Looking for the best pet-friendly campgrounds near Dahlonega? Find the best information on pet-friendly camping near Dahlonega, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your RVing experience. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the woods or a happening campground near the attractions, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to go camping with your dog.
Established in 1931, Vogel State Park stands today as one of Georgia’s oldest state parks. Over 223 acres of land make up this beautiful reserve, known for its extensive selection of trails and crisp, brightly colored forests. Located at the base of Blood Mountain in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest, Vogel is especially popular during the fall thanks to the blanket of colors that transform the park’s trees and wildlife. In fact, Red, yellow, and gold leaves cover the landscape of the surrounding hills, mountains, and valleys for months at a time.
This park is also full of history, with many facilities being constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. To learn about the “CCC” boys and their incredible story, check out the park museum open seasonally.
The North Georgia Mountains around Vogel were also linked to native tribes for generations before European settlement, and the adventurous individual can still find remnants from their time on this land via the surrounding trails. In fact, there are a variety of trails available, including the 4 mile Bear Hair Gap loop. Bear Hair is easier than other hikes in the area and leads to the Trahlyta Falls, a peaceful set of waterfalls perfect for photo opportunities or a small picnic. More seasoned hikers can undergo the challenging 13-mile Coosa Backcountry Trail, which showcases the regional wildlife and various water features throughout.
If hiking isn’t your thing, the park’s 22 acre lake is open to non-motorized boats, and during summer, visitors can cool off at the mountain-view beach. Enjoy paddleboarding or kayaking while your family watches you from shore, then finish up with a round of mini golf at the park’s 18 hole course.
For overnight accommodations, 34 Cottages, 85 campsites and 18 primitive backpacking sites are all available for a reasonable rate.There is also a pioneer campground available for rent, which is perfect for groups and allows campers to see how past settlers would have lived. During your stay, there are 4 picnic shelters available for use, as well as a group shelter and a lake pavilion, which seat 90 and 100 guests respectively. There is also a general store open year round, with Wifi open at the visitor center.
$30 - $250 / night
Unicoi State Park & Lodge is a camper’s paradise. Nestled in the natural setting of the Appalachian foothills, Unicoi State Park & Lodge offers campers a wide range of camping options. From luxury RV hookups to secluded tent campsites to the distinct outdoor hammock experience of the Squirrels Nest, our Georgia State Park campground is designed to suit the various needs of our guests.
We have nearly 100 campsites and a variety of arrangements to choose from including ADA sites and Buddy Hook-up sites, 30-foot and 40-foot RV sites, primitive campsites and sites designed for family tent camping. All our powered sites are suitable for tent, trailer and RV campers.
As a Georgia State Park, countless guests come to explore the 1,029 acres of adventure activities and mountain marvels on their own terms. Some enjoy navigating the hiking and mountain biking trails to nearby Alpine Helen and Anna Ruby Falls. Others opt for peaceful mornings fishing on Unicoi Lake or a sandy, sun-soaked day at Unicoi Beach.
The park’s proximity to popular Helen, GA events and activities allow guests to experience one of Georgia’s top tourist attractions but still return to the natural confines of the park for rest and relaxation.
For your convenience, our campgrounds feature comfort stations, which include restrooms and showers, while campers also have access to group structures and picnic shelters.
We are a pet-friendly State Park as long as your pets are friendly and always kept on a short, sturdy leash. Please be courteous to other patrons and be responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of our park and trails by cleaning up after your animals.
For a bird’s eye view of Unicoi State Park & Lodge and campground locations, check out our Georgia State Park Map.
RV CAMPING As one of the premier Georgia State Parks with RV camping, our full hookup RV sites include water, power and sewer, a fire ring, grill and picnic table. We have many RV campsites and arrangements to choose from including ADA sites, Buddy Hook-up sites, plus 30-foot or 40-foot sites. Be sure to know your vehicle’s specifications when booking your campsite.
