15 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Several state parks surrounding Lula, Georgia offer cabin rentals with varying amenities and price points. Don Carter State Park features modern cabins with full kitchens, bathroom facilities, and climate control systems. Unicoi State Park provides both standard cabins and "Barrel Cabins" with rustic charm yet modern conveniences. Black Rock Mountain State Park maintains cabins with scenic mountain views and complete kitchens. "The campground hosts were friendly and they kept the bath houses/laundry facilities spotless."
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Most parks require advance reservations, especially during summer months and fall foliage season when cabins book quickly. Pet policies vary by location - some cabins at Tallulah Gorge and Unicoi State Parks allow pets for an additional fee. Lake Russell Recreation Area's cabins operate seasonally from May through October. A review noted, "Very new, clean campground. Everything is well maintained."
Most cabins include beds with mattresses but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Kitchen equipment typically includes refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, and basic cookware, though specifics vary by location. Amicalola Falls State Park and Fort Yargo State Park cabins include outdoor fire rings with grills for additional cooking options. While many parks have small camp stores with essential items, larger grocery stores require a drive to nearby towns. Firewood is available for purchase at several locations including Unicoi, Amicalola Falls, and Lake Russell.
"While usually that would be a bit weird this park made it one of the most amazing feelings on earth. I pulled in late afternoon, deer were grazing in the primitive camp zones."
"This is Georgia's newest state park (2013) and it is a beautiful park! The staff is great and there is plenty to see/do!"
Available this weekend
from $25 - $225 / night
"Set in a lush green Forrest, Unicoi State Park just outside of Helen, GA, has something for everyone."
"We were the only ones in the standard campground (fire pit, picnic table, tent pad). Because it was so cold, we used the huge lodge lobby/lounge to warm up in the evenings."
"We booked a last minute night here for Easter weekend to get out of the city. It one of the only places available due to our last minute decision. We stayed in Loop A. It’s smaller than Loop B."
"Not as cramped & crowded as State parks. First loop is first come first serve, with sites closer to the beach side of lake, if you're there in the summer."
Available this weekend
from $24 - $48 / night
"An interesting thing about Georgia state parks is that when you arrive and check in, you become eligible for a senior or military/veteran “rebate” which is not available when reserving. "
"We enjoyed our time at Tallulah State Park. The gorge and trails were incredible. The campground is conveniently located right next to the entrance to the visitors center."
Available this weekend
from $36 - $45 / night
"Beautiful State Park with roomy shaded sites, many of which are creekside. A large lake for fishing and swimming is at the front of the park and it offers canoe and paddle boat rentals."
"We enjoyed a challenging 11-mile hike up and over 3 mountains from trail heads inside the park. There are shorter hikes that start here as well."
Available this weekend
from $30 - $290 / night
"Clean pet friendly park with very nice, helpful and funny staff. New sod in between the large gravel sites. Bigger park than I expected."
"This campground is located close to shopping stores and has their own laundry and shower house. It is a nice, clean and seems very well maintained."
from $68 - $83 / night
"Fort Yargo is in the Winder Ga area and is close to Helen, Jefferson, Athens and Atlanta. Entering the campground is a nice paved road and leads to tent camping, cabins, yurts and RV sites."
"Parking lot is a short walk to campsite. Bathhouse is at the parking area. Picnic table and fire pit at site. Wooded area but not secluded, limited shade on table."
Available this weekend
from $27 - $275 / night
"RV/tent camping and cabin rentals. Campsites had wifi and pretty good tv signal. There's also a lodge/hotel on site with a restaurant, with gorgeous views overlooking the valley below."
"The Approach trail is 8.3 miles to Springer Mountain from the lower Amicalola State Park parking lot. So there is more history and lore here than meets the eye."
"The site included 4 shelters with bunks, a pit toilet and outdoor shower, a grill, fire pit, and a little cabin with electricity."
"It was tucked away down its own little gated road and had 4 open shelters and 1 cabin with electricity. There was also a pit toilet and shower (no hot water)."
Available this weekend
from $20 - $255 / night
"Tugaloo state Park: This Georgia State Park offers a multitude of activities from hiking, paddling, boating, fishing, swimming, putt putt, tennis/pickleball court and biking the park roads to name a few"
"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. Pet friendly, family friendly. Power, Electric, gray water dumps near each site."
Available this weekend
from $27 - $230 / night
GuideSites are not level. Thousand trails is currently not investing. Any money in improving the sites. Half of the sites in the park are going back to nature. The roads are falling apart and the inclines are not big rig friendly.
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.
TravelerWelcome center is nice, but the roads and asphalt sites are crumbling. We had a back in site that was fairly level. No real privacy from neighboring sites.
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.
GuideWe stayed at Site 18, which has a reputation for being one of the hardest sites to back into. There’s definitely a trick to it! Pull your truck forward along the site, then pull out toward the site across from you, making an S-turn. From there, line it up and back in. It's tricky, but doable!
We loved this area and packed a lot into our stay. We visited BJ’s Apple Orchard, stopped at Burt’s Pumpkin Farm (where I somehow ended up with a 150-pound pumpkin 😂), had dinner at Cascades Restaurant, and took the easy way to see the falls.
The fenced-in sites were a huge plus, especially with our pups. It gave them more room to roam. The bathrooms and showers are individual rooms, which was nice, and the welcome center is one of the nicest we’ve come across.
