The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Elberton. Elberton is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Discover great camping spots near Elberton, reviewed by campers like you.
Situated on a wooded peninsula, Tugaloo’s cottages and most campsites offer spectacular views of 55,590 acre Lake Hartwell in every direction. Some cottages even have private boat docks for overnight guests. Tent campers can choose between the developed campground or primitive sites located a short walk from the parking area. During summer, the lake is a popular destination for swimming, water skiing, sailing and boating. Both the Sassafras and Muscadine hiking trails wind through oak, walnut, mulberry and cherry trees. Tugaloo State Park boasts a six-lane mega ramp used for large fishing tournaments and easy lake access. Fishing is excellent year-round, and large-mouth bass are plentiful. The name “Tugaloo” comes from an Indian name for the river which once flowed freely prior to the construction of Hartwell Dam.
$5 - $38 / night
This recreation area is part of J. Strom Thurmond Lake
This recreation area is part of J. Strom Thurmond Lake
$20 - $225 / night
Springfield Campground is one of Hartwell___s most popular camping destinations consisting of 60 acres of primarily Virginia pine and some mixed hardwoods. The area presently offers 1 gatehouse/entrance, 2 park attendant campsites, 79 public campsites with full water and electric hookups, 6 comfort stations (4 with showers), 1 dump station, 1 boat ramp, 1 courtesy dock, 3 playgrounds, 1 designated swim area/beach, and associated paved roads and parking areas throughout.
Fishing is one of the most popular activities at the lake. Sought-after species include largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish, striped bass and hybrid bass. The lake appeals to boaters of all kinds, whether their specialty is canoeing, sailing or motor boating. Coves and areas of quiet water provide water skiers with excellent surfaces. Swimmers will find sand beaches and designated swim areas along the shoreline.
Fishing is one of the most popular activities at the lake. Sought-after species include largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish, striped bass and hybrid bass. The lake appeals to boaters of all kinds, whether their specialty is canoeing, sailing or motor boating. Coves and areas of quiet water provide water skiers with excellent surfaces. Swimmers will find sand beaches and designated swim areas along the shoreline.
Hartwell Lake is a man-made lake bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers. The dam and lake area boasts 8 campgrounds and 11 day-use facilities that are operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Hartwell Project was originally authorized for hydro-power, flood control, and navigation. Later, recreation, water quality, water supply and fish and wildlife management were added. Surrounding vegetation allows for plenty of shade, and the 962 miles of shoreline provide numerous swimming beaches, picnic areas and boat ramps.
The campground is a short drive away from Clemson, South Carolina and Clemson University, offering additional tourism opportunities, along with grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants.
$32 / night
This recreation area is part of Richard B. Russell Lake
Nestled between Athens and Atlanta, Fort Yargo is a 1,816-acre park located in Georgia state. Its namesake comes from a log fort that was constructed by settlers who, at the time, built it to protect themselves against the Creek and Cherokee. Nowadays, visitors flock to this park to enjoy the variety of outdoor recreation and activities.
Apart from all the recreation the park has to offer, it also provides some of the most gorgeous views in the Eastern region of the United States. Here, folks can enjoy over 20 miles of hiking and bike trails. Fort Yargo State Park is also a common location for outdoor weddings and other types of special events and celebrations.
Those looking to stay overnight have an abundance of options to choose from. The park offers 12 walk-in campsites, 13 “adventure” cabins, 40 RV and tent campsites, group shelters, and even lakeside yurts for anyone wanting a true “glamping” experience. The fees for staying overnight range from $25-135, and do not include the ParkPass fee. The ParkPass fee is $5 per day for passenger vehicles carrying a maximum of 12 people, and for passenger vehicles with additional occupants the fee is $30 per day. Additionally, there is an annual option for $50-75 per year. Luckily, visitors are only required to pay for a ParkPass once during the entirety of their stay.
The main attractions to this park are the variety of activities such as disc golf, mini golf, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, swimming, fishing, and geocaching. Disc golf has proven to be a challenge for many visitors, at least partly due to the fact that it's a densely wooded course. This park is also home to a gorgeous 260-acre lake with a seasonal beach. Visitors can enjoy a day at the lake on one of the two beach pavilions and fishing is a welcome activity as well.
