Stone Mountain Park Campground offers camping opportunities near Decatur, Georgia with lake access and multiple loop options. Located at 4003 Stonewall Jackson Dr, the campground sits at the base of Stone Mountain, a large quartz monzonite dome rising 825 feet above the surrounding area. The park experiences hot summers with temperatures often exceeding 90°F from June through August, and mild winters with occasional freezing temperatures.
What to Do
Hiking with breathtaking views: Stone Mountain Park provides excellent hiking trails with panoramic views. "The hike to the top was a challenge, but the views were worth it," reports Judy B. The main Stone Mountain trail offers accessible terrain for most skill levels.
Water activities on the lake: Sweetwater Creek State Park Campground offers multiple water recreation options. "Hiking, kayaking, swimming - plenty of things to do. You can spend a whole day out here just walking along the creek and jumping across the rocks," notes Asia + Jalen B. The park's water features provide cooling relief during hot Georgia summers.
Mountain biking on established trails: Fort Yargo State Park features extensive trail systems specifically designed for mountain biking. "Most of the trails are mixed mountain biking and hiking but when we were there, we only saw two mountain bikes," according to Nancy W. The trails wind through wooded areas and offer varying difficulty levels.
What Campers Like
Spacious, well-maintained sites: Many campers appreciate the generous spacing between sites at Stone Mountain Park Campground. "We spent a weekend here in section O. It was a nice, spacious campsite with a nice picnic table and partial view of the lake even though we didn't have 'lake view' site," says Tonya B. The Orange and Lime Green loops offer different experiences based on tree coverage and privacy.
Lake views from select campsites: Red Top Mountain State Park Campground offers premium waterfront locations. "Excellent campground with ultra-helpful staff. Per views of the mountain with many lots on the lake," notes Kyle P. Sites 7-12 in Loop 1 are particularly desirable for their lake access.
Clean facilities and helpful staff: Fort Yargo State Park maintains high standards for their amenities. "The shower house was a little dirty, so that's why I gave 4 stars instead of 5," mentions Tonya B. at Stone Mountain, indicating that clean facilities are important to campers visiting dog friendly campgrounds near Decatur.
What You Should Know
Reservation requirements: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Decatur require advance booking, particularly for weekend stays. Panola Mountain State Park Campground notes: "Staff was awesome and very accommodating," according to Ashley C., though sites fill quickly during peak seasons.
Terrain variations: Campsite terrain varies significantly across the region. "The only downfall was that the trailer needed a lot of leveling. But it was totally worth it. Our site was on the lake," shares Susan K. about Stone Mountain Park. Bringing leveling blocks is recommended for RV campers.
Wildlife encounters: Local wildlife is active in all area campgrounds. "Getting to the campsite was simple enough and it is the quoted 3/4 mile walk in... Very peaceful and even had the sounds of a vibrant coyote pack," reports Michael T. at Panola Mountain State Park.
Tips for Camping with Families
Activity planning for various ages: Sweetwater Creek State Park provides diverse options for family outings. "The park is set up on the land of an old factory that used the river to power a water wheel. There are a whole bunch of trails of varying difficulty and length that meander through the woods along the river," shares Asher K. Historical sites add educational value to family trips.
Optimal times for kid-friendly adventures: Early morning and evening hours offer cooler temperatures for outdoor activities with children. "There's all kind of activities for the kids. They have free transportation within the park/campground area. Helpful staff too," reports Harvey B. about Stone Mountain Park.
Safety considerations around water: Lakes and creeks require vigilant supervision of children. "My husband and son enjoyed fishing and paddle boarding right behind our site," notes Susan K. about their experience at Stone Mountain Park, highlighting the need for water safety.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger rigs: Atlanta-Marietta RV Park accommodates big rigs but has limitations. "While it lacks amenities of my favorite RV parks it has everything I need for when I visit. I use this park strictly for sporting events as it's close by and is relatively quiet considering how close it is to the highway," advises Mike N.
Hookup availability and considerations: Most RV parks in the area offer full hookups, but configuration varies. "Sites are nice and across the road from the park though you can also take other trails from there that go down and around the reservoir," states Asher K. about Sweetwater Creek's setup.
Levelness of sites: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain requiring preparation. "Heavily wooded sites that are not well maintained. Very narrow roads in the campground with lots of pot holes. Not the easiest state park to pull a travel trailer in," warns Brock D. about Red Top Mountain State Park.