TENT CAMPING We also offer walk-in primitive campsites that have both privacy and convenience with comfort stations, nearby parking and a playground. Walk-in anywhere from a few feet to about 100 yards out. Sites include a fire ring, picnic table and grill top to put over fire ring for grilling.
SQUIRREL’S NEST Bring your hammock or just a sleeping bag and sleep under the stars at our one-of-a-kind Squirrel’s Nest covered primitive camping platforms. It’s a favorite spot for scouts, groups and adventurers that really want to experience the wild and do it themselves. The platforms are built up off the ground and are stacked up the side of a ridge in 3 groups of 2 and 2 groups of 5. Each platform sleeps 4 guests in sleeping bags. Air mattresses are recommended for adult guests. Tents are not allowed on the platforms or down in the hollow below. The “hollow” has grills, picnic tables and a group fire ring.
GLAMPING SITES Combining luxury and the great outdoors, our extra spacious completely furnished Safari Tents give large families or groups of friends the extra space they need to glamp in comfort. Unicoi State Park offers 4 glamping sites.
Don Carter is Georgia’s newest state park, as well as the first state park on 38,000 acre Lake Lanier. Situated on the north end of the reservoir, the park offers outstanding recreation for water lovers. Guests can stay cool at a large, sand swimming beach with bath house. Boat ramps provide quick access to the lake, while a multi-use trail welcomes hikers and bikers to explore the hardwood forest. This new park offers several choices for overnight getaways as well. Two-bedroom cabins are perched on wooded hillsides near the lake. One campground is designed specifically for RVs, while another primitive camping area is just for tents and hammocks. The campground and cottage loop is gated, providing access to overnight guests. The park is named in honor of real-estate executive Don Carter who served on the Georgia Department of Natural Resources board for 29 years and worked to establish Lake Lanier’s first state park.
$1 - $30 / night
Raven Cliff Falls camping
This trail is one of North Georgia’s most popular camping destinations. Trailhead campsites offer fantastic stream-side camping just steps from the car, and a fantastic base camp for hiking the Raven Cliff Falls Trail during the day. The trail is also dotted with many backpacking campsites on the creek’s level banks, offering a little more solitude for campers willing to backpack it in.
Black bears frequent this wilderness area. Keep all food items and fragrant cosmetics out of reach in a bear canister: many years ago, we lost our camp stove, food and cookware to a trio of bears in a traditionally-hung bear bag along this trail.
Campsites are free and first-come, first-claimed. Pack out everything you pack in: this is one of Georgia’s most beautiful Wilderness areas, so please, please leave no trace. (What is Wilderness, and why is it important? Read more in our guide to Wilderness areas in the South.)
Tallulah Gorge State Park is designated one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia and is a great place for camping near Atlanta. Tallulah Gorge is a 2-mile-long, 1000-foot-deep canyon of metamorphic rock, where the Tallulah River tumbles over six dramatic waterfalls. This unique ecosystem is also the home to several endangered plant species, including the persistent trillium. These natural features have drawn visitors to the gorge since the early 1800s, and with the construction of the Tallulah Falls Railway in 1882, it became Georgia’s first official tourist attraction. Now the gorge is a hotspot for outdoor activity, ranging from hiking, fishing and swimming, to more adventurous pursuits, such as rock climbing and whitewater paddling.
The best way to explore Tallulah Gorge is to camp at Tallulah Gorge State Park. Located 100 miles northeast of Atlanta, this 2700-acre park provides 50 tent and RV sites (two are ADA-accessible) on the rim of the raging river gorge. The park also has one group site, and three hike-in backcountry sites. Campsites in the park are fairly compact and close together, so don’t expect a lot of seclusion. Campground amenities include flush toilets, showers, laundry facilities and a dump station. There are also two playgrounds for the kids, picnic areas, an interpretive center, and access to a sandy beach on Tallulah Falls Lake.
