Cabins near Grovetown, Georgia dot the shorelines of Lake Thurmond with elevation ranging from 330 to 375 feet above sea level. The region experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F and mild winters with occasional freezing temperatures. Most cabin locations remain accessible year-round with peak season running April through October.
What to do
Fishing from campsite shores: At Mistletoe State Park, campsites provide direct lake access for fishing. "Large, well maintained sites. We stayed on 17 and it was very private. We hiked from the campground to Lake Buncombe and also hiked from Sunset Drive trail to Lake Liberty and the office," notes a camper at A. H. Stephens State Park Campground.
Paddle boat and kayak rental: Multiple parks offer rental equipment for water activities during summer months. A visitor at Magnolia Springs State Park Campground reports, "You can rent paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, and bikes. All the trailers are family friendly. I think this park is perfect for families with young kids."
Winter holiday activities: Some parks offer seasonal events during off-peak months. "We stopped here for one night in December, passing through. The park had a beautiful Christmas light display with hot chocolate and a Christmas movie playing on a big screen," according to a camper at A. H. Stephens State Park.
Wildlife observation: Lakes and springs attract various wildlife species for viewing opportunities. "We saw lots of wild life, lots of stars at night (gets really dark at night)," mentions a visitor to Mistletoe State Park.
What campers like
Lakefront sites: Many campers prefer sites with direct water views and access. "Love the big selection of waterfront sites," states a reviewer about Mistletoe State Park Campground. Another visitor adds, "Site 16 is the best site by far. Only one with a lake view."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathhouses rank high in camper satisfaction. At Hickory Knob State Park Resort, a visitor notes, "Wonderful campgrounds. Clean bathhouses. Access to the pool, restaurant, boat ramp, tennis, skeet shooting, etc."
Spacing between sites: Privacy levels vary between parks, with some offering more secluded options. "Campground very well kept. Friendly staff. Not as small as pictures suggest. Sites nicely spread around so while there's no vegetation in between, there's privacy," reports a Magnolia Springs visitor.
Walk-in tent areas: Dedicated tent camping sections provide alternative accommodation options. "We stayed 3 nights in the 'walk in' tent area of this state park. The three tent spots all have water at each site. They all have spacious tent pads in a wooded, heavily shaded area," shares a tent camper at Magnolia Springs.
What you should know
Military-only facilities: Some lakeside options have access restrictions. "The location is beautiful, however, it is not open to the public. You must be past or present military to book. Also, you must reserve with the SC National Guard," cautions a visitor to Military Park South Carolina Army National Guard Clarks Hill Training Center.
Seasonal water levels: Lake water can fluctuate significantly throughout the year. "If the water is low like it was when I was here, the lake water was not accessible—you'd have to trudge through 50 fifty feet of mud to get to it and you'd probably get swallowed or it would really suck anyway. So save #3 for the springtime only I think," advises a camper regarding backcountry sites.
Limited supply access: Most cabin areas require bringing supplies. "It is very quite, nothing is nearby. Walmart is 33 miles away, so you should stock up before camping there," notes an A. H. Stephens visitor.
Weather considerations: Summer heat and humidity impact camping comfort. "Each site has electric and water, no sewer. I'll get to which ones look like the best ones below. Some of the sites are awkward curving instead of straight back in, but most are pretty easy to get into," reports a Magnolia Springs camper.
Tips for camping with families
Educational programs: Ranger-led activities offer learning opportunities. "We participated in a hike with the park manager where she told us about the animals in the park and even let us feel grey fox and beaver pelts. We saw vultures and an armadillo. That finished with hot chocolate and roasting marshmallows," shares a visitor at Magnolia Springs.
Archery lessons: Some parks offer structured activities for children. "On Saturday we took the beginner archery lesson with another ranger. She was so patient with our 6 year old who gets frustrated very easily. It was so much fun! It was obvious that this particular ranger was great kids," notes a family at Magnolia Springs.
Swimming access concerns: Not all water entry points are kid-friendly. "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," cautions a visitor to Mistletoe State Park.
Pest management: Insect issues may require additional preparation. "Bring something for the ants!" warns a camper at Hickory Knob. Another notes, "Clark's Hill is a Great Lake! HK is an OK park. The entire park sits on a mound of ants. ants everywhere. ants of all varieties."
Tips from RVers
Site selection factors: Some sites present challenges for larger vehicles. "Sites in the 60-90 loop looked the best with water views and shade and most were pull through," suggests a visitor to Mistletoe State Park.
Hookup positioning: Utility placement impacts parking options. "Site 12 was a very nice straight site with the picnic table and fire ring down a few steps off the back of the main pad. Nicely wooded there was a tree very close to the hook up that caused us to park forward a bit to allow for a slide and side bunk to fully function," notes a visitor at BoMax Ranch and Retreat.
Road conditions: Access routes may present challenges. "The only reason for 4 stars rather than 5 is the fact that the campground road is in pretty rough shape," mentions a Hickory Knob reviewer.
Dump station availability: Not all parks offer full hookups. "Over 70 sights with 30 amp, and water service, plenty of road side gray water dumps between sights and TWO dump stations," reports a Mistletoe State Park visitor.
