Best Equestrian Camping near Buford, GA

What a great park! Situated at the far north end of Lake Lanier, this Georgia state park is awesome! One of the best things about it for RV/trailer camping is the huge distance between camp sites! Had a spot about 35yds from the shore next to a wooded area. Super clean everywhere around the park. There is a beach and equestrian center, boating, fishing and a bunch of trails for hiking both dirt and paved. About an hour from where I live and I’ll be back!

Nice campground, bathhouses exceptionally clean. Camped on a Sunday and Monday and was so peaceful with all of nature’s  sounds. There’s two lakes there but you need to take a short drive to get to the swimming beach and to better fishing. Golf course looks great, and  equestrian camping looked great too. Lots of easy hiking trails to explore.  A very  short drive from Atlanta make this campground a nice weekend camping getaway

We have camped at this beautiful park NUMEROUS times and there is a reason that we keep coming back (actually there are multiple reasons)!

HLC has an amazing staff that is there when you need them and not there when you don't! The camp hosts are friendly, the Ranger rides through on a regular basis and is friendly/outgoing (you can tell that he enjoys his job)!

The campground is not cramped at all and most of the sites are spread apart to provide privacy!

Not long ago, as many of the GA State Parks are doing, HLC swapped over to "site-specific" reservations..meaning that you must choose a particular site when reserving. This is VERY useful if you're familiar with the campground and have a favorite site (such as we do) but it can be a shot in the dark if you're not familiar with the campground.

The bath houses/comfort stations are brand new (including laundry rooms) and the camp hosts keep them spotless! The campground roads are newly paved and there are a couple of new sites.

There are hiking trails, kayak rentals, a beach area (swimming) and two nice lakes! There are equestrian trails and even an equestrian campground!

The park has numerous cottages to rent, a group shelter, picnic pavilions and even a mini-golf course (newly renovated)!

Not far from the campground (in Rutledge, GA) there is a Dollar general in case you forgot something that the park store doesn't have.

If you've never visited this beautiful park, ou are missing out on one of our hidden gems!

This is Georgia's newest state park (2013) and it is a beautiful park! The staff is great and there is plenty to see/do! The park is located on Lake Lanier with plenty of opportunities for fishing, swimming and boating! There's even a fish cleaning station (located near the main boat ramp entrance).

There are hiking trails, geocaches, a beach area, picnic shelters, cottages and a brand new equestrian trail system!

As far as camping goes, there are primitive tent/hammock sites and an RV campground. The RV campground features all paved campsites so it would be tough camping in a tent (no way to stake your tent).

Now, the ASPHALT is part of the reason for the review's title, coupled with the fact that this is a new park and tree coverage is a bit sparse for the time being. Once the canopy fills out, it will be shady.

We camped in our trusty pop up camper so direct sun is always an issue (non-insulated bunk ends) but a travel trailer/RV would probably fare well (as far as temp goes).

We'll be back but in the Fall when it is a bit cooler!

The campground hosts were friendly and they kept the bath houses/laundry facilities spotless!

This is a beautiful park and we highly recommend it, in the proper weather or camper!

Who ever decided that every campsite needed to be asphalt should be hung! This is a newer State Park in Georgia and it could be nice, but it’s been paved over. They classify them as RV sites, but they are parking lots. They have water and electric, and a dump station. The bathroom/shower building was new. (There is a small primitive camping area for tents, with no facilities.) There is a playground and a beach area, which was not open when we were there. There are some “trails” but they are paved as well. There are also cottages. We went to a ranger program on raptors on Saturday which was interesting.. Probably won’t go back because there are lots of much nicer parks in Georgia.

Don Carter State Park is Georgia's newest campground. Very clean restrooms. There is a gate code to get in after hours and a separate gate code to get into the campground. The Cabins are very nice. We enjoyed the trails.

This Georgia State Park is in Gainesville on the Chattahoochee where it meets up with Lake Lanier.  It was very easy to get to from the Atlanta area.  We originally chose site 8 on the map but found it was pretty exposed and got direct sun all the time.

The park was very clean and still had a "new" feeling.  We had a site with full hook ups.  There wasn't WiFi, but the cell service was good.  They did have cable.  There is a beach with kayak rentals.  We enjoyed a double kayak outing on the lake.  We kept pretty close to shore and didn't have to fight rough water or strong currents.

Some campsites are on small hills that flatten out for your camper but then the terrain falls off.  Biking trails weren't very flat.  We also had to be aware of ants.  Couldn't leave our dog's dish or bone out without being invaded.

Don't miss the Mountain Fresh Creamery almost 8 miles away for ice cream.  Also not far from Helen, GA and wineries.  Always great to spend time in the beautiful Georgia mountains.

