There are lots of quaint Georgia mountain towns that offer Southern hospitality, and spectacular views, with Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains vistas stretching for miles.
The mountains in Georgia are a playground for nature lovers, with fun activities ranging from amazing hiking trails and waterfalls to river tubing, kayaking, horseback riding, zip lining, and more.
After a long day of exploring the great outdoors, coming back to pet-friendly hotels, B&Bs, or cozy cabins in these Georgia mountain towns provides a chance to unwind while surrounded by natural beauty.
Some of our favorite places to visit in Georgia, these small towns also have plenty of boutiques, gift shops, museums, and restaurants to keep you entertained.
Read on for our guide to the best mountain towns in Georgia, including an overview of our favorite activities and attractions in each town.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Romantic Getaways in the North Georgia Mountains
Planning a North GA getaway? These are some of the best places to stay!
- Paradise Hills Winery Resort & Spa (Cozy, rustic cabins in Blairsville w/good food & wine)
- The Dogwood Inn (Upscale, romantic Blue Ridge B&B w/mountain views)
- The White Birch Inn (Downtown Clayton B&B w/exceptional breakfast)
- Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa (Beautiful resort near Hiawassee w/excellent food, spa & views)
- Valhalla Resort Hotel (Dog-friendly Helen resort w/beautiful views)
Best Georgia Mountain Towns Guide
(arranged alphabetically)
- Adairsville GA
- Blairsville GA
- Blue Ridge GA
- Cartersville GA
- Clayton GA
- Cleveland GA
- Dahlonega GA
- Dawsonville GA
- Dillard GA
- Ellijay GA
- Helen GA
- Hiawassee GA
- Jasper GA
- Lookout Mountain GA
- Sautee Nacoochee GA
READ MORE: 101+ Fun Things to Do in North Georgia
1. Adairsville GA
Size: 9.359 square miles • Population: 4,979 • Official Website
Best known for the posh Barnsley Resort (f.k.a Barnsley Gardens), the entirety of this charming little mountain town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Start your visit to Adairsville GA at the Museum and Welcome Center, which is located in the 1847 Railroad depot. This historic site was witness to part of the Great Locomotive Chase of the Civil War.
There, you can learn more about the town’s history and the Georgia peach industry, and grab a brochure for a self-guided tour of the area’s many historic homes.
While you’re exploring the tree-lined streets, stop at the 1902 Stock Exchange & Public Square Opera House. This stunning building offers gifts and curiosities, as well as Maggie Mae’s Tea Room.
READ MORE: Barnsley Resort Ruins: The Tragic Story Behind the Adairsville GA Landmark
2. Blairsville GA
Size: 1.11 square miles • Population: 526 • Official Website
Located 85 miles from north metro Atlanta, the tiny town of Blairsville GA is a haven for outdoor recreation.
The area is home to one of our favorite lakes in Georgia (Lake Nottely), lots of waterfalls to splash around in, and fantastic hiking trails (including 80 miles of the Appalachian Trail).
This North Georgia town is also near Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia (4,784 feet), which offers sensational views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Visitors can hike the half-mile Summit Trail or take a shuttle bus to the top.
Blairsville is also home to the gorgeous Vogel State Park, which features a lake, waterfall, excellent hiking options, as well as state park cabins and campgrounds.
If you visit Blairsville, don’t miss Helton Creek Falls, which plummets 100 feet and is surrounded by hardwood forest.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Things to Do in Blairsville GA & Union County
3. Blue Ridge GA
Size: 2.68 square miles • Population: 1,244 • Official Website
The North Georgia town of Blue Ridge has grown by leaps and bounds over the last 20 years, with excellent Blue Ridge restaurants, lots of cool shops and boutiques, an Art Center, and even a historic drive-in theater.
In terms of outdoor attractions, Blue Ridge GA is home to 100,000+ acres of the Chattahoochee National Forest, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, and Lake Blue Ridge (one of the most beautiful lakes in the state).
There are also Blue Ridge waterfalls to explore, and kayaking, whitewater rafting, and/or tubing the Ocoee/Toccoa River.
If you love trains as much as we do, the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway has a depot downtown, offering scenic train rides all throughout the year.
Visit Blue Ridge in last Summer or early Fall to go apple picking at Mercier Orchards, which also has a huge farm market where you can purchase fruit, jellies, jams, and some of the best hot apple pies and donuts in the state!
READ MORE: The 25 Best Things to Do in Blue Ridge GA
4. Cartersville GA
Size: 28.74 square miles • Population: 23,222 • Official Website
Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the town of Cartersville GA offers an awesome assortment of museums, restaurants, and shops for visitors to explore.
Housed in the 1869 courthouse, the Bartow History Museum covers 200+ years of history, from the Cherokee people to the present day, while the Savoy Automobile Museum covers transportation history.
The Tellus Science Museum is great fun for families with kids, while the Booth Western Art Museum tells the story of America in paintings, sculptures, and other artistic forms.
If you want to learn more about America’s indigenous people, visit the 54-acre Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site, which includes 6 earthen mounds, hiking trails, and an impressive museum.
