Best Tent Camping near Loganville, GA

Tent campers near Loganville, Georgia have several options within driving distance, including Panola Mountain State Park Campground and James Shackleford Memorial Park. Panola Mountain offers primitive tent sites around a pond with limited tree cover, located approximately 25 miles southwest of Loganville. These tent-specific areas provide a more rustic camping experience while remaining relatively close to Atlanta's eastern suburbs.

Most tent camping areas near Loganville feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Panola Mountain provides tent sites with fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets, though campers should bring their own water or filtration systems. James Shackleford Memorial Park offers more developed sites with access to drinking water, showers, and restroom facilities for tent campers seeking additional conveniences. Several tent-only camping areas require short walks from parking areas, with Panola Mountain featuring a 3/4-mile hike to reach the campsites. One camper noted that "it is the quoted 3/4 mile walk in" and described the experience as "very peaceful."

The surrounding areas offer additional options for primitive tent setups. For those willing to drive farther, dispersed tent camping can be found at Tyler Hunt Camp and Ocmulgee River Camp, approximately 45 miles southeast of Loganville. These locations provide more secluded experiences with fewer amenities. A review of Tyler Hunt Camp described it as "a refuge" where "it's quiet, super dark at night and beautiful," though another camper mentioned feeling uncomfortable with vehicle traffic after dark. Most tent camping areas in the region experience high humidity in summer months, with spring and fall offering more comfortable temperatures. Cell phone coverage varies significantly, with Panola Mountain maintaining good reception even at primitive tent sites.

Best Tent Sites Near Loganville, Georgia (11)

    1. James Shackleford Memorial Park

    1 Review
    Auburn, GA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (770) 963-4002

    "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"

    2. Panola Mountain State Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Pine Mountain, GA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (770) 389-7801

    $125 / night

    "We did an overnighter to check this out after doing a separate hike on the primary trails from the other side of the park in the morning. "

    "Camped overnight on a primitive site"

    3. Buford Dam Park Shelters (GA)

    2 Reviews
    Cumming, GA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (770) 945-9531

    "This is a nice place to just come and stroll around for a bit. Parking is close to the street and paths go down to the lakeside."

    "Wonderful walks, good fishing most of the year. Can be heavily used at times."

    6. Laurel Park

    4 Reviews
    Gainesville, GA
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (770) 535-8280

    "It has a splash pad that’s operating from late spring through summer. It has plenty of access to lake Lanier, and plenty of room for grilling out."

    7. Ocmulgee River Camp

    5 Reviews
    Juliette, GA
    46 miles

    "Beautiful campsite, just a few neighbors, tons of flat space and a few fire pits. There are hunters around and we heard a good deal of shots. Saw some deer on a walk."

    "Very nice a bit bumpy on the drive in but no major holes. Quiet and peaceful 2 neighbors great amount of space to find a nice spot."

    8. Tyler Hunt Camp

    2 Reviews
    Monticello, GA
    40 miles

    "There are privately owned homes around but the folks keep to themselves. It's quiet, super dark at night and beautiful. No amenities, you pack it in, you pack it out."

    9. Atlanta West Campground

    4 Reviews
    Austell, GA
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (770) 948-7302

    "The campsite's proximity to I-20 makes it super convenient to get to. It's a great spot for a quick trip or a longer stay, and the friendly seasonal campers really add to the community vibe."

    10. Bell Acres Nudist Resort

    1 Review
    Commerce, GA
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 677-2931
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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Loganville, GA

3 Photos of 11 Loganville Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Loganville, GA

694 Reviews of 11 Loganville Campgrounds


  • Michael C.
    Apr. 12, 2025

    River Forks Park & Campground

    Great views but...

