Red Top Mountain State Park offers diverse camping options near Kingston, Georgia, with sites on Lake Allatoona's shoreline. The park features a mix of traditional campsites and RV spots along with tent-only walk-in areas. Located 30-40 minutes outside Atlanta just off I-75, campers should be aware that highway noise and train whistles are audible at night, especially at tent sites.
What to do
Hiking trails: At Fort Mountain State Park Campground, visitors access multiple trail options with varied difficulty levels. "The Gahuti is the most known hiking trail here and we never saw another hiker on the trail except each other when our solo hiking excursions crossed paths," reports a camper. For those with mobility concerns, "The most stroller/limited mobility friendly trails are the lake trail and the Cool Springs overlook."
Water activities: Old Highway 41 Allatoona Lake Campground provides excellent lake access for fishing and boating. "It was fun watching the boaters and skiers. Biting bugs were minimal which surprised me," shares a recent visitor. The campground includes a boat ramp on site with another across the lake, making water activities easily accessible.
Tent camping platforms: Fort Mountain State Park offers unique platform camping options away from traditional sites. "The platforms are a short walk from a parking area near the lake so you can make multiple trips to the car if necessary, while the backcountry sites are up to a 3 mile hike in," notes one camper who tried this option. These platforms provide a different glamping experience close to Kingston, Georgia than standard tent sites.
What campers like
Lakefront access: Clark Creek South Campground features sites with direct lake views and access. "Perfect views of the lake, some spots lead directly down to the water. Huge spots, well-spaced and friendly hosts!" reports one visitor. The campground includes both primitive sites ($22/night) and full hook-up options ($34/night).
Quiet surroundings: Cedar Creek RV & Outdoor Center offers a peaceful setting along a creek. "This place is so quiet and peaceful. We fully enjoyed being able to relax by the creek and watch the water flow by," mentions one camper. The stream provides a natural sound barrier and scenic backdrop for relaxation.
Family facilities: At McKinney Campground, families appreciate the well-maintained grounds and amenities. "This is a very newbie-friendly park on a pretty lake. The attendants were great and responsive. The spaces are well-equipped," shares a first-time camper. The campground includes fire rings, picnic tables, and flat walking paths around the grounds.
What you should know
Site selection considerations: At Red Top Mountain, terrain varies significantly between sites. "Many sites are high above the water," notes one camper, while another warns about tent sites: "The tent pad was large but extremely hard to drive tent stakes into...smaller stakes worked better."
Weather preparation: Mountain weather can change rapidly in this region. "We visited in early/mid November for 10 days. Keith and I hiked and played hard every day here- despite the early winter storm, gusty breezes and freezing temperatures that finally gave way to beautiful crisp days."
Accessibility issues: Clark Creek North Campground has a challenging dump station setup. "They have an interesting dump station set up where you climb a fairly steep hill. This station would be good for shorter rigs. On our 40' Brinkley with two black tanks, getting the back tank would be at a downhill angle and we believe we would scraped going up the slope."
Tips for camping with families
Security awareness: Monitor belongings at all times. "While this great little park should deserve 4.5-5 stars, we had an unfortunate experience while we were there. My family of 5 were on the lake-side of our little 22ft TT while someone less fortunate than us decided to steal my 9yr old daughter's new bike," reports a camper at Clark Creek North.
Beach access options: McKinney Campground offers a family-friendly waterfront. "Every single plot had a beautiful view, plenty of space and power hookup, water etc. I've only camped with a tent, it's hard ground but loved it," shares a tent camper who enjoyed the beach area.
Kid-friendly amenities: "The park overall has a lot of 'things to do' and is family friendly," notes a Red Top Mountain visitor. For additional luxury glamping near Kingston, Georgia, Winding Waters RV Resort provides extensive family amenities including "a huge beach-style pool with a hot tub and even a huge waterslide."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Fort Mountain has uneven terrain at some sites. "We stayed creekside at site 24. The site had about a 5 inch difference sloping towards the road. I used rocker blocks maxed out (about 4 inches in height) and still was not level."
Road conditions: Several campgrounds have narrow access roads. "Heavily wooded sites that are not well maintained. Very narrow roads in the campground with lots of pot holes. Not the easiest state park to pull a travel trailer in. Sites were very narrow," warns an RVer about Red Top Mountain.
Electrical considerations: For luxury RV glamping near Kingston, Georgia, Winding Waters RV Resort offers premium amenities but has specific power considerations. "Since it's new there's no shade at all, so I can't imagine how hot it is in the summer and with all the big rigs blasting their a/c, they may run into electrical issues."
