Looking for an adventure where you can explore Carters Lake and then fall asleep in your tent? You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Each tent campsite offers quick access to one or more of Carters Lake's most popular destinations.
This recreation area is part of Carters Lake
Bear locker/box is provided, water is available but needs to be filtered/purified.
Springer Mountain Shelter (3700 ft) to trail east on side trail with privy and reliable spring. Established tent sites nearby.
Raven Cliff Falls camping This trail is one of North Georgia’s most popular camping destinations. Trailhead campsites offer fantastic stream-side camping just steps from the car, and a fantastic base camp for hiking the Raven Cliff Falls Trail during the day. The trail is also dotted with many backpacking campsites on the creek’s level banks, offering a little more solitude for campers willing to backpack it in. Black bears frequent this wilderness area. Keep all food items and fragrant cosmetics out of reach in a bear canister: many years ago, we lost our camp stove, food and cookware to a trio of bears in a traditionally-hung bear bag along this trail. Campsites are free and first-come, first-claimed. Pack out everything you pack in: this is one of Georgia’s most beautiful Wilderness areas, so please, please leave no trace. (What is Wilderness, and why is it important? Read more in our guide to Wilderness areas in the South.)
Totally Off-grid, Offline, Private, Natural retreat weekend
Enjoy your completely private, secluded camping experience on over 20 forested acres in the foothills of Blueridge Mountains. We are in Northern Georgia near the tiny town of Fairmount, between Jasper, Cartersville, and Calhoun, GA. You will be our ONLY GUESTS for the entire weekend!
When you arrive, your tent will already be set up, and your air mattress bed turned down, welcoming you to enjoy your first night under the stars. That evening, we suggest winding down by maybe reading a book, or curling up by the fire to be mesmerized by its flames. With no traffic or light pollution, you may find some of the best star gazing ever. Then the night sounds of the forest will soothe you into a night of restful sleep.
We love kids, but this is a retreat designed for ADULTS. There are cliffs and drop-offs near the campsite that are not safe for children. Adults with disabilities should contact us in advance of booking to make sure you are comfortable with the physical demands of spending the weekend camping on this raw, wild property. Pathways and trails are uneven and rocky in spots, and some trails are steep.
MUST LOVE DOGS! Our property is owned by four dogs, two goats, and a cat who let us live with them! Our dogs and cat roam freely on the property and the goats may be offended if you don’t at least say hello.
Off-grid and Offline means: NO electricity, NO indoor plumbing, NO Wi-Fi
(This kind of weekend is not for everyone, and that’s OK!)
Off-grid and Offline also means: You will be staying on a ridge with a panoramic view of the forest and mountains like none other. You will experience no traffic, no city noise. Just quiet, peace, and wild nature.
We live in our tiny, off-grid house on the first ridge. You will be able to see it from your campsite on the second ridge. Please do let us know before you stop by though, because we shower outside! We will provide a walkie-talkie should you need to contact us, and otherwise, we will respect your privacy and the entire second ridge will be yours! If you would like to hike to the creek or explore the rest of the 20 acres, just let us know and we will direct you to the trailhead.
Going without your phone is encouraged, but optional, of course, though you may not have a signal either way. We provide walkie-talkies for safety, and we personally have phone service in case of emergencies.
You may bring your own alcohol and we are 420 friendly. Please just keep it at your campsite, consume responsibly and in moderation to preserve your nature experience. There are steep inclines, rocks and stumps that may cause injury to an inebriated camper! Also, clean up cans/bottles and any other waste every day and night.
On this lovely weekend, you may want to hike, bird watch, meditate, sketch, read or just relax on the ridge with the scenic overlook that is all yours.
Please call us to book your weekend! We can’t wait to hear from you and help you plan the most relaxing, natural, off-grid weekend you can have!
