Best Equestrian Camping near Athens, GA

What a great park! Situated at the far north end of Lake Lanier, this Georgia state park is awesome! One of the best things about it for RV/trailer camping is the huge distance between camp sites! Had a spot about 35yds from the shore next to a wooded area. Super clean everywhere around the park. There is a beach and equestrian center, boating, fishing and a bunch of trails for hiking both dirt and paved. About an hour from where I live and I’ll be back!

Large, well maintained sites. We stayed on 17 and it was very private. We hiked from the campground to Lake Buncombe and also hiked from Sunset Drive trail to Lake Liberty and the office. Equestrian trails are closed to hiking during the weekend. Equestrian campground has a new stable and bathhouse and a campground that is under construction now. The old equestrian campground and stable are still there. The cabins on Federal Lake just reopened after getting new flooring. All of the rangers were friendly and helpful. We did the A. H. Stephens museum tour and that was very nicely done. We did a day trip to Greensboro and walked the shops and went to Oconee Brewery. Everyone was raving about Yesterday Cafe so on our next visit Lucy May have to stay back at the camper. We will definitely return in warmer weather for canoeing and a trip to Warrenton which is close by.

This state park has boats to rent,fishing, swimming equestrian camping,cabins ect..They have this large primitive area that we used..It was a bit of a hike to the bathrooms..but everything else was fantastic We loved the historical museum there too

Very nice quiet park with a small campground (21 sites, all with electric and water). The sites are shaded, and flat with a gravel drive and tent pad. We hadn’t planned on staying here but were pleasantly surprised to find a few vacancies on the first Saturday in November. There is also an equestrian campground located several miles from the main campground. The main feature is a covered bridge, the longest one in Georgia, that is located ¾ of a mile from the campground (an easy walk). 

A nice perk was laundry facilities outside the restrooms. The restrooms were very clean. 

There are seven miles of hiking trails, five miles of bike trails, canoe rentals, and we saw several people fishing. 

There was also a nice day-use area with picnic tables within view of the covered bridge.

We really enjoyed RV camping at this campground. It wasn’t busy, especially for a weekend. Lots of empty campsites. Super clean bathrooms. It has a couple of hiking trails, boat rentals, a nice lake to fish, and some historical buildings to explore but not a lot else to do. That was fine with us and our 2 night stay. Equestrian camping seems to be the big thing there.

Nice campground, bathhouses exceptionally clean. Camped on a Sunday and Monday and was so peaceful with all of nature’s  sounds. There’s two lakes there but you need to take a short drive to get to the swimming beach and to better fishing. Golf course looks great, and  equestrian camping looked great too. Lots of easy hiking trails to explore.  A very  short drive from Atlanta make this campground a nice weekend camping getaway

We have camped at this beautiful park NUMEROUS times and there is a reason that we keep coming back (actually there are multiple reasons)!

HLC has an amazing staff that is there when you need them and not there when you don't! The camp hosts are friendly, the Ranger rides through on a regular basis and is friendly/outgoing (you can tell that he enjoys his job)!

The campground is not cramped at all and most of the sites are spread apart to provide privacy!

Not long ago, as many of the GA State Parks are doing, 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 (such as we do) but it can be a shot in the dark if you're not familiar with the campground.

The bath houses/comfort stations are brand new (including laundry rooms) and the camp hosts keep them spotless! The campground roads are newly paved and there are a couple of new sites.

There are hiking trails, kayak rentals, a beach area (swimming) and two nice lakes! There are equestrian trails and even an equestrian campground!

The park has numerous cottages to rent, a group shelter, picnic pavilions and even a mini-golf course (newly renovated)!

Not far from the campground (in Rutledge, GA) there is a Dollar general in case you forgot something that the park store doesn't have.

If you've never visited this beautiful park, ou are missing out on one of our hidden gems!

This is Georgia's newest state park (2013) and it is a beautiful park! The staff is great and there is plenty to see/do! The park is located on Lake Lanier with plenty of opportunities for fishing, swimming and boating! There's even a fish cleaning station (located near the main boat ramp entrance).

There are hiking trails, geocaches, a beach area, picnic shelters, cottages and a brand new equestrian trail system!

As far as camping goes, there are primitive tent/hammock sites and an RV campground. The RV campground features all paved campsites so it would be tough camping in a tent (no way to stake your tent).

