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Things to Do in Blairsville, Georgia

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Lake Nottely near Blairsville, Georgia

Photo: Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Blairsville is the quiet, old-fashioned option among the North Georgia mountain towns, with a courthouse square, farm stands and big mountain scenery in every direction. It is about 98 miles from Atlanta, roughly 2 hours 10 minutes without traffic, and it sits between Lake Nottely, Vogel State Park and Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest mountain. Here are the best things to do in Blairsville, checked in October 2026.

Top Things to Do in Blairsville

1. Vogel State Park

A 242-acre park at the foot of Blood Mountain, one of Georgia’s oldest state parks, with cottages, camping and trails. In 2026 Lake Trahlyta is drained for dam repairs and its loop trail and waterfall access are closed. $10 ParkPass per vehicle.

2. Brasstown Bald

Georgia’s highest point, 4,784 feet, with an observation deck that looks into four states. Walk the steep, paved 0.6-mile Summit Trail or ride the shuttle; $8 per person ages 16 and up, shuttle included.

3. Blood Mountain

The highest point on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, 4,458 feet, about 4.4 miles round trip from the Byron Reece trailhead near Neel Gap, south of town on U.S. 19.

4. Lake Nottely

A 4,180-acre TVA lake just west of town, good for spotted and largemouth bass, stripers and crappie, with shore fishing at Meeks Park.

5. Byron Herbert Reece Farm

The family farm of one of Georgia’s best-loved mountain poets, at the foot of Blood Mountain just below Vogel. Admission is free.

6. Beasley Knob and Davenport Mountain OHV trails

Two national forest trail systems for ATVs, motorcycles and, at Beasley Knob, 4WD vehicles. Both are open April through December; $5 day pass per rider. See also Davenport Mountain.

Advertise in Blairsville

Own a cabin rental, inn, restaurant, shop or outfitter in Blairsville? Put it in front of visitors planning their trip. See our advertising options or download the 2026 media kit (PDF).

Events and Seasons

The Sorghum Festival fills Meeks Park over two weekends every October (October 10 to 18 in 2026). U.S. 19 south through Neel Gap is one of the region’s best fall color drives; see our fall color report.

Nearby Towns and Trip Planning

Pair Blairsville with Hiawassee, Dahlonega, Blue Ridge, or compare all of them in our 10 best North Georgia mountain towns. For the bigger picture, see 20 best things to do in North Georgia, the North Georgia map and our lodging and accommodations listings.

Common Questions

What is Blairsville, GA known for?

Blairsville is best known for Vogel State Park, Brasstown Bald, Lake Nottely and the Sorghum Festival.

How far is Blairsville from Atlanta?

Blairsville is about 98 miles from downtown Atlanta, roughly 2 hours 10 minutes by car without traffic.

Is Vogel State Park open in 2026?

Yes, the park is open, but Lake Trahlyta has been drained for dam repairs, so the Lake Trahlyta Loop Trail, waterfall access, beach and boating are closed until the lake is refilled. Call the park at 706-745-2628 for the current status.

How far is Brasstown Bald from Blairsville?

Brasstown Bald is a short drive east of Blairsville via GA 180 and the Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway area. From the upper parking lot, a steep 0.6-mile paved trail or a shuttle reaches the summit.

Sources we checked

Facts on this page were checked on October 15, 2026. Drive times are from downtown Atlanta (Five Points) using OpenStreetMap routing and do not include traffic. Hours, fees and event dates change, so confirm before you go:

Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.

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