Best Campgrounds near St. Simons Island, GA

Clean restrooms , good size sites, not state run, charge per pet?! 5$/day

Stayed one night in mid-April on our Florida roadtrip down to Everglades. Park and CG were well maintained and bathrooms very clean. Sites are close together but there is vegetation that provides shade and some privacy. CG loops and sites are more dirt than gravel, which I can see being muddy with rain. Fort Clinch is worth seeing but closes at 445pm sharp! There is a beach, but we instead walked along the St. Mary’s River which is a short walk from CG. Bugs were ferocious on our river walk, but not at our CG site.

We had a great time. They have a lot of things for the kids to do such as swimming , water slide, playground, mini golf

Spacious coastal deep water property w/gorgeous sunsets, fully fenced for the dogs to play.

Are flat sites important? You bet! We stayed one night at E6. Very nice. Apparently, they are overhauling restrooms. One gets the distinct impression that maintenance is a priority with these folks. Definitely recommended.

Should you find yourself near the FL / GA line and are on the lookout for a classic natural surrounding that is unique to Georgia, check out Charlton Co Traders Hill Recreation Area & Campground for ample Ancient and Live Oaks dripping with Spanish Moss. As my post from a bit more than a year ago provided quite a bit of detail on this campground, I’m following up on that review by sharing more fotos as well as providing a topline update: 

Highlights: (1) Great boat dock with EZ boat / kayak access; (2) Substantial peace & quiet;(3) Nice level ground to park an RV; (4) This place is very affordable for both residents and visitors; (5) Excellent boat ramp with quick & EZ access to dark frackish waters; (6) Decent fishing pier and solid nature trails; and (7) Small CG market 

Lowlights: (1) The restroom and shower facilities are some of the worst I’ve ever seen; (2) You will be covered by so much shade you will be convinced that the sun isn’t out; (3) The grounds could have been better groomed – there were a lot of downed tree branches, leaves and other debris; (3) You will want to drive very slow and cautiously on the roads here as you will be greeted by some serious potholes; and (4) Apart from the little CG market, which doesn’t have a whole lot, there’s nothing around this area if you need to load up on supplies or food, so bring what you need with you 

Happy Camping!

For SP's like this, there should really be a 6 star rating for this park to be properly ranked! I don’t think I’ve ever come across anything quite like Crooked River State Park located in SE Georgia – and the more I poked around as I explored the massive grounds of this gem and asked from the local rangers, the more and more impressed I became.  Whether driving an RV, toting a 5th Wheel or looking to pitch a tent, either in an established, traditional campground setting or in a primitive hike-in oasis, you won't have any issues finding the perfect spot to get lost in nature here at Crooked River SP.

While this SP lends itself moreso to the RV’ing crowd (the # of RV spots seriously outweighed the # of tent campsites), there are several very decent options for tent campers like myself, who either want to drive in or, for those who prefer to add a bit more struggle and discomfort to their nature experience, they also offer primitive or pioneer tent camping as well. Bordering the, um, well, crooked river, the campgrounds have a fantastic river view (as well as excellent water access points, for those hauling boats, flotillas and yachts behind their vehicle) – and check this out: there’s even a bait shop near the boat launch run by the SP, so no need to dig up your own bait before arriving here.

Surrounding you throughout the entire park are fantastic amounts of vegetation, trees accompanied by plenty of four-legged furry critters, high-flying foul as well as even a honey farm, where the rangers make and sell some of the most amazing honey on-premises. When is the last time you were able to buy honey from a park ranger at any state park?!

Oh, but it gets better – especially if you’re coming here in a big group: (1) You can rent the entire pioneer camp area (that’s 3 sites somewhat removed from the general population, that can easily accommodate up to 5 families; (2) There’s 5-6 group shelters (and by shelter, I don’t just mean an open-walled shelter with a few picnic tables) that look brand spanking new and come complete with a ton of amenities, including 4 walls, their own bathrooms and meeting rooms; and (3) Group activities, like visiting the Nature Center (yes, they have one of these too), the Bird Outlook Landing (for those folks that like to use their binoculars) and Miniature Golf. Wait, did he just say, Miniature Golf?!  In a State Park?!  Why yes, I did.  And the ranger I spoke of previously will rent you clubs and a golf ball at a price that is so incredibly cheap, you’ll be tempted to rent them throughout your entire stay.

