20 Free Things to Do in Georgia

Looking for affordable adventures in Georgia? You’re in luck! Whether you’re craving culture, curious about history, or seeking hidden outdoor treasures, Georgia offers a wealth of experiences that won’t cost you a dime. From buzzing city sights in Atlanta to scenic escapes on the coast, there's no shortage of fun ways to dive into The Peach State without spending a fortune. 

Ready for some budget-friendly excitement? Here are 20 fantastic free activities to explore all across Georgia!

1. Museum of Aviation

Don’t miss the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins — it’s the second-largest museum in the U.S. Air Force and the fourth-most-visited museum in the Department of Defense. Explore bombers, trainers, and fighter planes, including the A-26C “Invader,” used in combat during World War II.

2. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park

Join countless others and travel to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta to pay your respects to one of the most honored civil rights leaders in history. See where MLK was born and grew up, where he worked and prayed, and his final resting place.

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3. Georgia Museum of Art

Art historians from around the world travel to the Georgia Museum of Art in Athens to study its 12 Italian Renaissance paintings from masters such as Pietro Lorenzetti. Check out these important works, then relax in the tranquil sculpture garden.

4. Folkston Funnel Platform

If you’re a railfan, chug your way to the Folkston Funnel Platform in Folkston, where you can view and photograph dozens of locomotives, including eight Amtrak trains, every day. Radio scanners in the platform let you hear railroad-related radio traffic.

5. Thronateeska Heritage Center

Visit the Thronateeska Heritage Center in Albany for hands-on exhibits about archeology, paleontology, hydrology, and more. At the science museum, see a 1/2-scale model of the flyer the Wright Brothers used to make their historic flight at Kitty Hawk. Some areas of the center, like the planetarium, do charge a small admission fee for certain programs.

6. St. Marys History Walk

Catch up on 500 years of history during the self-guided St. Marys History Walk in St. Marys. As you loop around a garden facing the St. Marys River, you’ll find 24 interpretive panels highlighting the presence of the Timucua Indians in the 1500s, the local shipbuilding industry, and the town's role in the War of 1812.

7. Bird-watching at Dawson Forest

Dawson Forest is one of the premier bird-watching spots in the state of Georgia. Rise when the rooster crows to spot an array of birds, including migrating mallards, blue-winged and neotropical warblers, grosbeaks, and orioles. For more information about what, when, and where to spot them, pay a visit to the local bird-watching experts, Wild Birds Unlimited.

8. Savannah's Historic Squares

Savannah's famed historic squares—all 22 of them—are beautiful retreats amid the bustling city. Read a book on a bench not unlike the one showcased in Forrest Gump, or enjoy a picnic under the shade of the Spanish moss-draped trees.

See the 15 best free things to do in Savannah

9. Museum on Main

Located inside the Statesboro Visitors Center on Main Street, the Museum on Main tells the story of Statesboro’s history with fascinating artifacts like a 1920s turpentine wagon that once facilitated the town’s turpentine trade.

10. McDuffie Museum

At the McDuffie Museum in Thomson, learn what happened when famed naturalists William Bartram and John Muir visited the land that now comprises McDuffie County. You’ll also find documents asserting this area was home to a lost 18th-century Quaker colony.

11. Georgia State Cotton Museum

Fascinated by Southern history? Then you won’t want to miss the Georgia State Cotton Museum in Vienna. Here, you’ll learn about the "snow of the South," including its role in the slave trade and how it contributed to the region’s economy.

12. Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center

Children will squeal as alligators swim, tortoises sun themselves, and venomous snakes slither about at Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center in Columbus. Let the kiddos burn off extra energy on the winding nature trails.

13. Georgia State Capitol

There’s no charge to enter and explore the stunning Georgia Capitol building in Atlanta, the center of post-Civil War state government in Georgia. Take a self-guided tour of the Classical structure, which includes stops under the rotunda, in the legislative chambers, and in the Georgia Capitol Museum, where you can view historical battle flags.

14. Trains Galore in Millen

All aboard! At the train-viewing platform in Millen, watch in wonder as 15 trains a day pass by. Don’t leave before stepping inside the historic railway depot housing the Jenkins County Museum, which showcases local artifacts.

15. Jackson County Geocaching Trails

Jackson County near Athens is home to not one, but two geocaching trails: the Jackson County Heritage Geocache Trail and the Jackson County Ag Trail. Go for a treasure hunt and fill your official trail passport with stickers from 29 caches. You can pick up your passport at several locations around Jackson County, including the Brasleton Heritage Museum and Visitor's Center—which also happens to be free!

16. Ringgold Depot Opry

Tap your toes to live country, folk, and bluegrass music on the second Saturday of the month at the Ringgold Opry, housed in a pre-Civil War train depot in Ringgold.

17. Guido Gardens

Serenity is available around the clock at Guido Gardens in Metter, which welcomes visitors to enjoy its cascading waterfalls, peaceful streams, and shaded gazebos 24 hours a day. You’ll also find a prayer chapel and a replica of Christ’s empty tomb. Free tours are conducted on weekdays.

18. Quail Scavenger Hunt

Here’s a quail hunt the whole family can enjoy! Thomasville is located in the heart of Georgia quail-hunting country, and its downtown is home to 12 hidden quail statues just waiting to be found. Begin your scavenger hunt at the Thomasville Visitors Center and don’t stop ’til you’ve discovered them all!

19. See Gliders Soar at Lookout Mountain

Watch in awe as hang gliders from Lookout Mountain Flight Park launch from the mountain's craggy peak. The deck adjacent to the launch site, called the Eagle's Nest, offers an ideal vantage point. 

20. Clinch County Honey Trail

Sweet! Head to Homerville to begin your journey along the Clinch County Honey Trail, with eight stops at honey shacks and gift shops selling everything from whipped honey to honeycomb.