Fort Mountain State Park and James H. Sloppy Floyd State Park provide rustic cabin options within 30-45 minutes of Mount Berry, Georgia. Fort Mountain sits at 2,850 feet elevation in the Chattahoochee National Forest, offering cabin camping in cooler mountain temperatures than the Rome area. The region experiences moderate summer temperatures averaging 85-90°F and winter lows around 30°F, with occasional snow at higher elevations making cabin stays particularly appealing during colder months.
What to do
Waterfalls and hiking: Several parks near Mount Berry feature notable waterfall hikes. At DeSoto State Park, visitors can access multiple waterfalls. "We explored DeSoto falls and went to Little River canyon. There is a canyon rim drive if you can't hike. You must spend some time in this area to explore it all. Some of the waterfalls are seasonal dependent upon rainfall," notes Rachel G.
Fishing and boating: Marina Resort - Allatoona Landing offers lakefront camping with direct water access. "Nice facilities, clean and well laid out... We bought a Forest River No Boundaries 10.6 today and wanted to give it the inaugural run and this spot was about the only available one near Atlanta, so here we are!" writes Scott K.
Mountain biking: Trails accommodate various skill levels. "If you hike a lot- be aware that some of the double blazes signaling trail split ahead actually already happened by the time you see the blaze. In addition, some trail signage is only on one side of trail or in one direction," explains Travyl Couple about Fort Mountain State Park's multi-use trails.
What campers like
Platform camping options: Some parks offer unique alternatives to standard cabin camping. At Fort Mountain State Park, "Platform sites are a short walk from a parking area near the lake so you can make multiple trips to the car if necessary, while the backcountry sites are up to a 3 mile hike in," reports Stephanie J. The park's six platform sites are nicknamed "Squirrel's Nests" by regulars.
Cabin privacy levels: Cabin spacing varies significantly between parks. "We camped here just before all of the COVID-19 shutdowns began happening, hoping to get in a family trip that didn't involve a long drive from home/Chattanooga. We chose Fort Mountain for the variety of camping options they had, specifically the platform sites," explains Stephanie J.
Lake views and access: Several parks feature water views from cabin sites. At Tranquility Campground, "A lake front campsite with water & power hookup was $30 per night and that was on Memorial Day Weekend. The campsite was a nice size and it's pet friendly. There is a 6 acre lake for fishing but it's catch & release. And no swimming or kayaks allowed," describes Julie H.
What you should know
Cabin accessibility and terrain: Many cabin areas require navigating steep roads or trails. At Cloudland Canyon State Park, "It was bit interesting to get all our stuff to the site, and thank goodness we had 2 wagons and teens to help carry. It was a great private site, allowing for a good size tent and 3 hammocks. Easy access to the West Rim trail which was a terrific hike," reports Michelle D.
Cell coverage limitations: Connectivity varies widely between parks. According to Jason B. at 1776 RV And Campground, "The best part is the screaming fast internet! We work from home and the internet was so fast, people were amazed when I told them I was at a campground. We didn't even try to use our 5G system."
Seasonal considerations: Weather impacts cabin camping experiences throughout the year. "We visited this park in early/mid November for 10 days. Keith and I hiked and played hard every day here- despite the early winter storm, gusty breezes and freezing temperatures that finally gave way to beautiful crisp days," writes Travyl Couple about Fort Mountain State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Multiple parks offer child-friendly facilities. "Great pull through spots and great playground for kiddos..... very clean!" reports nikki H. about James H. Sloppy Floyd State Park.
Junior Ranger programs: Educational opportunities exist for children at several parks. "Friendly staff, with the Jr ranger program still going with the help of adult campers during covid. Still so much fun and so clean and beautiful!!" shares Cheryl C. about Red Top Mountain.
Water recreation options: Lakes provide family activities beyond hiking. "This place has a lot to offer: hiking, waterfalls, put put, playgrounds, lake views and paddle boats, standard hook up sites, etc. Its high in the mountains and its got great views," notes Tiffany B. about Fort Mountain State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: RVers should prepare for uneven terrain. According to MickandKarla W. at Calhoun A-OK Campground, "Our campsite was okay, with a bit of a slope where the our steps came down. The pull throughs are basically their overnighter sites with no picnic table nor fire pit."
Access road considerations: Many cabin campgrounds have challenging approach roads. "Heavily wooded sites that are not well maintained. Very narrow roads in the campground with lots of pot holes. Not the easiest state park to pull a travel trailer in. Sites were very narrow," warns Brock D. about Red Top Mountain.
Hookup variations: Cabin areas often have limited RV utility options. "Most sites don't have sewer hookup but there is a dump station and randomly placed gray water dumps which aren't really accessible while parked unless you have a 50'+ hose," reports Logan about Allatoona Landing Campground.
