The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Tent Camping near McDonough, GA

453 Reviews

Tent campgrounds near McDonough, Georgia provide rustic camping experiences within 30-40 miles of the city. Panola Mountain State Park Campground offers established tent sites in Stockbridge, about 15 miles northeast of McDonough, with electric hookups and designated camping areas. Several dispersed tent camping options are also available, including Ocmulgee River Camp and Tyler Hunt Camp, which provide more primitive experiences for those seeking solitude.

Most tent sites in the region have minimal amenities, with dispersed camping areas typically lacking facilities entirely. Panola Mountain provides basic services including electric hookups, picnic tables, and toilets, but no showers or drinking water. Ocmulgee River Camp and Tyler Hunt Camp require campers to bring all necessary supplies, as these areas have no facilities—pack in and pack out is standard practice. Fire rings are often present at established sites, and most areas allow campfires when fire restrictions are not in effect. Road access varies, with some sites requiring travel on unpaved roads that may become difficult after rain.

Tent camping experiences in the McDonough area range from developed park settings to remote woodland sites. Panola Mountain State Park offers walk-in tent sites approximately 3/4 mile from parking, providing a buffer from road noise while maintaining accessibility. The park's proximity to hiking trails makes it popular for weekend excursions. For those seeking more seclusion, the dispersed camping areas like Tyler Hunt Camp offer greater privacy, though visitors should be prepared for occasional vehicle traffic. According to one visitor, "It was quiet, super dark at night and beautiful. No amenities, you pack it in, you pack it out." Seasonal campers note that even warm December temperatures are possible at Ocmulgee River Camp, making year-round tent camping viable in this region.

Map showing campgrounds near McDonough, GeorgiaExplore the Map

Best Tent Sites Near McDonough, Georgia (12)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 12 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

McDonough Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Tent Camping Photos near McDonough, GA

11 Photos of 12 McDonough Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near McDonough, GA

453 Reviews of 12 McDonough Campgrounds

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2020

    Chattahoochee Bend State Park Campground

    Not much but the River

    Chattahoochee Bend State Park is located on bend of the Chattahoochee River southeast of Atlanta, near Columbus GA. This is one of Georgia’s largest and newest state parks, with five miles of river frontage on the Chattahoochee. The campground has about 40 sites, some pull-they, but little shade. There are also some walk-in tent sites, and platform sites. The standard sites are water & electric, there is a bathroom/shower, and a dump station. There are cabins if you are not a camper. This is mostly a fishing/hiking park. A boat ramp provides access to the river for boaters and canoeing and there are six miles of wooded trails are open for hiking. There is an observation platform with views of the river and forest, but visibility was limited because of the trees. There isn’t much here but the river trail. But it is close to Columbus, GA, there are some zip-line places near by, and Roosevelt’s Little White House are close.

  • Rachel G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 8, 2020

    High Falls State Park Campground

    Falls

    Went to High Falls State Park in January. site number 27. We stayed 8 nights There are two campgrounds- lakeside and River camping area. Lakeside is by High falls Lake and is closest to the falls. River camping is across the street we stayed in River camping area. Nice sites but open to neighbors. Sites included table, fire ring, lantern hook. Some sites are 30 amp some 50 amp and had some pull through sites. After the weekend we were one of only a few in the campground in January. Weather may change this time of year we had a lot of rain one day and freezing temperatures overnight but mostly it was good camping weather. Camp hosts were awesome!!! This park is not far off i-75. Dollar general was a few miles other than that not much around. Very easy hiking trail to waterfalls and several trails along Towaliga River, ruins of an old Mill. There is no swimming in falls or river. Afterr rain falls were flowing very fast. This park also has a swimming pool, mini golf, yurts, boat rentals all were closed in January. Bathhouses were well maintained and had laundry facilities. Phone and TV reception we're good at this park. 8 days was too much here I would recommend 4 to 5 days or as a stopover point but would definitely return here.

