9 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Tugaloo State Park Campground and Tallulah Gorge State Park Campground house upscale glamping accommodations near Lake Hartwell and the scenic Tugaloo River. Both locations feature yurts with comfortable beds, electricity, and climate control systems for year-round comfort. The yurts at Tugaloo provide lakefront views with private decks overlooking the water. One guest shared, "The cabin itself was very well kept. There was air conditioning, 2 bedrooms, 1 full kitchen, 1 full bathroom, and a fire place." Tallulah Gorge offers similar amenities with the added benefit of being situated near one of Georgia's most dramatic natural landscapes. Both glamping resorts provide picnic tables, fire rings, and access to modern bathhouses with hot showers, making them ideal for travelers seeking nature experiences without sacrificing comfort.
Hiking trails connect directly from the glamping sites to scenic viewpoints, with Tallulah Gorge offering permits for gorge floor access when water levels permit. A visitor noted, "Sites were so easy to get into, nice small loop with minimal noise. Clean bath houses and laundry on site that was only $1 per load!" Water activities are abundant at Tugaloo, where glampers can enjoy swimming, fishing, and boating on Lake Hartwell. Both luxury outdoor stays remain open year-round, though reservations are recommended, especially during summer and fall color seasons. The proximity to Helen, Georgia provides additional dining and shopping options within a short drive. Each glamping location offers a camp store for basic supplies and firewood, with Tugaloo featuring additional amenities like laundry facilities and a sanitary dump station for extended stays.
"We really felt at home here due to the friendliness of the park staff and camphost volunteers."
"Once we actually arrived to our site, it was beautiful and easy to pull through. Only a little off level, which we fixed easily. Great cement benches and huge fire fits on site."
Available next weekend
from $27 - $265 / night
"Sites were so easy to get into, nice small loop with minimal noise. Clean bath houses and laundry on site that was only $1 per load!! Hiking and views of the Falls were breathtaking!"
"Campground facilities are clean and very well kept (they rake the sites and shovel out the fire pits). Bath houses are kept clean and stocked also. We camped in site 31 with our 32 ft TT."
Available next weekend
from $36 - $45 / night
"We stayed on site 7 for 4 nights and then site 68 for 2 nights. Water access wasn't the best on 7, but we enjoyed it. The park and hosts were nice."
"Sites are 50/30/20 electric with water, picnic table and fire ring. Many sites have a tent pad, are very level packed gravel/sand and well situated with very few having very close neighbors. "
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $36 - $76 / night
"Several trails. God sunsets if you were in the right site. Large Clem bathrooms that were cleaned frequently. Mold on the shower curtains and not enough trash cans."
"The Family and I are new to camping, we came here because of a group event at pavilion 1&2 the office attendants were nice and helpful, our site (14) was amazing with great view of lake Hartwell and"
Available next weekend
"The spot was amazing, next to a creek with a small deck. Even with all the rain I was on the deck relaxing and listen to the water flow. I can not recommend this location enough."
"We found this place when our other place to stay fell through and we Googled 'campgrounds near me . We called them and they gladly told us that there were spots available. "
"The site we had was right next to the bank of the lake....we could have fished from inside our tent. It was nice and quiet."
"That didn’t take away from this campgrounds beauty. It appears that this was a former state park but has now been bought by KOA. As far as Holiday KOAs are concerned, this one is up there."
"There was air conditioning, 2 bedrooms, 1 full kitchen, 1 full bathroom, and a fire place. We stopped at a Walmart in one of the towns before the park to stock up on food."
"Situated on a lake. Campgrounds were close together with not enough trees for sound barriers but plenty of trees for hammocks."
Available next weekend
"Even the restrooms are air-conditioned in the summertime."
"We arrived late in the day and the camp hosts were friendly and quick to assist with checking in. There are several large play areas in walking distance."
Available next weekend
from $20 - $50 / night
"Clean nearby lake, perfect for kayaking, paddle boarding, and boating. Plus it’s near the wonderful Toccoa waterfall."
"The bathrooms were clean. Water pressure was decent. Great place for a quick overnight. Little bit noisy for a long stay."
"Great KOA to stay at near Clemson University. It's not on Lake Hartwell, but it is near it. Be sure to check out the camping cabins."