Now, the ASPHALT is part of the reason for the review's title, coupled with the fact that this is a new park and tree coverage is a bit sparse for the time being. Once the canopy fills out, it will be shady.

We camped in our trusty pop up camper so direct sun is always an issue (non-insulated bunk ends) but a travel trailer/RV would probably fare well (as far as temp goes).

We'll be back but in the Fall when it is a bit cooler!

The campground hosts were friendly and they kept the bath houses/laundry facilities spotless!

This is a beautiful park and we highly recommend it, in the proper weather or camper!

Park is the home of the VP of the Confederacy and features his home and Civil War artifacts (check for open hours). Hiking trails. Power and water, with dump station. The shower house is new (2019) and is ADA. Also laundry is at shower house. Firewood for sale with camp host. Shady, level, back in and pull thru sites with fire ring and table. Ask camp host for tour of CCC built fire tower. About an hour to Augusta, GA, via interstate (Costco with gas/no diesel), lots of shopping and resturants. Also stables if you are traveling with horses. Can reserve 1 year ahead.

Who ever decided that every campsite needed to be asphalt should be hung! This is a newer State Park in Georgia and it could be nice, but it’s been paved over. They classify them as RV sites, but they are parking lots. They have water and electric, and a dump station. The bathroom/shower building was new. (There is a small primitive camping area for tents, with no facilities.) There is a playground and a beach area, which was not open when we were there. There are some “trails” but they are paved as well. There are also cottages. We went to a ranger program on raptors on Saturday which was interesting.. Probably won’t go back because there are lots of much nicer parks in Georgia.

Don Carter State Park is Georgia's newest campground. Very clean restrooms. There is a gate code to get in after hours and a separate gate code to get into the campground. The Cabins are very nice. We enjoyed the trails.

This Georgia State Park is in Gainesville on the Chattahoochee where it meets up with Lake Lanier.  It was very easy to get to from the Atlanta area.  We originally chose site 8 on the map but found it was pretty exposed and got direct sun all the time.

The park was very clean and still had a "new" feeling.  We had a site with full hook ups.  There wasn't WiFi, but the cell service was good.  They did have cable.  There is a beach with kayak rentals.  We enjoyed a double kayak outing on the lake.  We kept pretty close to shore and didn't have to fight rough water or strong currents.

Some campsites are on small hills that flatten out for your camper but then the terrain falls off.  Biking trails weren't very flat.  We also had to be aware of ants.  Couldn't leave our dog's dish or bone out without being invaded.

Don't miss the Mountain Fresh Creamery almost 8 miles away for ice cream.  Also not far from Helen, GA and wineries.  Always great to spend time in the beautiful Georgia mountains.

Hard Labor Creek State Park is one of the Georgia State Park system's best kept secrets! Located just minutes away from Rutledge, GA, HLC seems like a whole world away! Away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, HLC is still convenient to Rutledge and Madison, in case you forgot to pack something.

HLC features hiking trails, mini golf, newly "renovated" campsites that include two BRAND new bathhouses (comfort stations). The comfort stations have restrooms/showers, as well as two family restroom/shower facilities. The comfort stations also feature vending machines (drinks) and a laundry facility!

Kayak rentals, a beach/swimming area and numerous special programs are available!

Cell phone service is very spotty in the park but that is alright with us, camping is about getting AWAY and enjoying the outdoors, not staring at your electronic devices!

If golf is your thing, HLC has a beautiful 18-hole golf course!

This park in North Georgia on Lake Lanier hit our trifecta 🚴‍♀️🥾🚣🏼‍♂️.

12.5 miles of multi use trails with some elevation.
📌Additional bonus for those with strollers/small children or physical challenges —>this park had several ADA accessible trails which were paved.

Lake Lanier offered wonderful kayaking/fishing opportunities, there is also a beach for swimming. If you paddle or fish- be sure to have your fishing license/whistle/ life jacket. I got pulled over twice by water patrol.

Keith loved biking the rolling country roads surrounding the park. Too hilly for me outside the park but I am a wimp about climbing hills.

We could do it all easily from our campsite which had 30/50amp, water and lucky us there was a grey water drain within hose reach. (These Grey water drains are dispersed randomly throughout the campground not always near your site) There is also cable hook up. Verizon service was okay.

