Yurt camping near Evans, Georgia provides easy access to J. Strom Thurmond Lake, a 71,000-acre reservoir with over 1,000 miles of shoreline. The area maintains moderate temperatures throughout much of the year with average summer highs in the upper 80s and winter lows rarely dropping below freezing. Sandy clay soil conditions affect ground stability at many campsites, requiring appropriate tent stakes or sleeping platforms.
What to do
Water recreation on Clarks Hill Lake: Winfield Campground offers exceptional water access for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and fishing. "The 70,000 acre lake and its 1,000+ miles of shoreline provide excellent boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, hiking and picnicking," according to one Winfield - J Strom Thurmond Lake visitor.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple species thrive in the lake waters. "Anglers fish for largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish and striped bass. The large lake offers endless boating, water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing and swimming opportunities," notes another Winfield visitor.
Hiking through varied terrain: Mistletoe State Park features well-maintained trails through diverse forest landscapes. "I hiked the Rock Dam Trail. This trail was supposed to involve several water crossings, but when I was here in September, the water level was extremely low and nothing was flowing beyond a trickle," reports a hiker from Mistletoe State Park Campground.
Golfing at Hickory Knob: For those wanting a break from traditional camping activities, the state park offers an 18-hole course. "We went specifically to golf, and had a great round. You do need to reserve a tee time," advises a visitor at Hickory Knob.
What campers like
Waterfront camping sites: Many locations offer direct lake access from individual campsites. "Our site was right on the water. Sunset at this site was amazing. We had a couple hammocks up, our tent and had a fire going both days. The campgrounds are clean, and well maintained," shares a visitor at Raysville Campground.
Yurt accommodations: Evans, Georgia area campgrounds offer alternatives to traditional tent camping. At Back to Nature Garden Center, yurts provide a glamping experience while maintaining forest immersion. "Small campground almost downtown but the dense woods make you feel like you're in the country," explains a visitor.
Privacy between sites: Campground layouts often provide good separation between neighbors. "Raysville is a hidden gem at Clarks Hill Lake. This campground is much quieter and more secluded than the others in the area. They still offer decent bath houses with showers," reports a regular visitor.
Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain well-kept amenities. "Great site 49, awesome views. Comfort stations close and clean. Lots of water activities," notes a Mistletoe State Park visitor.
What you should know
Seasonal water levels: Lake depths fluctuate significantly throughout the year. "The water level was also extremely low when I was there so some of those rocks are probably covered by water earlier in the year," reports a visitor at Mistletoe State Park.
Varying site conditions: Not all campsites offer equal amenities or terrain. "None of these sites have groomed tent pads -- just gravelly ground. They do each have a table, fire pit, and lantern pole," explains another Mistletoe visitor describing the walk-in tent sites.
Limited cell service: Coverage varies across campgrounds. Bring offline maps and entertainment options.
Insect preparation: Lake environments support active insect populations. "All of these sites are in the forest and I'm sure it is quite buggy almost always, so be prepared with thermacells, bug nets, etc," advises a Elijah Clark State Park Campground visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming access: Choose sites with gradual water entry points for safer lake swimming. "We had a nice campfire and enjoyed a nice time. We were right on the water. Large clean sites," reports a visitor at Raysville Campground.
Playground facilities: Several campgrounds offer designated play areas. "The park had a great store selling souvenirs, ice, firewood, worms for fishing. Campground staff and host were very friendly," notes a visitor describing amenities at Mistletoe State Park.
Kid-friendly fishing: Some locations provide special accommodations for young anglers. "We had cabin 5 and walked to the water. Free fishing pole for kids," shares a visitor at Mistletoe State Park.
Tent site selection: When yurt camping isn't available near Evans, Georgia, choose tent sites carefully with children in mind. "Site #2 is definitely the best -- feet from the water, spacious, suitable for more than one tent or hammock," advises a Mistletoe State Park visitor.
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: Electric service differs between campgrounds. "Winfield Campground has 80 sites with electrical hookups. Amenities include flush and vault toilets, showers, drinking water, a dump station, playground and boat ramp," notes one Plum Branch RV Park visitor about a nearby facility.
Site leveling: Many waterfront sites require blocking equipment. "Still being upgraded, so newish pad was still soft but pretty level. Sewer pipes stick out a good 6 or 8 inches. Electric posts are new but have a meter right below plugs, so surge suppressor gets to hang sideways," explains a Plum Branch RV Park guest.
Road conditions: Access roads present challenges at certain locations. "The only reason for 4 stars rather than 5 is the fact that the campground road is in pretty rough shape," notes a visitor at Hickory Knob.
Cell signal strength: Mobile connectivity varies by provider and location. "Cricket: 7.98dn, 0.84up; ATT: 27.69, 0.3 up; Visible: 7.2dn, 1.2up; Verizon: 44.9dn, 1.88 up; T-mobile mifi: no 4g nor 5G service," details a Plum Branch RV Park visitor about connectivity options.
