Stephen C. Foster State Park Campground, near Fargo, Georgia, is a unique spot that immerses you in the beauty of the swamp. With its lush surroundings and a variety of camping options, it’s a great place to unwind and connect with nature.

The campground offers sites with water and electric hookups, making it convenient for both tents and RVs. Clean facilities, including individual bathrooms and showers, are a highlight, and many visitors appreciate the proximity of sites 40, 41, and 42 to these amenities. One camper noted, “The bathrooms were very clean for a state park in the swamp!”

Outdoor activities abound here. You can rent canoes or kayaks to paddle through the scenic waters, or take a stroll along the boardwalk trails for a closer look at the local wildlife, including alligators. As one reviewer put it, “Amazing views of the stars, the swamp, and the wildlife (gators!)” 

While the campground is remote, making it a peaceful retreat, be sure to stock up on supplies before you arrive, as the nearest store is quite a drive away. Whether you're here for a quiet weekend or an adventurous getaway, Stephen C. Foster State Park Campground offers a memorable experience in the heart of Georgia's natural beauty.

This remote park is a primary entrance to the legendary Okefenokee Swamp -- one of Georgia's seven natural wonders. Spanish moss-laced trees reflect off the black swamp waters, while cypress knees rise upward from the glass-like surface. Here, paddlers and photographers will enjoy breathtaking scenery and abundant wildlife. Alligators, turtles, raccoons, black bears, deer, ibis, herons, wood storks, red-cockaded woodpeckers and numerous other creatures make their homes in the 402,000-acre refuge. Stargazers will appreciate the particularly dark sky. Astronomy programs with an 18" telescope are sometimes offered.

For reservation inquiries please call 1-800-864-7275.  
 For Park inquiries and Suwannee River Eco Lodge inquiries please call 912-637-5274.  
   
Stephen C. Foster State Park is the west entrance for the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The gates close promptly at 10pm and reopen at 7am. Access in or out, of park, cannot and will not be granted during these hours. Stephen C. Foster State Park also manages the Suwannee River Eco Lodge which is located 17 miles south. A ParkPass is required for all vehicles. Price for ParkPasses are not included with the reservation. Overnight guests pay only one ParkPass fee for the duration of their stay. The daily ParkPass is valid at all state parks visited the same day and is not valid at state historic sites.   
  
ParkPass fees are as follow:   
1-12 passenger vehicles $5 per day or $50 annual ParkPass;  
13-30 passenger vehicles $30 per day or $75 annual ParkPass;   
31 or more passenger vehicles $70 per day or $250 annual ParkPass;   
Georgia active duty military/veterans $3.75 per day or $37.50 annual ParkPass.   
  
Federal passes are accepted in placement of the Georgia State's ParkPass.  
For information on our park rules and reservation policies please visit our website http://gastateparks.org/thingstoknow. Rules and regulations are posted at site offices and must be observed by all guests and their visitors.

Stephen C. Foster State Park Campground

Are you in need of a campground near Fargo, GA? Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Fargo is surrounded by family-friendly activities. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Georgia camping adventure.

Fargo

The Best Camping Near Fargo, Georgia

Spent a long weekend here and had a blast. In addition to taking a boat tour to see hundreds of alligators, they host a stargazing event as well as have many other wildlife on the property. Great family friendly setting.

Get ready for some gators!

Dark sky approved you can see all of the stars at night. Kayaking nature trails spacious campsites

The best campground

Awesome

And lots of it! 

We went in April, which the staff said was the “less mosquito-y” time of year, so I can’t imagine how bad it gets moving forward! However, despite the bugs, we still had a great time!

It rained a good bit (and our site flooded slightly so make sure to take care when choosing where to pitch your tent). The camp store is also where you can rent canoes. There is a nature trail just a few steps from the store. While out on the canoe we found one of the paddle-in locations as well. Tons of beautiful wildlife and gators to see along the way as well. 

The restroom area had a screened in porch (much needed!) and was clean and well stocked during our stay. 

Bring bug spray

Middle of the Okefenokee swamp, woke up to deer in the adjacent campsite.  One camper said they experienced an alligator under their truck.   Kayaks and canoes are available for rent is you want to see the wildlife closer... motorboats canned be rented of you'd rather they keep their distance :-)

VERY secluded

We happen to be close to this area visiting family and thought let's go check out this swamp. We were so glad we did but we didn't have enough time to see it all so we will be back! Great camp ground very nice facilities. Very very nice people working and running it. Cool nature trail that's all elevated out over the swamp. Saw a couple of alligators. 

Amazing

Kayaking was our favorite part, but you definitely get very very close to all the wildlife including big gators. Boats are for rent if you prefer that. At night there is very little light pollution and you will see more stars than anywhere else around this area. It’s incredible. Our tent site was very close to the water, we could hear gator activity and noises all night. 

Very remote, AMAZING night skies

The park was great and we saw lots of wildlife including, alligators, raccoon, deer, snakes, and an owl.  There’s nothing around and the closest store is about 20 miles.  Only con is with it being around a lot of wetlands, the bugs were not fun.  

Nice secluded park with lots of wildlife!

Four of my friends and I went on a camping road trip for spring break and this was one of our stops. I have learned that not every campsite has showers that are free but this place, not only has free showers, but really nice showers. There was also a laundry room?? We didn't use it but the fact that it was there was incredible. We also saw a gator and their store was really well stocked (and more importantly with good badges). Great place.

This place has free showers

We stayed in site #61 it's a Pull thru site so you face the woods. It had water &amp; electric, picnic table, fire pit, it was perfect. There is a dump station onsite.  It's nice to walk the campground there's a lot of shade. 

You will see gators near the boat ramp &amp; as you kayak out the cut to the lake.  It's a long road 17 miles long paved &amp; in good shape to get out to this park but nice &amp; quiet.  It's very dark at night no lights so enjoy the sky.

  

We saw Hawks, Deer, Turkey, tons of Swallows, Blue Herons, Egrets &amp; more. Beautiful swamp, lots of Lilly's, wildflowers &amp; Cypress trees. 

  

As you go out the cut to the swamp you can go right &amp; stop at Billy's Island it's amazing the story behind it. There's old logging equipment on it. 

  

We took a few hikes in the campground they were good.

Very woodsy campground

This campground and park are absolutely amazing. The wildlife is everywhere. This includes the bugs, but it is worth every swat. We spent two days in a skiff out exploring the swamp. We saw gators, owls, turtles, deer. We hiked. We gazed at the stars. This was by far our best trip of the year. Campsites were great. Staff was wonderful. We will be going back. 


https://vimeo.com/403747283


Best Camping Outing of the Year

Stephen Foster State Park is in the middle of Okefenokee Swamp!
This makes it a little harder to get to, but it is worth the trip.
There are 66 tent and RV sites in the park. Some are pull-thru, Most have water and 30/50 amp electric. 
There is a shower/bathroom and laundry. There is also a dump station.
The sites are set in the woods. Spanish moss hangs from trees and reflect off the black swamp waters, cypress knees dot the pools of black water. Wildlife is abundant.
Paddlers brave enough to explore the water trails will enjoy breathtaking scenery and lots of  wildlife. Alligators, turtles, raccoons, black bears, deer, ibis, herons, wood storks, woodpeckers and lots more are found throughout the refuge, and often in the campground.
This is a dark sky park, great for Stargazers. Do not bring any unneeded lights!
There are guided boat tours of the swamp. Sunset and night tours may be available. 
 Billy’s Island is an historic homestead within the park.
Fishing is popular...but alligators can be competing for your catch.
Okefenokee Swamp has an estimated 12,000 American Alligators!
They are best viewed from a distance.
Pets are allowed in the park and camping area, but not in boats, even personal watercraft.
Because Stephen C. Foster State Park is located within a National Wildlife Refuge, gates are locked  at night. There is also a $5 refuge fee in addition to the state park fee.(Unless you have a National Park pass)

Dark Skies & Alligators 

Way out away from society. Do calculate the distance from main road to the park if you see low on gas as you have to come back out to it for closest station. Neat park with great wildlife. Very narrow roads through most of campgrounds. Can be tricky if backing in bigger rig. Site 11-15 get more privacy. Renting a boat is a just. Quick trip out to the swamp. Very family friendly with nice playground close to sites 11-15.

Middle of nowhere

I loved my site near the end of the second loop. The bathrooms where very clean with plenty of hot water. The showers were  individual rooms so you don't have to worry about anyone coming in while you are in there. 

Plenty of wildlife in the area. I had 5 deer around my site while I was setting up my camper. They did not seem scared by me at all, in fact one came within 10 feet of me. The doe startled me a bit but she just wanted to eat. There is plenty of space and vegetation between sites, so it very private. This is another dark sky area so the stars were amazing. I went in early December so unfortunately I wasn't able to see the milky way.

I will definitely be back to this campground.

Beautiful and peaceful campground

This is off the beaten path but worth it. Make sure you have groceries before turning onto 177.  Once inside the camping area it is very quiet and peaceful. The sites are spread out pretty well and most have foliage between them to provide privacy. We were in 'back-in spot' #5.  Each site comes with fire pit and picnic table. They do sell firewood at the Trading Post along with a few essentials.  The "Dark Sky" designation was the draw for us and the night sky was indeed spectacular.  No bug issues for us as it was mid January however it was pretty chilly at night (30 degrees). The bathrooms were a short walk away however no heaters so on a cold weekend be prepared! A neighboring camper brought a dog that barked at every opportunity, but otherwise we really enjoyed our time at this park. There are nice flat walking trails, a great playground for kids, and canoes/boats for rent at the Trading Post to head out into the Okefenokee. Overall a great spot that we will definitely return to.

Remote location with amazing dark sky star gazing!

We stayed over Thanksgiving and had such a fun time. We took our canoe for a paddle on the Okefenokee and counted 25 alligators in less than an hour! We also rented a motorboat to explore the swamp. The deer were not scared of us and wandered around our campsite, as did a hungry raccoon. We also saw bears near the cottages. This is a great kid friendly park. The bathrooms were very clean. November-winter is definitely the time to go. We did not have a bug problem but I can see how it would be an issue in the warmer months. We can’t wait to go back. 

Highlight of the Year

Campground is wooded and good space between campsites.  Hiking trails in the swamp.

Nice state park

One of those places that makes you feel blessed to live in the South East. Literally in the middle of no where while still being a reasonable drive from Central Florida.  Some campsites were small some did not have great drainage. Those are the cons. We had site 48 and from what I saw it was the best in the park. Get there early rent a boat prices are reasonable we saw easily over 50 gators swimming and sun bathing all around us.  The sky here is amazing too. A must visit. 

One of those places

We just got back from 4 nights at this campground and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.  We were disapointed in our site, as it was on a corner, with a really odd shape, while there were TONS of empty spaces the entire time, but it wasn't that big of a deal.  It was a bit of a drag not having a sewer hookup, as we only have a 30 gallon grey water tank, but not a deal breaker. They have one dump station and on one day, we saw about 20 vehicles lined up to use it, so plan accordingly. 

  

The first day was raining, so we just set up and once the sun was out, we went fishing.  The next day, we took our kayaks and launched right at the office and took a right out of the canal, which lead us to Billy's Lake and then to Billy's Island.  We saw lots of turtles, birds and a ton of really big gators, but none bothered us.  Once you are at Billy's Island (2 mile paddle from the office, which took us an hour each way), you can get out and take a walk around the island on their designated trail.  There's not a lot to look at, as it used to be a settlement where Native Americans and then AWOL soldiers hid to avoid detection. The next day, we decided to give our muscles a break and rented a Skiff, which was $60 for two hours and I think $80 for 4 and that was awesome.  They provide Life Vests if you don't have them, but you can take your fishing equipment, cooler or what have you and go explore all the tributaries.  We took a left out of the canal and went until the river ended and then went back up and into the small waterways to Minnie's Lake, which was our absolute favorite.  It was so beautiful and serene.  There were quite a few boats, so kayaking back there could be challenging, but they are supposed to go slow and most did.  You can also take a guided tour and we saw several go out with just one couple per boat, so that's a good option for those who like a calmer experience.

  

We feel like we saw everything the park offered and if you've never been to the Okefenokee Swamp, I highly recommend it.  It was really great.

Excellent Visit

Our site was slightly uneven, but leveling was a snap. Large site and trees between sites provided privacy. Not too many other campers. The bathrooms were spotless. The bugs were fierce, particularly the yellow flies. The boardwalk by the Trading Post is a nice walk, and we saw a barred owl.

Quiet and dark

The campground was just a bit tight for my preferences as a tent camper (especially as it was fully booked over a holiday—Thanksgiving—weekend), but we still had a great time. We rented a Jon boat, which let us see a lot of the park. Would definitely return. 

Okay campground and great park!

Best place in 5 states to see stars!  There is NO light pollution making it beautiful.  Even on a partly cloudy sky the stars were so bright.  We did a boat rental into the swamp and did the kayak after hours tour.  Both were great, I would recommend any of their tours.  We saw lots of gatos while out in the boat/kayak but they are afraid of people so they stay away from all the campsites.  Staff was friendly and great to work with! 

Tent camping

We stayed for two nights tent camping. The sites and bathrooms were both clean.  Lots of activities, we really enjoyed the boardwalk. Also very affordable rentals too, we took a boat out for two hours for some fishing. Staff was friendly! We saw tons of wildlife there. 

Great getaway 

This was an amazing campground. Large sites, spread out, and the silence- oh my God. Was it relaxing. Lots to do. No cell service. They have Wi-Fi at the camp office if you really need it. We took a pontoon boat tour of the Okefenokee. John, our guide, truly loves where he works and it showed. The store has the basics. Make sure you stock up before getting here, it’s a long way back to town. The night skies did not disappoint. 

Amazing place  

It was a great experience, I went with my son which is 14 years old and he was able to enjoy every single day that we expend here, we were able to brought our kayak and do kayaking for around 13 miles, beautiful views around, I’ll recommend this state pRk to everyone that is on the search for a place to camping. 

Great family time 

Stars were amazing. Was a little buggy but overall amazing

Beautiful 

Lots to do, highly recommend guided boat tour. Tons of gators. Enjoyed the natural trial hike on a boardwalk above the swamp. No cell service and closest gas station is about 20 miles from park. Stars are amazing! 

Amazing 

This was our 2021 Thanksgiving camp site(on the back end of Laura Walker right before this). This is an absolute gem of a park in the middle of nowhere! The swap is so cool, lots of gators to be seen while we did miles of paddling. There is some hiking too, but it was pretty wet from all the rain they got the week before. Sites are nice and spaced out and while it was a full campground it was very quiet. The camp store was very nice and offers canoe, kayak and motorboat rentals, along with some basic supplies, but remember to bring all your necessitates because it is over an hour out and back to town. Bathhouse was very clean, and all sites seem to have easy access. Most impressive is the stars at night- WOW! We will go back just for the night sky views. 

PROS: 

Quiet, remote camp in the middle of the swamp 

Amazing place to paddle and explore 

No cell service 

The stars at night are AMAZING! 

Miles from civilization 

CONS: 

Miles from civilization(so do not forget any essentials!) 

No cell service (no remote work option here)

One of my favs

Amazing views of the stars, the swamp, and the wildlife (gators!). 

The other campers were respectful of both the space and the quiet. Spots were clean and pretty private. 

Highly recommended. 

Amazing Views

This campground (loop 2) offered privacy between spaces and clean bathrooms. It’s in the middle of nowhere which accounts for it’s dark park designation (although they should switch to red lights on the comfort stations). Moderate length hiking trails, canoe/kayak rentals and motorized John boats. Lots of gators! One beast of a gator resides in the boat launch area. 
There is very little cell service but there is wi-fi at the trading post/ranger station.
It was a little noisy with some construction work while we were there, which is why I took 1 star off the rating.

Dark Park

We really enjoyed this park! They offer rental boats &amp; tours of the swamp, there's also a little boardwalk (pictured: Trembling Earth Nature Trail) if you're not comfortable on the water. There are defiantly alligators &amp; bears in the area. This is a dark sky park, but unfortunately it was cloudy during our visit so I can't speak to the view. Cell service is spotty, even starlink had issues w/ all the trees. It pretty far out in the boonies so be prepared for a long drive if you need to go to town. The road in the campground is pretty narrow &amp; winding, bigger rigs might have some troubles.

Cute park in the middle of nowhere

This was our first stop of many and it did not disappoint. We were in loop 1 . Very quiet, for smaller rigs and tents. Restrooms and showers were clean . Much to do in park . Several hiking trailers. A nice boardwalk walk. We rented a canoe for a few hours . 

Peaceful stay

Great Park, some of the sites are a challenge to back into. With us being with limited experience some are a challenge to get into. The park is always very clean (our second time here) and never very crowded. We were here in March of last year and last of April and early May. Let’s say March is a lot better due to the yellow flies, mosquitoes and horse flies bothersome this trip. We took the guided tour last year and enjoyed it very much. Also this is a very quite campground just be sure your stocked the necessities since the nearest store is app 18 miles away. When we come back it will be February/March. Hope this review helps. 

Great park

 The campground is a real gem. It's beautiful!

Many nice sites that look like camping in the jungle. Water &amp; electric sites. Some are small- more like tent sites.

 Sites- 1-25 seem larger. you could get a bigger rig into them. 

Sites 26-58 seemed smaller.

 Site 39 was very small. tent only. 

Sites 59-64 are pull throughs. The rest are back in.

  

We had site 41 which was plenty big for us. It was also near the bathroom.

If you like being close to the facilities, 40/41/42 are the spots to choose.

There's 2 comfort stations. The bathroom/showers are individual units. They were very clean for a state park in the swamp!

It was buggy &amp; we were there the end of April. 

 Thursday night was dead quiet, but the weekend was busy.

The dump station has only one dump.

  

This is a small state park- only 120 acres, but camping here is definitely worthwhile.

Photos of Stephen C. Foster State Park Campground

Real photos from real campers