Lake Allatoona, formed by the Allatoona Dam on the Etowah River, offers 270 miles of shoreline for camping and glamping near Canton, Georgia. The lake sits at 840 feet elevation with water temperatures ranging from 50°F in winter to 80°F in summer. Most campgrounds in the region operate from April through October, though several maintain year-round availability.
What to Do
Hiking options: Fort Mountain State Park Campground provides extensive trail networks with significant elevation changes. "There are a lot of hills here so expect this when walking to bathouses from most campsites. We had inconsistent cell coverage even with a Winegard booster with AT&T and Verizon. Mornings were best reception and evening were not so good," notes one camper who visited for 10 days.
Fishing access: At Mckinney Campground, anglers can fish directly from their lakefront sites. "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," shares one regular visitor.
Swimming beaches: Many campgrounds feature designated swimming areas with varying amenities. "The campsite was right next to the swimming beach so little to no privacy and very loud. Although I slept very well in my tent because Quiet hours were observed. It was nice waking up to view of Lake Allatoona," notes a camper at Clark Creek South Campground.
What Campers Like
Tent-friendly sites: Amicalola Falls State Park Camping offers specialized camping options beyond standard RV hookups. "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," reports a family who tent camped there.
Platform camping experiences: Fort Mountain State Park's unique platform sites provide an elevated glamping option. "I've never slept outside of a tent. I've always wanted to, but never had the guts to do it... There is definitely active wildlife here! Two other couples at two separate platform sites had encounters with a bear the same weekend I was here. Needless to say, I did it! I slept outside of a tent!!" shares a first-time platform camper.
Private lake access: Clark Creek South Campground offers direct water access from most campsites. "Perfect views of the lake, some spots lead directly down to the water. Huge spots, well-spaced and friendly hosts!" notes one reviewer who appreciated the layout and spacing between sites.
What You Should Know
Seasonal limitations: Many campgrounds have restricted operating schedules. "Trip taken Labor Day 2018. Still pregnant. I can't complain about this trip as I barely remember it! I can confirm I had good signal on my phone as basically all we did was watch football. All the sites appear to be waterfront but ours, 87, kind of wasn't. But it was shady and pretty," explains a visitor to Shady Grove Campground, which operates March through November.
Alcohol restrictions: Several county parks prohibit alcohol consumption. "Nice campground. If you enjoy having a beer while camping don't come here. Beautiful day, beer in a solo cup playing cards with my wife at a picnic table. We were not making noise, nobody complained about us. Ranger pulls up and gave us both tickets. We had a mandatory court appearance, turns out each ticket is $280.00," warns a camper from Shady Grove Campground.
Highway noise concerns: Traffic sounds affect some campgrounds more than others. "This place is nice overall. Lots of sites are water front, that's a plus. But it is so close to i75 that the sound of traffic is constant; during the day is manageable but at night it makes it hard to sleep if you are in a tent and are a silent sleeper," notes a camper at COE Allatoona Lake Old Highway 41 No 3 Campground.
Tips for Camping with Families
Beach activities: Several campgrounds maintain dedicated swim areas with amenities. "We spent a weekend here in section O. It was a nice, spacious campsite with a nice picnic table and partial view of the lake even though we didn't have 'lake view' site. Would absolutely camp here again. The shower house was a little dirty, so that's why I gave 4 stars instead of 5," shares a family who stayed at Stone Mountain Park Campground.
Wildlife education opportunities: Many campgrounds feature diverse wildlife viewing. "The campground is gate code controlled and sprawled across a tree covered, large hilly area. Friendly staff, with the Jr ranger program still going with the help of adult campers during covid. Still so much fun and so clean and beautiful!!" notes a family who participated in educational programs at Red Top Mountain State Park.
Playground facilities: Several parks include play equipment for children. "This isnt for backpackers but for camping with your family, its good. They have water and outlets and very very clean bathrooms. Like cleaner than a Publix bathroom. Kid friendly," remarks a family-focused camper at Red Top Mountain.
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: When glamping near Canton with a large RV, carefully review site dimensions. "We have a 27' airstream and there are a couple campsites that are hard to get into. Number 18 does not look hard, but the layout is very difficult to get into. The bend halfway into the campground would be extremely difficult with much bigger than 27' camper," advises an RV owner from Amicalola Falls.
Leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require additional equipment for RVs. "The park is nice with plenty of amenities. I had two complaints. We stayed creekside at site 24. The site had about a 5 inch difference shopping towards the road. I used rocker blocks maxed out (about 4 inches in height) and still was not level," shares an RV camper at Fort Mountain State Park.
Utility hookup access: Many sites offer variable electric service. "Being our first stop ever we were happy to have the friendly helpful staff. The lots are spaced out a bit so even if you have to unload dogs or children, you won't be on top of the next slot. Large bathroom/showers though they are not exactly constant," notes a camper at Clark Creek South regarding the water service.