For those families or groups who like the idea of going camping, but who actually don’t want to camp, but receive all of the benefits of camping and being in the middle of nature, but who want all of the uncomfortableness removed from the equation, then the SP rents either stand alone houses (I almost called them cabins, but they’re not - they’re actually houses) or duplexes. Both have access to a screened-in lanai (you know, to get away from those pesky bugs you might actually encounter out in the wild) as well as a brand new playground for the kiddos.

While we’re on the subject of "Wow, I can’t believe SP's actually have this!" line of descriptions, here I will add that the restroom facilities might be the most immaculate I have ever come aross (sorry, Van Damme in Cali, these guys here in Georgia have you beat, but just by a small bit, as they don’t charge you 5 quarters for a 5 minute shower – yes, the state actually gives you a free shower if you pay the price of admission).  

But the excitement and surprises don’t stop here.  No, things get even better!  This campground even offers a curated sunset cruise aboard one of their very own skiffs (comfortably accommodating families up to 6 people) and will let you actually bring a bit of booze on the cruise (6-pack or a bottle of wine – but I got a ‘wink wink’ when I asked about a flask of alcohol, so be discreet, homies), but be sure to tip your ranger captain, as these outdoor experts are truly in a league of their own.

From well paved roads, to immaculately kept grounds, this place has so much to offer just about anyone who is looking to do some 'outdoorsing,' but wants a premium, well-groomed experience. Here's the straight truth about this Crooked environ: I can’t wait to get back to this place soon. 

Happy Camping!

With an Australian theme (yeah, Walkabout didn’t initially impress upon me that Aussies were in our own backyard, silently and slowly planning to take over the country, one RV park at a time, but they’re here – and actually pretty nice!), complete with street names hailing aboriginal animal names, such as Kangaroo Lane, Kuala Bear Drive (OK, you get the picture), this place is very well kept, has decent open spaces and feels somewhat communal. 

You’ll go for a decent drive to the middle of nowhere to find this spot, but it’s pretty well worth it. Here you’ll find amenities such as a decent size pool that is very well maintained, an actual petting zoo complete with egg-laying chickens, 'all-eating' goats (that also serve as non-stop lawn mowers) and a raccoon dressed up like a Kuala Bear (OK, that last one isn’t true, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if I had seen one). For the kiddos, there’s a play area, slides, swings and a big tire hanging from the tree just begging to be pushed around.  There's also a beach volleyball, pickleball and basketball courts for fun diversions of any age.

The space itself is just a simple single loop with a couple dozen or so slots for the RV-minded camper offering all of the standard FHUs.  There's a proper clubhouse complete with stand-up bar along with excellent laundry facilities as well as a complete gym along with complimentary WiFi (that was spotty at best).  The residents were all very welcoming and get together just about every night for a proper sundowner near the pool where the Aussies who run the place, come out and tell stories from their fabled lands. 

Happy Camping!

Great view of the lake from Site 11. Office staff and hosts were all very pleasant and have done a good job keeping things clean. Bathrooms/Showers were clean if well-worn. We walked the reasonably short hiking trail to the boardwalk which crosses the lake. WiFi worked well.

I have stayed at this campground several times. The bathrooms are always clean and showers are great. It is bikeable with trails and road bike options to town.

We camped here in November of 2023, and it beat our expectations! A beautiful big open area for camping with lots of spots right by the water. Wonderfully managed by locals, I only wish there wasn't a limit on the stay because we would've camped there much longer! This park has a bathroom with showers! And the showers have hot water!!!! Amazing! They are not great to look at, but that's to be expected in any area with humidity. The long sandy road coming in is often washboard and occasionally has big dips or ruts. So drive very mindfully. Overall, it's a fantastic spot, and we hope it reopens soon so we can visit again!

This is such a beautiful park! The grounds were always clean. The trails were always clean. The boardwalk was significantly damaged by hurricane Helene, so part of that trail is closed. It’s quiet and dark at night. We loved sitting at the gazebo and just watching the water. It’s so nice to see the playground area for the kids. They even have an outdoor workout gym area. There are a ton of places to sit under pavilions. The outdoor areas are so amazing.

