaway!
The coastal islands are great, and I love tacking them on as a day trip when I visit Savannah
Georgia has some pretty destinations! Jekyll Island and Pine Mountain sound wonderful for spring, and I’m sure the weather will be better too. Macon sounds like an interesting city to visit too.
There are so many beautiful spring destinations in Georgia to choose from!
We were just in Savannah briefly. Such a cute town. I would love to spend more time there.
Savannah is so wonderful! I’m planning a girls’ trip there in the summer