The main draw to Tallulah Gorge is hiking down to Sliding Rock at the bottom of the gorge. The park only issues 100 permits per day for this hike in order to minimize impact and maintain the canyon’s natural character. These permits are given on a first-come, first-serve basis, and cannot be reserved in advance—so get yours early! Without a permit, there are many more trails to hike along the rim of the gorge, with each offering stunning viewpoints. Don’t miss the suspension bridge on the Hurricane Falls Trail, which provides a spectacular river view from 80 feet directly above the churning waterfall.
FUN FACT: Tallulah Gorge was used as a filming location for Marvel’s Infinity War. Eagle-eyed fans may recognize Hurricane Falls in the final battle in Wakanda.
Bolding Mill Campground is an excellent choice for camping on Lake Sidney Lanier, offering plenty of comfortable amenities in addition to a well-kept facility. Visitors will enjoy fishing and boating on the lake as well as the lush picnic area and large swimming beach, perfect for families.
The large swimming beach is concrete, which provides a gentle slope and ADA access for visitors. An on-site boat ramp and fishing pier provide access to many water activities. Land-based recreation features picnic shelters and playground area near the front of the park.
The large swimming beach is concrete, which provides a gentle slope and ADA access for visitors. An on-site boat ramp and fishing pier provide access to many water activities. Land-based recreation features picnic shelters and playground area near the front of the park.
Lake Lanier spans 38,000 surface water acres and 17,000 land acres across five counties in northern Georgia. The reservoir is known for its aqua-blue coloring and spectacular scenery in the forested foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Bolding Mill campground is on the northwest side of the lake, which has plenty of grass and shade for comfortable camping.
This location is staffed. Please call (470) 774-7875 to speak with local staff.
Head to the Don Carter State Park for birding and hiking opportunities. Another idea is the Sawnee Mountain Preserve, with breathtaking scenic overlooks, hiking opportunities and rock climbing. Nearby Gainesville, Dawsonville and Dalonega provide many different experiences and opportunities.
Cancellations must be made via the online/phone reservation system.
$26 - $36 / night
Duckett Mill Campground is located on Lake Sidney Lanier. With over 692 miles of shoreline, the lake is well known for its aqua-blue water, spectacular scenery and variety of recreational activities. The lake has over 11 million visitors annually. Constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s, Lake Lanier is a multi-purpose lake that provides for flood protection, power production, water supply, navigation, recreation and fish and wildlife management.
Duckett Mill Campground offers many outdoor recreation opportunities including fishing, swimming and bike riding. On the lake there are opportunities for wake boarding, kayaking, boating and much more. There's also a swimming beach and a boat ramp (located just outside the campground) avaliable for campers.
Duckett Mill Campground offers many outdoor recreation opportunities including fishing, swimming and bike riding. On the lake there are opportunities for wake boarding, kayaking, boating and much more. There's also a swimming beach and a boat ramp (located just outside the campground) avaliable for campers.
Lake Lanier's expansive 38,000 surface water acres touches five counties in northern Georgia. The lake, surrounded by rolling farmland, is just 1 hour from Atlanta.
Head to Don Carter State Park for birding and hiking opportunities, or climb Sawnee Mountain at the Sawnee Mountain Preserve for breathtaking views of the area. The nearby cities of Dawsonville, Dalonega and Gainesville provide a wide variety of leisure activities.
This location is staffed. Please call (770) 532-9802 to speak with local staff.
Cancellations must be made via the online/phone reservation system or in person at the gatehouse. Cancellation calls to the gatehouse will not be honored.
$26 - $36 / night
Shady Grove Campground is open seasonally for primitive and RV camping; courtesy boat dock and access to Lake Lanier. Fishing is permitted and hiking trails abound along the lakeshore. The campground is located at 7800 Shadburn Ferry Road in Cumming and has over 110 campsites. Shady Grove Campground amenities include: Tent and RV Sites (30/50 amp) with water, a beach and swim area, a boat ramp with courtesy dock, a group campsites with picnic shelters, a playground, and wash houses.
Bald Ridge Creek Campground is on Lake Sidney Lanier, popular for its aqua-blue waters and spectacular scenery. Each year, over 11 million visitors travel to Lake Sidney Lanier for fantastic fishing and boating on the beautiful reservoir in northern Georgia.
