Georgia boasts a moderate climate all throughout the year, so in essence, there really is no bad time to visit the Peach State. In fact, the state is featured on a list of the top 10 states with the best weather year-round. But where is the warmest place in Georgia, in winter?

Spring in the Empire State of the South brings fair and bright weather and autumn features cool and crisp temperatures. Summer has the hottest and most humid temperatures, but rain showers typically come in the afternoon to help you cool off. 

Even in the coldest season, the state’s temperatures range from an average low of 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) to an average high of 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius). Compared to the northern half of the country, where high temperatures can drop to the 20s and low temperatures can dip below zero, Georgia still has it good. The state’s short but usually mild winters is due to its location at subtropical latitudes and proximity to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, according to the North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies (NCICS). 

But, if you’re still worried about getting cold, then head on out to some of the warmest places in Georgia during winter. 

Georgia’s Coastal Towns and Cities

Some of the warmest places during winter in the Peach State are situated in its Coastal Plain region, in particular, those located near or beside the Atlantic Ocean. The climate in these areas is perhaps the mildest in the state thanks to what is known as the ocean moderation or maritime effect. 

The former refers to the ocean’s ability to regulate the planet’s temperature, while the latter refers to the influence of this moderation on coastal climates. In other words, the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean plays a key role in keeping winter temperatures in Georgia’s coastal towns and cities from dropping as low as they do in the interior or inland portions of the state. Basically, that massive body of water acts like a giant heat battery, which slowly releases its stored warmth throughout the winter months. 

As a result, winter here is cool, with temperatures averaging in the 50s, according to the School of Marine Programs Coastal GIS Lab at the University of Georgia. The State Climatologist adds that it is very rare for daily high temperatures to drop below zero (32 degrees Fahrenheit) in the state.

Savannah

Winter temperatures in the Hostess City of the South hovers around 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (around 4 to 10 degrees Celsius). For visitors, this means that Savannah is a delightfully warm winter destination. 

Brunswick

Another cozy coastal city during wintertime in Georgia is Brunswick. This picturesque place reaches average highs of 61 degrees Fahrenheit (roughly 17 degrees Celsius) in January.  

Sapelo Island

This barrier island on the Georgia Coast, which is accessible through a ferry ride, sees winter temperatures between 42 degrees Fahrenheit (around 5.56 degrees Celsius) and 63 degrees Fahrenheit (about 17 degrees Celsius). It doesn’t snow on the island, so while you might be bundled up, you will still enjoy a fairly comfortable outing. 

St. Simons Island

In this island off the coast of Georgia, winter feels more like an extended autumn. The island’s average temperatures in January, for instance, is a comfortable low of 51 degrees Fahrenheit (10.56 degrees Celsius) and a high that can reach up to 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.56 degrees Celsius). 

St. Marys

St. Marys is a captivating coastal community situated in the southern border of Camden County. Winters in this quaint town average 53 degrees Fahrenheit (about 12 degrees Celsius) in January. 

Darien

The city of Darien is part of the McIntosh County and the Brunswick, Georgia metropolitan statistical area. It is situated on the coast at the mouth of the Altamaha River, which is around 50 miles (around 80.5 km) south of Savannah. In wintertime, this quaint town records an average of about 52 degrees Fahrenheit (about 11 degrees Celsius) in January. 

Kingsland

Located west of St. Marys, Kingsland is a pastoral town that features average winter temperatures of roughly 52 degrees Fahrenheit (about 11 degrees Celsius). 

Southernmost Georgia

Another region that boasts some of the warmest winter temperatures in the Peach State include towns and cities near the Florida border. Being closer to the equator, these places boast subtropical weather, which means that the southern part of Georgia receives more direct sunlight and generally warmer air masses from the Gulf of Mexico and the subtropics. 

Thomasville

Located just about 35 miles north of Tallahassee, Florida, Thomasville is nowhere near the coast of Georgia. In fact, it’s landlocked, or surrounded by land on all sides. However, thanks to its proximity to the Sunshine State, it enjoys mild winters averaging 51 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 10.56 degrees Celsius) in January.  

Waycross

Waycross is bustling with activity, thanks to its strategic location from which it got its name. Waycross, where “the ways cross,” is a nationally recognized Main Street City and economic hub of the Okefenokee Area. Situated at the northern tip of the wildlife refuge, the county seat and the only incorporated city in Ware County enjoys an average winter temperature of 51 degrees Fahrenheit (10.56 degrees Celsius) in mid-January. 

Blackshear

A part of the Waycross Micropolitan Statistical Area, Blackshear is just a short drive from the Okefenokee Swamp. Known for its excellent hunting and fishing opportunities, the city experiences its coldest winter month in January, with an average temperature of 51 degrees Fahrenheit (10.56 degrees Celsius). 

Bainbridge

Bainbridge is a historic town with roots reaching back to the early 1800s and was Georgia’s first inland barge port. Located around 40 miles (around 64 km) north of Tallahassee, Florida, this city in southwest Georgia boasts winter temperatures averaging 52 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 11 degrees Celsius) in January. This makes for a comfortable time spent in the great outdoors of the Bass Capital of Georgia. 

Bottom Line: The Best Places to Keep Warm in Georgia

As it turns out, you have plenty of options for evading the cold in winter when you come to the Empire State of the South. These options are located in two general areas: near or along the coast of Georgia and in the southernmost portion of the state, near its border with Florida. 

Which city or town you’ll spend a cozy, warm winter in will then depend on what you’d like to do when you get there, which is a topic for another time.