$34 - $36 / night
Hartwell Lakeside KOA is located at the former Hart State Park on the Lake Hartwell Reservoir. It is one of the largest lakes in the United States, with a shoreline of 962 miles and 56,000 acres of water, and can be used for swimming, fishing, boating, kayaking and paddle boarding. The campground offers scenic hiking and biking trails throughout with views of nature and the lake shoreline. We offer incredibly beautiful lakefront RV and tent sites, all with electric and water hookups. Our campers have access to our campground beach, boat ramp and courtesy docks on the lake. The City of Hartwell and Hart County offer beautiful downtown Hartwell, with excellent restaurants, unique shops and many local attractions. We look forward to your visit at our Hartwell Lakeside KOA.
$50 - $70 / night
Big Water Marina & Campground is a full-service facility that provides an unspoiled oasis for all types of lake lovers. Located on the largest expanse of open water on Lake Hartwell, the marina is one of the most accessible spots for visitors to fully embrace the atmosphere of the lake — on and off the water.
From campers to boaters, we cater to all types of visitors with our top-notch amenities, rentals & services. Our lakeside campground features over 40+ RV sites, including full and partial hook-ups, and new Tiny Cabin rentals that can host up to 6 guests each. We also have a selection of boat and watercraft rentals that includes pontoons, kayaks, paddleboard and hydrobikes offering endless ways to explore Lake Hartwell.
During the warmer seasons, visitors can treat themselves to a variety of on-site activities. Our newest edition, Splash Island, is set up with easy access to recreational areas, play zones, and leisure spaces for the whole family to enjoy. Lounge on the beaches, take a dip in the lake, or make a splash on our new Wibit inflatable obstacle course! Guests can also treat themselves to a sensational waterfront dining experience at our seasonal restaurant, J.R. Cash's Grill & Bar. The menu includes a variety of appetizers, entrees, desserts and cocktails, and the venue features a rooftop bar for incredible sunset views.
$25 - $50 / night
We live in NC and have camped all over the eastern US. By far Georgia is a state with some of the very best infrastructure. Roads are great. State Parks are some of the best and we’ve camped at many. Tugaloo State Park is a nice park. Right on the lake. Lots of lake related activities. This area of the campground (sites 73-105) has a unique layout in that a large number of sites are pull through and arranged sideways along the access roads. This makes the sites long and narrow and results in close neighbors. The elongated sites mean the picnic table and fire pit are at far end and feel disconnected from the site. Roads are well maintained and sites all seemed pretty level. We were in site 97 with W/E. The bathhouse was very close, but we did not use it. We were a few rows back from the lake but had a view of the lake through the tall pines that provided some shade. We’ve camped here a couple of other times and would come back again.
Gorgeous lake with no sign of civilization across from the campground. We swam right from our site and loved it. The sites are enormous, private, and provide panoramic lake views. Ours was perfect. Nice beach, playground, and everything well kept. I would imagine that on weekends the boat traffic might be slightly loud but on this Monday it was so peaceful and quiet. The site has a fire ring with grill, a standing grill, a picnic table, and a prep table. Again, the site is enormous. Great value at $32!!!
Fifteen fish and whose counting? Not to mention the 'BIG ONE' that got away on our last day!!! (According to my Sweetie...Lol!) Lincolnton, Georgia is the place to 'BEE' for a quiet and intimate getaway, encompassing relaxation and fun! Lakefront Hotel! One of the best birthday celebrations ever!!!
Thank you Jana for all the special consideration and your generosity! We will definitely be seeing you again soon!
Sonya and Clarence (Sweetie)
Wonderful experience. Most every site on the water. Many pull through sites.
We had a great experience. Space was easy to get the camper backed into and spaces were far enough apart for small kids to have room to play without bothering other campers. Only concern was the spot we chose was on an exposed point on the lake and was very windy. Would probably be great on a 90 degree summer day but was very cold when the temps dropped into the 40s on our last day.
This place has everything, even cheap laundry! 2-3 bars Verizon service, pretty quiet in February.
This site was absolutely perfect for our first trip out in our new camper. Our dog also loved the water! Bathrooms and showers are clean and easily accessible. Several fishing spots and places to launch kayaks and three boat ramps. Sites are clean and well maintained. The fishing is AMAZING! 20 palm sized shell cracker on the first day!
Me and a friend came camping here this second weekend in January. The campground itself was well maintained and the hook ups, dump station and bathhouses were easy to find and use. We had only 2 complaints, the gate to get in closes at 10pm, unfortunately I85 was shut down on our way up so our 3 hr drive became 6hrs. We did not make it before the gate closed and had to stay at Walmart. No code no exceptions. Secondly, there are no trashcans anywhere, on the grounds or in the bathhouses. The trash dump is in a completely different part of the park. It was inconvenient with picking up after my dog. Besides those two things, beautiful lake camping with affordable campsite prices!
