Best Tent Camping near Crawfordville, GA

Tent campgrounds near Crawfordville, Georgia offer several options for outdoor enthusiasts seeking primitive camping experiences. The Washington Grass Inn provides a single tent site with amenities including drinking water, electric hookups, and toilets. Additional options include Leroys Ferry Campground, located approximately 30 miles east in McCormick, South Carolina, which features waterfront tent sites along Clarks Hill Lake (also known as Strom Thurmond Lake).

Most tent sites in the area feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Leroys Ferry provides fire rings and picnic tables at each site, though campers should bring their own water as drinking water is not available. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with a self-service payment system ($10 per night). Facilities consist primarily of pit toilets and some sites include access to well water via a pump. The primitive nature of these campgrounds means visitors should pack out all trash, as dumpsters are not provided at most locations.

Tent campers at Leroys Ferry enjoy direct lake access with sites positioned approximately 100 feet from the water. The campground provides ample space between sites, creating a sense of privacy even during peak seasons. Many campsites offer trails leading directly to the lakeshore, making water activities convenient. The area tends to attract fewer visitors than other nearby campgrounds, creating a secluded atmosphere for those seeking quiet tent camping experiences. A camper noted, "This is a great, unpopular place to camp. Most of the campsites have access via trails to the lake. It's clean with easy access and most sites are very easy to navigate."

Best Tent Sites Near Crawfordville, Georgia (9)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Crawfordville, GA

452 Reviews of 9 Crawfordville Campgrounds


  • N
    Oct. 16, 2022

    Elijah Clark State Park Campground

    Friendly. Fun. Relaxing.

    Set up well for families with children… room to ride bikes, scooters, skateboards; playground; putt putt course; trails to walk; beach areas all around the camp ground for easy access to the water. Kayak rentals.

    Bathrooms were generally clean. Campsites a relatively flat. Good picnic tables at each site. Not every site had a pole for a lantern or trash bags to hang from. Fairly good tree coverage around the campground for shade and hammocking.

  • Andy S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2019

    Mistletoe State Park Campground

    Nice!

    This is a review of the four walk-in tent sites at Mistletoe State Park.  I personally stayed in #4 and had a look at the others. 

    The best site is definitely #2 -- feet from the water, spacious, suitable for more than one tent or hammock (better for tents as it is mostly open, but there are places for hammocks along the edges). 

    Site #4 is probably second best, better for a hammocks probably (which is what I had) as no great level ground. It is not right on the water but has it's own private path to the water(couple hundred feet to the water).

    Sites #1 & #3 do not really have access to the water without climbing down something steeply dangerous or through thick trees.  (The water access from the other sites is right in the middle of those other sites so you couldn't really share that unless they are empty or occupied by friends.)  Still #1 is a pretty good site.  #3 is the least interesting and smallest, but still secluded -- I wouldn't call any of these bad.

    None of these sites have groomed tent pads -- just gravelly ground.   They do each have a table, fire pit, and lantern pole.  #1 & #2 are best for tents.  There is good separation between all sites.  Sites #2 & #3 are within shouting distance of each other and you'd be able to see tents, etc at one from the other.  There is an outhouse between sites #1 & #2, and another another between sites #3 & #4.  It is a 5 minute (or so) walk to the real bathroom (which also has showers) back in the main campground.

    Other than the lake itself at sites #2 & #4, I didn't see any dedicated water source for these sites.  (The lake is silty -- pre-filtering recommended if you are using a filter.)  So you'd have to bring in water or get it from the bathroom area or maybe from an empty RV site which all have spigots.  You'll have to pack out your trash, and there are definitely critters around that will get in your trash so it should be secured somehow.  (Hanging it from the lantern pole isn't good enough -- you'll wake up to find a hole in the bag and it strewn around, ask me how I know.)

    Everything in the park was very clean and well-maintained, although when I was here in September (during the week), the whole place was basically deserted anyway.

    The water access at sites #2 & #4 is nice but it is not a real beach -- it is all large rocks for the most part and they were very slippery even when dry so be careful.  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.

  • Mo F.
    Aug. 26, 2016

    Mistletoe State Park Campground

    Waterfront seclusion

    We camped in one of the tent only walk-in sites located on a peninsula jutting into the lake. We had a ton of stuff, not realizing it was an uphill and pretty long trek, but it was totally worth it. We had the whole place to ourselves, no neighbors, in late March. The sun setting over the water was beautiful, it was quiet even as a few motor boats came in for the night. There is a tiny beach on the tip of the peninsula, picnic tables, and an outhouse. It was my favorite spot of everywhere we stayed on an Alabama-Georgia-South Carolina roadtrip including AirBnB and bed and breakfast.

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 25, 2023

    Lake Sinclair Campground

    Good Location for Ocmulgee Mounds Visit

    Lake Sinclair, GA: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

    Summary: I have stopped by to camp for 4 years. This time we stayed in the electric, Loop A which has 5 sites. There were other users there who were concerning. One was what looks to be a homeless extended stay occupant in a trailer. The other was a tent camping couple who decided to camp with their tents in the RV only area. That said, the lower loops, Loop A and Loop D are more visible to the camp host, thus a safer feeling. If you don’t want electric hookup, those loops are a nicer area of the campground.

