Charlton County Traders Hill Recreation Area and Campground

With the thick early morning fog lifting as we drove in, there’s something almost storybook-like about being beneath towering live oaks draped in Spanish moss at Traders Hill Campground, where the St. Marys River quietly winds its way past camp and time seems to slow down just a bit. This small, county-run campground near Folkston sits on flat, EZ-to-navigate grounds with a mix of open meadow and lightly wooded sites, offering both tent camping and full or partial hookup options, all just a short walk from the river’s edge. The amenities are simple but thoughtful, with a somewhat clean bathhouse (in need of some refurbishing), shared hookups in some areas, picnic tables and a boat ramp that seems to be the heartbeat of the campground, especially for early morning anglers heading out at sunrise. What really makes this place shine is its proximity to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the EZ access to paddling adventures, along with the kind of quiet you can feel in your chest, broken only by the occasional hum of a passing truck or the gentle rustle of the trees. When we were walking down by the river just before dusk, the boys tossed pebbles into the water while the sky turned soft shades of pink and gold and it was one of those simple, grounding moments that reminds you why you are in this special place. I’d absolutely recommend Traders Hill for families looking for a peaceful, nature-forward stay, especially if you enjoy kayaking, unplugging and a slower pace of life, with just enough amenities to keep things comfortable without taking away from the experience.

Should you find yourself near the FL / GA line and are on the lookout for a classic natural surrounding that is unique to Georgia, check out Charlton Co Traders Hill Recreation Area & Campground for ample Ancient and Live Oaks dripping with Spanish Moss. As my post from a bit more than a year ago provided quite a bit of detail on this campground, I’m following up on that review by sharing more fotos as well as providing a topline update: 

Highlights: (1) Great boat dock with EZ boat / kayak access; (2) Substantial peace & quiet;(3) Nice level ground to park an RV; (4) This place is very affordable for both residents and visitors; (5) Excellent boat ramp with quick & EZ access to dark frackish waters; (6) Decent fishing pier and solid nature trails; and (7) Small CG market 

Lowlights: (1) The restroom and shower facilities are some of the worst I’ve ever seen; (2) You will be covered by so much shade you will be convinced that the sun isn’t out; (3) The grounds could have been better groomed – there were a lot of downed tree branches, leaves and other debris; (3) You will want to drive very slow and cautiously on the roads here as you will be greeted by some serious potholes; and (4) Apart from the little CG market, which doesn’t have a whole lot, there’s nothing around this area if you need to load up on supplies or food, so bring what you need with you 

Happy Camping!

If you don’t mind being out in the boondocks without much of anything (underscore the word ‘anything’ twice here), then you will instantly fall in love with Charlton County Traders Hill Rec Area – because there is basically almost nothing here. 

Except for, everything. Meaning that you’ll discover here pristine natural surroundings, Spanish moss drenched ancient Oaks and Cypress, small twisting little river joints that will slowly, but uncertainly have you navigate your way down the very murky dark waters of the St. Mary’s River, which is the natural dividing line between Florida and Georgia. The land in this campground is flat, somewhat sandy, mixed with the black and red Georgia soil wherein you’ll find a thin film of grass throughout the campground, which is interrupted by these most magestic Magnolia trees that have been strategically placed by God and nature throughout these pristine grounds. 

That said, this place is rough and, again, without all of the basic amenities that I’m typically used to when camping out in my tent. For RV’ers, it appears as though all your basic amenities are covered for – flat pebble-strewn slab to park your vehicle, coupled with electric, water and sewage lines. There’s a little camp store on the premises, but it was closed the whole time we were there. The restroom and shower facilities would be more at home in 3rd world countries than in the US, so I would highly recommend a dry bathing alternative. 

That aside, one of the best attractions is the very easy water access to St. Mary’s River, where we dipped our kayak and canoe in for what we thought would be a good 30 or 45 minute bit of paddling, only to spend more than 4 hours exploring this very peaceful and enchanting body of water. I truly hope you discover this place for yourself – it is magical. 

Happy Camping!