I wish I knew more about our site when I booked it. Our site was very unlevel thanks to tree roots. How dare they grow there. 🤣🤣 Our site did not have any room in the back and it was oddly placed with two other sites. Thankfully we had nice neighbors, so it wasn’t a concern. I felt bad sitting near our rug because we were looking into the back of another RV. I didn’t want them to feel creeped out by us, so we tried to put our chairs at the front of our RV. We also had a power line in our spot, so we had to go at an angle to stay clear of it. If we go back, I would definitely go for a spot on the outer ring. I do have to say, this is the only park we’ve been to where people just cut through sites to get over to the bathhouse. We were sitting outside and people were only a few feet away from us to cut through. I know it’s not a written rule, but just etiquette. They easily could’ve walked ten feet to the right to cut through the empty space instead of our site.

The bathhouse near our site is definitely on the older side (we didn’t investigate the other one since it wasn’t near us). The water pressure was on the lower end and one showers was missing a shower head. Yes, we use the bathhouse because there are four of us and our site did not have full hookups. We also prefer to stretch out in the shower versus the tiny shower in our RV. That is our choice. They do have washers ($0.75) and dryers ($1.00).

The camp hosts were nice. All of the state park employees were very nice and helpful.

This campsite has it all. Full hookups, plenty of space, a gorgeous view, ample lounge areas, and a fantastic host. I have stayed here twice in girls’ trips and always felt incredibly safe.

I tried to get reservations on the state park website and kept getting an error message. On further investigation it appears they closed in Feb 2024 because of erosion. I'll keep checking and will update this review if/when they reopen.

We enjoyed our stay. The facilities were clean but there were a few things that I wouldn’t mind seeing improved or changed. But none that would stop me from coming back.

The lake is fairly small they do not have a no wake rule or HP limit. So if you go out in a kayak or canoe and there is just one boat pulling a tube you should expect a rough day on the water.

Our site really could use to be refurbed with a more defined site boundary and picnic area.

Site 19 is a bit tight to back in but it’s doable.

OK, I get it. Maybe it’s late at night, you’ve been on the road for hours (if not days) and maybe you’ve even got little ones who just need to get some fresh air. We’ve all been there, so maybe it’s late one night and you are contemplating whether or not to layover here at Horne Lake RV Resort. Perhaps it’s dark out and pure exhaustion is about to set in, so you shrug your shoulders and are about to decide to spend the night. But wait, just hold onto that thought a little longer.

My personal advice would be to look at some of the other nearby campgrounds and RV parking lots around and chose a better spot. Trust me, there’s quite a few GOOD ones to choose from, but hey, if you’re too tired and just don’t care, well, then this place won’t kill you. Plus, it’s dark at night, so you probably won’t see what a borderline nasty spot this actually is. That said, be weary of all the bad roads as you drive through this little highway roadside campground spot, which has one small loop that is jam-packed with other road weary travelers like yourself driving either a big rig or RV.

From an amenities standpoint, there’s not much, however, there is a small community pool and firepit along with a propane refilling station as well as a little joint that serves as a storefront / restaurant, although I wasn’t enticed to eat there. All of the basic amenities are provided: 30 & 50 amp electrical, water and sewage lines. The sites are all paved, albeit not terribly well, and oh, there’s a community laundry facility on site, but the dilapidated conditions of the units were enough to keep us away from using them. Beyond this, not much else to say about the place.

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you missed it somehow on the first go around, don’t stay here, unless you have no other viable options, but per my suggestion, there’s a number of other places far better and much easier to pull up and drop anchor at than this roadside dump; (2) If you are looking for somewhere to dip the beak of your kayak or canoe, then just head due north where right at the GA / FL state-line you’ll be able to explore the very wonderfully dark St. Mary’s River, which if you follow it easterly, you’ll eventually be greeted by the Atlantic Ocean after first passing Fort Clinch State Park (a great place to park your RV BTW) on the right; and (3) When you grow weary of trying to figure out that next on-board meal from the depths of your mini-fridge, then head on over into St. Mary’s on the GA side where you can find a number of great foodie digs like The Green Room Sicilian Café & Deli, Horse & Cow Pub & Grill as well as McGarbey’s Wee Pub South.

Happy Camping!