    (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer with a desire for a campsite that has at least some visual privacy - after the trailer is in the spot.)

    Overall Rating: 1.5 for the electric sites - they are not necessarily attractive, out in the open, and no visual separation between sites. They are moderately spaced. The non-electric sites(no generators allowed as per website) area 4 rating. There are spacious and well spaced sites in the Loop B. Many sites are set back from the campground loop road.
    Price 2023: $ 10.5 for elect site & 4.5 for non-electric site w interagency pass Usage during visit: Very light - Thanksgiving Site Privacy: More privacy in non electric sites Site Spacing: 5 decent sized sites in the electric loop. Non- electric loop has very large sites.
    Site surface: Gravel Reservations: First come, first serve.
    Campground Noise: Very quiet. Only one other camper Road Noise: Too far from a main road to be an issue. From electric sites and from some non electric sites the traffic in the access road can be heard.
    Through Traffic in campground: Not through campground. There is on the access road to access the lake. Boaters use this road along with other day users. Electric Hookup: Loop A, sites 1 - 5 only Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes, just following the check in station on the right. Potable Water Available: At electric sites. Generators: Not allowed. This is a shame since this campground is so lightly used. Bathroom/ Shower House: Yes - In Loop B (services both Loop A and B). Hot water worked only in the woman’s shower. The hot water in the shower in Loop D works fine and is in a little nicer facility. Drive to that one for a shower. These are pretty old buildings, but pretty clean. Bathroom only house in the day use area is new and nicer to be in. Pull Throughs: Site 5 is a pull through. Cell Service (AT&T): 1 to 2 bars. Setting: In a deciduous forest. Lower loop( non-electric) has a lakeside (or two)trailer sites . Weather: Cool and partial sun. Bugs: None Solar: Depends on the site and probably none when there is foliage. Host: Yes. Located in D-loop .
    Rig size: Not suited for big rigs.
    Sites: Loop A is the Electric loop with 5 sites. Loop A is not so great. There are beautiful extra large sites in non-electric/no generator lower Loop B. Loop C has been “temporarily”, as per signage, closed for at least 4 years. Loop D has smaller sites, many of which look to be tent sites. Some of these sites are nicely located close to the lakeside in both B and D.

  • Justin S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 6, 2021

    Calhoun Falls State Park Campground

    Primitive Tent Sites

    I stayed in primitive tent site 10 but all of these primitive sites are great! Well kept and spacious. Some sites have a decent walk in distance but others are close to the parking areas. There’s water points to get fresh water if needed throughout the site areas. Definitely will stay here often when “car” camping instead of backpacking.

  • P
    Apr. 17, 2020

    Lake Sinclair Campground

    Beautiful Campsites!

    Very spacious camp sites complete with a gravel square to set up your tent, plenty of trees to hang hammocks, a charcoal grill, fire pit, hanger for trash, picnic table, and beautiful views of the lake and surrounding forest. Restrooms and showere near most camp sites too. Will be returning!

  • Danny B.
    Mar. 30, 2019

    Leroys Ferry

    Can’t beat it for the price

    $10 bucks a night, sites spaced far enough apart to be comfortable, waterfront, not over crowded. I think it is worth the drive over some of the more crowded places. Each site has a pick nick table and fire ring, a few had charcoal grills on stands but not all. First come first serve, bring exact money because it’s just a drop box. It’s primitive camping so bring your own water, no electricity. No trash dumpster either so be prepared to pack if out . Cell service was spotty on Verizon but I was able to get and receive calls and a few txts although they seemed very delayed .

  • D
    Jun. 20, 2022

    Wildwood County Park

    Not perfect, but really good!

    Our favorite park is Mistletoe, a GA state owned park. This park is just a few miles away from Mistletoe and we only stayed here because we could not get a site at Mistletoe. In the end, we are glad that we did as this park is about 35% less expensive than Mistletoe and provides the same great lake views (ok, Mistletoe is still our favorite, but for the money this is a no brainer).

    We stayed on two sites as nothing was available for our entire duration. So, we started on site 38 and then moved to 58 after a couple of days (we can be quite fast at breaking down/setting up for in-park moves).

    Site 38 was interesting because we had about 100 whitetail deer in our back yard every night. The camp host apparently was feeding them, and he set up spot lights so that they could be watched as they ate. The deer had no fear (not sure that is good), but I am sure the appreciated the food. The only bad side to this is that the lights stayed on very late and it was impossible to block the light from our windows. I can overlook this, though.

    Site 38 was large enough and had big, flat, surface for the picnic table, fire ring, camper, and truck. Beyond this pad there was not much distance before you got to the next site, which just had a tent camper (who mostly was gone because this time we visited during a VERY cold spell and I don't think the tent camper would have survived the night!).

    Site 38 had views of the water, kind of like a finger cover, but it was not very close to the camper. Still nice though as the walk through the woods to the water was easy. 

