Month guide · Atlanta · United States
Atlanta in January
What January is really like in Atlanta: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ashish Kaul from Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, India, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 12°C (54°F), lows of 2°C (36°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 10.1 hours of daylight. Cool and often damp, with occasional frost; rare snow or ice can bring the city to a halt. A quiet month with lower hotel rates outside big games.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 12°C (54°F) / 2°C (36°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 10.1 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Atlanta: days average 12°C (54°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 2°C (36°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with December (13°C (55°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs climb to around 15°C (59°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:42
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:51
- Daylight
- About 10.1 hours
Winter (December–February). Mild with occasional cold snaps; holiday lights and big games, and lower hotel prices in January and February.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is April at 4) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in April). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorations at Ebenezer Baptist Church and the King Center (third Monday)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Aquarium · Downtown
Georgia Aquarium
Go straight to Ocean Voyager at opening, then circle back through the smaller galleries as school groups arrive.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · Downtown
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
This museum next to Centennial Olympic Park covers the American civil rights movement and global human rights struggles today.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Downtown
World of Coca-Cola
Save the tasting room for last and try the bitter Italian aperitif-style drink everyone talks about.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Food
Market · Old Fourth Ward
Ponce City Market
The huge 1926 Sears, Roebuck & Co.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Shopping
- Views
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 12°C, lows near 2°C and 11 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Atlanta?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Atlanta in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Atlanta?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cool and often damp, with occasional frost; rare snow or ice can bring the city to a halt. A quiet month with lower hotel rates outside big games.
+How warm is Atlanta in January?
Average highs are around 12°C (54°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Atlanta in January?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.