    "SITE# 47, Pull-Thru, Not FHU, 50A, Water, Dump LENGTH OF STAY: Stayed 9 Nights, RATE:$30.56/ Night with No Discount/ 0% Discount BATH HOUSE: Clean but Outdated LAUNDRY: Not Recorded STAFF: Friendly PARK IMPRESSIONS: Nice, We would stay here again RV PAD: Concrete, ESTIMATED RV PAD LENGTH: 40 Feet, Tow Vehicle Could NOT Stay Connected and Parking was away from site SITE SLOPE: Door side Tire Blocks needed ROADS: Adequate, MANEUVERABILITY: Narrow PEDESTAL PLACEMENT: Center of site length, SHADE: 30% GRASS AREA: At-Site, DESIGNATED PET AREA: Not Recorded PICNIC TABLE: Yes, FIRE RING: Yes, VERIZON Signal(bars): 5G-3, SPEED: 394 Mbs Download, 47 Mbs Upload T-MOBILE Signal(bars): 5G-5, SPEED: 714 Mbs Download, 124 Mbs Upload No WiFi, OTA TV CHANNELS: 75, CABLE TV: No, PLAYGROUND: Yes POOL: No, WATER FEATURE: Lake, FIREWOOD: Yes, STORE: No CLUBHOUSE: No, PROPANE AVAILABILITY: No Original site was# 46(back-in) but was VERY small. Moved to site 47(Pull-Thru) but due to road slope pull-thru is un-usable. Lower numbered sites(less than 30) appear somewhat better. Empty camp ground host side byhind 47 cannot be used unless site 47 is emprty due to sloping road. One single use dump station. One campground host presently in the park- their site was not marked. Appears that most sites are back-in and set sideways to a hillside and lakefront leaving very little level space for chairs. Fire rings are frequently located 12-20 feet away from picnic table and 3 to 9 feet below site level on a slope. Reservation Software used by office was down upon Saturday arrival with no IT help until Monday- two days away leaving office staff frustrated and using their own phone to access the reservation system customers use instead of management side of software. Staff stated it goes down frequently with no IT support on weekends. Six bathhouses in park. Bathhouse nearest beach closed awaiting replacement of fixtures after renovation. Shower has outdated fixtures- several shower heads had significant mineral deposits restricting flow. Men's side closed at another bathhouse. Many shower stalls had no hook or fixture to hang a towel or clothing. Several showers had broken shower valves making them unusable. Stayed 9 nights and did not see anyone working on bathhouses. Beach area parking is limited to 6 or 7 spaces and one handicap space however, there is a larger parking lot a little further away. Bathhouse showers have a pull string valve next to the shower head that had to be held down to get water with many strings broken, missing and too short to allow shorter people, children, or handicaped wheel-chair use. Some sites have precarious/dangerous sloping driveways for RVs to get into. Newly installed sites are near completion but they make sites very close together. Many sites do not have a fire pit and many do not have a grill. Many sites arer too small to park a second vhicle even if the camper is small. Parking on dirt or grass is prohibited by rules but appears to be selectively enforced. The campground has a boat ramp and reasonably large parking area. Extra careful site selection is warranted. Four docks in River Forks Park. Firewood is available at the office. CHECK-IN: 01:00 PM CHECK-OUT: 12:00 PM RIG: 42ft- 17,000 lb 5th Wheel"

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 2, 2021

    Bolding Mill

    Gorgeous view of Lake Lanier

    Our site had a beautiful view of the water and awoke to sun on the water. Very few mosquitos and lovely weather. Long parking pad for RVs, tho' ours is a 17' travel trailer. Our site was near access to walk-in camping (which did not turn out to be a problem since we set up facing the water) and a long walk to the bathroom, which was reasonably clean with hot shower but no electrical outlet for my hair dryer (but hey, we were camping). Gate is locked at 10:30 PM; after that you have to park outside the entrance and walk to your site. Even with park full for weekend, it didn't feel crowded. Folks were friendly; almost everyone we passed said hi.

  • Connor L.
    Jul. 2, 2021

    Bald Ridge Creek

    Good lakeside camping for RVs and cars

    Camped right on the lake in my hammock. I reccomend hammock or RV. You're not allowed to set up tents off of the concrete pad so it would be a bit uncomfortable. Super easy to swim, kayak, waterski in the lake. No alcohol allowed but no one came by my campsite all evening.

    Plenty of firewood at the site and at nearby gas stations. You can also burn deadwood and I found plenty of that as well.

  • Rachel G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 8, 2020

    High Falls State Park Campground

    Falls

    Went to High Falls State Park in January. site number 27. We stayed 8 nights There are two campgrounds- lakeside and River camping area. Lakeside is by High falls Lake and is closest to the falls. River camping is across the street we stayed in River camping area. Nice sites but open to neighbors. Sites included table, fire ring, lantern hook. Some sites are 30 amp some 50 amp and had some pull through sites. After the weekend we were one of only a few in the campground in January. Weather may change this time of year we had a lot of rain one day and freezing temperatures overnight but mostly it was good camping weather. Camp hosts were awesome!!! This park is not far off i-75. Dollar general was a few miles other than that not much around. Very easy hiking trail to waterfalls and several trails along Towaliga River, ruins of an old Mill. There is no swimming in falls or river. Afterr rain falls were flowing very fast. This park also has a swimming pool, mini golf, yurts, boat rentals all were closed in January. Bathhouses were well maintained and had laundry facilities. Phone and TV reception we're good at this park. 8 days was too much here I would recommend 4 to 5 days or as a stopover point but would definitely return here.