Nice day camping but site B is our least favorite out of all the backcountry sites.

Better bring a cart or a bike. It’s a long way to everywhere here. But they have it all. Golf, swimming, axe throwing, archery, skeet shooting. Trails for hiking/biking. Nice sites close to the lake. Shower house is just adequate, barely.
Rough roads, poor shower house, undeveloped sites. But man, what a view
Campsite 17 is beautiful. The water is great. We kayaked and hiked. We camp here often. It is clean and everyone was friendly
Camped out here I really like it just remember it is primitive camping so bring what you need cell phone service was good here i would camp out here again
We love this campground, so many great waterfront spots. to choose from! Beautiful, peaceful Lake.
Overall a nice and quite campground in the North Ga mountains. 5 mins from Currahee Mountain and 10 mins from downtown Toccoa. Only issue with the site is that the sewer drain is much higher than the pad and camper.
This site is a little more woodsy than lake. Also the most sloped on the loop. The other sites have been leveled a little bit this one hasn't.
This campground looks abandoned and forgotten. Trash everywhere! We’d hoped we’d found a gem but not so much. Large parking area at bottom of campground to put in watercraft but didn’t seem welcoming at all. Very disappointed.
Typical of KOA, the sites are close together, but other than, great. Good option for anyone making a day of the Outlets.
Can’t go wrong with Mistletoe for water fun. More sites than not are on the water. Beautiful place to kayak, and you can rent one for 24 hours for $30 (as of June 2023) and keep it at your site.
Sites are wide and spacious with well-drained pads and parking. Bathrooms are a bit of a walk from 29, but there’s a playground up there, too. Bonus. Around the rest of the park are a myriad of other site types. Some wooded, others exposed. Waterfront or platforms. Three different loops. Great staff and visitors center.
Elijah Clark is a great place. Easy to get to, and you still have cell service. Great playgrounds for kids, plus mini golf and kayak rentals. Many sites are waterfront.
I highly, highly, highly recommend the walk-ins. Suitable for car campers who don’t mind making a couple trips to the car. The sites are very close to the parking spots.
Site 8 has a great view of the lake, but isn’t directly on the water. Just downhill of the site is a boat slip for a kayak or canoe. If renting a kayak form the park, it’s not too far to paddle from the boat ramp where the kayaks are kept to the slip by the site.
Bathrooms for the walk-ins are below-average, aged, but more or less clean, as long as you don’t mind a few bugs.
Hiking is limited, but the little historical to-dos are fun. Check their calendar before going; they often have fun things going on over the weekend.
If you are looking for a near perfect lakeside camping experience in the 'Low Country' here in South Carolina, than you may have just found the perfect getaway! Tucked away from main roads and a solid 20 minute drive from the nearest traces of civilization (the itty bitty town of McCormick), Hickory Knob State Park, which sits right on the Savannah River / Lake Thurmond and provides the setting for truly one of the most perfect camping escapes I have ever encountered.
There's about 60-70 individual campsites here, but you would be hard pressed to count them all on account that there is so much foliage that separates each individual campsite that despite the # of sites, you are left with a very intimate and secluded feeling. While some of these well-secluded spots can get you just about as close to the lakeshore as possible (without infringing upon the land boundaries itself), most set a decent 10- 15 feet above shoreline and offer a private and simple-to-navigate pathway to the refreshing lollops of the lake's gentle rippling waves.
Each site is apportioned with the basics - long drive-way with corresponding flat base platform (either perfect for RV or very amenable to the largest of tents), fire ring, water spigot and picnic table. While there's a handful of campsites that appear to be close cousins to the one next to it, most sites feel independent from one another and offer up enough space to forget your next-door neighbors. Further, I counted 3 separate loops (or communities, if you will), each with their own facilities.
Apart from the greatest amenity being the lake itself, the park also offers a simple, yet splendid boat jetty with an easy-to-navigate round-about. Unlike many other state parks I have visited in the country, this one offers boaters many easy places to stow away their boats, when not in use on the lake. Further afield, there are plenty of trails to explore the deeper, less frequented side of this overgrown lakeside forested haven.