  • E
    Sep. 23, 2019

    Stone Mountain Park Campground

    Terrible for tent campers

    I was actually shocked at how terrible our actual campsite was; we stayed at site 29, which was supposedly intended for tent camping.

    Pros

    • The front gate staff was very nice; check in and general store staff were average
    • The general store was very convenient and decently stocked
    • The bathrooms and showers were pretty nice
    • Beautiful lake view. It was nice to watch kayakers and rowing teams go by
    • Nice tree placement for hammock
    • Close to all Stone Mountain activities
    • Garbage pickup each morning (but no metal trash can to store it in??)

    Cons

    • The site is on a freaking hill; there is no flat surface at all and no clearing, so you have no choice but to sleep on sticks/rocks. Thank God to REI for footprints and decent sleeping pads
    • Site was dirty when I arrived
    • No tent pad
    • Parking area is crap; it's somewhere between gravel and nothing
    • $20 parking fee

    There is no way I would stay at this campground again; it was definitely made for RVs.

  • Sarah S.
    May. 25, 2025

    McIntosh Reserve Park

    New bathhouse with shower, water spigot

    Camping is first come first served basis, no reservations. $20 per night, parking for one vehicle included. Extra vehicles require $5 parking pass per day. They take credit card. Pull up to the booth at the entrance before 5pm or see the camp host 5-8pm. After 8pm, the park gate closes. I was given a gate code in case I needed to leave and return during the closed hours.

    The camping layout falls somewhere between dispersed camping and a traditional campground. When I checked in, I was told I could pull up to any site with a fire pit. There were picnic tables and trash cans at most sites. There are no hook ups at the sites, but there is a good amount of space on flat ground in the trees. Several cars, tents, or small campers would fit on each site. Bigger campers could opt for sites 8 or 9 which don’t have trees. I cleaned up a bit of trash around my site when I arrived. The camp host drove around selling firewood.

    Many of these reviews seem older, so I wanted to add that there is a newer block bathroom with flush toilets, electricity and a shower stall, and outdoor water spigot near the stretch of campsites marked 1-20 along the river. It was clean. Driving in, you’ll see a sign that points you to “Main Camping.” The sites stretch down a lane that follows the river to a dead end, the river and sites are on the left and there is a large grassy airfield on the right. There was no airplane traffic while I was there and no signage to stay off of it, so perhaps it is no longer in use.

    There is a boat ramp past site 20. I saw a sign at the bathhouse for paddling the river and various parks to camp along the way. There are signs for horse camping only at sites 18-20. One of the trails runs between the river bank and the campsites, with red blazes - “River Trail” - so don’t set up equipment there in case hikers or horses come through. I saw people fishing in the Chattahoochee River right off of their campsite. There is a small rapid that stretches across the river near sites 1-10, so you get that nice water flowing sound to fall asleep to!

    There are also sites in other areas of the park, if you turn left instead of following the “Main Camping” sign. I’m not sure if they are numbered, and they seem more scattered. There is another bathhouse with running water and a shower that is older next to the cabin called “Old Ranger’s Station.”

    The park has wide trails for horseback riding. I hiked the 2 mile Eagle Loop Trail and saw a mountain biker as well. I saw signs for an Orienteering Course. There is a splash pad and a new looking playground that from a glance, might be ADA accessible. There are many signs prohibiting swimming in the river due to the strong current. There is no beach and in most places, the river bank is steep. John Tanner Park has a swimming beach.

    The park map is not great and the information available online is insufficient, but I do recommend coming to explore the area and camp! I’ll be back now that I have an understanding of the layout.

  • Brittney D.
    Feb. 3, 2021

    Fort Yargo State Park Campground

    Manicured but nice!