ScoutWe stayed for a week in late October. Quiet and secluded but right outside of Franklin. Very. Nicely decorated. Has small campstore, very nice laundryroom, and a guest event center. Rick, the campsite host, helped me get backed in and asked if I needed any more help. Some pull-throughs. Some sites are a little tight but others really nice. We will definitely come back.
ScoutWhatever person or group of persons designed the campground were clueless as to how to develop a campground. Sites are packed in the most preposterous configuration to have tents, trailers motorhomes all jammed together nearly touching each other with zero privacy. Come for the hikes and views of the gorge but come with the lowest expectations for the campground and you’ll be fine
ScoutWalk to trail sites, clean bathrooms, sites close together…water and electric at site. Sites are sloped gravel.
GuideVery large dispersed campsites along the White Oak Gap Road. Very rugged road, AWD recommended but possible in some smaller vehicles. Creek crossings in some areas. Access to Dukes Creek Trail and Raven Cliffs Trail towards bottom of road. Vault toilets near trailheads. Great for large groups, our party slept 8 tents and several hammocks and there was still plenty of space.
TravelerWe camped next to the fishing pier, the site was a bit uneven and I had to do some creative engineering to get my 26' rig level. It has been very quiet during the week. By the way, we have great T-Mobile service.
ScoutThis camping park is very well maintained, clean quiet and just beautiful. Even the restrooms are air-conditioned in the summertime.
RangerWe stayed on site #25 in early August but due to the elevation the weather was mild.
There were plenty of activities to keep us busy at the park and the staff was friendly and helpful.
One thing that surprised us and worth mentioning is that even though the park is massive, the campground appears to have been an afterthought as it, and the sites are generally very small. It would be nice to see them expand it and make the changes to increase the size of sites.
Also, as we have seen at other parks kids on e-bikes is becoming a real problem and safety concern. Young children, many not wearing helmets, continually racing around the campground with no regard for speed limits or traffic signs. It is a recipe for an injury or an unfortunate fatality.
Hopefully parks will begin addressing this issue.
RangerWe stayed at Site #45, and it quickly became one of our favorite campsites because it felt more like a wooded overlook, perched above the lake. The breeze coming off the water kept us comfortable enough to enjoy a campfire even on a hot August evening.
The site fit our 14x10 tent comfortably, but I wouldn’t recommend anything larger. There isn’t a true tent pad, and you’ll notice the slope while sleeping—but the view from inside the tent was priceless. We experienced a four-hour thunderstorm and didn’t have any standing water at our site afterward.
⚠️ The slope becomes much steeper near the shoreline, so I wouldn’t recommend this site for toddlers or anyone with mobility concerns.
🛝 Our 7-year-old loved fishing from the shoreline and thought the steep slope made the perfect slide to get back down to the water. Built-in slide + dirty shorts = happy camper. 😂
🔥 The site includes a clean fire ring with an adjustable cooking grate and a separate standing charcoal grill.
🦟 We didn’t have any issues with mosquitoes during our stay.
🚰 The shared water pump wasn’t working during our visit.
🚽 The bathhouse was spacious, clean, and only a short walk away.
🚗 A community wagon is parked near the bathhouse for campers to use when hauling gear between their vehicle and campsite. Loved that!
A few tips:
🪵 The Visitor Center sells $6 bundles of firewood and has a nice selection of souvenirs.
🐜 Plenty of flies and large ants, so keep your food put away and your tent zipped.
🪲 Cicadas were loud at night. I loved it, but our 7-year-old slept with his wireless headphones on. If you’re a light sleeper, you may want to pack earplugs if you’re camping here June-August.
🎣 We caught more bluegill fishing from our campsite than we did from the fishing dock.
🌅 If you’re looking for one of the best views in the campground and don’t mind sleeping on a slight incline, Site #45 is well worth considering.
TravelerOriginally intended to do some car camping after a day of hiking but I ended up reserving a camp site and grabbing a tent from a near by Walmart and I enjoyed every minute of it. This may not matter to most but it may matter to some...I am a black male and although I didn't see many people that looked like me, everyone was extremely friendly. Definitely got a lot more attention than I would have liked but at least I knew pple were looking out for me lol. Beautiful scenery, fun trails, fishing, a full outdoor experience.
