Red Top Mountain State Park Campground
Heavenly! Red Top Mountain State Park
Spot #50 is perfection! Feels like you live alone on a tiny peninsula. Perfect place to explore trails, go fishing, enjoy sunset, and just be.
154 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping around Carrollton, Georgia ranges from basic to more developed sites within driving distance of town. The Beautiful Rock Campground has good shade trees and clean sites that many campers return to year after year. Hikers can set up at Cheaha State Park, where trails run through the woods and connect to camping areas. Red Top Mountain State Park Campground works well for fishing trips, with spots near the water where you can catch bass and catfish. Shaefer Heard Campground has bigger sites that don't feel cramped, plus you can walk to activities nearby. Some campers find Sweetwater Campground too loud because of traffic noise from the road. If you want more quiet, Chattahoochee Bend State Park Campground sits farther back with trails winding through the woods. Bathroom setups differ between parks - some have regular toilets and hot showers while others just have pit toilets. Remember to keep food locked up since raccoons and other animals come around at night. Carrollton itself has grocery stores and restaurants when you need supplies. You can camp here most of the year, with spring and fall having the best weather. Summer gets pretty hot, so bring extra water and shade gear. Winter camping works too, but bring warm sleeping bags since nights get cold. Some sites have more trees between them for privacy than others. Most campgrounds have enough trees to give you shade during hot days. You'll find a campground that works whether you're staying for a weekend or longer.
"Check in is easy, either call and leave a deposit or drive up and pay. They let you peruse the sites before paying which was nice."
"Has nice paved walking/bike trails and well kept natural trails. One trail follows the Tallapoosa River with areas that have benches. Pond and lake are a bust for fishing."
from $40 - $50 / night
Check Availability"The other campgrounds are away from the river back in the woods. The tent sites are a bit too close together for my liking."
"The trails are well marked and easy to follow. The river is beautiful and the overlook towers were a nice touch. Being able to lay in the hammock right next to the water was perfect."
from $11 - $215 / night
Check Availability"They have two small lakes with a swim/picnic area on larger lake. Fishing and non-motor boating on both. There are paved and non-paved walking paths."
"Pioneer is up the hill from the main Rv campground and there is a little trail you can drive up - a car can make it but recommend a truck. Pioneer is spacious and all to yourself."
from $27 - $40 / night
Check Availability"We live close by so for a night trip this is a perfect little getaway."
"I cleaned up a bit of trash around my site when I arrived. The camp host drove around selling firewood."
"The Not So Great: the site location, while close to the interstate was via some smaller mostly residential streets."
"The train near by is VERY loud though, it comes by morning noon and night."
from $45 - $80 / night
Check Availability"We camped right next to the lower field with a llamas, a pot belly pig and goats. It was so great to be able to look out the windows and see all of them."
from $25 - $35 / night
Check Availability"If you don't have a key your not driving in. All the campsites are set back in the woods at different elevations and really cool. It took us about 6 months to get in here. Long waiting list."
from $99 - $204 / night
Check Availability"and the feel of the park - it feels like step back in time to when a summer campout was a step away from civilization."
"Stayed in upper improved site 12 which was close to the facilities and has direct access to the trails. Unfortunately, it was super foggy and wet the entire time we were there."
"There is a nice hiking trail right across from site 1. There were plenty of trees around the sites to hang hammocks. They have 2 vault toilets, which are lit at night which is nice."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"There's several yurts and 5 walk-in tent sites. Yes, some of the reviews here are confusing this park with another. There's NO RV or TRAILER camping here. "
"15 miles West of Atlanta, Ga off I20 Sweetwater Creek State Park offers history, trails, water activities and peace and quiet."
from $28 - $100 / night
Check Availability









Spot #50 is perfection! Feels like you live alone on a tiny peninsula. Perfect place to explore trails, go fishing, enjoy sunset, and just be.
Stayed 4 nights at Cheaha State Park in the Upper Improved Campground, using sites 2 and 42. Overall, it was a solid stay with great scenery and convenient access, but a few things kept it from being exceptional. Check-in was easy and straightforward, and the staff were friendly and accommodating. Both sites were easy to access, though not perfectly level, which is worth noting if you’re in a van or RV and don’t carry leveling gear. The sites included full hookups (electric, water, and sewer), along with a fire ring and picnic table, which made setup simple and comfortable. However, the sites are fairly close together, and the campground has a lot of trees and hilly terrain, so privacy is somewhat limited. We had mostly good weather aside from one rainy day, and there were some bugs and flies, especially during warmer parts of the day. The bathhouse had restrooms and showers, but cleanliness was inconsistent and could use more frequent upkeep. On the positive side, the location is the highlight. The park has a camp store at the entrance, plus great overlooks and hiking trails. It’s also a nice area for biking and exploring the mountain scenery. Would I stay again? Yes—but probably with tempered expectations. It’s a beautiful park in a great location, but for the price, the campground experience itself feels just okay rather than outstanding.