  • E
    Sep. 23, 2019

    Stone Mountain Park Campground

    Terrible for tent campers

    I was actually shocked at how terrible our actual campsite was; we stayed at site 29, which was supposedly intended for tent camping.

    Pros

    • The front gate staff was very nice; check in and general store staff were average
    • The general store was very convenient and decently stocked
    • The bathrooms and showers were pretty nice
    • Beautiful lake view. It was nice to watch kayakers and rowing teams go by
    • Nice tree placement for hammock
    • Close to all Stone Mountain activities
    • Garbage pickup each morning (but no metal trash can to store it in??)

    Cons

    • The site is on a freaking hill; there is no flat surface at all and no clearing, so you have no choice but to sleep on sticks/rocks. Thank God to REI for footprints and decent sleeping pads
    • Site was dirty when I arrived
    • No tent pad
    • Parking area is crap; it's somewhere between gravel and nothing
    • $20 parking fee

    There is no way I would stay at this campground again; it was definitely made for RVs.

  • Cristina G.
    Sep. 3, 2021

    Van Pugh South Campground

    Holy smokes this site was excellent

    Had a great stay at Van Pugh South in site 35. The site was located on the lake with gorgeous views. The pad itself was mostly concrete and had a slight tilt towards the waters edge but nothing too bad that couldn’t be fixed with a minor adjustment. We chose not to bother.

    The camp sites are located along small islands jutting out into Lake Lanier. Plenty of shade, picnic table, fire ring. The pad itself is elevated above the waters edge. The site had water and 30amp electric but no sewer. The views of the sunset were spectacular. Fairly private sites.

    The campground had a nice shower house and coin laundry. All in all the campground was spotless. I would definitely come back and stay several days. I only wish their season was longer.

  • Chad F.
    Nov. 8, 2020

    Shady Grove Campground

    Great lakefront spot

    We stayed at site #82 pull through. $30/night. 30' hybrid travel trailer. We will come back here again

    Pros:

    • easy to level trailer
    • excellent lakefront view (many of the sites have lakefront views)
    • private with plenty of tree cover
    • quiet
    • large site area
    • friendly gate person
    • good cell reception with t-mobile
    • clean restrooms
    • good water pressure

    Cons:

    • 30 amp issues on pole with EMS readings. 50 amp was fine
    • steep hill to get to the lake
  • Brittney D.
    Feb. 3, 2021

    Fort Yargo State Park Campground

    Manicured but nice!

    This place is great if you still want some of the comforts of home. Water spouts are dropped around the sites and there is a bathhouse with showers and hot water accessible to all who camp there! The sites for tent camping are fairly close together-you can definitely see the next site because there aren’t a whole lot of trees but still far enough away to feel comfortable. The tent spots have gravel that is hard to get tent states into but also include a picnic table and a fire pit. Wood can be purchased for $5 from the host but you can also forage from the fallen trees on site. You may have to search around a bit but it worked well enough for my crew.

    The lake was so beautiful even in the middle of winter and was such a great spot to camp. Some hikes are close by but none are big for elevation changes or waterfalls or anything like that. Still lots of places to go and get off your campsite. Maybe the best part of this park is the disc golf! My crew enjoyed the course and spent a few good hours there!

    I would definitely come back and maybe try out one of the tent sites in the woods for a bit more privacy.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 31, 2021

    Mckinney Campground

    Great Experience

    This is a very newbie-friendly park on a pretty lake. The attendants were great and responsive. The spaces are well-equipped. My spot was 38 and had a brand new huge picnic table. It also had a fire ring, though I was told I could use my own portable fire pit. There was a very clean, well-equipped sanitary dump station. The water hook- up had one quirk I didn’t know about in that it had to be pulled up twice. I had wonderful neighbors who showed me the trick. It was my first time, and my neighbors actually helped me with everything, including a fast exit due to impending really bad weather. I’ve already booked a second trip. Also, for walkers/joggers, the paved road inside the campground is (almost) one mile and relatively flat. Beautiful views. Great friendly campers, very dog friendly. A wonderful experience.


