Lake Hartwell spans 56,000 acres along the Georgia-South Carolina border with 962 miles of shoreline. Winter temperatures at cabin rentals near Hartwell average 40-55°F while summer months often exceed 90°F with high humidity. Cabin accommodations range from rustic shelters to fully furnished lakefront units with varying access to water activities.
What to do
Boat access from campsites: At Lake Hartwell State Park, water activities dominate recreation options. "If you are into water sports (kayaking, Paddle boarding, boating or fishing) this is a perfect park. No sewer hookups but each loop has a dump station. We stayed at site 42 lake view and level with a little incline to pad," notes Richard F.
Swimming at rock slides: Natural water features provide alternatives to standard beaches. Victoria Bryant State Park offers unique swimming spots beyond the standard pool. "We spent most of the day there, and the weather (late August) was perfect! The kids MOST enjoyed the 'rock slide' in the creek," reports Sonyia W.
Fishing from your campsite: Many lakefront sites allow fishing directly from your temporary property. At Tugaloo State Park, "most campsites have views of the lake and access directly to the stoney beaches. Lots of mature trees make shade an easily accessible feature. Water, power and cable at the sites with grey water dumps very numerous," according to Maggie G.
What campers like
Lakeside views: Campers consistently praise the waterfront locations. "Lots of boats on the lake in summer but there is awesome beach access from the campsites. Great spot for summer!" shares Jessica D. about Tugaloo State Park.
Sheltered tent sites: Victoria Bryant State Park offers unique covered platforms for tent camping. "All of the tent sites are sheltered platforms, with electricity, potable water and an overhead light. Rain or shine, you can have a good time (and stay dry) at Victoria Bryant," explains Everette G.
Clean facilities: Maintenance standards at regional parks receive positive mentions. "The shower facilities are very clean!! The lots are pretty good size and they have a lot of options," reports Chanda P. about Victoria Bryant State Park.
What you should know
Site spacing varies: Some campgrounds pack sites closely together. At Carolina Landing, "the sites are very close together throughout most of the park. The park also has lots of hills which can be a challenge for some RVs. There are also some very tight turns on these hills," cautions Laura H.
Reservation strategies: Many lakefront sites book quickly during peak season. "This is a beautiful park. All of Georgia's state parks are nice, this is one of the nicest. Most sites are right on the lake. It's very popular in summer and reservations are necessary," advises Joel R. about Tugaloo State Park.
Fire ant presence: Be prepared for insects, particularly at certain times of year. "Our only complaint was the entire campsite was one large fire ant hill! We had to travel to the local dollar general to get ant spray to help with the infestation," warns Melissa R. about Lake Hartwell State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground alternatives: Richard B Russell State Park offers beach access for kids. "The beach is nice and was never crowded. We hiked and biked the trails. They are well maintained," shares Jennifer K.
Activity planning: Schedule around crowds for the best experience. "It gets busy on weekends," notes Jennifer W. about Lake Hartwell State Park, adding that the campground has "one of the 'free little libraries' so I could grab a new book when I finished mine."
Cabin selection for families: Consider water access when booking cabins with children. "Great view in Cabins 1 and 2. Gentle slope to a nice beach as well for those two cabins," recommends Kenny T. when describing Lake Hartwell State Park's cabin options.
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Many sites require adjustments for comfortable parking. At The Point at Lake Hartwell, "there are not any concrete pads but you can tell they have tried their best to make the sites level & better accessible by clearing up the area & removing some of the trees," explains Jackie J.
Interior roads: Some parks have difficult navigation for larger units. At Carolina Landing, "when you enter the park make sure you stay to the left of the sign. We made the mistake of going straight our first time at this park and almost lost our 5th wheel at the turn around by the lake," warns Laura H.
Site selection: For RVers, certain spots offer significantly better experiences. Kevin A. recommends Tugaloo State Park: "My wife and I decided to make a last minute trip to Tugaloo State Park this past weekend. The sites were large and spacious. We were in site #8 right on the lake. Water, electric and cable tv connections."
