Fort Yargo State Park and Stone Mountain Park offer glamping near Athens, Georgia within a 30-mile radius of the city center. The region experiences humid subtropical climate with summer temperatures averaging 90°F and winter lows around 30°F. Camping options around Athens include lakeside sites with water access, forested settings with hiking trails, and primitive camping areas with varying levels of amenities.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: Hard Labor Creek State Park maintains extensive bike paths suitable for various skill levels. "There is a nice hiking trails and bikes trails, dog friendly," notes Winston M., who appreciates the recently renovated facilities.
Kayaking and canoeing: Don Carter State Park provides direct lake access for water activities. "A great place to camp with lots of hiking trails; there's even a canoe trail!" shares Kevan R., highlighting the water recreation options available on Lake Lanier.
Fishing from campsite: Many sites at Tugaloo State Park offer direct water access for anglers. Liz H. notes, "Able to kayak right from campsite. Campground has over 100 sites. None of the lake front were bad, some were low level, some had fenced railing with a little drop."
Primitive camping: Oconee River Campground provides basic sites for tent campers seeking minimal amenities. "Only 5 sites so it's pretty small. I got here at 7:30 on a Saturday and 3/5 were taken. Current prices are only $5 a night," reports Andrew H., highlighting the affordability factor.
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Campers frequently mention site privacy at Bald Ridge Creek. "This is the best campground on Lake Lanier. Nearly every site is on the Lake, with access to the water. The sites are very well maintained," states Pam, emphasizing the waterfront access.
Clean facilities: Many reviews highlight the well-maintained bathhouses across area campgrounds. At Hard Labor Creek State Park, one camper notes: "The bathrooms are very clean. We had a huge nice site with lots of room for the pups to be on the tether."
Water views: Lake access is highly valued by campers. At Tugaloo State Park, "most campsites have views of the lake and access directly to the stoney beaches. Lots of mature trees make shade an easily accessible feature," according to Maggie G.
Lakefront campsites: Stone Mountain Park Campground offers prime waterfront sites. Susan K. shares, "Our site was on the lake. My husband and son enjoyed fishing and paddle boarding right behind our site. There was a lot to see and do at Stone Mountain."
What you should know
Site reservation systems: Some parks have switched to site-specific reservations. At Hard Labor Creek, George & Patty C. advise, "HLC swapped over to 'site-specific' reservations..meaning that you must choose a particular site when reserving. This is VERY useful if you're familiar with the campground and have a favorite site."
Alcohol policies: Rules vary widely between parks. At Shady Grove Campground, "There is a strict no alcohol policy in the campground and it is made very clear by signage in the park," according to Chris H.
Seasonal popularity: Peak season can affect availability. At Fort Yargo, Laura M. notes, "We stayed in early November and there were other campers here, but still plenty of availability. The campground was nice and quiet."
Tent pad availability: Not all campgrounds accommodate tent camping equally. At A.H. Stephens State Park, Nicole R. cautions, "This would be a nice park if you have an RV. We, however, were staying in a tent. The sites are long and narrow and close together."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: A.H. Stephens State Park offers multiple recreation options. "This state park has boats to rent, fishing, swimming equestrian camping, cabins etc. They have this large primitive area that we used," shares Elaine G.
Beach areas for kids: Several lakeside campgrounds feature dedicated swimming areas. At Bald Ridge Creek, Christy C. recommends, "Water is warm, a little muddy by shore but clear as you get further out. There are lots of boats zipping around the Lake so beware if you are kayaking or canoeing."
Special events: Some parks host family activities during peak seasons. At A.H. Stephens, Mary G. experienced unexpected festivities: "The park had a beautiful Christmas light display with hot chocolate and a Christmas movie playing on a big screen. The park staff were so friendly."
Biking opportunities: Many campgrounds feature kid-friendly biking loops. At Shady Grove, Rick B. notes, "Rangers were very nice, beach is cool, nice lake front sites. We had a fun time here, especially the kids. They loved riding their bikes around in this great family friendly campground."
Tips from RVers
Grey water disposal: Several campgrounds offer convenient grey water disposal options. At Tugaloo State Park, one RVer notes, "Water, power and cable at the sites with grey water dumps very numerous."
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require extra effort to level rigs. At Shady Grove, a 5Dudes review mentions, "Only reason for the 4 stars is our site was not level, took some work to level our rig. Also our site needed a little TLC."
Big rig access: Access roads vary in quality between parks. At Tugaloo State Park, 5Dudes warns, "Not big rig friendly. I have a 43ft 5th Wheel and it was very tight navigating through the park."
Full hookup availability: Site amenities differ across campgrounds. At Stone Mountain Park Campground, the camping options include "all types of camping provided," with many sites offering full hookups, according to Terrilynn J.