Hard Labor Creek State Park is one of the Georgia State Park system's best kept secrets! Located just minutes away from Rutledge, GA, HLC seems like a whole world away! Away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, HLC is still convenient to Rutledge and Madison, in case you forgot to pack something.

HLC features hiking trails, mini golf, newly "renovated" campsites that include two BRAND new bathhouses (comfort stations). The comfort stations have restrooms/showers, as well as two family restroom/shower facilities. The comfort stations also feature vending machines (drinks) and a laundry facility!

Kayak rentals, a beach/swimming area and numerous special programs are available!

Cell phone service is very spotty in the park but that is alright with us, camping is about getting AWAY and enjoying the outdoors, not staring at your electronic devices!

If golf is your thing, HLC has a beautiful 18-hole golf course!

This park in North Georgia on Lake Lanier hit our trifecta 🚴‍♀️🥾🚣🏼‍♂️.

12.5 miles of multi use trails with some elevation.
📌Additional bonus for those with strollers/small children or physical challenges —>this park had several ADA accessible trails which were paved.

Lake Lanier offered wonderful kayaking/fishing opportunities, there is also a beach for swimming. If you paddle or fish- be sure to have your fishing license/whistle/ life jacket. I got pulled over twice by water patrol.

Keith loved biking the rolling country roads surrounding the park. Too hilly for me outside the park but I am a wimp about climbing hills.

We could do it all easily from our campsite which had 30/50amp, water and lucky us there was a grey water drain within hose reach. (These Grey water drains are dispersed randomly throughout the campground not always near your site) There is also cable hook up. Verizon service was okay.

We stayed here for 10 days in mid July and bugs were minimal...as long as you were inside or armed at dusk with repellent or fans.

The wooded campsites and shady trails made the whole summer adventure great!

There are primitive tent camping areas and lovely 8 cottages/cabins too!)

Not much to say about it pretty much all the sites around the lake area the same in Hall county Gwinnett it was very peaceful nice people was able to find plenty of outdoor stuff to do hope other people enjoy it too

We tent camped here for two nights. While our tent was a bit too big to fit on the pad, we made do and didn't even set it on fire. The bathrooms were very clean and since we were allowed to pick our site we found one near the bathroom. There were several trails and geocaches in the park, which helped us walk off some of the donuts we ate sitting around the campfire. This park also has a lake and playground for other outdoor activities if hiking and geocaching aren't your thing. The camp store has ice and firewood and some other things you might need/want. Perhaps we are just navigationally challenged, but finding the dumpster when we needed it was a feat. Of course we passed it while we were trying to find the perfect campsite, but had trouble locating it when we actually needed it. We were also glad that we called before our arrival since we needed a gate code. Overall, it was a good experience. There was a beautiful night sky.

If you don't have enough money or time for a beach vacation this is the place to go. You will enjoy Sandy beaches and the splash of cold water on your body.

We have stayed have stayed at Don Carter 3 times and enjoyed it each time. It is the newest of GA State Parks and has all paved roads and sites. The park and all facilities are clean and well maintained. While the sites are not full hookup, along with power and water the sites have a "gray water" drip system that allows you to slowly drain off gray water.

The sites are average in size and not too close together. There are a handful of waterfront sites however being a "first come first served" reservation system, your best chance of getting one of those sites is to arrive on Wednesday or Thursday.

As in most state parks , clean and friendly, restrooms and showers clean .Only bad thing is no close by stores make sure you have everything or be ready for a little trip to get it ! But we will return !!!!

This is a nice campground and well-maintained. The sites are first come first serve so you don’t get to pick out your site in advance. Luckily we found a spot right on the lake. We brought our kayaks and could put in right down the hill from our site. We had not bought purchase RV yet and had to set up our tent on the gravel pad site. There was no shade and we were burning up in the summer heat. There is a swimming area and trails for hiking or biking. We were near the fishing dock and the kids fished. It was just so brutally hot that we ended up leaving a day early.

Ok so reading my title might be a bit deceiving. I went to Don Carter mid week after a holiday and the place was pretty empty. While usually that would be a bit weird this park made it one of the most amazing feelings on earth.

I pulled in late afternoon, deer were grazing in the primitive camp zones. I walked one of the trails and then headed over to explore the lake area. I was so pleased by the facility which had a nice sandy beach, outdoor showers, large restrooms and swings ideal for sitting and enjoying a meal by the lake.

I took a dip in the cool waters and though they were not a clear blue they were clear and I could see to the bottom all the way out to the edge of the swimming zone. It was beautiful!!!!

Pricing was very inexpensive for primitive camping which included fire rings and picnic tables and spacing was great!!

I ventured over to the RV area and those site also seemed to be spacious and though there were a few campers in that region it was still very light. I would for sure suggest weekday stay here!!