We stayed at Winding Waters Riverfront RV Resort for four nights after picking up our new 5th wheel toy hauler from Three Way Campers in Marietta to thoroughly test all of the RV's systems while remaining close to the dealership if any issues arose. We followed the emailed arrival instructions, checked in quickly, and were escorted to pull-through Site 89 with full hookups. The staff was friendly, service-oriented, and very accommodating throughout our stay. We spent our first night in the pull-through before moving to a river-view back-in site. The staff initially suggested Site 190, but after we noticed it had very little yard space, they happily moved us to Site 193, which better suited our needs. The resort offers several unsecured Wi-Fi networks; we selected the strongest signal and averaged 82 Mbps download and 9 Mbps upload. We received two bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile, and our T-Mobile Home Internet worked well. We didn't bring Starlink on this trip, but with very few trees throughout the main campground, it should perform well in most sites. The pull-through sites are better spaced than many campgrounds of this type, although we still wouldn't describe them as spacious. We appreciated the PVC chairs and round tables found at many sites instead of the typical picnic table, and there are five"Paw Pen" pull-through sites with private fenced pet areas. The nearby dog park consists of two small fenced runs that are adequate for potty breaks but not really large enough to throw a ball. Although the water park and numerous family-oriented amenities are not typically what we look for in a campground, Winding Waters was an excellent place to shake down our new rig.
This is a typical park where not all sites are created equal. Some are paved, some are gravel. Some have 50 amp, some are 30-amp. Some are perfectly level and some have really steep grades. Some sites are pull-thru, some are back-in. Some are really long, some are much shorter. The roads in the campground are paved, free of potholes, and fairly easily navigable for big-rigs. All sites are pet-friendly and have water and electric. There are no sewer sites. Campsites 1-27 and 85-106 have 50-amp electric while the others are 30-amp. Some sites (40, 47, 50, 52, 65, 80, 84, 87, 89, 101) are “double-unit” (or buddy) sites which is reflective in the $60/night price. There are bathrooms scattered throughout the campground in each loop but there are only two shower houses in the entire campground. Sites 1-16 are perfectly level as are a few others. Reservations can be made online and the website has pictures and descriptions as well as length of site. The campground is very dark at night with the only lights being at the bathrooms. We love dark campgrounds where the moon and stars are bright. Unfortunately, numerous campers left their lights all night which we find really annoying. Our Verizon phone was very spotty and not reliable. We were able to use our portable Dish satellite to get television. There is a dump station located conveniently on your way out which is quite busy on Sundays at check out.
Red Top Mountain State Park is surrounded by Altoona Lake with boat docks & marina for water sports.
I had one of tha best times at McKinney campground.. tha water is perfect and its so pretty .. the people that runs it also was very polite and very kind.. I highly recommend this locations
Bathhouses clean but worn. Our site was level but many are not. Construction at the entrance. Road into the park is up and down with curves and some steep grades. WiFi and ATT signal were nonexistent at our site. Hiking was really good.
I stayed at the walk- in campsites with waterfront view and access to walk down to the water. There is no electric at site and water didn’t work. The bathroom facilities are well maintained and whole place is really clean. This site was right next to parking other 3 are close but wagon recommended to haul items to other walk on sites.
Gorgeous campground on the lake with excellent facilities. Priority along the lake front is given to tent sites, which is nice. There's a mix of sizes for small campers and big RVs so it never feels crowded. Not a huge amount to do in the area except chill on the lake or at your site in the woods... which is fine by me. The one shortcoming was difficult lake access from the campground. There are plenty of beach areas when the lake is low but getting to them can be challenging. There's a public beach in another part of the park but we didn't go there.
Campgrounds near Carrollton, Georgia offer a range of experiences from riverside platforms to farm settings with unique wildlife encounters. The region sits at the western edge of Georgia where the terrain transitions from rolling Piedmont hills to the flatter Coastal Plain. Campers find options within county parks, state recreation areas, and private facilities, with most sites accessible year-round despite occasional winter temperature drops below freezing.
Hiking trails: At Chattahoochee Bend State Park Campground, trails wind through the wooded landscape with minimal elevation changes. "Lots of great hiking. After 2 days, you will feel like a local getting around. There are so many small trails that are shortcuts around this park," notes Joey P., who also mentions the river views enhanced by fall colors.
Kayaking access: Bush Head Shoals Park offers quick river access with clean camping areas. "We floated and hiked and had an amazing time. There are a lot of things to do if you are adventurous enough and love the outdoors like we do," reports Christy R., who normally avoids public campgrounds but found this one exceptionally clean and spacious.
Wildlife viewing: While camping in the area, keep watch for local wildlife. "Almost every time I camp here I see a bald eagle flying over the river," says Justin K. about his experiences at Bush Head Shoals Park. The wooded settings throughout most campgrounds provide habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Spacious sites: Campers appreciate when sites provide adequate room. At Little Tallapoosa Park, "Sites are nice and paved with full hook ups. There was even a dish at our site for satellite," notes Swain K., who also mentions the park's paved trails for hiking, equestrian options, and golf cart access.
Clean facilities: Bathhouse cleanliness ranks high on campers' priorities. "The bathrooms were cleaner than my bathroom at home," shares Joey P. about Chattahoochee Bend. Similarly, at Little Tallapoosa Park, one reviewer mentioned, "The bathrooms were pretty clean and there is even a laundry facility."
