Is it harder to find a public bathroom in GA than most other states? Here’s what a new study says

If you’ve ever been caught in need of a bathroom in Georgia, you’re not alone, and a new survey says you might just be out of luck.

The consumer healthcare site, TENA, is a global resource for adult incontinence and their recent national research suggests Georgia is one of the states with the least discoverable public bathrooms.

Although this may seem inconsequential to some, it is an urgent challenge for many individuals. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, “approximately 423 million individuals aged 20 or older worldwide experience some form of urinary incontinence.”

This means that for folks with urgent needs, a “bathroom blackout” is more than just inconvenient, it’s a community emergency.

How GA stacks up nationally

Georgia’s overall score was 14 out of 50, putting it in the bottom three nationwide.

Here’s the breakdown of the scores, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest:

• Discoverability: 3
• Density: 1
• Cleanliness: 5
• Wheelchair-accessible discoverability: 1
• Wheelchair-accessible density: 2

Georgia’s low density score, the number of bathrooms per resident, is particularly glaring and suggests existing facilities aren’t evenly distributed or marked with the visibility folks depend on today.

Bathroom discoverability and overall site cleanliness leave much to be desired, especially when compared with the best states in the country. Even worse, many of Georgia’s public restrooms aren’t reliably tagged in map apps, which can compound problems, and even when facilities exist, they’re tough to discover on-the-go.

The states that scored the highest and the lowest

Researchers say high discoverability hinges on whether bathrooms are properly tagged in map apps and regularly reviewed by the public.

Smaller states tend to maintain better digital listings, making facilities easier to find and helping travelers plan routes with confidence.

The bottom 3

• Kentucky
• New Hampshire
• Georgia

The top 3

• Hawaii
• Indiana
• New York

How to find relief when you need it

According to professional travelers and full-time photographers, Laurence and Jessica Norah at Finding the Universe, there are ways to make your experience easier:

• Check specific city websites and local guides for specific cities.
• Look for public buildings like libraries, courts, hospitals, universities, etc
• Register and remember the location of any potential public toilet opportunity

Download an app to help you locate a toilet on your route:

• Sit or squat
• The Bathroom App
• Toilet Finder
• Flush Toilet Finder

With a bit of planning and a little digital know-how you can avoid certain bathroom-related emergencies.

Do you have any tips for travelers? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.

This story was originally published August 13, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Is it harder to find a public bathroom in GA than most other states? Here’s what a new study says."