A.H. Stephens State Park features a main campground and equestrian facilities approximately 8 miles southeast of Washington, Georgia. The area sits at around 500-600 feet elevation in the Georgia Piedmont region, with a mild climate that supports year-round camping. The surrounding counties contain several Corps of Engineers-managed lakefront campgrounds that complement the state park options with primitive waterfront sites.
What to do
Trail riding beyond weekends: At Watson Mill Bridge State Park, equestrians can explore seven miles of hiking trails and five miles of bike trails when not riding. "Wade in the river below the bridge but careful, the rocks are slick," notes Norris K., who appreciates the park's 229-foot covered bridge - the longest original covered bridge in Georgia.
Museum exploration: The historic aspects of several parks provide educational opportunities. "We did the A. H. Stephens museum tour and that was very nicely done. We did a day trip to Greensboro and walked the shops and went to Oconee Brewery," reports Cathy C., who appreciated the cultural attractions near the equestrian facilities.
Wildlife viewing: The campgrounds offer excellent wildlife observation opportunities. At Hard Labor Creek State Park, Christina mentions "deer walking through the site," making it an ideal location for wildlife photography and nature watching when not riding.
What campers like
Waterfront access: Bussey Point Wilderness Area provides waterfront camping with primitive facilities. "The campsites are right on the water and the view is beautiful," writes cody S., who appreciated the solitude, noting "over the weekend I was the only one here and the only person I spoke to was the volunteer Camp Ranger."
Spacious sites: The region's campgrounds typically offer generous spacing between sites. At A.H. Stephens, Debbie K. found "the campground is spotless! We really like campgrounds that have a lot of room, space between each site and easy sites to get in to." This provides privacy for equestrian campers requiring extra space for trailers and gear.
Clean facilities: Recent renovations at several parks have improved bathroom facilities. "The comfort stations have restrooms/showers, as well as two family restroom/shower facilities. The comfort stations also feature vending machines and a laundry facility!" reports George & Patty C. about Hard Labor Creek's amenities.
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies significantly throughout the region. At Wildwood County Park, connectivity is better than at some more remote locations, though Dan F. notes the park is "not perfect, but really good" when compared to nearby alternatives.
Supply runs: Most campgrounds require advance planning for supplies. "The park located in small town. It is very quite, nothing is nearby. Walmart is 33 miles away, so you should stock up before camping there," advises Luan N. about A.H. Stephens State Park.
Reservation systems: Most parks now use site-specific reservation systems. "HLC swapped over to 'site-specific' reservations..meaning that you must choose a particular site when reserving. This is VERY useful if you're familiar with the campground and have a favorite site but it can be a shot in the dark if you're not familiar with the campground," explains George & Patty C.
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Several parks offer swimming areas and boat rentals. At A. H. Stephens State Park, Elaine G. found "this state park has boats to rent, fishing, swimming equestrian camping, cabins ect..They have this large primitive area that we used..It was a bit of a hike to the bathrooms..but everything else was fantastic."
Educational opportunities: The historical aspects of the parks provide learning experiences. Mary G. reports, "The park had a beautiful Christmas light display with hot chocolate and a Christmas movie playing on a big screen. The park staff were so friendly."
Multi-activity options: For families with mixed interests, Hard Labor Creek offers diversity. Maethea R. mentions "This is a great campground with lots of activities. There is a putt putt (mini golf) course. You can rent kayaks and kayak in the lake. They offered a kayak by moonlight group tour that was fun."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: RVers should research specific sites before booking. At Plum Branch RV Park near Lake Thurmond, Kevin H. notes infrastructure details: "Sewer pipes stick out a good 6 or 8 inches. Electric posts are new but have a meter right below plugs, so surge suppressor gets to hang sideways."
Utility considerations: Several campgrounds offer full hookups but with variations. "Had we known we would have taken showers in our own camper," mentions Maethea R., who was unaware their site at Hard Labor Creek had sewer connections despite booking a deluxe site.
Road access: Some parks have challenging access roads. Debbie K. warns about Hard Labor Creek: "Be careful and follow the Campground signs and not your GPS because you might come in a different way and have to navigate an overpass that, for some rigs, is too short!"
