Cabin camping near Lavonia, Georgia offers lakeside relaxation in the northeastern part of the state at an elevation of around 900 feet. The region experiences mild winters with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing and warm summers averaging in the mid-80s. Winter cabin rentals remain popular for off-season anglers seeking less crowded fishing conditions on Lake Hartwell.
What to do
Water activities at slippery rock: Victoria Bryant State Park features a unique swimming area called "slippery rock" where visitors can wade in cool, clean water. According to Courtney M., "Slippery rock was a lot of fun to take the dogs and wade in the cool clean water."
Fishing from cabin sites: Many cabins at Lake Russell Recreation Area provide direct lake access for fishing without needing to leave your site. One visitor noted, "Beautiful lake for fishing with hiking trails around. There's plenty of dispersed picnic areas for day use."
Hiking nearby trails: Tallulah Gorge State Park Campground offers spectacular gorge hiking with varying difficulty levels. As one camper warns, "The hiking is fun but intense. Be prepared for lots of stairs, a bridge over the water, and rock hopping across the water."
Wildlife viewing: Cabins at Lake Russell provide excellent opportunities for wildlife observation. Elizabeth W. shares that the campground is "Not as cramped & crowded as State parks" with some sites offering "good lake views."
What campers like
Cabin platforms for weather protection: Victoria Bryant State Park Campground features unique sheltered platforms for tent camping that also work well for cabin-style setups. According to Everette G., "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."
Lake access from cabin sites: At Lake Hartwell State Park Campground, campers appreciate the proximity to water. Kenny T. shares, "The cabins are nice, but small and no plumbing. If you're used to tent camping then the cabins are one step above that. Bonus is the air conditioning. Great view in Cabins 1 and 2. Gentle slope to a nice beach as well for those two cabins."
Cabin spacing and privacy: Sites at Oconee State Park offer good separation between cabins. Jessica S. notes, "There are multiple cabins scattered around the lake but they are a good distance apart from each other so you won't be disturbed by your neighbors."
Family-friendly activities: The Point at Lake Hartwell offers organized activities for families staying in cabins. Jackie J. reports, "They had Karaoke & Potluck night while we were there! The laundry/bathhouse area was also nice/clean!"
What you should know
Winter cabin considerations: Heated facilities are available year-round at some parks. Everette G. mentions Victoria Bryant State Park's "facilities right across the parking lot, that have always been clean and well maintained, and heated in the colder months."
Cabin amenities vary widely: At Oconee State Park Campground, some cabins are fully equipped while others are more basic. According to Jessica S., the cabins include "air conditioning, 2 bedrooms, 1 full kitchen, 1 bathroom, and a fire place."
Cell service limitations: Many cabin areas have limited connectivity. Elizabeth G. reports about Lake Russell, "I have Verizon and I had one bar here. Enough to send/receive a text but that's about it."
Pest considerations: Some cabin locations report occasional wildlife encounters. One reviewer at Oconee State Park noted finding insects in their cabin during their stay, suggesting bringing insect repellent.
Tips for camping with families
Best cabin sites for kids: Lake Hartwell offers specific cabin sites more suitable for families with children. Kim S. notes, "We stayed at Lake Hartwell State park in site 98 which was a lovely lakeside site. The sites on either side (96, 99) all shared a path to a small beach with lake access."
Kid-friendly water features: Carolina Landing RV Resort offers cabin rentals with additional water amenities for children. Katie D. shares, "It has such a family feel and beautiful grounds, beautiful lake, and easy hook up camp sites."
Off-season family activities: Victoria Bryant State Park hosts special seasonal events for families staying in cabins. Everette G. mentions, "In October, the park does a pretty cool little haunted trail."
Playground access: Tallulah Gorge State Park provides playground facilities near cabin areas. Rachel G. states, "Campground was nice. Sites are open and unlevel but most were a good size. It was great to be able to access trails from the campground. You can also walk to the day use area from campground which has a trail and beach picnic area."
Tips from RVers
Cabin alternatives for RVers: Tugaloo State Park Campground offers both cabin and RV options, allowing flexibility for groups. Liz H. notes, "Really enjoyed the lakefront campsites. We stayed at site 7 which is a pull through. We had camper and extra car with boat and kayak and fit with a little extra room. Able to kayak right from campsite."
Seasonal considerations: Lake access points vary by water level and season. Celeste C. explains, "This is a great campground. Lots of spacious campsites. Lots of choices. We were lakeside on a pull through that was a bit short for us. The site was amazing we could kayak up to our site."
Site leveling challenges: Many cabin and RV sites require leveling equipment. At Carolina Landing, one camper mentioned, "Our site- A5- was super unlevel. I felt unsafe with our fifth wheel's two left tires up in the air after auto-leveling."
Winter cabin utilities: Hartwell Lakeside KOA Holiday (formerly Hart State Outdoor Recreation Area) maintains cabin utilities even in cold weather. Jeff A. shares, "Stayed during the coldest of cold days in Dec. '22. That didn't take away from this campground's beauty."
