Lincolnton, Georgia sits on the shores of Lake Thurmond (also called Clarks Hill Lake), a 71,000-acre reservoir with over 1,200 miles of shoreline spanning the Georgia-South Carolina border. The lake's red clay shorelines and pine forests create distinctive camping environments with water levels that can fluctuate 10-15 feet seasonally. Summer temperatures regularly reach 90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall offer milder conditions for luxury camping experiences.
What to Do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Thurmond offers excellent fishing year-round, particularly for largemouth bass, bream and striped bass. "We had a great time at site 49, awesome views. Comfort stations close and clean. Lots of water activities," notes a visitor to Mistletoe State Park Campground.
Shooting sports: Several parks near Lincolnton offer unique recreational activities beyond typical lake pursuits. "The park has a nice golf course and skeet shooting, kayak rentals, cabins, a restaurant and a pool," mentions a camper who visited Hickory Knob State Park Resort.
Hiking trails: The area features multiple trail systems ranging from easy lakeside paths to more challenging routes. "For the hikers the trails are great, and vary in difficulty to keep things fun, and the backwoods hiking campsites were great," reports a visitor to Mistletoe State Park Campground.
What Campers Like
Spacious lakefront sites: Most campgrounds feature waterfront access with room to spread out. "Love the big selection of waterfront sites," notes a camper at Mistletoe State Park Campground, while another reports about Raysville Campground: "The spots were nice, large, most waterfront, with power and water. Definitely a spot I will go back to."
Swimming access: Many sites offer direct water entry points for cooling off. "We had lake access at our site which was nice for cooling off or swimming. Next time we come, we will make to bring a fishing pole and some tubes to float in the water," explains a visitor to Winfield - J Strom Thurmond Lake.
Sunsets and views: The east-west orientation of many campsites creates spectacular evening views. "We saw one of the most gorgeous sunsets we've ever seen during our stay," shares a visitor to Hickory Knob, while another camper at Winfield notes: "Sunset at this site was amazing."
What You Should Know
Bathroom facilities vary widely: Quality ranges significantly between campgrounds. "The bathrooms were ok and there is a laundry room. The bathrooms were quite far from some sites requiring a long walk or drive," reports a visitor to Mistletoe State Park Campground.
Site privacy differences: Tree coverage varies by campground and by site number. A camper at Baker Creek notes: "While most campsites dot the perimeter of the inlet, there are about a half dozen that are on the interior of the campground, and while these don't have direct lake access, they do sit higher above ground, making for a decent view."
Water level fluctuations: Lake levels change seasonally, affecting water access. "If the water is low like it was when I was here, the lake water was not accessible—you'd have to trudge through 50 fifty feet of mud to get to it. Save site #3 for the springtime only I think," advises a backcountry camper at Mistletoe State Park.
Tips for Camping with Families
Beach areas: Some campgrounds offer designated swimming spots more suitable for children. "The park had a great store selling souvenirs, ice, firewood, worms for fishing. They also have kayak rentals," reports a visitor to Mistletoe State Park Campground.
Kid-friendly fishing: Many parks offer special programs for young anglers. "Free fishing pole for kids," mentions a visitor to Mistletoe State Park who stayed in a cabin.
Playground access: Look for campgrounds with play equipment near campsites. "Each of the campsites come with the standard amenities: brand new picnic tables, easy-open grill covered fire circles and what looked to be newly installed water spigots," notes a visitor to Baker Creek, adding "there's a main campground building that has a pretty new kid's playground adjacent to it."
Tips for RVers
Site selection considerations: Many campgrounds feature varying pad types and access. "Site 74 is right between the beach an the boating dock. Very large pull thru," notes a visitor to Winfield - J Strom Thurmond Lake.
Road conditions: Some access roads present challenges for larger rigs. "The only reason for 4 stars rather than 5 is the fact that the campground road is in pretty rough shape," advises an RVer at Hickory Knob.
Hook-up availability: Glamping in Lincolnton, Georgia often means having electric and water at minimum. "We had electric, water, concrete table, fire ring, and lantern hook. Not much barrier between sites but sites were good size just open," notes a camper at Mistletoe State Park Campground who adds, "Sites in the 60-90 loop looked the best with water views and shade and most were pull through."