We stayed here for 10 days in mid July and bugs were minimal...as long as you were inside or armed at dusk with repellent or fans.

The wooded campsites and shady trails made the whole summer adventure great!

There are primitive tent camping areas and lovely 8 cottages/cabins too!)

Beautiful state park with lots to see, nice hiking. Campground is small and sites are close. Some of the pull through sites are tight and challenging. Enjoyed our stay, will be back.

Real friendly staff. Nicely laid out, but I guess could be challenging for really big rigs. W & E with dump station and pretty good facilities

Cell coverage a little challenging but managed to get enough download for Visible to stream Netflix. Too many trees to break out Starlink

Trails are a fun walk.

Park pass is $5 but the park is beautiful and a great way to spend the afternoon!

This is a beautiful park with very nice trails. But if there is rain in the forecast do not, for the love of God, do not camp in the pioneer sites. You will get flooded. It's mostly downhill on a shifty walkway full of rocks and DANGER! But the rest of the campground was very nice. Level lots with tent pads and clean bathrooms. We prefer primitive camping and although it rained a lot, the pioneer sites were very nice and private. I'd definitely return to this park, but I'll make sure to check the weather first.

Watson Mill Bridge state park is very quiet in the off season! Just what we were looking for!

All sites but three were pull through with three primitive sites. Bathhouse was clean. Trails were pleasant and the bridge and falls were awesome. Main campground closes for 3 months but the equestion side stays open. make sure you are coming into park for the correct campground since campers cant go across bridge.

Great hiking trails. Beautiful covered bridge.

Pioneer campsite 1 is very nice.

As stated by another reviewer, if rain is in the forecast, probably would not want to stay.

Large site with fire pit and picnic table. Table is chained to a tree. No tent pad, you can pick where you want to sleep. There are lots of trees for hammocks. And you are right on the water. Rocks shoals right off the site.

The site is down a path from a parking area. There is a water faucet about 1/4 way down the trail.

Phone service with ATT and Sprint/T-Mobile is non existent at the campsite. 200 yards uphill at bathhouse service is available.

Very private site.
Will reserve again.

This review is for Prim. Campsite 2 at WMBSP. It was ideal for our family of 4. We had 2 tents but you could probably fit at least 4 or 5 comfortably on the site. Beautiful view of Big Clouds Creek. Rushing water sound as there are some small rapids there. We caught 2 bass. There is a picnic table and a fire pit with a built in grill, but we cooked on our Coleman stove and charcoal grill mostly. The drive down is washed out a bit but a 2 wheel drive Tahoe handled it. Getting back up if it had been raining would probably not be guaranteed, so watch the weather carefully. This site is best enjoyed in dry weather. There is a water spigot but it’s in an area with red clay near the entrance to the site so it’s messy. The hike up to the bath house is fine but it will get your heart pumping. The bath house is clean. There is one shower on the lady’s side and two on the men’s. Hot water was wonderful. No washer and dryer any longer at the bath house so be prepared for that. We LOVED the hike to the bridge, about 6/10 of a mile. You will pass the ruins of a old hydro power plant.

229 ft long covered bridge you can drive through (height and weight restrictions). Sites have power and water, dump station is available. Shower house with laundry. Hiking and bike trails. Shadey and quiet. Wade in the river below the bridge but careful, the rocks are slick.

My friends and I loved our stay at pioneer campground #1. It's right off of Big Cloud Creek and old Bridge ruines, providing a nice private and relaxing atmosphere that gives you a glimpse into the past. There are plenty of hiking trails nearby as well a swimming holes and the main covered bridge. We all wish we could have stayed another night. The pioneer site is 35 a night and a couple hundred yards from the bathroom and coin laundry. Once you get to the top of the hill you will get cell service.

This is a tiny campground and State Park. We stayed on site 20 which was a pull through. For a State Park the sites are considerable in size and our neighbors weren't 15 feet from our site.

Verizon LTE was on 4G with 2 bars but we had no issues with phone calls, texts or streaming.

There is one bathroom and there is a washer and dryer despite what someone mentioned. It looks pretty new.

Park is beautiful in the fall. Middle November there were still yellow, orange and red leaves hanging on for dear life.

Head down the the covered bridge 20 min after sunset for gorgeous photos.