Early November is your last chance to catch the rich fall color change in North Georgia, and the most magical spot to see it is Gibbs Gardens. Right around Halloween, the garden transforms into a vibrant canvas as thousands of Japanese Maples turn brilliant shades of red, gold, and green. Walking among these bright, delicate trees has become an annual tradition for me. It’s like meeting up with old friends for a final fancy dress party before winding down for a cozy, quiet winter.
Location, Hours & Cost
1987 Gibbs Dr, Ball Ground, GA 30107
Gibbs Garden is about a 2 hour drive from Athens, GA. Road trip tip: stop at Danny’s Donuts in Gainesville for apple fritters and coffee! Gibbs is only an hour’s drive from Atlanta.
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (mid-March through mid-December)
Cost: $25 for adults, $18 for seniors, $10 for children.
It’s a little bit of a splurge for a budget travel blog, hey, these are elegant trees.
The Japanese Maple Colorfest
The best time to see the Japanese Maple Colorfest is late October through mid-November. The most spectacular display I witnessed was late November 2020, but this year (2024), many of the leaves had already fallen by November 10th. Make sure to check Gibbs Gardens’ Weekly Color Update ahead of your visit.
No matter the weather, if you visit during this window, the trees will deliver on autumn vibes. Japanese Maples are symbols of peace, balance, resilience, and rest – and with over 3,000 Japanese Maples of 200 varieties, Gibbs Gardens is like a fairy tale brought to life.
Beyond the maples, don’t miss out on other fall beauties like the wildflower meadows of cosmos, “encore” azaleas, and the cotton candy colored hydrangeas. There are also millions of ferns throughout the wooded paths.
More on Gibbs Gardens
Gibbs Gardens is the passion project of Jim Gibbs, a landscape architect who spent over 30 years designing and cultivating these gardens. Opened to the public in 2012, it has since become a beloved destination with seasonal events from the largest daffodil display in the country to the fall maples.
The grounds feature rolling hills, ponds, cascades, and a fern dell. There are six main feature gardens – Daffodil, Manor House, Japanese, Inspiration, Waterlily, and Le Jardin Color Gardens. If you’re lucky, you can pet the cats by the Manor House.
What’s Nearby?
- Gainesville, GA (25 minute drive from Gibbs) – Y’all, I love Gainesville. If you’re driving from Athens, GA, don’t forget to stop in Gainesville for Danny’s Donuts, Value Village, Lake Lanier and Don Carter State Park.
- Cumming, GA (30 minutes away) – Another fun stop between Athens and Gainesville. Visit Booger Hill, a haunted gravity hill, or hike Indian Seats for a scenic summit view.
- Amicalola Falls State Park (40 minutes away) – The tallest cascading waterfall in the Southeast
