Pick your location first. Staying in or near downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia puts you close to the depot, the downtown park and Main Street, which matters most on Light Up Saturday. Staying out in the county puts you nearer Blue Ridge Lake and the national forest, with more driving. Either way, book early for Light Up weekend, November 27 and 28, 2026.
We do not recommend or rate lodging companies. This page covers the types of places and the practical details we could source.
In town or out in the county
The City of Blue Ridge covers 2.2 square miles and is the Fannin County seat (City of Blue Ridge). Inside the city limits, the hotel/motel excise tax is 8%. In unincorporated Fannin County it is 6%. Both add a $5-per-day transportation assessment (Fannin County Chamber). So the tax line on a quote tells you whether a place is inside the city.
Near downtown is the easier choice for Light Up weekend and for the train. All cars must be off East and West Main Street by 4 p.m. on parade day, downtown parking is limited, and Main Street spaces have a 3-hour limit. Being able to leave the car where it is saves the afternoon. The parking and crowds page has the details.
Out in the county you are closer to the lake and the woods. Much of Fannin County is Chattahoochee National Forest, and about 80% of Blue Ridge Lake’s 60-plus miles of shoreline lies in the forest. In December the lake runs lower than in summer: TVA says the level normally varies about 22 feet between seasons (TVA). A summer listing photo of a full lake will not match the view at Christmas.
The kinds of places people book
- Hotels and inns in and around town, the simplest option for one or two nights around Light Up.
- Cabins and vacation homes across the county, for larger groups and longer Christmas-week stays. See Christmas week in a Blue Ridge cabin.
- Camping: the Forest Service runs a campground at Morganton Point Recreation Area, 475 Lake Drive, Morganton. Check its Recreation.gov listing for winter dates before planning around it.
When to book
- Thanksgiving through Light Up weekend (November 26 to 28, 2026) is the busiest stretch, with the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, Blue Friday and Light Up Saturday back to back.
- Train first, room second. Many 1-Hour Holiday Express departures were already sold out by mid-October 2026. If the train is the reason for the trip, get tickets before you commit to a room. See the Holiday Express guide.
- Weekends are the railway’s busiest days, with heavy traffic and limited parking (Blue Ridge Railway).
- Christmas week: the Gingerbread Village closes at noon on December 22, The Art Center is closed December 23 to January 10, and the last Holiday Express runs on December 24. Mercier Orchards is closed on Christmas Day.
Dates can change; confirm with each organizer before you book around an event.
Getting here
The Chamber puts Blue Ridge about 90 miles north of Atlanta via I-575. From Atlanta, take I-75 north to I-575, which becomes the Georgia Mountain Parkway (Hwy 515), then continue 55 miles to Blue Ridge (Fannin County Chamber). The Chamber also notes that EV charging stations in the area are limited, so charge before you leave the metro and ask your host about charging.
Questions to ask before you book a winter stay
- Is the driveway paved, and how steep is it? What happens when it ices? December’s normal low at the nearest NOAA station is 28.7°F.
- Does the place need four-wheel drive in bad weather?
- How many cars can park on site?
- Does check-in on Light Up Saturday clash with the 4 p.m. Main Street closure?
- What is the total with the 8% or 6% tax and the $5-per-day assessment?
- What is the cancellation policy if a winter storm closes the roads?
Our December weather page has the NOAA normals for packing.
Help when you arrive
Visitor info
Downtown Blue Ridge Visitor (Info) Center
Self-serve Chamber information center in downtown Blue Ridge.
- Every day 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (often unstaffed)
- 282 West Main Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513
Source: Fannin County Chamber, checked Oct 17, 2026
Visitor info
Fannin County Chamber main Visitor Center
The Chamber's main visitor center off Hwy 515 with maps and guides for Blue Ridge and Fannin County.
- Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- 152 Orvin Lance Drive, Suite A, Blue Ridge, GA 30513
- 706-632-5680
Source: Fannin County Chamber, checked Oct 17, 2026
Landmark
Fannin County Courthouse (current)
Current county courthouse and government offices, completed in 2004; the 1937 courthouse next door is now the Art Center.
- 400 West Main Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513
- 706-632-2203
Source: Fannin County, checked Oct 17, 2026
Visitor info
Blue Ridge City Hall
City government offices for the City of Blue Ridge, a supporter of Light Up Blue Ridge.
- Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (2025 archive)
- 480 West First Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513
- (706) 632-2091
Source: Internet Archive copy of the official page, checked Oct 17, 2026
Visitor info
McCaysville Visitor Center
Chamber visitor center on the Toccoa River near the state line with Copper Basin history and a mining display.
- Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun noon-4 p.m.
- 53 East Market Street, McCaysville, GA 30555
- 706-632-5680
Source: Fannin County Chamber, checked Oct 17, 2026
Questions people ask
What is the lodging tax in Blue Ridge, GA?
The hotel/motel excise tax is 8% in the City of Blue Ridge and 6% in unincorporated Fannin County, plus a $5-per-day transportation assessment, according to the Fannin County Chamber.
Source: Fannin County Chamber, checked Oct 17, 2026
How far is Blue Ridge, GA from Atlanta?
The Chamber says about 90 miles north of Atlanta. Take I-75 north to I-575, which becomes the Georgia Mountain Parkway (Hwy 515), and continue 55 miles to Blue Ridge.
Source: Fannin County Chamber, checked Oct 17, 2026
Are there EV charging stations in Blue Ridge, GA?
The Fannin County Chamber notes that EV charging stations in the area are limited, so plan your charging before you arrive.
Source: Fannin County Chamber, checked Oct 17, 2026
When should I book a stay for Light Up Blue Ridge?
As early as you can. Light Up is November 27 and 28, 2026, and the railway says weekends bring heavy traffic and limited parking, and many Holiday Express departures were already sold out by mid-October.
Source: Blue Ridge Railway, checked Oct 17, 2026
