stories
stories
HomeMoneyLifestyleNewsSportsEntertainmentTravelScienceLocal

Highest-rated free things to do in Georgia by visitors

·Stacker

Josep Suria // Shutterstock
Josep Suria // Shutterstock
Add Stacker as Preferred Source

Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Georgia.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Georgia using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

You may also like: Hottest Decembers in Georgia since 1895

#24. Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park

Tripadvisor

7 / 30

#24. Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park

- Rating: 4.6/5 (662 reviews)
- City: Macon
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Tripadvisor

9 / 30

#22. Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

- Rating: 4.8/5 (582 reviews)
- City: Fort Oglethorpe
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. Jekyll Island Historic District

Tripadvisor

16 / 30

#15. Jekyll Island Historic District

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,318 reviews)
- City: Jekyll Island Golden Isles of
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center

Tripadvisor

19 / 30

#12. National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center

- Rating: 4.9/5 (2,303 reviews)
- City: Columbus
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

Tripadvisor

24 / 30

#7. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

- Rating: 4.6/5 (3,547 reviews)
- City: Atlanta
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

Tripadvisor

29 / 30

#2. Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

- Rating: 4.8/5 (9,863 reviews)
- City: Savannah
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. Savannah Historic District

Tripadvisor

30 / 30

#1. Savannah Historic District

- Rating: 4.8/5 (14,422 reviews)
- City: Savannah
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

You may also like: Highest-rated breweries in Georgia

Trending stories