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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Buford
Skip Buford unless you need Mall of Georgia or Lake Lanier Canopy Tours; a half-day stop from Atlanta (40 min drive) is enough.
Buford is a suburban satellite of Atlanta, best known for the Mall of Georgia (over 225 stores) and Lake Lanier Canopy Tours. Most travellers use it as a shopping or outdoor stop on the way to or from the mountains, not as a destination itself. One afternoon covers the mall and a zipline session.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot and humid)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $60–100 excl. bed · Mid $100–180 excl. bed · High $180+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, Fire, Ambulance 911 · Buford Police (non-emergency) +1 770 945-8995
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (Starbucks or local café) | $3–6 |
| Fast-food meal | $8–12 |
| Sit-down restaurant dinner | $15–30 |
| Beer at a bar | $5–8 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi/rideshare3.1 mi (5 km) taxi/rideshare | $12–18 |
| Mall of Georgia parking | Free (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ATL · Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
- About 50 min drive via I-85; no direct transit
Typical fares
- Atlanta (downtown) → Buford, rideshare
- about $35–55, 40 min (check)
- Buford → Mall of Georgia, rideshare
- about $5–10, 5 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car is essential. I-85 and US 23 run through town; parking is free at the mall and most hotels. No local bus service worth using for visitors.
See and do
Known for
- Mall of Georgia
- Lake Lanier Canopy Tours
- I-85 corridor stop
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | I-85 south, about 40 min | 40 min |
| Lake Lanier | US 23 north, about 15 min | 15 min |
| Alpharetta | US 23 south, about 20 min | 20 min |
| Stone Mountain | I-85 south then US 78 east, about 45 min | 45 min |
Sleep
- Mall of Georgia area
- Hotels along Buford Drive (US 23) near I-85; walkable to the mall but not to much else.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much? | How much?how much |
| Where is the mall? | Where is the mall?where is the mall |
| I need a ride | I need a rideI need a ride |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Mall of Georgia traffic on weekends and holidays; parking decks fill up.
- Lake Lanier Canopy Tours requires a reservation and closed-toe shoes.
- No direct public transport from Atlanta; rideshare or rental car needed.
Buford is a safe suburban town. Standard precautions apply: lock your car, don't leave valuables visible in the mall parking lot.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Buford yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mall of Georgia
- Lake Lanier Canopy Tours
- I-85 corridor stop
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Buford, revision 4139566 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4139566
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Buford
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, Fire, Ambulance911
- Buford Police (non-emergency)+1 770 945-8995
English is universal; no local phrases needed.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/buford). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.