And then there’s THE HILL. I was born and raised in the Smokies, so I’m no stranger to mountain roads, but the incline is no joke! The reviews are absolutely not exaggerating when they say it’s steep. Come prepared!
I have T-mobile and husband has Xfinity and we both have great service. Wifi in the campground gets the job done for Netflix at night.
Overall, we really enjoyed our stay. Beautiful area, plenty to explore, dog-friendly sites, and a campground we’d visit again. 🏕️🥾
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.
GuideWe have been to this location several times and never had a bad experience. The staff are wonderful. The grounds are well maintained. The environment is beautiful. Kids are safe and there is a lot for everyone to do.
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.
Cabin camping near Lula, Georgia takes advantage of the area's varied elevations, which range from 1,200 to 3,500 feet, creating distinct microclimates throughout the seasons. The northeastern Georgia region receives approximately 50-60 inches of rainfall annually, making spring visits notably lush but requiring waterproof gear. Summer cabin rentals typically fill three months in advance while winter cabin availability increases by roughly 40%.
Hiking at Black Rock Mountain: Multiple trails ranging from easy to difficult wind through Georgia's highest state park at 3,640 feet elevation. Black Rock Mountain State Park Campground offers cabins near excellent hiking options. "We were in number 15 and it was in our opinion the best one. Trees and bushes on 3 sides," notes one visitor who appreciated the privacy of their campsite.
Lake activities at Don Carter: Accessible waterfront activities include swimming at the maintained beach area and boating directly from some campsites. "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," explains a regular visitor.
Nearby historic sites: Visit the Foxfire Museum near Black Rock Mountain to learn about Appalachian culture. "While your camping here, be sure to visit the Foxfire Museum that you'll pass while driving up the mountain. They have an amazing insight into Appalachian history and living!" recommends a family that visits regularly.
Peace and quiet: Lake Russell Recreation Area offers more seclusion than larger state parks. "Not as cramped & crowded as State parks. First loop is first come first serve, with sites closer to the beach side of lake, if you're there in the summer. However, the reserved sites on 2nd loop are more private & some offer good lake views," mentions a recent visitor.
Clean facilities: Many campers consistently note the well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities. "It feels pretty secluded from the city because of the long drive in. Beautiful sites and plenty of trails nearby. My friend and I brought our hammocks and enjoyed a very peaceful weekend," reports a regular visitor to Lake Russell.
Waterfront sites: Tugaloo State Park features numerous lakefront cabin and camping options. "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. Pet friendly, family friendly. Power, Electric, gray water dumps near each site," notes one camper who appreciated the waterfront access.
Reservations essential: Peak seasons (Memorial Day through October) require booking 3-6 months in advance. "We go camping every memorial day weekend and this year it was at Don Carter. We love this camp ground! Its fairly new, probably under 12 years, and everything is so clean and well taken care of," explains a repeat visitor.
Weather variability: Mountain parks experience temperature swings of 15-20 degrees cooler than surrounding areas. "Despite the hot weather and six miles, my feet never felt 'hot.' The¼ hiker is the perfect height to cover the high tongue on my hiking shoes," reports a hiker describing their summer experience.
Limited services: Tallulah Gorge State Park and surrounding areas have minimal nearby shopping. "The campground has all the necessities but is pretty much just a campground. The hiking is fun but intense. Be prepared for lots of stairs, a bridge over the water, and rock hopping across the water," advises a visitor.
Easy access sites: Choose cabins near amenities for easier family logistics. "The campground was very peaceful during the week when we were there but can imagine it gets pretty busy on the weekends and during the summer. Most of the sites have pretty good separation between them so you don't feel like you are on top of someone," reports a midweek visitor.
Child-friendly activities: Vogel State Park offers numerous family options within walking distance of cabins. "My kids and I went camping at Unicoi Park in the summer and there is plenty to keep them busy. They played in the creek, on the swing set and walked the trail to the swimming section of the lake," shares a parent with children ranging from 5 to 16.
Primitive cabin options: For older children, consider walk-in cabin sites for more privacy and nature immersion. "We booked a last minute night here for Easter weekend to get out of the city. It one of the only places available due to our last minute decision. We stayed in Loop A. It's smaller than Loop B. With plenty of trees for hammocks," notes a family with multiple tents.
Site dimensions: Fort Yargo State Park offers both standard and cabin accommodations. "The roads are a little hilly and twisting but if you have a big rig and go slow you will be fine. All the campsite driveways are angled so backing in is pretty easy. The campground is treed and many sites have nice shade," advises an experienced RVer.
Accessibility challenges: Mountain parks have steep access roads and limited turning radius in some camping loops. "Note you do not need to pay the day use fee if you are camping. The camp host actually retrieved our money we put in the envelope when i mentioned it during check in," shares a helpful visitor.
Site preference: Waterfront cabins and sites at Don Carter and Tugaloo book fastest. "Our campsite was a tad bit small for our camper, large campers like motorhomes or fifth-wheels will not fit. Our campsite backed up to one of the hiking trails and our little guy loved it!" notes a family describing their Memorial Day experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Lula, GA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Lula, GA is Don Carter State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 35 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Lula, GA?
TheDyrt.com has all 74 cabin camping locations near Lula, GA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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