But our favorite things to do in Cartersville GA center around Lake Allatoona, which offers boating, camping, fishing, and swimming on one of the most beautiful lakes in North Georgia.
READ MORE: The 25 Best Places to Visit in Georgia
5. Clayton GA
Size: 3.39 square miles • Population: 2,035 • Official Website
Located in the northeast Georgia mountains, the small town of Clayton GA is filled with charm, restaurants, shops, and lots of outdoor activities.
To get a bird’s eye view of the town, explore Black Rock Mountain State Park. The park features a picturesque lake, great hiking trails, and some of the best scenic overlooks this side of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
It also has a trail to the Foxfire Museum (famous for its series of Foxfire Books), a fantastic living history museum that should be a must-see for anyone interested in Appalachian culture.
The town of Clayton also makes a great base for exploring other North Georgia State Parks, including Tallulah Gorge State Park and Moccasin Creek State Park.
If you love water, this is really the place to be. Clayton has 5 fantastic lakes nearby, as well as wondrous waterfalls such as Minnehaha Falls, Panther Falls and Angel Falls, all of which are feed into Lake Rabun.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Things to Do in Clayton GA
6. Cleveland GA
Size: 3.888 square miles • Population: 3,511 • Official Website
Downtown Cleveland GA could keep you entertained for hours. There’s a historic museum in the old Courthouse that dates back to the 1800s, and Meaders Mercantile & Antiques, where you can shop and even take a pottery lesson.
Take the family for dessert at the Soda Fountain Café, or, if outdoor pursuits are on the agenda, stop by Smokey Mountain Trader for all your gear.
If you ever had a Cabbage Patch Kid during childhood (or simply wondered what all the fuss was about), visit BabyLand General Hospital to see where it all began.
You can also head out into the nearby wilderness for hiking, waterfall finding, mountain biking, and tubing on the Chattahoochee River, or visit the neighboring town of Helen.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Places for River Tubing in North Georgia
7. Dahlonega GA
Size: 8.869 square miles • Population: 6,654 • Official Website
Once best-known as the site of America’s first gold rush in 1828, the mountain town of Dahlonega GA is now highly regarded for its historic downtown square, tasty restaurants, and thriving live music scene.
If you’re interested in the history of gold mining in Georgia, head to the Dahlonega Gold Museum (inside the old Lumpkin County Courthouse). Then head to the Crisson or Consolidated Gold Mines to try panning for gold yourself!
Shopping at the North Georgia Premium Outlets and tastings at 8 Dahlonega Wineries are among the most popular pastimes here.
But outdoor enthusiasts will also enjoy exploring the myriad North Georgia waterfalls, kayaking and tubing the Chestatee River, and hiking nearby Amicalola Falls State Park.
We love to visit around the holidays, when the North Georgia mountain town is all lit up for the Old Fashioned Christmas in Dahlonega celebration.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Things to Do in Dahlonega GA & Lumpkin County
8. Dawsonville
Size: 8.614 square miles • Population: 4,172 • Official Website
The Southern Appalachian town of Dawsonville is nestled in the Chattahoochee National Forest, and it’s a great place for outdoor adventuring.
It’s home to Georgia’s tallest waterfall, the 729-foot Amicalola Falls, the major highlight of hiking in Amicalola Falls State Park. Visitors to the popular park can also enjoy a bit of glamping, axe throwing, and/or naturalist talks.
Visit Downtown Dawsonville to learn about the history of stock car racing at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame or check out the folk art at Around Back at Rocky’s Place.
There’s also lots of antiquing and souvenir shopping to do, plus an excellent array of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and bakeries.
READ MORE: The 15 Best North Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
9. Dillard
Size: 1.79 square miles • Population: 335 • Official Website
Located 7 miles north of Clayton GA and 15 miles west of Highlands NC, this tiny mountain town makes a great base for exploring the GA/NC border.
Best known for the Dillard House Restaurant, Inn & Stables, then town is just 15 minutes from the Appalachian Trail, and there are 3 excellent state parks within a 30-minute drive.
Black Rock Mountain State Park offers amazing hiking and camping, Tallulah Gorge State Park boasts a massive canyon and waterfalls, and Moccasin Creek State Park (on Lake Burton) is a great place for fishing and boating.
Don’t miss the Foxfire Museum in nearby Mountain City, where visitors can get a sense of what life was like for settlers in Southern Appalachia in the 1800s, as well as learn about the history of The Trail of Tears.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Mountain Resorts in GA to Visit
10. Ellijay GA
Size: 3.544 square miles • Population: 1,847 • Official Website
Widely known as Georgia’s Apple Capital, Ellijay is home to some of the best North GA Apple orchards. The town also hosts annual festivals such as the Georgia Apple Blossom Festival, Ellijay Apple Festival, and Taste of Ellijay.
Despite its small size and population, Ellijay is widely regarded as one of the best cities to visit in Georgia.
It has a bustling historic downtown area filled with antique shops, great Ellijay Restaurants (Cantabeerry, The Roof, The Shack), and the Tabor House & Civil War Museum.
Nature lovers have lots of options to explore, including Carters Lake, the Cohutta Wilderness, the Ellijay River, and the Rich Mountain Wildlife Management Area. There are also numerous great North Georgia wineries nearby.
