Lake Allatoona and the surrounding Appalachian foothills near Adairsville, Georgia sit at elevations between 840-1,900 feet, creating diverse camping microclimates across the region. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing at higher elevations, while summer days often exceed 90°F with high humidity. Most established campgrounds in the area operate year-round, though primitive sites at John's Mountain WMA close during hunting season.
What to do
Hiking trails and waterfalls: Trails at Fort Mountain State Park Campground range from easy lakeside paths to challenging mountain routes with significant elevation changes. "Keith and I hiked and played hard every day here- despite the early winter storm, gusty breezes and freezing temperatures that finally gave way to beautiful crisp days. The park is rich in history but we are not history buffs so we will leave you to get that info from your friend, Google."
Mountain biking: The technical trails at Fort Mountain State Park attract skilled riders. "Most of the trails except the Gahuti are multi use and there is a strong community of mountain biking here. We didn't bike the trails here with our hybrid specialized bikes because we felt the trails to be too technical for us due to the major elevation changes, loose gravel and rocks."
Kayaking on Carter's Lake: Woodring Campground provides access to one of Georgia's cleanest and deepest lakes. "Carters Lake is a great deep lake, clean and private. Bring your kayaks cause y'all wanna explore the lake plenty of little swimming holes."
Historical exploration: Visit the mysterious ancient stone wall at Fort Mountain dating back possibly 1,000+ years. While hiking to the CCC fire tower, you'll encounter this archaeological feature. "The fire tower is a vision. To think that young men came and worked and set every stone step you walk on to get to see the tower is an amazing feat of engineering."
What campers like
Waterfront camping: Mckinney Campground offers sites directly on Lake Allatoona. "We always stop here on our trips down to florida and we always stay a couple days as we love to get a waterfront site and they are nice, clean sites with lots of shade and pet friendly. We love to fish and we always catch several kinds but the crappie are so delicious."
Hiking trail access: Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground offers multiple trail options from its campgrounds. "One of my favorite campgrounds in Georgia is at Cloudland Canyon State Park. A small hike from the parking area, there's plenty of space in these woods for a quaint and quiet stay. Our backcountry campground had a fire pit and even a picnic table, and was nestled beside a babbling brook."
Platform camping: For a glamping near Adairsville, Georgia experience without a tent, try the unique platform sites at Fort Mountain. "As one of our primary requirements for camping is privacy and a place our kids can run around without bothering anyone else, having a place slightly off the main road sounded perfect—and it was."
Wildlife viewing: Bear sightings are common at Fort Mountain. "For our camping group, this place was amazing. We had bear visitors, something they'll warn you about upon arrival. The bears just added to the appeal of this place though. The views here? Amazing. Camping? Amazing!"
What you should know
Terrain challenges: Many sites require careful navigation, especially for larger vehicles. At Clark Creek North Campground, "As our rig is 40', we needed to watch the trees on a couple of corner turns and then pull down into our site. We got the rig into the levelist position possible to get our rig's steps down to an assessable position and fairly level, but we did need to add levelers to our steps and the passenger-side tires."
Highway noise: Some campgrounds experience traffic noise due to proximity to major roads. At Old Highway 41 Campground, "One section of the campground was too close to the highway, which made you hear cars passing all night, but sites 32 and up were very peaceful and quiet."
Security concerns: Be vigilant about personal belongings. "While this great little park should deserve 4.5-5 stars, we had an unfortunate experience while we were there. My family of 5 were on the lake-side of our little 22ft TT while someone less fortunate than us decided to steal my 9yr old daughter's new bike."
Reservation timing: Most glamping accommodations near Adairsville require early planning. "For our camping group, this place was amazing. We had bear visitors, something they'll warn you about upon arrival. The bears just added to the appeal of this place though."
Tips for camping with families
Look for private campsites: At Amicalola Falls State Park Camping, families can find more secluded options. "I read a lot before my trip, so I knew to except the 25% grade incline going up to the campground. I wasn't however expecting the challenging parking in the campsite. Beautiful area, my teens loved it. They found all kinds of insects they had never seen even a Luna moth."
Consider tent-only areas: For a quieter experience away from RVs. "Love the tent-only serenity of the walk-in sites. There is a separate parking lot at the back of the park for the walk-in sites, which are a short distance away (easy to haul your gear)."
Bring your fishing gear: Kids often enjoy fishing at Lake Allatoona. "These sites were amazing. Most of the sites are right on the lake. There is an abundance of wildlife around. The water is nice and cool. The people here are so friendly and helpful. Perfect lake to boat and fish on."
Use caution on steep trails: Many waterfall trails have challenging sections. "Amazing views, good walking/hiking. A bit strenuous climbing the 400+ steps from the base of the waterfall to the top, but well worth it!"
Tips from RVers
Check site dimensions: At Fort Mountain, "All the sites are heavily wooded and most have trees or large rocks very close on both sides of the driveway. The driveways are not straight, so you have to jog to one side halfway through backing in. It's tricky to make that slight turn while avoiding the trees and rocks."
Consider seasonal camping: Many campgrounds are less crowded in cooler months. "We stayed for two nights in October and felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. There were only a few other campers, none near us. With ATB senior pass, we paid $7.50/night."
Avoid highway-adjacent sites: For less road noise at Old Highway 41 Campground, "We really liked the campground. One section of the campground was too close to the highway, which made you hear cars passing all night, but sites 32 and up were very peaceful and quiet."
Reserve well ahead: Premium sites with water views book quickly. "Red Top Mountain State Park is beautiful and Lake Allatoona is large. Campsite 50 is a premium tent only walk-in site (a few dollars more). It sits on a point that sticks out in the lake."