Guide to Loganville

Tent camping near Loganville, Georgia offers options from primitive sites to more developed campgrounds within a 50-mile radius. The region experiences high humidity in summer with temperatures averaging 85-90°F, while spring and fall provide more moderate camping conditions with temperatures between 65-75°F. Most campgrounds in this area are situated at elevations between 700-1,100 feet above sea level, resulting in rolling terrain with mixed hardwood forests.

What to do

Hiking opportunities: At Panola Mountain State Park Campground, visitors can take guided mountain tours that offer unique educational experiences. One camper noted they "took the guided tour of the Mountain and it was awesome. We ate Pine Trees and they explained about likenand the red fungus. Highly recommended."

Water activities: Laurel Park provides excellent Lake Lanier access with seasonal amenities. A visitor mentioned, "It has a splash pad that's operating from late spring through summer. It has plenty of access to lake Lanier, and plenty of room for grilling out."

Wildlife viewing: Primitive camping at Ocmulgee River Camp offers opportunities to spot local wildlife. A camper reported, "Saw some deer on a walk. It was quite hot but surprisingly not that buggy." Another visitor described seeing "some deer and a mystery black animal, maybe a boar or a bear - unsure."

What campers like

Peaceful atmosphere: Tyler Hunt Camp provides a secluded experience about 45 miles from Loganville. A camper described it as "a refuge. There are privately owned homes around but the folks keep to themselves. It's quiet, super dark at night and beautiful."

Convenient facilities: Campers at James Shackleford Memorial Park appreciate the accessible amenities. One reviewer found it "very peaceful nice people was able to find plenty of outdoor stuff to do hope other people enjoy it too."

Natural surroundings: The landscape at Ocmulgee River Camp earns praise from visitors who enjoy the natural setting. A camper noted it was "nice and warm even in December! Almost 70 degrees! Spot with a nice horse trail to hike." Another described it as having "plenty of flat space and a few fire pits."

What you should know

Access challenges: Some dispersed camping areas require navigation on unpaved roads. At Ocmulgee River Camp, a camper mentioned the drive was "a little bumpy but manageable" and another noted it was "very nice a bit bumpy on the drive in but no major holes."

Limited amenities: Many tent camping sites near Loganville offer minimal facilities. At Buford Dam Park Shelters, a visitor warned "the bathrooms were locked when we went so make sure you keep that in mind when coming here. There is not a convenience store for miles, the nearest is 20-30 mins drive away."

Seasonal variations: Weather conditions affect camping comfort significantly throughout the year. While Ocmulgee River Camp was described as "nice and warm even in December! Almost 70 degrees," Laurel Park visitors noted that summer heat makes the splash pad particularly valuable during warmer months.

Tips for camping with families

Water recreation sites: Laurel Park offers family-friendly water features. A camper described it as a "family spot" that "has a splash pad that's operating from late spring through summer" which provides entertainment for children.

Site selection considerations: Hembree Park Campground offers spaces suitable for family camping, with one visitor noting, "Nice place very clean and plenty of room for me and my family." The review mentioned they "enjoy the freedom and the neighbors are very friendly."

Safety awareness: When camping with children at dispersed sites, be aware of potential evening disturbances. At Tyler Hunt Camp, a camper noted feeling uncomfortable after dark: "I enjoyed my stay here during the day, but things changed after dark... As night fell, I began preparing for bed, but I noticed vehicles coming and going."

Tips from RVers

Hookup limitations: RV campers should note that some campgrounds advertised as RV-friendly have limited hookups. At Hembree Park Campground, a camper cautioned, "It's not an RV park, they said there's is a little section of the park for rv but non hookups of any kind."

Site conditions: At Atlanta West Campground, RV campers should prepare for varying site quality. One visitor mentioned, "Talk about need a road improvement and a lot of long term residents who leave a total mess in this area. They do have a cool river that is in the back side but honestly no amenities and make sure you have everything you need."

Reservation challenges: Some RV-compatible campgrounds are difficult to book. An Atlanta West visitor reported, "not sure how they have so many people staying there when they were almost impossible for us to contact! We ended up staying somewhere else after a week of calling and not getting through."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Loganville, GA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Loganville, GA is James Shackleford Memorial Park with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Loganville, GA?

TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Loganville, GA, with real photos and reviews from campers.