What is included:
o One or two four person tents.
o A large canopy shelter with table and two chairs to keep you out of the weather. (Bring your own camping chairs.)
o 5 gallons of water
o 1 bundle of firewood each night (No firewood may be brought in. We don’t want to introduce new bugs to our natural environment)
o A fire pit
o A bucket toilet with toilet seat. (Remember, this is off-grid!)
o Cooler with ice
Some items to remember to bring:
o All food for the weekend. We are a remote location, so you won’t be able to just run into town for supplies.
o Sleeping bags or sheets, blankets, pillows. It sometimes gets cold on the mountain at night, so prepare to bundle up.
o Dishwashing supplies. Dawn soap is the only soap allowed for dish washing, as it is safe for the environment.
Add on’s (please try to request in advance):
$10 - Coffee bundle: Camp style coffee percolator, Coffee mugs, coffee grounds, sugar, sweetener, powdered creamer
$5 – Extra firewood – per bundle
$15 – Smore’s package
$15 – Guided tour to creek, and other sites (note: The creek is usually dry from October until February, which provides the opportunity to search for artifacts. From March until September, the creek is usually flowing, which provides the opportunity to play in the creek, or sit by the water and listen to the sounds.)
$20 - for a trip into town to pick up forgotten supplies
Penalty Fees: Please avoid these at all costs. We are assuming the kind of people who want to camp off-grid and offline are also the kind of people who will respect nature and others.
$80 - $100 / night
This recreation area is part of Lake Sidney Lanier
Lost Creek Campground is located along the banks of Big Lost Creek. This primitive campground offers remote camping and is surrounded by dense forest and creeks. Lost Creek Campground is open year round. Sites are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. While staying at Lost Creek, campers can enjoy fishing in Big Lost Creek (note: special regulations are in effect for fishing in Big Lost Creek).
This property offers the opportunity to pitch a tent on 12 acres of woodlands where you'll have the entire lot to yourself. The site is located a short walking distance from the Toccoa River which is famous for trout fishing. There are also two spring fed ponds ready for drinking. You'll also find firewood that is provided, an outhouse, a grill and a picnic table.
There are plenty of activities to enjoy during your stay, including biking, boating, fishing, paddling hiking and more. You'll find a fire pit perfect for campfire nights
$35 / night
View of Big Frog Mountain Area of Cherokee National Forest This area is known for solitude and backcountry adventure, with Big Frog Wilderness being a destination for backpacking, day-hiking and hunting. The area offers about 35 miles of backcountry trails, some of which climb to over 4,000 feet. In addition to the backcountry hiking opportunities, the area is also managed as a Black Bear reserve. Try snorkeling at Conasauga River, renowned for remarkable fish viewing. Pitch a tent at Tumbling Creek or Sylco Campgrounds. Big Frog Area Map Big Frog Area Guide
Traveler
We tent camped on Spot 27. Nice back in RV spot with water and electric. Bathhouse is close by. Gray water dump is across the road. Originally we booked Spot 60. That’s a pull through with little room for a tent. No cell service but that’s okay as we disconnected for a while. You can get service at the top of the park. Clean bathrooms with hot showers. Trails are nicely blazed with colors that match trail map. Georgia apple farms are a short, 20-30 minutes away.
Guide
Easy access to the lake for paddleboarding; lot was close enough to paddle 1/2 mile to day use area/marina restaurant. Nicely shaded and good proximity to restrooms.
Guide
Easy access to Lake Alatoona with good views, minimal shade and access area was swampy on my lot but manageable. Water surprisingly chilly in summer from the Etowah River.
Guide
Beautiful mountain landscape over a calm lake, very quiet and little to no light pollution at night. Lots of trees for shade in the lots and easy access to the lake.
Traveler
Beautifully well maintained, clean grounds! Beautiful lake and stables and plenty of room ,yet campsites are tucked away to also give u a private feel as well! Pet friendly as well!
Traveler
I slept really well last night here, and the camp host and guests were just great. Heated bathhouse with warm shower was definitely a highlight on a chilly morning!
Only downside in my mind was that I booked a tent site, only to find that the tent sites are down the hill from all the other sites, so if you book them you will have to haul your stuff down to the lake. It did sound like the night-time fishing would be awesome though!
GuideI had a wonderful time at backcountry site #4 this past Sunday - Monday. The hike to the site is downhill from the stone wall parking lot, so it was pretty easy to get to at only 1 mile.