Bald Ridge Creek Campground offers many outdoor recreation opportunities including fishing, swimming, and bike riding. On the lake there are opportunities for wake boarding, kayaking, boating and much more. There's also a swimming beach and boat ramp available for campers.
Bald Ridge Creek Campground offers many outdoor recreation opportunities including fishing, swimming, and bike riding. On the lake there are opportunities for wake boarding, kayaking, boating and much more. There's also a swimming beach and boat ramp available for campers.
Lake Sidney Lanier is nestled in the foothills of the Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains. The lake features 692 miles of shoreline and spans 38,000 surface water acres and 17,000 acres of lush terrain. The reservoir was created in 1956 with the completion of Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee River.
This location is staffed. Please call (470) 774-7873 to speak with local staff.
By boat, there's plenty of coves and islands to explore on the lake. For land activities, head to the Sawnee Mountain Preserve for hiking, rock climbing and an interactive visitors center for kids. The city of Cumming is nearby and has shopping, restuarants, a fairground and much more.
Cancellations must be made via the online/phone reservation system or in person at the gatehouse. Cancellation calls to the gatehouse will not be honored.
$26 - $36 / night
We really enjoyed our stay at Black Rock. Despite being at full capacity for Labor Day weekend, the park did not feel overly crowded. The staff attending the lodge store were welcoming and knowledgeable. There was a good selection of necessities available, along with ice and firewood. The comfort station was clean and well-appointed and there was never a wait for facilities. While privacy of sites varied, we spotted a few with really lovely mountainside views. The Tennessee Rock Trail to the summit and overlook is the perfect distance for a morning hike and not too strenuous. The Black Rock Lake Trail is very scenic and well worth the 20–30 minutes it takes to walk the circuit. There are also day facilities such as picnic tables and grills. Highly recommend.
Site 7 is separate from the others and has the whole point except there is a trail behind the site. No easy, sandy water access unless you go to the nice beach they have.
It took us about 1.5 hours to reach the campground from where the pavement ended. It gets rough in places, but a sedan can do it if it's dry. Once you finally reach the campground, it is nice. Nestled way back in the woods. No power or water hookups. A couple of water hydrates throughout the campground. No alcohol permitted. It is a wildlife management area. There is a host in the campground. Beautiful scenery!
We stayed at site 125 with a full view of the lake. We could watch the sunset & the sunrise each day and it was incredible. There is plenty of tree cover & wilderness surrounding you. Bath houses were decent (albeit a little outdated). Our spot had a pretty bad ant infestation & they ended up getting into our trailer, which I had to scour with spray, etc. But what can you do? Just bring some supplies in case. What we really liked about this campground is how natural the surroundings are. You're really immersed in the wooded area with a view of the beautiful lake & the sounds of birdsong, etc. Good campground for bikes as things are spread out (swimming beach, bathhouses). We would certainly come back!
This is a primitive campground with a picnic table, lantern pole and a firepit with a grate. It is pack in-pack out as there are no trashcans or dumpsters. Water is available via a hand water pump across from site#8 and the toilets are vault toilets but were well kept and did not smell horrible. The stream is gorgeous stream and loud enough to drown out most road noise. There are some hazardous trees and one 6inch tree did fall while we were there this weekend during a thunderstorm. At the back of the campground is a~2 mile trail that connects to the AT. Most sites have a tent pad that will accommodate a 10’x10’ tent. Sites 2, 4, and 8 driveways can really only accommodate 1 car and there are no extra parking spots. Driveways for sites 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 can accommodate 2 cars. Site 1 is adjacent to the road and is going to be impacted by road noise. There is no campground host so be prepared to either scavenge wood or buy it in town, same goes for ice.
Nice campsites with water and electricity. Almost all the sites have view of lake and many have access to the lake for swimming or paddle boarding or boating. Nice breeze off the lake. Will be back many times.
