Located in northwest Georgia, the Chickamauga area sits on the western edge of Lookout Mountain with elevations ranging from 700 to 2,000 feet. The region experiences distinct seasons with fall temperatures averaging 50-70°F and summer highs reaching 85-95°F. Camping options extend beyond traditional tent and RV sites with several glamping locations featuring both luxury accommodations and primitive options throughout the area.
What to do
Waterfall hiking: 600+ steps at Cloudland Canyon State Park lead to two impressive waterfalls. "The park can be spoken of in two separate sections; the East Rim and the West Rim. The East Rim is home to several cabins, the group lodge, one of the full service campgrounds, and the main trailhead, as well as the ADA accessible overlook trail which is where many of the iconic photographs of this park come from," notes reviewer Stephanie J. about Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground.
Lake recreation: 17-acre mountain lake at Fort Mountain State Park provides fishing, paddle boats, and swimming opportunities. "The lake area - a small 17 acre spring fed lake is here for your fishing, paddling and swimming pleasure. The area also has putt putt, the only playground, seasonal concession and rentals, beach area and a super nice walking trail for everybody," writes Travyl Couple about Fort Mountain State Park Campground.
Cave exploration: Underground tours available near Lookout Mountain with varying difficulty levels. "The Cave tour is a must, but prepare to get dirty," says G F. about activities near Fort Mountain State Park. Tours require reservations and typically last 1-3 hours depending on the cave system.
What campers like
Platform camping sites: Elevated camping offers unique sleeping experiences. "The site itself was in a beautiful location, had a hand pump on site, and also had a shared bear proof storage box (shared between 2 sites). There is definitely active wildlife here!" reports Miranda H. about her stay at Fort Mountain State Park.
Walk-in tent sites: Vehicle-free camping areas provide quieter experiences. "Love the tent-only serenity of the walk-in sites. There is a separate parking lot at the back of the park for the walk-in sites, which are a short distance away (easy to haul your gear). The sites have a tent pad, picnic table and fire ring, and lots of privacy as the sites are very far from each other," explains Abby M. about Tennessee Wall Camp.
Private yurt accommodations: Secluded mountain settings with proper beds and amenities. "Great sites with fire pits," notes Lakisha D. from Tennessee Wall Camp. These sites often require advance booking, especially during peak fall foliage season.
What you should know
Bear activity: Multiple reported encounters in certain campgrounds require proper food storage. "Two other couples at two separate platform sites had encounters with a bear the same weekend I was here," warns Miranda H. about Fort Mountain State Park. Campers should use provided bear boxes or hang food properly.
Water availability: Varies widely between campgrounds and sites. "Grey water drains are located around the campground. There is a dump station. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring too," explains Travyl Couple about Marion County Park.
Site selection: Consider proximity to amenities and privacy needs. "The West Rim camping loop has a total of 48 tent/RV sites with 30 or 50A hookups, water, gravel tent pads, picnic tables, and fire rings. This loop is far more wooded and offers a greater variety of site size and privacy, and has an extremely quiet and peaceful vibe to it," recommends Stephanie J. about Cloudland Canyon.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Multiple options within campgrounds. "Kids loved the pool and jumping pillow. Very rocky throughout campground," notes Jill P. about Lookout Mountain-Chattanooga West KOA. Many campgrounds offer structured activities during summer weekends.
Beach access: Designated swimming areas at several parks accommodate children. "There is a man made beach with a playground and loads of camping lots next to the river!" shares Haley H. about Chester Frost Park.
Site spacing: Consider the need for play areas when booking. "Sites 4-9 are well spaced from each other and great for tent campers and families who want their kids to have room to play, and while site 37 does not have as much privacy being in the center of the loop, it does have one of the most perfect climbing trees I have ever seen in a public campground," advises Stephanie J. about Cloudland Canyon.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Check ground conditions before finalizing reservations. "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," warns Mike N. about Fort Mountain State Park. Many sites throughout the area require leveling blocks.
Campground access: Mountain roads can be challenging for larger rigs. "The last couple of miles had me a little worried w/my big rig but it went very well. The road is nicely paved and the trees are cut back. No major curves or turns. Plenty of room," reports Amanda W. about her experience at Lookout Mountain-Chattanooga West KOA.
Hookup availability: Limited full-service sites at several campgrounds. "Small sites and will flood when rains," notes Jill P. about conditions at Lookout Mountain-Chattanooga West KOA. Most parks offer water and electric hookups, but sewer connections are less common.