The site is private and pretty large. There were plenty of trees for hammocks and a few flat spots for small tents.
A small creek flows through the site for easy water access (but I was told that it doesn’t flow all year).
The best part of site #4 is that it’s about 0.2 miles from a beautiful west facing overlook where I enjoyed the sunset.
I can’t recommend this site every .
Guide
Recently stayed a couple of nights and was mostly impressed with the state park. I’m a tent camper but if I had an RV or trailer, I would definitely have trouble getting into my site (78). Many of the other sites I saw would have similar problems for trailer campers, as well. The park is in close proximity to I-75, so I could hear the distant sound of big rigs and the occasional police sirens. There is also railroad tracks somewhere that are close enough to hear train whistles in the wee hours of the morning. But the scenery of Lake Alatoona was beautiful and the staff I dealt with were all friendly and helpful. The bathroom facilities I used were very clean.
GuideThis is a great park with a lot to offer and more in the near vicinity.
Cell reception (T-Mobile) was non-existent in the site. However, there was reception at the trading post and possibly elsewhere.
They're installing Bear Boxes in tent sites back and front country (as I understood it) and are clearly paying attention to what people want and how to improve visitors experiences.
A lot of the sites are RV orientated. But the walk in tent sites are really close to the parking area. Also, nearby backcountry platforms and sites can be easily accessed.
If you want walking access to the trails, it's probably best to choose a site near the lake as that's where most trails are accessed from.
Guide
Outstanding park! Camp sites are spaced decently apart and well kept. Restrooms / showers are very clean. Welcome center has plenty of backpacking supplies as well.
ScoutWe’ve stayed several times. The people are so kind. The only property is gorgeous and it’s always a great stay!
Guide
It took us about 1.5 hours to reach the campground from where the pavement ended. It gets rough in places, but a sedan can do it if it's dry. Once you finally reach the campground, it is nice. Nestled way back in the woods. No power or water hookups. A couple of water hydrates throughout the campground. No alcohol permitted. It is a wildlife management area. There is a host in the campground. Beautiful scenery!
Guide
Land pass required. No alcohol is permitted. This is a wildlife management area. The camp sites are first come, first serve. They are free. Only 2 sites with tables. If you like dispersed camping you'll probably enjoy it. If you prefer a campground, this is not for you.
Guide
This campground is side by side hook ups. Not a tree one in the site area. Beautiful view of the mountain. We did not stay the night.
Guide
The Pocket is our favorite place to camp. You're under a good canopy, so lots of shade. The creek is great for kids to play in. There's no need to bring water, just a container. There's a natural spring that flows out of the ground in the day area. We drink this water every day. We are local to The Pocket, so we fill jugs for home here as well. It is very cold water. No matter the temperature, you'll cool off in the spring. No showers but they do have a bathroom house. No water or power hookups. Site 10 is right next to the creek and gets the most sun. Site 7 is close to the day area, and people tend to intrude on your privacy in this site. Other than that, the campground is awesome! Our favorite sites are 6 and 23.
Legend
We stayed at site 125 with a full view of the lake. We could watch the sunset & the sunrise each day and it was incredible. There is plenty of tree cover & wilderness surrounding you. Bath houses were decent (albeit a little outdated). Our spot had a pretty bad ant infestation & they ended up getting into our trailer, which I had to scour with spray, etc. But what can you do? Just bring some supplies in case. What we really liked about this campground is how natural the surroundings are. You're really immersed in the wooded area with a view of the beautiful lake & the sounds of birdsong, etc. Good campground for bikes as things are spread out (swimming beach, bathhouses). We would certainly come back!