One of our favorite Ellijay attractions is Fort Mountain State Park, which offers some of the area’s best hiking trails and scenic overlooks, as well as campgrounds, picnic shelters, and a gorgeous lake.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Things to Do in Ellijay GA & Gilmer County
11. Helen GA
Size: 2.09 square miles • Population: 545 • Official Website
Much like Little Switzerland NC, Helen is a colorful little town where you can experience the Alpine influence of Bavarian Germany in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia.
Helen GA is best known for its Oktoberfest, one of the best Fall festivals in Georgia and the largest Oktoberfest celebration outside of Germany. The tiny mountain town is also packed with traditional German restaurants.
Nature lovers will enjoy exploring Unicoi State Park, which offers myriad hiking trails, a lake for fishing and kayaking, access to Anna Ruby Falls, and one of our favorite places for ziplining in North Georgia.
Kids will enjoy riding the Georgia Mountain Coaster, splashing around at the Helen Water Park, and tubing on the Chattahoochee River.
We love visiting in December for Christmas in Helen, which was rated the “Top Christmas Town in America” by MSN.com and one of Southern Living‘s Best Christmas Towns in Georgia and the USA.
READ MORE: The 25 Best Things to Do in Helen GA
12. Hiawassee GA
Size: 2.077 square miles • Population: 1,029 • Official Website
Located on the beautiful Lake Chatuge near the North Carolina border, Hiawassee GA is a wonderful jumping-off spot for stellar outdoor adventures.
This picturesque North Georgia mountain town offers more than 100 miles of shoreline, fishing and kayaking on the Hiawassee River, and numerous beautiful waterfalls to explore.
Brasstown Bald is just 20 minutes from Downtown Hiawassee, while Hamilton Gardens is a haven for anyone who loves native Georgia wildflowers.
At 3,424 feet, the 18-acre Bell Mountain Park & Historic Site is one of the tallest mountains in North Georgia for hiking, offering spectacular overviews of the lake and town.
Don’t miss the historic Pioneer Village at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, which is especially gorgeous when it’s all lit up with colorful lights for Christmas!
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Hiawassee GA & Young Harris GA
13. Jasper
Size: 8.56 square miles • Population: 4,235 • Official Website
Jasper is proud to be home to Mount Oglethorpe, the southernmost peak in the Blue Ridge Mountain range. Visitors can head to Eagle’s Rest Park to access a trailhead for the summit.
Located 50 miles north of Atlanta, Jasper was coined the state’s “First Mountain City,” and is also known as the Marble Capital of Georgia.
You can see some of the unique pink marble at the Tate House, a historic estate that is decorated to the nines every year at Christmas.
The Marble Valley Historical Society manages the Old Pickins Jail House, which houses several exhibitions, including tributes to indigenous people. They also restored the old Kirby-Quinton Cabin, which dates back to the 1800s.
This friendly little town has a bustling downtown area, with great eateries and chances to taste locally-made wine.
READ MORE: The 30 Best Blue Ridge Mountain Towns to Visit
14. Lookout Mountain GA
Size: 2.66 square miles • Population: 1,653 • Official Website
Located 5 miles south of the city of Chattanooga TN, Lookout Mountain sits at an elevation 2,388 feet on the border between North Georgia and Tennessee.
There are tons of fun things to do in Lookout Mountain on both sides of the border, from hiking the Lula Lake Land Trust and Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park to visiting Raccoon Mountain Caverns.
Our favorite Lookout Mountain attraction is Rock City Gardens, which is home to ancient rock formations, stunning views, Fairyland Caverns, 400+ species of native plants, and a fantastic annual Christmas light display.
Another popular attraction, Ruby Falls, offers visitors a chance to take an elevator 260 feet underground to see dramatic geological formations and the tallest underground waterfall in the USA!
We also love the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, a 125-year-old funicular that ferries passengers up and down the mountain, with jaw-dropping views of the Chattanooga Valley along the way.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Lookout Mountain GA/TN
15. Sautee Nacoochee GA
Size: 3.62 square miles • Population: 451 • Official Website
Widely regarded as one of the best places to live in the Georgia mountains, the mountain town of Sautee Nacoochee offers some of the best shopping, food, and wines in North Georgia.
The area is best-known for the Sautee Nacoochee Mound, one of the most often-photographed Indian mounds in Georgia, which is part of the Hardman Farm Historic Site.
Behind the mound you’ll see a great view of Yonah Mountain, which offers one of the most popular hiking trails in Georgia. The hike to the summit is 2.25 miles, but you’ll be challenged by 1,466 feet of elevation gain along the way!
If you love the arts and crafts of Appalachia, visit the Sautee Nacoochee Center and its Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia. Their galleries and gift shop spotlight the impressive work of local potters, woodturners, and crafters.
Other things to do in Sautee Nacoochee GA include tastings at Habersham Winery, seeing the Stovall Mill Covered Bridge, shopping at the Old Sautee Store, and horseback riding with Chattahoochee Stables. -by Emma Gallagher; all photos by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett
