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Best Dispersed Camping near Covington, GA

11 Reviews

Dispersed camping options surround Covington, Georgia, with several primitive sites located within an hour's drive of the city. The landscape features a mix of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and public lands where tent and limited RV camping are permitted. Ocmulgee River Camp, consistently rated above 4 stars by visitors, offers drive-in and walk-in access for both tent and RV campers along the river. Tyler Hunt Camp provides tent-only camping with fire rings in a more secluded setting. Murder Creek Parking Area serves as an informal camping spot near water cascades, while Rum Creek WMA offers free camping with minimal amenities. Most sites maintain a rustic, no-frills approach with few developed facilities.

Road conditions vary significantly across these dispersed camping areas, with several requiring higher clearance vehicles. As one camper noted about Murder Creek, "The lot probably does require a little clearance. A sedan may not be the best choice." Many access roads feature gravel surfaces with occasional bumps and ruts, particularly after rain. Visitors to Ocmulgee River Camp consistently mention "bumpy" drives that remain "manageable" for most vehicles. Seasonal considerations include summer heat and humidity, with December temperatures sometimes reaching 70 degrees. Wildlife Management Areas typically require hunting or fishing licenses or land use permits, as noted by campers at Rum Creek WMA. Cell service varies by location, with Verizon reported to work well at Ocmulgee River Camp.

Campers frequently mention the quiet atmosphere as a primary attraction, though some sites experience periodic disruptions. Several reviewers note hearing distant gunshots from hunters, particularly during hunting seasons. Tyler Hunt Camp receives mixed reviews regarding nighttime safety, with one visitor reporting unwanted vehicle traffic after dark that prompted them to leave. Daytime experiences are generally positive, with campers reporting wildlife sightings including deer and possibly wild boars. Water features enhance many camping experiences in the region, with Murder Creek offering "water cascades along Murder Creek" that visitors can access via short walks from camping areas. Winter camping remains viable due to mild temperatures, with one camper noting January visits provide "open spaces and very quiet" conditions.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Covington, Georgia (6)

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Covington, GA

11 Reviews of 6 Covington Campgrounds

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 4, 2023

    Murder Creek Parking Area

    Great quiet place to enjoy the water cascaded

    To be honest, this is a parking lot people use to park and walk the 200 feet down the the shoals and water cascades along Murder Creek. When we arrived, right before sunset in the middle of the week, it was clear that people had camped here (old fire ring near the end of the parking lot). We decided to take a chance and were glad we did. Besides the faint traffic noise that is mostly drowned out by the waterfall noise, this place was very quiet. We saw no one that evening or the next morning prior to departure. Had fun walking down to the water. I suspect in the summer this area is quite the hot spot with swimmers. The lot provably does require a little clearance. So, a sedan may not be the best choice. That probably helps with traffic control on this road. The site is at the very end.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 24, 2026

    Ocmulgee River Camp

    No complaints just a word of advice....

    Generally speaking nice place to spend some time with nature, or good place for a free overnight stay while traveling. Watch carefully for the turn off the main road as it is easy to miss. The road into the camp is a bit bumpy but not too bad. A word of advice watch very carefully for the turn into the campground, it is hard to see and on the left off the dirt road. If you miss it, you have to drive all the way out, it's a long bumpy drive back out to the main road with no place to turn around. The camp itself is heavily wooded with plenty of room to find a secluded spot, so if you rely on solar finding a spot to get sun may be a challenge. On our night there were a small number of others there, but by no means crowded. Overall we liked it and would consider it again without hesitation.

  • LeeAnne T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 10, 2024

    Tyler Hunt Camp

    Tyler Campground

    This place is a refuge. There are privately owned homes around but the folks keep to themselves. It's quiet, super dark at night and beautiful. No amenities, you pack it in, you pack it out. The state keeps it and the road in nice. Expect to have a drive thru at least once around 9/10. It's just a see who is in the area type thing. Very nice place

  • B
    Jan. 13, 2025

    Rum Creek WMA

    Nice and Quite

    Perfect for tent camping. Must have a hunting or fishing license or a land use pass.

  • J
    Aug. 4, 2024

    Ocmulgee River Camp

    Gorgeous site, trails a little rough

    Beautiful campsite, just a few neighbors, tons of flat space and a few fire pits. There are hunters around and we heard a good deal of shots. Saw some deer on a walk. It was quite hot but surprisingly not that buggy.

  • Micah C.
    Aug. 12, 2024

    Tyler Hunt Camp

    Secluded Until It Wasn’t

    I enjoyed my stay here during the day, but things changed after dark. There were old weedeaters scattered in the weeds, along with grills and other items that seemed to have been tossed into the woods. I initially brushed it off and didn't think much of it. I was the only one camping at this site. As night fell, I began preparing for bed, but I noticed vehicles coming and going—at least three within an hour. Around 10 PM, a few Mustangs pulled up and sat for about 45 minutes. Feeling uneasy about the situation, I decided to pack up and leave. After sharing my experience with a few friends, many of them expressed their own concerns about this location. I give it 3 stars for the beauty and peacefulness... until nightfall.

  • Greg D.
    Jan. 8, 2024

    Ocmulgee River Camp

    Great Camping Spot

    Open spaces and very quiet this time of the year (January) train horn in the distance and gunshots in the distance as well from hunters here and there but all around a great spot to really enjoy.

  • J
    Mar. 12, 2024

    Ocmulgee River Camp

    Peaceful beautiful Verizon works perfectly

    Very nice a bit bumpy on the drive in but no major holes. Quiet and peaceful 2 neighbors great amount of space to find a nice spot.

  • SJ W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 18, 2024

    Ocmulgee River Camp

    Nice mostly quiet spot

    It was nice and warm even in December! Almost 70 degrees! Spot with a nice horse trail to hike - saw some deer and a mystery black animal, maybe a boar or a bear - unsure. Had a lot of neighbors on a weekday night - and a mystery trailer with no activity and no truck to pull it. Overall pretty easy gravel road to get to it, was a little buggy since it was humid and by the river but not too bad.

Guide to Covington

Dispersed camping locations near Covington, Georgia offer primitive experiences with minimal facilities and varying accessibility. The area's sandstone and clay terrain creates natural obstacles on many access roads, particularly after rainfall. Temperatures fluctuate significantly between seasons, with winter lows occasionally dropping below freezing and summer highs regularly exceeding 90 degrees.

What to do

Hiking nearby trails: At Rum Creek WMA, campers can enjoy multiple hiking paths through mixed hardwood forest. The property requires proper permits for all activities. "Perfect for tent camping. Must have a hunting or fishing license or a land use pass," notes Brian K. about Rum Creek WMA.

Wildlife viewing: Ocmulgee River Camp provides opportunities to observe diverse wildlife in their natural habitat. "Saw some deer and a mystery black animal, maybe a boar or a bear - unsure. Had a lot of neighbors on a weekday night," reports SJ W. about camping at Ocmulgee River Camp.

Water exploration: Several dispersed sites offer water access for fishing or wading. Murder Creek Parking Area serves as a gateway to water features. "We decided to take a chance and were glad we did. Besides the faint traffic noise that is mostly drowned out by the waterfall noise, this place was very quiet," writes Steve S. about his experience at Murder Creek Parking Area.

What campers like

Solitude and darkness: Tyler Hunt Camp offers an exceptionally dark night sky for stargazing. "This place is a refuge. There are privately owned homes around but the folks keep to themselves. It's quiet, super dark at night and beautiful," explains LeeAnne T. about Tyler Hunt Camp.

Manageable access roads: Despite some roughness, most dispersed sites remain accessible with appropriate vehicles. "Very nice a bit bumpy on the drive in but no major holes. Quiet and peaceful 2 neighbors great amount of space to find a nice spot," describes J A. about their visit to Ocmulgee River Camp.

Winter camping conditions: Mild Georgia winters make off-season camping viable and often comfortable. "It was nice and warm even in December! Almost 70 degrees! Spot with a nice horse trail to hike," notes SJ W. about their winter experience at Ocmulgee River Camp.

What you should know

Permit requirements: Most Wildlife Management Areas require specific documentation. Rum Creek WMA visitors must obtain either hunting licenses, fishing licenses, or land use permits before camping.

Road clearance issues: Some access roads require vehicles with higher ground clearance. About Murder Creek, Steve S. advises, "The lot provably does require a little clearance. So, a sedan may not be the best choice. That probably helps with traffic control on this road."

Nighttime safety considerations: Some sites experience unexpected traffic after dark. "As night fell, I began preparing for bed, but I noticed vehicles coming and going—at least three within an hour. Around 10 PM, a few Mustangs pulled up and sat for about 45 minutes," reports Micah C. about Tyler Hunt Camp.

Tips for camping with families

Bring water supplies: No dispersed sites offer drinking water facilities. All water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning must be carried in.

Expect hunting activity: Prepare children for potential gunshots in the distance, especially during hunting seasons. "There are hunters around and we heard a good deal of shots. Saw some deer on a walk," mentions Julie H. about her experience at Ocmulgee River Camp.

Plan for no facilities: Pack portable toilets or other sanitation solutions. "No amenities, you pack it in, you pack it out. The state keeps it and the road in nice," explains LeeAnne T. about the facilities at Tyler Hunt Camp.

Tips from RVers

Limited parking areas: Murder Creek Parking Area offers space for smaller RVs but can be challenging to maneuver. "This is a parking lot people use to park and walk the 200 feet down the the shoals and water cascades along Murder Creek," explains Steve S.

Seasonal road conditions: Access roads deteriorate significantly after rainfall, making RV access difficult. Michael S. notes about Ocmulgee River Camp, "Nice open camp site with plenty of spots for camping. Only a mile off the road, which is a little bumpy but manageable."

Cell service variability: Reception strength varies widely across primitive camping areas near Covington. Several campers report adequate Verizon service at Ocmulgee River Camp, while other carriers may have limited or no service depending on location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there free campsites around Covington for dispersed camping?

Tyler Hunt Camp offers free dispersed camping in a quiet setting with dark night skies. The state maintains the access road, and though there are private homes nearby, residents generally keep to themselves. Another free option is Rum Creek WMA, which is perfect for tent camping but requires visitors to have either a hunting license, fishing license, or land use pass. These permits serve as your entry fee, but the camping itself remains free.

Where can I find dispersed camping near Covington?

Several dispersed camping options exist near Covington. Ocmulgee River Camp offers spacious campsites with hiking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities, located just a mile off the main road. The drive in has some bumpy sections but remains manageable for most vehicles. Another option is Murder Creek Parking Area, which serves as an informal camping spot about 200 feet from water cascades and shoals, making it perfect for those seeking proximity to water features.

What facilities or amenities are available at Covington dispersed camping areas?

Dispersed camping areas near Covington are primitive with minimal to no facilities. At Hillsboro Road Wildlife Area, expect a true pack-it-in, pack-it-out experience with no provided amenities. Similarly, Concord Hunt Camp maintains the rustic dispersed camping experience without developed facilities. Most dispersed sites in the region feature natural clearings suitable for tents and occasionally established fire rings from previous campers, but no trash service, drinking water, or restroom facilities are provided. Always prepare to be fully self-sufficient.

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