Traveler
This is a primitive campground with a picnic table, lantern pole and a firepit with a grate. It is pack in-pack out as there are no trashcans or dumpsters. Water is available via a hand water pump across from site#8 and the toilets are vault toilets but were well kept and did not smell horrible. The stream is gorgeous stream and loud enough to drown out most road noise. There are some hazardous trees and one 6inch tree did fall while we were there this weekend during a thunderstorm. At the back of the campground is a~2 mile trail that connects to the AT. Most sites have a tent pad that will accommodate a 10’x10’ tent. Sites 2, 4, and 8 driveways can really only accommodate 1 car and there are no extra parking spots. Driveways for sites 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 can accommodate 2 cars. Site 1 is adjacent to the road and is going to be impacted by road noise. There is no campground host so be prepared to either scavenge wood or buy it in town, same goes for ice.
Traveler
Nice campsites with water and electricity. Almost all the sites have view of lake and many have access to the lake for swimming or paddle boarding or boating. Nice breeze off the lake. Will be back many times.
Guide
It was a nice campground. But it is set up to be too crowded. Not my kind of camping. But they stated was friendly. The restrooms weren’t so bad considering how many kids was there. Couldn’t let the dogs walk free so that sucked.
Traveler
I called and was told this is a membership ONLY campground resort! Please delete this resort
Traveler
We stayed in site 7 and we really enjoyed it. The site was clean and the pad was very level.
We had a minor issue popping the 30amp breaker but switched over to the 50 amp adapter and all worked fine.
Didn’t use the bath house but I did go check them out and they looked clean.
I would caution big rigs on the first loop (sites 2 - 9) the loop at the back is pretty tight. We did fine with our 28’ TT but anyone over 30’ might want to consider the other loops.
Driving through and looking at the other sites some of the picnic areas need to be reworked or at the very least mowed and weeded. If it wasn’t for that sort of stuff I would give it 5 stars.
Scout
We just finished our third RV trip at 411 River Rest CG—which was our seventh trip there over the past few years. The campground is pretty and extremely well maintained. The Coosawattee River is beautiful, as are the big trees that are a part of the facility. The exceptionally large and tall sycamores are particularly nice! The owners are friendly and they’re involved on a daily basis with the operations. We already have two trips scheduled for 411 RR CG for next year!
Scout
The campground road access continues to be closed as of July 10, 2024.
ScoutGreat place to camp and just relax and watch all children play and laugh.
Scout
We found Kennedy Creek in September 2023 and have been back five times since then. The setting is absolutely beautiful with direct views of the mountains and sprawling grounds where the resort sits.
They offer everything from tent or RV camping and yurts, to beautiful cabins. We’ve tent camped once and brought our RV five times. If you’re camping, expect spacious campsites with amazing views. You won’t feel crowded in this place. If RVing, you can opt for a site with 30 amp electrical hookup and water (3 of these at present on a first come first basis and usually available). They do have showers so we didn’t come close to filling our gray/black tanks on our recent 5 day stay. What I like as an RVer is the open space and views. You won’t feel like you’re in a crowded RV park that’s for sure.
Their onsite tavern and restaurant is a great gathering place and is usually opened starting with Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast. The menu is top notch with special dishes that change regularly. John is the chef and he puts out some of the best food you’ll find in these beautiful mountains!
The resort also has a 2000’ x 60’ grass runway (GA87) which is absolutely gorgeous. In my opinion this should be a bucket list destination for all pilots that can manage to get in to 2000’ fields. The owner has a beautiful Just Superstol XL bush plane and a Highlander, and he can usually be found flying most Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings. You might even get invited to go flying :-)
The staff is super friendly and will take great care of you during your stay. It won’t take long for you to realize that they absolutely care about you and your experience. They’ll go out of their way to make sure you enjoy their little slice of paradise.
This probably sounds like a paid advertisement but I’m just a happy camper that hopes this place experiences the success it deserves. I’ve been to Ellijay, Helen, Blairsville, Dahlonega, and a lot of other well known mountain spots, and this place is my favorite by far.
RangerBeautiful campground with a small lake and wooded sites. A little hilly but that provides some space between sites. Campground staff were very nice and facilities were clean and in good repair. Dog friendly with trails on site, as well as stables adjoining.
Guide
Well kept and clean. I was there on Wednesday and no one was there. Please be kind and do not leave trash behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Carters Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Carters Lake is Ridgeway with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Carters Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 65 tent camping locations near Carters Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
