Atlanta is a vibrant city full of various cultures and rich history. It’s the perfect place to enjoy an outdoor festival dedicated to quality cooking, lively music, or a diverse spectrum of the arts. Whatever your passion is, chances are Atlanta has a festival that’s just right for you!

While Atlanta is a hotbed of artistic expression, it also plays host to some pretty nasty weather every now and then. If you’re going to take a trip there, it’s vital that you visit at the right time of year.

To help you plan ahead for the best possible Atlanta vacation,

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The best times of year to travel to Atlanta

Many visitors plan their trips to Atlanta in the summer peak season, which stretches from June through August. While popular, summer may be the least enjoyable season to visit the city. It’s hot, crowded, and overpriced at this time of year.

As the summer crowds dwindle and the temperatures start to drop, Atlanta enters its fall and winter off-season. This will last from September all the way until late February. At this time, you’ll find considerably lower prices and smaller crowds but still plenty to do. Just make sure you don’t get caught there during a hurricane!

Finally, as Georgia shakes off the cold and rolls into a sleepy spring, Atlanta enters its shoulder season.

If you’re looking for the ideal time to visit the city, spring is your best bet. With a well-balanced mixture of prices, weather, and crowds, Atlanta is a thoroughly pleasant getaway spot from March until May.

Peak season: June to August

The good: Lots of activities and music festivals

The bad: Sweltering heat and humidity, large crowds, higher prices for lodging and travel, hurricane season

The weather: High 60s to low 90s

Summer is the peak tourism season in Atlanta, so be ready for large crowds and inflated prices. You should also be ready for the high temperatures in “Hotlanta” to be interrupted by strong winds and heavy rains.

If the overwhelming weather and thronging crowds don’t put you off, Atlanta has an enticing variety of larger-than-life outdoor events and festivals in the summer months.

If you visit in June, you can catch the

Uncorked Atlanta Wine Festival

and sample a staggering variety of excellent wines. You can also attend the

Virginia-Highland Summerfest

, an annual fundraising extravaganza that celebrates Atlanta’s art, music, and more!

In July, you will be there in time for the annual

Atlanta African Dance & Drum Festival

, an exciting celebration of vibrant cultural music! You’ll also be able to cool off a bit with a frozen treat at the

Atlanta Ice Cream Festival

For more active travelers, you can celebrate Independence Day with a heat-defying 10k race by signing up for the

AJC Peachtree Road Race

In August, music lovers and foodies alike can enjoy the

Decatur BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival

or celebrate a wider spectrum of art at the

Piedmont Park Arts Festival

. Head over to Grant Park to beat the heat and enjoy art, music, and food at the

Summer Shade Festival

Pro Tip If you decide to visit Atlanta in the summer, keep in mind that you’ll be there for the beginning of
hurricane season
. Keep a close eye on the weather and have a plan ready in case one of these huge storms hits.

Off-season: September to February

The good: Cooler temperatures, lower prices, excellent music and food-based activities

The bad: Frequent rain, wind, and hurricanes

The weather: High 30s to low 80s

Fall and winter offer a nice break from the summer heat with much milder temperatures. This doesn’t mean that the weather is always pleasant, though: early autumn sees hurricane season come to its peak with frequent heavy rains and strong winds.

You’ll notice a marked decrease in tourism in the latter part of the year, meaning smaller crowds and lower prices.

The peak season may end with summer, but the fun doesn’t! If anything, you’ll find even more activities and events to attend. Here are just a few of the many great things to do in the fall and winter:

The

Music Midtown

event (September)

The hip-hop

A3C Festival

(October)

Atlanta Greek Festival

, a Mediterranean culinary celebration (September)

The

Atlanta Food and Wine Festival

(September)

The

Out On Film

LGBT film festival (September)

Dragon Con

, a popular culture convention focusing on science fiction & fantasy of all kinds (September)

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights

(December-January)

Atlanta Winter Beer Festival

(January or February)

Oysterfest

(February)

Jewish Film Festival

(February)

Pro Tip Fall and Winter are jam-packed with exciting events to attend. Before you settle on a date for your trip, decide which events you’d like to catch and schedule your trip accordingly.

Shoulder season: March to May

The good: Beautiful weather, moderate crowds and prices, pleasant temperatures, great events

The bad: Can sometimes be rainy

The weather: Mid-40s to high 70s

Spring is, without a doubt, the best time to visit Atlanta. You’ll find that the crowds have not yet poured in, the prices will be lower than in the summer, and the weather is absolutely gorgeous—if a bit rainy.

This is also the best time to enjoy one of Atlanta’s many beautiful gardens, such as the

Atlanta Botanical Garden

. You’ll find vibrant plant life bursting into bloom all over! Or catch an early MLB game at

Truist Park

where the Atlanta Braves play.

Each April, when the colorful dogwood trees bloom, locals throw the

Dogwood Festival

to celebrate. This event has something for everyone, including art, music, food, and children’s activities.

You can also enjoy some cinematic fun at the prestigious

Atlanta Film Festival

. And be sure not to miss Atlanta’s enthusiastic

St. Patrick’s Day

celebration!

MORE: Best road trips in Georgia

The cheapest time to travel to Atlanta

The cheapest time to visit Atlanta is in the winter, especially January and February. The chilly weather deters most visitors—even though it usually doesn’t get colder than the low 30s.

Since demand is lower, the prices for travel accommodations and lodging will also be lower in the winter.

MORE: How to check for Georgia road closures

How to find savings on car and rental insurance

Whether you’re flying into Atlanta and renting a car or road-tripping all the way there, you’ll need quality

car insurance

and/or

rental insurance

To help you stay prepared,

Jerry

—the nation’s #1 rated insurance app—is here to find you great coverage at an affordable rate! In just a few minutes, Jerry can have your new insurance policy in place and ready to go!

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Jerry pulls dozens of customized quotes from the nation’s top name-brand insurance providers, compares them based on the quality of coverage and price, then delivers the best results right to your phone.

You pick a policy you like, and Jerry handles the hassle of getting you switched over and even cancels your old policy for you upon request!

MORE: 7 ways to save money on car rentals

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FAQ

What is the worst time to travel to Atlanta?

Unless you enjoy huge sweaty crowds, sky-high prices, blistering heat, and possible hurricanes, it’s pretty safe to say the summer is the worst time to travel to Atlanta.

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