Amicalola Falls State Park camping offers diverse accommodations beyond just glamping, including RV sites with electric and water hookups, tent campsites, and walk-in sites. The park sits at 1,760 feet elevation in the southern Appalachian Mountains, creating distinct seasonal camping conditions with fall temperatures dropping to 30°F at night. Winter camping requires preparation for potential ice and snow, especially at higher elevation sites within the park.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Trek the accessible stairs and bridges at Amicalola Falls State Park Campground where visitors note, "This 730ft cascading waterfall is accessible by stairs and bridge from top to bottom. Its proximity to Atlanta can cause the area around the falls to fill up quick so the earlier or colder the better."
Mountain biking trails: Fort Mountain State Park Campground offers technical mountain biking routes with significant elevation changes. "The trails are not blazed. We suggest everyone wear a helmet not just the required 16 years and younger group," explains one experienced camper.
Wildlife viewing: Stone Mountain Park Campground provides opportunities to observe native Georgia wildlife. "While hiking we saw a lot of beautiful wildlife!" reports a family who visited the park, making this an educational opportunity for nature enthusiasts.
Lake activities: Bald Ridge Creek Campground features easy water access. "Very pretty area. Right on the lake," notes one camper. The campground includes swimming areas and boat launches suitable for kayaks, canoes or motorized watercraft.
What campers like
Quiet winter camping: Amicalola Falls campers appreciate the lower crowds during colder months. "It was January and basically had the place to ourselves," mentions one winter visitor, highlighting the solitude available during off-peak seasons.
Nearby attractions: Fort Mountain State Park Campground visitors enjoy the variety of activities beyond camping. "The hiking was great and scenery was beautiful. They don't call it Fort Mountain for nothing - there was quite a drive uphill to get here," explains a first-time visitor.
Hiking variety: Experienced hikers appreciate the trail options at Vogel State Park Campground. "Hiking trails are exceptional for the adults. We chose a very strenuous trail that delivered on the promise of a beautiful vista looking down on the park and campground," shares one visitor who completed the challenging route.
Waterfront sites: Many campers seek lakefront options near Nelson. "Majority of the sites offer direct water access with many sites offering water front views and beach areas," notes a visitor to Shady Grove Campground, describing the popular lake access.
What you should know
Bear activity: Prepare for wildlife encounters while glamping in Nelson, Georgia. "We had bear visitors, something they'll warn you about upon arrival. The bears just added to the appeal of this place though," mentions a Fort Mountain State Park Campground visitor.
Road conditions: Access to some campgrounds requires navigating steep terrain. "Nice state park with good amenities. Loved the hike and waterfalls. Roads are extremely steep getting to the campground," cautions one Amicalola Falls visitor.
Site selection: Research campsite features before booking. "I read a lot before my trip, so I knew to except the 25% grade incline going up to the campground. I wasn't however expecting the challenging parking in the campsite," shares an Amicalola Falls camper.
Alcohol policies: Enforcement varies between campgrounds. At Shady Grove Campground, "If you enjoy having a beer while camping don't come here. Beautiful day, beer in a solo cup playing cards with my wife at a picnic table. We were not making noise, nobody complained about us. Ranger pulls up and gave us both tickets."
Tips for camping with families
Accessible activities: Vogel State Park Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "A miniature golf course, playground, and state of the art outdoor exercise machine area...the likes of which I have never-ever seen," describes one visitor, noting the variety of activities.
Nature exploration: Children enjoy discovering local wildlife at Amicalola Falls. "Beautiful area, my teens loved it. They found all kinds of insects they had never seen even a Luna moth," shares one parent who visited with adolescents.
Water play options: Red Top Mountain State Park provides safe swimming areas. "They have water and outlets and very very clean bathrooms. Like cleaner than a Publix bathroom. Kid friendly," notes a family visitor who appreciated the maintained facilities.
Education opportunities: Stone Mountain Park Campground combines recreation with learning. "We had an amazing visit!! All the staff were extremely helpful and sweet. Shower house was clean, laser show fabulous and while hiking we saw a lot of beautiful wildlife!!!" reports a family who found educational value in their stay.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Fort Mountain State Park Campground requires preparation for uneven terrain. "The site had about a 5 inch difference shopping towards the road. I used rocker blocks maxed out (about 4 inches in height) and still was not level," warns an RV camper, suggesting bringing additional leveling equipment.
Campground navigation: Some luxury glamping areas near Nelson have limited access for larger rigs. "We have a 27' airstream and there are a couple campsites that are hard to get into. Number 18 does not look hard, but the layout is very difficult to get into. The bend halfway into the campground would be extremely difficult with much bigger than 27' camper," cautions an RV owner at Amicalola Falls.
Hookup availability: Bald Ridge Creek Campground provides essential RV amenities. "We are at spot 97 and was suppose to get 44. The host at the front office gave us a different spot that would be easier access to our 40ft 5th wheel," shares a visitor who appreciated the staff assistance with site selection for their large rig.
Seasonal considerations: Winter camping requires preparation. "Bathrooms were clean with very hot water," notes a December visitor to Fort Mountain State Park, but they also mentioned dealing with "cool and damp" weather conditions requiring additional planning for comfort.