Lavonia sits in the foothills of northeast Georgia at approximately 800 feet elevation, offering access to Lake Hartwell with 962 miles of shoreline and 56,000 acres of water. The region experiences mild winters with occasional freezing temperatures and humid summers that typically range from 80-90°F. Most campgrounds near Lavonia remain open year-round, though amenities may be limited during winter months.
Hiking at Tallulah Gorge: The 2-mile rim trail offers views of the 1,000-foot deep gorge with access to overlooks. Permits are required for gorge floor hiking when water conditions allow. "The hiking is fun but intense. Be prepared for lots of stairs, a bridge over the water, and rock hopping across the water," notes one Tallulah Gorge State Park Campground visitor.
Fishing from your campsite: Several Lake Hartwell campgrounds offer direct fishing access without needing to relocate. "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," reports a camper at Tugaloo State Park Campground.
Water sports on Lake Hartwell: Swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking are popular from spring through fall when water temperatures warm up. "The lake is beautiful, there are plenty of places to swim, and tons of shoreline to explore. The playground is very nice," according to a visitor at Sadlers Creek State Park Campground.
Waterfront campsites: Many Lake Hartwell sites offer direct water access with gradual entry points. "Most campsites have views of the lake and access directly to the stoney beaches. Lots of mature trees make shade an easily accessible feature," writes a Tugaloo State Park visitor.
Paddling accessibility: Several parks feature launch points directly from campsites. "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," shares a camper at Tugaloo State Park.
Clean facilities: Restrooms and shower buildings receive regular maintenance at most parks. "The camp host met us as we drove in even though we were slightly after office closing hours. The restrooms were clean, the showers were clean, and all the people we came across were so friendly," notes a visitor at Tallulah Gorge State Park Campground.
Yurt camping in Lavonia, Georgia: Yurt accommodations are available at Tugaloo State Park with lakefront views and nearby at Tallulah Gorge. For traditional yurt camping near Lavonia, reservations should be made several months in advance during peak summer season.
Boat ramp accessibility: Most Lake Hartwell campgrounds feature boat launches, but some have limited parking. "If you have a boat or jetski there is a ramp. The lake is great for swimming. The campground also offers paddle board and kayak rentals," explains a visitor at South Cove County Park.
Some campgrounds lock gates after hours: Security measures may limit late-night access. "The campground has a gate that gets locked at 10 pm. You can leave but you can't come back into the campground after the gate gets locked," notes a South Cove County Park camper.
Playground access: Several parks offer play equipment within walking distance of campsites. "There are multiple hiking trails near by and definitely a lot of wild life. But it was definitely a peaceful and quiet park perfect for a relaxing weekend away," shares a visitor at Oconee State Park Campground.
Wildlife interactions: Geese are common around Lake Hartwell and may approach campsites. "Warning! Don't feed the geese! The campers next to us fed them and the next day we woke up with goose poop on everything! Including the picnic table!" warns a South Cove County Park visitor.
Beach swimming areas: Designated swimming zones provide safer alternatives to lakefront sites with rocky access. "We took our 19, 11, and 4 year old. Tested the trails and enjoyed plenty of scenic views. Will definitely be going back," mentions a Tallulah Gorge State Park visitor.
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain requiring preparation. "Sites were large and spacious. We were in site #8 right on the lake. Water, electric and cable tv connections. No sites with sewer, but dump station has two receptacles so there was no wait to dump tanks on way out," explains a Tugaloo State Park camper.
Tree cover considerations: Some lakefront sites lack shade protection during summer. "The sites are big, with trees in between most sites. Most sites are a stones throw away from the lake. The view Lake Hartwell is Beautiful. There is no hook ups for sewer. But there is a dump station," reports a visitor at Springfield - Hartwell Lake.
Concrete pad availability: A few newer campgrounds offer improved parking surfaces. "Nice concrete pads in a former pasture. Not a lot of shade for most sites," notes a visitor at Currahee RV Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Lavonia, GA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Lavonia, GA is Tugaloo State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 43 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Lavonia, GA?
TheDyrt.com has all 49 glamping camping locations near Lavonia, GA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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