    This place is great if you still want some of the comforts of home. Water spouts are dropped around the sites and there is a bathhouse with showers and hot water accessible to all who camp there! The sites for tent camping are fairly close together-you can definitely see the next site because there aren’t a whole lot of trees but still far enough away to feel comfortable. The tent spots have gravel that is hard to get tent states into but also include a picnic table and a fire pit. Wood can be purchased for $5 from the host but you can also forage from the fallen trees on site. You may have to search around a bit but it worked well enough for my crew.

    The lake was so beautiful even in the middle of winter and was such a great spot to camp. Some hikes are close by but none are big for elevation changes or waterfalls or anything like that. Still lots of places to go and get off your campsite. Maybe the best part of this park is the disc golf! My crew enjoyed the course and spent a few good hours there!

    I would definitely come back and maybe try out one of the tent sites in the woods for a bit more privacy.

  • Justin R.
    Nov. 3, 2024

    Claystone Park Campground

    First Time Camping and It Set the Bar

    Claystone Park was our first ever experience tent camping. Everything was great from the location of the bathroom and shower house, to ample space, and spectacular views. Quiet hours were respectfully observed, and all the amenities provided within our campsite were more than enough. Clean clean clean

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 15, 2017

    Sweetwater Creek State Park Campground

    Right next door

    15 miles West of Atlanta, Ga off I20 Sweetwater Creek State Park offers history, trails, water activities and peace and quiet.

    Realize there are limited sites. 10 Yurts for glampers and 5 walkin sites for tent campers. The walkin sites are in the woods but not to far a walk to the lake. Tent pads with picnic tables and fire rings, if you have a hammocks plenty of trees to use. Kayak....you will have to drive to a spot or portage. The facilities (showerhouse)look very new and is well maintained. Also keyed limited access for glampers and campers only. No day use which is nice.

    The hiking is a mixture of trails and old gravel roads. There is a large loop to see everything that is intersected by shorter cross trails. Very busy down near the ruins, but worth the hike to see the area.

    Watercraft rentals and fishing galore. Little crowded for my liking but not surprising with Atlanta so close.

  • A
    Aug. 3, 2018

    Fort Yargo State Park Campground

    Walk-campaites

    If you’re like me and appreciate a bit of privacy when camping, the walk-in campsites at Fort Yargo are the place to go. Just a short 1-2 minutes walk from your car and bathrooms, but you feel much more secluded than the campsites in the regular campground. The 12walk-in sites are waterfront to the lake- perfect for kayaking or paddle boarding. If you want privacy, but dont want to ‘hike-in’ all your camping gear, I highly recommend these sites!

  • Caitlin S.
    Jan. 31, 2022

    High Falls State Park Campground

    Nice campground for a weekend getaway!

    We stayed in the River Camping Area - Loop D. The campground felt secluded and the sites were spacious. We enjoyed hiking Falls Trail with our two dogs and checking out some of the nearby cities - Jackson & Forsyth.

    A few things to note: the internet is VERY spotty and the sites are not level. The entrance is very dark at night and the road is narrow and windy, so try to arrive before dark if you can.

Guide to McDonough

Tent camping near McDonough, Georgia offers a blend of natural beauty and convenient amenities, making it an ideal getaway for outdoor enthusiasts.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Some prices for tent camping range from $20 to $40

  • Camping at Tyler Hunt Camp is budget-friendly, offering a peaceful environment for just $20 a night.
  • For a slightly higher rate, Atlanta West Campground provides a convenient location near the city, with prices around $30 per night.
  • Neverland offers a unique camping experience with prices starting at $40, featuring amenities like showers and picnic tables.

Tips for tent camping near McDonough

  • When visiting Sacred Space Urban Retreat, be sure to take advantage of the electric hookups and showers for a more comfortable experience.
  • If you’re looking for a more rustic experience, Ocmulgee River Camp offers a beautiful site with plenty of space, but remember to bring your own water and supplies.
  • For those who enjoy hiking, Panola Mountain State Park Campground is close to several trails, making it a great base for outdoor adventures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near McDonough, GA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near McDonough, GA is Panola Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 7 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near McDonough, GA?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near McDonough, GA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring