Established Camping
Petersburg - J Strom Thurmond Lake
About
US Army Corps of Engineers
J. Strom Thurmond Lake
Overview
Petersburg Campground is located on J. Strom Thurmond Lake, just four miles from the Thurmond Dam and Visitor Center and 25 miles from Augusta, Georgia. The 70,000 acre lake and its 1,000+ miles of shoreline provide excellent boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, hiking and picnicking.
Recreation
Thurmond Lake provides some of the best fishing, hunting, and water sports in the southeastern United States. Anglers fish for largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish and striped bass. The large lake offers endless boating, water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing and swimming opportunities. Hikers have access to many miles of trails in the immediate area. The 1.8-mile Lake Springs Loop and the 27-mile Bartram Trail, which meanders along the scenic shoreline and through Wildwood Park, are both nearby. Shorter sections can be hiked from several intersecting trailheads.
Facilities
This wooded, waterfront campground is open year-round. It contains 94 sites, most with water and 50-amp electrical hookups. Amenities include flush and vault toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. Two swimming beaches, a playground, boat ramp, fishing dock, hiking trail, pond and a first come-first served picnic shelter are also located on-site.
Natural Features
Hot, humid summers and mild, pleasant winters characterize this heavily wooded area on the shore of Thurmond Lake. A mixed pine and hardwood forest covers the site, providing summer shade and fall color. Wildlife is abundant around the lake. Visitors regularly see southern bald eagles, migratory waterfowl, wild turkeys and whitetail deer.
Nearby Attractions
Numerous parks and recreation areas lie around Thurmond Lake, providing additional boating, swimming, hunting, and hiking opportunities. Nearby cities house museums, art galleries, zoos, restaurants and shopping areas. The Augusta National Golf Club hosts the Masters Golf Tournament annually the first week of April.
Location
Petersburg - J Strom Thurmond Lake is located in Georgia
Directions
From I-20, take Exit 183 (Appling). Go north on HWY 221 approximately 6 miles. At the 4-way stop, go straight (HWY 221) another 2 miles. Campground road is on the left. Follow signs.
Address
3998 PETERSBURG ROAD
Appling, GA 30802
Coordinates
33.6619444 N
82.2608333 W
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonPoor
- AT&TAvailable
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
Large Lakeside Sites with Lake Views
Petersburg - J Strom Thurmond Lake Campground: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer with a desire for a campsite that has at least some visual privacy - after the trailer is in the spot.)
Overall Rating: 4.5
Price 2023: $ 14 w interagency pass
Usage during visit: Heavy, going into Thanksgiving weekend.
Site Privacy: All sites are set back from campground loop road
Site Spacing: Tremendous
Site surface: Gravel.
Reservations: Yes
Campground Noise: Quiet.
Road Noise: None
Through Traffic in campground: No reason.
Electric Hookup: Yes
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Dump Station: Ues
Potable Water Available: At site.
Bathroom: Flush toilets
Showers: Yes. Single curtain separation.
Cell Service (AT&T): 2 bars
Setting: Most sites are lakeside sites.
Weather: Rain, partial sun
Bugs: No bites.
Host: Yes
Rig size: Large rigs okay
Sites: Most and maybe all sites have water views. Site 6 has a great view. Other sites have great views as well. Site 28 has a tremendous view.
- (14) View All
Amazing Campsite 🏕️
The view was amazing! Such a relaxing place.
- (4) View All
Lovely place
Great people clean bathhouses
Quiet and clean
Very nice, clean restrooms and very quiet. Clean camp area and close to the water.
Another great COE campground We love this place
This time we’re in site 7-first time in this loop. Backing in took a few minutes, not the simplest but achievable for our 30 ft fifth wheel. Campsite excellent- electric & water, plenty big site-fire ring and picnic table
Also love trail from here to dam wall - did a bit of bush trail cycling. Awesome
- (6) View All
Very nice campground
I have read several favorable reviews of this campground and it doesn't disappoint. Very clean and sites are accessible to larger rigs.
Lakeside campground
Stayed here as one of the very first campsites after buying our camper. Lakeside lot with incredible space. Dog friendly and they enjoyed being able to go for a swim right outside of the camper. Enjoyed taking our paddle boards out in the morning for a sunrise paddle, then swimming the afternoons away in the sun. Can’t wait to come back next summer!!
Wow!!! Another COE campground doesn’t disappoint
Petersburg Campground is beautiful. The sites are large and very private and most are on the water. We had Site 60 that had western views along the J Strom Thurmond Lake. The site was very level and was a pull through with a gravel base. The site also has a picnic table and fire ring, water and 59amp electric. The comfort stations were old but that’s ok because everything else made of for that. And all for $28 per night! Highly recommend.
Great spot
My husband and I stayed here with our small teardrop. The sites were private and clean. Everything was great
Best one yet
The campsites are the best we’ve ever stayed in. Extremely large and everything you could possibly need. Extremely well-kept campground on a beautiful lake.
Beautiful. Everything you need.
This campground is beautiful with roomy sites on the lake and nearby. Some sites are drive-throughs. Everything was well maintained. Bathrooms were clean. FREE laundry in the park although there is only one washer and one dryer. Campground was quiet, lots of trees. America the Beautiful national park pass gave us 1/2 off the campsite fee so it's a great value.
Beautiful Campground
We stayed in our 36 ft 5th wheel. Most sites are pull thru and generally pretty private with the passenger side of rv facing the water. We loved it there! I imagine it would be fantastic in the warmer months. We took our fat tire ebikes 5 miles to the dam on the Bartram trail.
Perfect
Almost every site is on the water! Very spacious sites. All the amenities except sewer, but there are 2 dump stations. Free laundry!! Only one washing machine / dryer. Site 54 is almost secluded, has a tiny beach area where yo can launch your kayak. Site 51 has fishing from your site. Beautiful lawn area surrounding your site with trees. Lots of sunshine.
Clean and Spacious
We tent camped and stayed right on the water. Sites were very clean and spacious. Bath houses were pretty clean. There is water and electric at each site for those who are in a RV but the dump sites are pretty close by. We will definitely be back! We saw quite a lot of wildlife during our stay and enjoy taking the trail around the lake.
Beautiful campsites
This campground has magnificent views, spacious sites, picnic tables, firepits, power (30 and 50 amp) and water hookups, dump station, bathrooms, and groomed swimming area.
The site (21) was very easy to pull through and had a wonderful view of the lake. I had to try to see my neighbors at the next site because the foliage separated the sites well. I saw a grounds person actively maintaining the empty sites which explains how well kept this campground is. The access roads are well kept.
Not a bad site to be chosen, beautiful large spots. Waterfront is spectacular.
Our family of 5 had a blast. 3rd time on this body of water but first time at Petersburg. Beautiful place, well maintained and will definitely return
A hidden gem
We fell in love with this campground after our first stay. Our spot was shaded and a few steps from the water. Such a peaceful place! There is lots to do at this campground (hiking trails, swim beaches, fishing docks). We wish we could have stayed longer. The only problem we had was ants. Our camper was covered in them after being there a day, even though we tried to prevent them. It won’t stop us from returning though.
- (4) View All
Nice weekend getaway
We camped for a night here and explored some of the hiking trails that surrounded the lake. Some of the sites are pretty secluded from each other, especially the one we were at (39).
Great COE campground Definitely a repeatable
Better data coverage here than at Hawe Creek ATT 4 bars versus 2 or 3 in Verizon, but definitely usable. I do not think there is a bad site here, but have not walked the furthest loop. Lovely waterfront sites. We don’t use facilities so cannot comment on them. Even a ‘swimming beach’ if you have little ones.
Some sites take a bit of work to get your equipment level, but not seen anything serious. Also marked down rating for noise as boats are constantly running around - but if that’s the only problem , I can live with it.
Could have stayed a month
Have waited six months into our RV life to start reviews for fair comparisons. Spent 7 nights. Our second ACE campground and liked it even more than the first. Large spread out campground so could bike and hike right in and from the park. Mountain bike trails in either direction just at the park entrance. Our site like most was right on the lake, and because we were out on more of a peninsula had great sunsets.
Just. Perfect.
This Army Corps of Engineers campground has everything, magnificent views nearly all of them lakeside, spacious sites, picnic tables, firepits, dark starry night skies, power and water hookups, dump station, clean bathrooms, swimming beach and 20+ miles of nature trails.
During my March stay the hot water was not working in the shower. That happens, nbd. There was nothing else that didn't delight me. The USACOE sets a standard for excellence at Petersburg Campground.
- (4) View All
Gorgeous location, lacking in upkeep
I’ve camped at Petersburg multiple times of the past 5 years and generally love it. Bartram Trail, terrific mountain for biking and hiking passes through the property. Some of the sites are stellar.
What I noticed on my most recent trip is that the quality of maintenance has declined. The restrooms on our loop weren’t really cleaned deeply over our 4 night stay with used band aids in the corner or the shower stall. I alerted two staff members about the leaking spigot in our site and that was never addressed.
I’m returning in early November with a few friends for some mountain biking and hope things improve.
- (4) View All
Excellent location with sites near or on the water
Access to sites are easy. Almost all are pull through. They’re also pretty well spaced out for privacy and plenty of space for each site. Hook ups are well maintained as are the roads and trailer parking areas.
Great sites with lake access
The grounds were clean. Well kept for the most part and not too hard to get too. Most sites were pull through, so that’s always nice.
Escape to the Lake
However you want to camp you can. Tent, RV, you name it. With lake access on virtually every spot you’ll wake up to amazing views and great days in the sun. Almost every spot has a walkable path to the water. It’s pet friendly and has amenities for even the least experienced (and least willing) campers.
Great place to stay
Stayed here twice after upgrading to the new camper. Sites and grounds are well kept. Bathhouses are well maintained.
- (18) View All
Great!
So many great campsites and so many of them waterfront! Well maintained. Excellent gatehouse staff. Good hiking and boat launch.
Highly recommend. Lots to do in the area. River walk, canal boat tour, great art museum.
Good food and shopping nearby.
Nice
Nice campground. More private than state parks.
This is a great USACOE campground on Clark Hill Lake
90+ sites with water, 50/30 amp electric, a dozen or so primitive sites. Most have access to water and if the lake level is good, there is usually some beach area at most sites where you can swim, tie off a boat. We love it here and have been coming for Memorial Day and Labor Day for 25 years. Reservations are easy through Reserveusa.gov. Sites are all hard compact dirt/gravel but most are very level. Gate is locked each evening at 10:00 with a combination lock code provided to you for access. Very safe and secure. Just a couple of miles from Clark Hill Dam which has a nice visitor’s center. About 20 minutes north of Augusta suburbs of Martinez and Evans.