It was a nice campground. But it is set up to be too crowded. Not my kind of camping. But they stated was friendly. The restrooms weren’t so bad considering how many kids was there. Couldn’t let the dogs walk free so that sucked.
I called and was told this is a membership ONLY campground resort! Please delete this resort
We stayed in site 7 and we really enjoyed it. The site was clean and the pad was very level.
We had a minor issue popping the 30amp breaker but switched over to the 50 amp adapter and all worked fine.
Didn’t use the bath house but I did go check them out and they looked clean.
I would caution big rigs on the first loop (sites 2 - 9) the loop at the back is pretty tight. We did fine with our 28’ TT but anyone over 30’ might want to consider the other loops.
Driving through and looking at the other sites some of the picnic areas need to be reworked or at the very least mowed and weeded. If it wasn’t for that sort of stuff I would give it 5 stars.
We just finished our third RV trip at 411 River Rest CG—which was our seventh trip there over the past few years. The campground is pretty and extremely well maintained. The Coosawattee River is beautiful, as are the big trees that are a part of the facility. The exceptionally large and tall sycamores are particularly nice! The owners are friendly and they’re involved on a daily basis with the operations. We already have two trips scheduled for 411 RR CG for next year!
Five areas available free first come first serve by a little Creek bathrooms available sealed trash cans. Fire rings available sometimes firewood is available. Great little spot. once you entered, the campsite going towards the bathrooms is a waterfall.
This was our second rv trip here. Being able to back up to a river, throw in tubes and just enjoy… is something wild. Great location with easy access. Spots are not private, but that doesn’t take from anything. We made friends. The staff was great. The bathhouse was average. Will certainly be back!
Great place to camp and just relax and watch all children play and laugh.
Beautiful campground with a small lake and wooded sites. A little hilly but that provides some space between sites. Campground staff were very nice and facilities were clean and in good repair. Dog friendly with trails on site, as well as stables adjoining.
Well kept and clean. I was there on Wednesday and no one was there. Please be kind and do not leave trash behind.
Great open lake for small fishing boats and plenty of campsites.
Site 23 is perfect if you’re looking for a huge, private, creekside site. It was just a short walk to the outhouse and water pump, but a longer trek to the bathhouse, but the other features of this site were worth it. This huge site has the perfect trees for swinging your hammock over the creek, lots of shade, and easy access to wade in the creek. The campground was clean and well maintained, the hosts were friendly, and the weather was pleasant for late June. I can’t wait to go back!
I returned to Andrew’s Cove in late June for a night in the woods. I had site 3 this time, and it’s my favorite site so far. It’s the most removed from the other sites, but just a quick walk down the campsite driveway to the bathrooms. I really like the privacy of that site despite the street noise. The bathrooms were disgusting, as usual. I highly recommend bringing an alternate option for bathroom use. The temperature was pleasant even in late June, and a rainstorm passed through overnight. It was a glorious way to sleep. I highly recommend Andrew’s Cove.
Looks like a pretty campground, but seeing this post on Facebook and then searching them to figure out why they don't allow kids to see there's no mention of no children on there listing's. So just wanna put that out there. Looks like a cool place otherwise.
This place was a nightmare. I booked primitive site #4, that whole site is on a hill, the only flat place is where you park, and that's not really flat either. Needless to say it was difficult to set anything up; tents, food, games, etc... The campsites at this campground are very close together, and unfortunately our neighbors were very inconsiderate blasting country music all night long, they literally pulled an all-nighter, no joke, even after my wife and I asked them to turn the concert down at 3:30am, they got silent for about 1 to 2 minutes, and then started it right back up. The lake area where you swim is pretty gross, there are tons of people in a relatively small area, and pontoon boats pull right up to where the rope is that contains the swim area and cook out on their grills smoking out the swim area while idling petrol fumes and exhaust in to the water. We did manage to have some fun with making a fire, and although the lake was disgusting, it did feel good because it was 100 degrees outside. We decided to pack up and leave a day early, it was that bad. Find another campground to go to, or change your dates of your trip to avoid this place, do whatever you need to do to not end up here.
This county campground takes the America the Beautiful Pass or an ADA Accessibility Pass, but you will need to call the office at 770-607-6245 to add the pass to your account for the discount before making reservations. If you are a big rig, it would be wise to call the office and have them assist you in choosing a site that will accommodate a larger rig. Our RV GPS and Waze brought us right to the campground (CG). There is also signage to verify that you are going the right way until you see the CG entrance. We pulled into the gate area and were checked in by the attendant on duty. During the process, she wanted to be sure how to navigate the CG to pull through site 16 with water and electric(50/30/20 AMP) due to the size of our rig. After confirming with her husband the best route, we drove to the site going through a small one-way road, which was no issue. As our rig is 40', we needed to watch the trees on a couple of corner turns and then pull down into our site. We got the rig into the levelist position possible to get our rig’s steps down to an assessable position and fairly level, but we did need to add levelers to our steps and the passenger-side tires. Other than that, it’s a great site with a deck, patio, stand-up BBQ, picnic table, and fire pit overlooking the lake. We were told, and noticed, that all the sites in this quaint little county park have a water view. The water pressure was good at around 55 psi and we got 1 bar on Verizon. There are a lot of mature trees here, but we were able to get a clear north sky shot for Starlink. It was a pleasant surprise to find that the restroom/shower house had a fairly new washer($3) and dryer($2) that only took credit cards. They have an interesting dump station set up where you climb a fairly steep hill. This station would be good for shorter rigs. On our 40’ Brinkley with two black tanks, getting the back tank would be at a downhill angle and we believe we would scraped going up the slope. We had to stay a couple of extra days to get our truck fixed and the attendants were more than accommodating. This is a nice park, especially for fishermen and we enjoyed our time here.
This is a smaller COE campground than most we have stayed at, which is nice in a way. The playground and beach were never crowded, and it was pretty quiet with the exception of the boat traffic. The campground is right next to a public boat ramp, beach, marina, and restaurant. It's super convenient but not as quiet as some other COE places. We loved it because we brought our boat and tied it up by our site. The sites are not huge but plenty big, and there are many great waterfront spots. Ours was nice for swimming with clean water and a nice drop-off. It is a mixed bag in terms of privacy. While there was plenty of space between us and our neighbors, the sites were laid out so that even with our campers hooked up, we could always see each other. Took away slightly from the experience, but it was still a very fun place. We will go back next summer. I think that 22 is the best spot, followed by the waterfront pull-through spots on the cove.
I absolutely love this place!
Loud music loud voices bright lights generators used on tent site. Party to 2 am. No rules enforced even when you complain to the host. Then this is the place for you. You can get away with whatever you want. Expect No sleep!!
My family and I camped here for the weekend. Our campsite was beautiful and level. We could easily accommodate our pop-up camper and a 4-person tent with room to spare! My son was able to play and explore. My only critic would be that we were a little let down at the condition of the beach and that there was no playground when there was one listed on the grounds map. We will definitely be returning nonetheless.
Made reservation a couple of days in advance. The only lakeside site available was #20. That was probably because it was small (~25' max). But the view was great. Sites are well maintained. The Lakeside sites have well maintained pads but steep drops, so check their lengths. Power and Water were good. Bath house was spacious, clean and warm.
Sites appeared to be staggered well to provide most with good view of lake. Some had their boats pulled up at their sites. It was surprisingly quiet for a full, local campground. Only noise came from the kids having fun swimming, and the geese.
Clean dump station, potable water fill, and dumpster with easy access on the way out.
We are not park people, and we only stayed one night passing through. But would not hesitate to do so again.
Advice: Pay the extra for the lakeside sites, and get up for sunrise.
I always have a great time staying at this campground and meeting many friendly people. The road noise is not as bad as some people say. I mostly hear only the river running. The shower house is always clean, and for $15, it is a great deal. Make reservations on line as it fills up on the weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Dahlonega, GA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Dahlonega, GA is Vogel State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 64 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 240 dog-friendly camping locations near Dahlonega, GA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
