Newton Factory Shoals Recreation Area offers primitive camping 20 miles east of Stockbridge, Georgia. The campground features waterfront sites with raised gravel platforms for tents. Summer temperatures average 85-95°F, with high humidity from June through September. Winter camping remains available with milder temperatures in the 40-60°F range.
What to do
Paddle the Chattahoochee River: At McIntosh Reserve Park, campers can access the river directly. "There is a boat ramp past site 20. I saw a sign at the bathhouse for paddling the river and various parks to camp along the way," notes Sarah S., who also spotted "people fishing in the Chattahoochee River right off of their campsite."
Explore hiking trails: Hard Labor Creek State Park offers extensive trail networks. "We made use of the hiking trails and mountain bike trails this weekend! The trails are well-maintained and clearly marked," reports George & Patty C. The park allows you to "walk off of the back of our site and onto the trail system, which is perfect because we are avid hikers."
Visit the splash pad: Perfect for hot summer days, McIntosh Reserve Park provides water recreation for families. Ryan N. mentions, "Took the kids to the splash pad and enjoyed cooking out and hanging out over night." The park prohibits swimming in the river due to strong currents, making the splash pad a safer alternative.
What campers like
Peaceful waterfront camping: At Newton Factory Shoals Recreation Area, waterfront sites are highly valued. "Most sites are on the water," notes Bob P. Nicolle adds, "Each of the sites have a raised gravel platform for tents, a grill, trash can, and a fire pit. We had a happy little bonus of getting to watch the beavers play in the river early in the morning."
Wildlife viewing: Ocmulgee River Camp offers opportunities to spot native wildlife. SJ W. reports, "Spot with a nice horse trail to hike - saw some deer and a mystery black animal, maybe a boar or a bear - unsure." Julie H. confirms the wildlife presence: "Saw some deer on a walk. It was quite hot but surprisingly not that buggy."
Spacious campsites: Hard Labor Creek State Park provides generous campsites. Christina mentions, "Very hilly within the campground but wide roads. Deer walking through the site." According to George & Patty, "The campground is not cramped at all and most of the sites are spread apart to provide privacy!"
What you should know
First-come camping options: Some parks don't take reservations. For McIntosh Reserve Park, Sarah S. explains, "Camping is first come first served basis, no reservations. $20 per night, parking for one vehicle included. Extra vehicles require $5 parking pass per day."
Navigational challenges: Finding the right entrance can be tricky. For Newton Factory Shoals, Nicolle warns, "Note to future campers: the campground is NOT located at the address provided. This is the recreational park. The campground is actually up the road, on the opposite side of the park, at the entrance of the graveyard."
Seasonal crowding: Little Tallapoosa Park experiences significant changes in visitation. Christina notes about Hard Labor Creek: "The weekend nights were so crowded with cars spilling into the camp roads, loads of large groups at each site. Felt very claustrophobic. On weekdays the park became a lovely ghost town."
Tips for camping with families
Mini golf entertainment: Hard Labor Creek State Park offers additional activities beyond trails. Maethea R. shares, "There is a putt putt (mini golf) course. You can rent kayaks and kayak in the lake. They offered a kayak by moonlight group tour that was fun."
Camp close to playgrounds: Some parks feature dedicated facilities for children. At Little Tallapoosa Park, Sarah F. reports, "My kids enjoyed biking around the camping loop and we did some geocaching. For the price ($15/night), this is a pretty great place to camp." The park has "nice grassy areas and swing set and bike and walking trails."
Consider farm camping: For a unique experience with farm animals, try Liberty Stables. "Beautiful property with farm animals to look at," says Rachel. Leslie V. adds, "We really enjoyed our time at Liberty Stables! Will definitely stay there again as our granddaughters live nearby!"
Tips from RVers
RV access limitations: Newton Factory Shoals has limitations for larger rigs. Nicolle notes, "We have a 10 foot trailer. We were able to back in to our spot with no problem. The site was not level but that wasn't a big deal for us in our rooftop tent. We didn't check out the other sites but an RV would probably have a hard time setting up here."
Follow campground signs: At Hard Labor Creek State Park, Debbie K. warns, "Be careful and follow the Campground signs and not your GPS because you might come in a different way and have to navigate an overpass that, for some rigs, is too short! Comfort stations are clean and sites are nice!"
Check hookup details: Reservations may not clearly indicate all amenities. Maethea R. shares, "The only thing was no one told us our site had full hookups. We paid for a deluxe site but nothing indicated on the reservation it had sewer connections. Had we known we would have taken showers in our own camper."