Riverside camping: The platform camping at McIntosh Reserve Park offers a unique experience. "We had our wedding and honeymoon here—it was quite and peaceful," shares Tausha M. The park sits alongside the Chattahoochee River, providing opportunities for fishing and exploring the riverbank.
Tent pad surfaces: Be prepared for various tent pad surfaces depending on your location. At John Tanner Park Campground, one camper noted, "With this being newly built the asphalt seemed to give a little and even just sitting in our chairs made indentation." At Little Tallapoosa Park, another camper mentioned needing "to move a lot of golfball-size rocks out of the way to set up our tent."
Bathroom availability: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. "They currently do not have running water or a shower house but they indicated they are trying to construct one soon," notes Julia M. about Bush Head Shoals Park. This contrasts with sites like Little Tallapoosa Park where separate camping areas include "a comfort station with bathrooms, showers, laundry and a little free library."
Noise factors: Sound considerations vary by location. At Yogi Bears Jellystone Park, Randy B. warns that "the loud train that runs through town goes all day and all night." Meanwhile, at Bush Head Shoals Park, Justin K. appreciates that the area is "very well kept and far out from large roads so it is always quiet enough to hear the birds."
Kid-friendly amenities: Yogi Bears Jellystone Park offers extensive children's activities. "My kids loved the open activities at Jellystone! They bounced on the jump pad, went down the new bounce slide, enjoyed the playground, and the pools," shares Kasey M., though she noted the pools were cold despite hot weather.
Farm experiences: For a unique camping experience, consider Llamas on the Loose Farm where kids can interact with animals. "We absolutely loved all the animals on the farm. We camped right next to the lower field with llamas, a pot belly pig and goats," describes Marina T., whose family enjoyed watching animals from their camper windows.
Swimming options: John Tanner Park Campground provides a beach area for families. "We visited the 'beach' one day and the water was super warm," notes a camper who also mentioned the "cute little waterfall down a walking trail behind lot 27."
Site selection: Different camping loops offer varying experiences. At Chattahoochee Bend State Park Campground, Erin C. recommends "spot #103 in Campground 1, lots of privacy for our 21ft Lance TT. Backing in was not difficult even though we had to raise the right tire 3" to be level."
Full hookup availability: Sweetwater Creek State Park Campground offers RV sites with complete services. "You could definitely hear traffic going by the camp site as a thoroughfare runs through the park. The bathroom facilities and shower were among the cleanest I've seen on the road," notes Tyler B., who prefers sleeping in his vehicle but would pitch a tent there again.
Site leveling: Be prepared for unlevel sites at some campgrounds. At Little Tallapoosa Park, Laura M. noted it had a "very clean park with paved loop and sites," though she mentioned the campground host "wasn't very friendly and seemed annoyed we did not have a reservation even though there were plenty of sites open."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds in Carrollton, GA?
The Carrollton area offers several excellent camping options. Little Tallapoosa Park provides a local camping experience with water access and amenities like toilets and reservable sites. For a more expansive outdoor experience, John Tanner Park Campground offers multiple access options including drive-in and boat-in camping with facilities suitable for various camping styles. Both parks are convenient to Carrollton while providing natural settings for outdoor recreation. McIntosh Reserve Park and Chattahoochee Bend State Park are also within driving distance for those willing to venture slightly further for riverside camping experiences.
What tent camping options are available near Carrollton, GA?
Tent campers near Carrollton have several appealing options. McIntosh Reserve Park offers tent camping with riverside sites and basic amenities including water and toilets. Just a bit further out, Chattahoochee Bend State Park Campground provides tent sites with five miles of river frontage on the Chattahoochee, though shade can be limited. For those willing to drive a bit more, Coleman Lake Recreation Area in Talladega National Forest offers a remote tent camping experience with water and electric hookups in a serene forest setting. Most tent sites in the area are available year-round, though spring and fall typically offer the most comfortable temperatures.
Is there a provincial park for camping in Carrollton, GA?
Georgia doesn't have provincial parks as these are found in Canada. Instead, Georgia offers state parks for camping near Carrollton. Sweetwater Creek State Park Campground is the closest state park facility, located near Lithia Springs with drive-in and walk-in camping options. For water enthusiasts, COE West Point Lake R Shaefer Heard Campground provides lakeside camping with many sites overlooking the water. While not directly in Carrollton, these state-managed parks are within reasonable driving distance and offer the regulated, well-maintained camping experience similar to what you might expect from provincial parks.
Are there any RV parks available in Carrollton, GA?
Yes, RV enthusiasts have several options near Carrollton. Atlanta West Campground functions more as an RV park than a traditional campground, with many long-term residents and convenient access to town amenities. For those seeking a more scenic setting, Sweetwater Creek RV Reserve offers tree-surrounded sites with full hookups, though be prepared for some bumpy access roads. Both locations accommodate larger rigs. Additionally, Yogi Bears Jellystone Park near Bremen provides family-friendly RV camping with amenities and activities designed for families with children.
Keep Exploring