    We moved to site 58 after a couple of days and it was directly on the water. This site was smaller than 38, and was only one of a handful of RV sites that are situated in an yurt camping area (if you have family that does not have an RV, you could stay in your RV and they could stay in the really upscale yurts!). 

    The weather, as noted already, was very cold and moving to a true waterfront lot made going outside something only for the brave! It was 40 degrees with 60 mph wind gusts that day...kind of fun!

    We walked around to see what the park had on that side, and it included a nice sandy beach, picnic tables under the shade, and a really cool primitive camping area that was out on a peninsula.

    As noted at the start, a nice park for the money. The cost was only $25 a night in March 2022 and that is hard to beat. If this were $40 a night I would de-rate it to 4 stars.

    All of the photos are from site 38 except the white caps on the lake, which was taken On our walk near 58.

  • L
    Aug. 28, 2019

    Calhoun Falls State Park Campground

    Outstanding

    This is one of the nicest state campgrounds we have been to and we are full timers and try and stay at state parks. The sites are large sandy sites with fire ring and a very  large picnic table. There was a path down to the lake from our site. It poured one day and there was a lake outside the camper but is was gone the next day. Great drainage! There is a very pretty swimming beach and lots of picnic table around the beach area. The bath house is large and clean as are the bathrooms in the camping areas. Our pull thru site was huge! Large enough for our 35’ and loads of room at both sides of the pull thru.


Guide to Crawfordville

Tent camping near Crawfordville, Georgia provides access to the Piedmont region's moderate elevation of approximately 600 feet above sea level. Positioned between the Savannah and Oconee Rivers, the area experiences mild winters with occasional freezing temperatures and humid summers that regularly exceed 90°F. Most campgrounds in this region operate year-round, though lake levels may fluctuate seasonally affecting water access at some sites.

What to do

**Lakefront fishing: Raysville Marina offers direct access to Clarks Hill Lake (Strom Thurmond Lake), one of Georgia's largest reservoirs. Jerry F. notes, "Absolutely love this place. However hard to get a spot because so many people pay monthly and leave their campers. Staff is wonderful."

**Hiking trails: Multiple campsites feature walking paths leading through hardwood forests. At Soap Creek Marina, visitors appreciate the "nice walking trails which makes this a great getaway spot," according to GoWhereYouAreDraw N., who also mentions the site has "pull-up RV or tent spots with fire pits and picnic tables."

**Swimming and water recreation: Leroys Ferry provides swimming opportunities directly from campsites. Cody S. reports, "Sites are only a hundred feet or so from the lake, so I threw up a hammock and watched the sunset over the water and spent time during the day swimming."

What campers like

**Affordable rates: Most primitive sites maintain reasonable fees compared to more developed campgrounds. Danny B. says about Leroys Ferry, "$10 bucks a night, sites spaced far enough apart to be comfortable, waterfront, not over crowded. I think it is worth the drive over some of the more crowded places."

**Lower crowds: Many campgrounds in this region see fewer visitors than popular state parks. Daniel D. describes Leroys Ferry as "a great, unpopular place to camp," noting that "it's clean with easy access and most sites are very easy to navigate."

**Well-maintained facilities: Despite their primitive nature, campgrounds receive regular maintenance. At Clarks Hill, Steven S. simply states it's a "very clean park. Great fishing."

What you should know

**Self-service payment systems: Many campgrounds operate without staffed entrance stations. At Leroys Ferry, Danny B. advises, "First come first serve, bring exact money because it's just a drop box."

**Limited utilities: Most tent sites provide minimal amenities. Danny B. explains Leroys Ferry is "primitive camping so bring your own water, no electricity. No trash dumpster either so be prepared to pack it out."

**Cell service considerations: Remote locations may have spotty coverage. At Raysville Marina, campers report variable signal strength with Jada G. noting "customer service when open in the off season! Friendly, accommodating, very responsive."

Tips for camping with families

**Kid-friendly fishing spots: Several campgrounds offer safe shoreline access for young anglers. Stevie W. calls Leroys Ferry a "great place for the whole family for fishing and camping."

**Holiday planning: Consider timing for optimal experiences. Cody S. shares, "Stayed here over the Fourth of July and I was the only camper there while all the other sites were packed," suggesting some locations may offer more seclusion even during peak periods.

**Food preparation: Limited facilities mean planning meals carefully. At The Washington Grass Inn, the single tent site includes a picnic table, but campers should bring portable cooking equipment as permanent grills may not be available.

Tips from RVers

**Site leveling: While tent campers have flexibility, RV sites require assessment. Daniel D. mentions that at Leroys Ferry "you can fit an RV on most sites, although they aren't all completely level."

**Seasonal availability: Certain campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Morrow Bridge Seasonal Hunt Camp is only open from "September 14 to January 4," coinciding with hunting seasons.

**Amenities nearby: Some campgrounds offer unexpected services. GoWhereYouAreDraw N. points out that Soap Creek Marina has "a small restaurant located onsite along with a small store," providing convenience for campers who don't want to bring all supplies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Crawfordville, GA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Crawfordville, GA is The Washington Grass Inn with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Crawfordville, GA?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Crawfordville, GA, with real photos and reviews from campers.