Best Things to Do in Georgia in Summer

Georgia summers are hot, but the state has plenty of ways to beat the heat: mountain lakes, waterfall pools, state park beaches, and miles of coast. Here are the best ways to spend the season, with links to the full page for each place.

Our Best Summer Swimming Holes in Georgia covers the spots we send people to most. The beach at Vogel State Park sits on Lake Trahlyta with the ridgeline of Blood Mountain rising behind it, and Unicoi State Park has a developed lake beach near Helen. For something wilder, the pool at the base of the 50-foot Panther Creek Falls is a reward for hikers willing to walk the full 3.5-mile trail, and Tallulah Gorge has a natural sliding rock on the gorge floor that requires the free permit to hike down.

Safety first: rocks near any waterfall or natural pool stay slick even in dry weather, so never dive into water you have not checked for depth and hidden rocks, and keep an eye on children near moving water.

Georgia has an unusually deep bench of lakes. Lake Lanier is the most developed, with the Army Corps of Engineers operating 46 park areas around its shoreline for picnicking, camping, boat ramps, and swimming beaches. Farther north, Lake Blue Ridge is a 3,290-acre reservoir on the Toccoa River. See our Best Lakes in Georgia for Boating and Fishing for the full list, and our Lakes page for boat ramps and camping.

The Georgia coast is the place for a real beach day. Jekyll Island has ten miles of golden sand beaches, Tybee Island puts a beach a short drive from Savannah, and Cumberland Island offers more than 17 miles of beaches reached from St. Marys. Summer is peak season, so book lodging early. Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through November, so watch the forecast when you plan. Our 3-Day Georgia Coast Itinerary shows how to string it all together.

The Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens near Savannah grow blackberries from mid-May to July and blueberries from mid-June through July, and harvest times shift with the weather, so call ahead. In the mountains, shaded waterfall trails stay cooler than the rest of the state. See our Best Waterfalls in North Georgia for the top ten.

Summer weekends fill up at popular beaches and parks, so arrive early and bring water. If you want to camp, our Best Georgia State Parks for Camping has the parks worth booking. For more seasons, see our spring guide, fall guide, and winter guide.

Where are the best places to swim in Georgia in summer?
State park beaches such as Vogel, Unicoi, and Hard Labor Creek are good family choices, while Tallulah Gorge’s sliding rock and the pool at Panther Creek Falls are for hikers. Never dive into water you have not checked for depth and hidden rocks.

When is blueberry season at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens?
Blueberries are in season from mid-June through July, and blackberries from mid-May to July. Harvest times vary each year with the weather, so call ahead.