Tent and RV camping at Lake Sidney Lanier spans 38,000 acres with 692 miles of shoreline across northeastern Georgia. Water levels fluctuate 10-15 feet seasonally, with summer temperatures averaging 85-90°F and winter lows reaching the 30s. Most campgrounds around Lake Lanier operate from March through October, with limited year-round options available.
What to do
**Waterfront fishing:
At Old Federal Campground, fishing spots are plentiful along the shoreline. "Most spots are on the water. They also have nicely mowed grass and some trees. Campground is VERY clean. Nice level spots also," notes Mike K.
Hiking trails: Don Carter State Park offers multiple trail options, including a canoe trail. "A great place to camp with lots of hiking trails; there's even a canoe trail! Campground is well maintained and bath houses are clean," reports Kevan R.
Kayaking to islands: Bald Ridge Creek provides excellent access for paddlers. "We like to kayak to islands, collect rocks and take lots of pictures. Water is warm, a little muddy by shore but clear as you get further out," shares Christy C. The campground also features a boat launch and easy lake access from most sites.
Watch wildlife: Across many Lake Lanier campgrounds, deer sightings are common. "Want a beautiful place to camp for cheap? Try Lake Lanier! Gorgeous campground, concrete pads, water and electric at site. We paid 30 a night! Nice and quiet too," says Aaron S. about Bald Ridge Creek.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Bolding Mill campground offers generous camping spots. "Almost all the campsites are on lake lanier some are heavily wooded beautiful views and nice lake breezes only ptoblem I saw was there are only 2 bathroom sites so choose campsite accordingly," advises Peter N.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds maintain good standards throughout the lake. "Quiet, well maintained, have stayed several time. Bath houses are a bit dated but clean. Camp hosts are friendly at least the ones I have spoke with," reports Stephen A. about Bolding Mill.
Lake views: Duckett Mill provides excellent vistas. "Easy to get too. Great location on Lake Lanier. The sites are very large and trees between most sites. Lots of water view sites, some have easier lake access from your site than others for our kayaks," writes Liz H.
Value pricing: Corps of Engineer campgrounds offer reasonable rates. "Want a beautiful place to camp for cheap? Try Lake Lanier! Gorgeous campground, concrete pads, water and electric at site. We paid 30 a night!" shares Aaron S.
What you should know
Alcohol policies: Rules vary by campground and are strictly enforced. "Nice campground. If you enjoy having a beer while camping don't come here. Beautiful day, beer in a solo cup playing cards with my wife at a picnic table. We were not making noise, nobody complained about us. Ranger pulls up and gave us both tickets," warns Rick B. about Shady Grove.
Lake access challenges: Duckett Mill has varied shoreline access. "Most of the sites are up a steep bank from the water, so it's a bit tricky to get a kayak in the water from camp, but it is doable," explains Dan R. Consider site selection carefully if water access is important.
Reservation timing: Popular sites book quickly, especially for summer weekends. "We already have our reservations for 2025 in the site we wanted. I can't wait to get back to Georgia!!" says Pam H. about Bolding Mill.
Gate hours: Some campgrounds lock entrance gates after hours. "Gate is locked at 10:30 PM; after that you have to park outside the entrance and walk to your site," reports Craig J.
Tips for camping with families
Beach areas: Don Carter State Park offers dedicated swimming spots. "We love this camp ground! Its fairly new, probably under 12 years, and everything is so clean and well taken care of. The campsites are always clean when you arrive, and the volunteers are so sweet. We love that it's on the lake because family members have boats and its just easy to jump on at the campsite dock. There is also a beach for the kids to play at as well, very well kept," shares Cameron G.
Playground access: Several dog-friendly campgrounds at Lake Sidney Lanier include play areas. "We tent camped for about a week, wildlife especially deer was abundant. Playground was close to site. Area was huge and well spaced between sites," notes Shea D. about Shady Grove Campground.
Site selection for safety: When camping with young children, consider proximity to water. "We went for one night, arrived later than expected and it was cold out. Our daughter was only 1.5 years old and we had a hard time keeping her away from the rock that lead in to the lake," cautions Nicole B. about Sawnee Campground.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Kids enjoy seeing native animals. "They found all kinds of insects they had never seen even a Luna moth," writes Traci C. about the wooded environment at nearby Amicalola Falls State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling needs: Old Federal requires preparation for larger rigs. "We were in this campground for 2 weeks. It was beautiful and had the best view of most of the campgrounds on the lake. I loved waking up to seeing the lake and the water every morning. I only gave this campground a 4 because of the turn arounds. After parking our 40ft 5th wheel, we realized where we needed to turn around was going to be tight," warns Pam H.
RV size limitations: Dog-friendly campgrounds around Lake Sidney Lanier vary in accessibility. "Our campsite was a tad bit small for our camper, large campers like motorhomes or fifth-wheels will not fit," cautions Cameron G. about Don Carter State Park.
Hookup availability: Most sites offer partial hookups. "Large clean sites with power and water. No sewer but the park does have a dump station. Many water sites," reports Wendy G. about Shady Grove Campground.
Dump station timing: Plan accordingly on departure days. "Single dump station tends to line up on Sunday but I suppose that's part of the deal," mentions AR M. about Bald Ridge Creek.