If there were any drawbacks at all, it would simply be the less than mediocre bathrooms and showers that the state of South Caroline seems intent on not fixing (think back 50 to 60 years ago to what bathrooms might have looked like back then and then come present day to find exactly the same thing, without any repairs (and perhaps any sanitation) being made whatsoever). With all of the tax dollars that the state collects, on top of the fees paid for camping in these amazing state parks, you think the state would be able to afford building and maintaining better and more modern facilities for its overnight guests (what is it that they say about hospitality in the South?!).
In sum, if you are looking for some really good seclusion, right on the lake, don't mind the overgrown nature of this campsite, have a boat, and perhaps older children that don't need playgrounds (and other man-made distractions) and can do without direct access to civilization, then this may very well be a perfect spot for you.
Insider tips? Here's a few: (1) Because the nearest town of McCormick is a bit of a hike to get to (think at least a 20 minute drive on slow moving, winding country roads), be sure to bring everything you need with you, but if you do need any groceries, there's a Food Lion that has just about everything you might need; (2) When you grow tired of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your Cordova cooler, then check out Michelle's, which is one half family restaurant - where I never believe any waitress who answers the question 'What is the best thing on the menu' with the response 'EVERYTHING!', but I will admit, she was absolutely right - we tried the pizza, wings, salad bar and hamburger one night - all were equally amazing - and one half happy hour / karaoke bar that apparently the entirety of McCormick shows up at after 8pm every night, which was pretty cool to experience; (3) When / if you head into the town of McCormick, take note of the Ice ATM machine there - it's fantastic and super cheap, so be sure to stock up on your ice there; and (4) If you are wanting to 'whet your whistle' after a good hard day of kayaking, then head on over to nearby Back Paddle Brewing for some really nice local craft beers.
Happy Camping!
We love Tugaloo! One of our favorite campgrounds, with so much to do. Our sites this go around were the absolute best, so wide and roomy, probably two of the best sites in the campground. Lake is right across the way from us for some beautiful views, nice beach swimming and parking the boat. The campground has awesome activities through the summer for the kids and for families. Definitely a much visit!
The staff were able to get me added and discounted my staff which was nice. The place is broken up with many cottages, yurts and other tent areas to reserve. We took to the path ways with our dog and enjoyed the many animals roaming through the woods. I wasn't able to get on a raft this time, yet saw many enjoying the fishing and lake. Overall a quiet place with good facilities. Accomodations for every camper were available.
The staff was very polite and patient with as busy as it’s been with The Masters” in town. Facilities by our campsite very clean and the views of the Savannah River are spectacular. Lots of cool things to do at this park. Very kid and dog friendly!! So great place for families.
This review is for campsite 82 at Mistletoe State Park. An absolutely commanding view of the lake! It lacked shade in late March but once the sun went down, it was perfect! Beautiful sunsets! We camped in 2 tents and there was more than enough room, the tent pads were level, and the crusher run was comfortable under the tarp and tent. There is a unique lookout structure with a rolling gate. This was useful for corralling our cocker spaniel. We also set chairs up there. Accessing the lake was no problem, just down an easy incline, and there was a little beach area, perfect for sitting with your feet in the cold water. There are multiple trails but we loved walking around both campsite loops. It’s fun to see the different set ups. The comfort station near us was average, but adequate. The shower design isn’t super for drainage but it works! The toilet stalls and sink area were very clean. It looked like at least one comfort station on the right fork loop was more updated, with family bathrooms. I’m with AT&T and I had very few issues with cellular data. The hosts were friendly and welcoming. The gift shop was lovely. We would love to go back and rent a pontoon boat and try one of the cabins. We would like the record to show that at 2:00 AM on the Saturday we were there, an airboat with purple and green lights and very loud music came upon the shoreline of the state park. It was like a spaceship had landed. After thinking about it, we think they may have been bow fishing. Of course our kids slept through the whole thing, no idea how! They took “disturbance of the peace” to a new level! No reflection on the park itself, just a bizarre occurrence and a funny memory for us!
This is one of the nicest state parks for camping we've been to. Lots of lakeside sites and pull throughs. Beautiful lake views. Very well maintained bathroom and showers. I think we had the best site #75! Pretty level pull thru on the lake with an amazing view. Bathhouse right behind site. Fire pit and cement picnic bench.
Camping near Elberton, Georgia, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.
Camping around Elberton, Georgia, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. With beautiful parks and friendly communities, it's a great place to enjoy the outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Elberton, GA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Elberton, GA is Tugaloo State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 40 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 26 glamping camping locations near Elberton, GA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