Tips:

• If you are wanting to check out a rental of a canoe make sure you call in advance, these are only available during certain times. When I arrived I arrived late in the day and they were not available. The following day I also realized they were not open
• Do some animal watching or photography. From 6 in the evening and beyond you will find deer grazing in late summer and early fall, also raccoons and other small animals can be spotted roaming in some of the open areas

Great, newer state park only an hour from intown Atlanta. We really enjoyed the primitive tent sites, especially the lake view loop. Really spread out, shady, good trees for hammocks, nice lake views at sites 11 and 12. Short walk from the parking lot and they have carts you can use for your stuff. Water and port-a-potties also available at the parking lot. Relatively cheap and can hike all the park’s trails from the primitive sites. Firewood available to purchase when you check in. Bring the kayaks, there’s a boat ramp right by the campground! It was a tiny bit louder at night then we’re used to, could hear nearby roads.

Since this a fairly new state park, the facilities are relatively new and the campground has up-to-date hook-ups so you don’t have to worry about getting electrocuted from an old post barely stuck in the ground. The campground has a mix of back-in sites, pull thrus, and primitive sites. We chose a pull thru site which was nice and long for our 45’ RV and tow car.  Site #7 is great with some shade and a partial view of the lake.  Be aware that numerous sites are not level and numerous pull thru sites are crested in the middle. The RV sites are paved which is especially nice when it is raining. Some of the roads are pretty weirdly laid out and we would mistake pull thru sites for roads so make sure to follow the white lines to navigate.  There are some fairly tight turns that you may need to take slow if you are in a big rig and watch out for the trees. There is a large picnic pavilion between sites 34 and 21 which could impact your camping if that was being used by a big group. The park has cable television and our Verizon phone and hotspot worked fine.

We liked the extensive hiking trails that we found all to ourselves and the access to the water. A nice, relatively flat easy 2-mile trail runs from the campground to the beach. There are a couple of boat launches (with rental paddle craft) and a swim beach. We were there on a weekday during the Coronavirus pandemic so there were not too many people there which made for a pleasant experience. The visitor center/office were closed but you could call for a reservation or book online. If you go online they have pictures of the campsites so you know what you are getting. This is the kind of park where you can spend lots of time enjoying the outdoors and an evening campfire. The surrounding area is pretty rural but if you feel like exploring head over to the neighboring town of Helen which is a Bavarian-themed mountain town with good German food and bakeries. You can also hike Anna Ruby Falls which is pretty and a short walk. Overall, we liked the campground and would camp here again.

Great spot by the lake.  Private, plenty of access to the water, not too far from parking lot end.  Watch the boats launch if you want to or easy to fish.  Will definitely go back.

Really nice state park located at north end of Lake Lanier. Site 13 was great. Had woods and lake view. Paved pull through site with gravel pad for picnic and fire pit area. Plenty of room for camper, cars and boat trailer. Bathroom facilities were extremely clean, well lighted, no spiders or bugs, etc. Enjoyed fishing and kayaking. Nice beach and swim area, boat docks and 2 boat launch sites, playground, etc. Saw lots of deer and enjoyed walking some of the trails. Will plan a trip in cooler weather fall or spring. Camp hosts were helpful and visitor center staff were very nice. Great cell service too.

RV sites are right on top of each other and you’ll need a chain saw and some rope to get down to the water and back up again. New facilities but very poorly laid out. Make sure your blinds work well in your camper...your neighbors will let you know if they don’t.

So far we've enjoyed our stay at Don Carter. Bathroom facility is sparkling clean. Campsite is very nice, we docked the boat and were able to walk to the dock. Afternoon ride on the water was very relaxing.

We are here for Halloween and its fantastic! People have decorated and all the kids are running and having fun. So happy to stay here even though its a bit of a maze to get in and find spots. The camp host are also very nice and helpful.

Very new, clean campground. Everything is well maintained. We camped after Zeta rolled through, so there were some trees down on some of the hiking trails but I could hear chainsaws running, clearing the paths. The camp sites were a little on the smaller side but still comfortable. It was far from being full, so even though the sites were a little close we weren’t near other campers. The RV spots are paved and easy to get level while the table and fire pit are in gravel. I didn’t get a chance to check out the tent campsites, so I can’t speak to that. The hiking trails were fun and peaceful. We also brought bikes and rode around the park which was fun. All in all, not the best campground I’ve ever been to, but it’s easy to get to and was fun for the family. I’d definitely come back.

I went with my family and they enjoyed it. Very nice and clean.

We stayed in Primitive #9. It was a short walk from the parking lot and the park provides wheelbarrows to help you move your stuff! This campsite and #8 were basically one site, so you'll get to know those neighbors, which for us was fine...a lovely family who went to bed early. The site is set in the trees and it was quiet at night, with owls and peepers singing a night chorus. Water, trash cans and a clean modern bathroon were at the parking lot. It was too cold yet to go swimming, but in the summer it would be a short walk to the beach.