Dog-Friendly Camping near Nelson, GA

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    Amicalola Falls State Park Camping welcomes pets at all 24 campsites carved into a hillside. The campground features spacious, gravel sites with electrical hookups, water, fire rings, and picnic tables. Dogs must remain leashed throughout the campground and on all trails. Tent campers, RV owners, and those staying in cabins or yurts can bring their four-legged companions to enjoy the natural surroundings. The bathhouse facilities are clean and well-maintained, though the campground can become crowded during peak seasons. Red Top Mountain State Park Campground also accepts pets across its tent, RV, cabin, and yurt accommodations, providing similar amenities with electric hookups, water, and fire rings. The campground remains accessible throughout the year with all-season availability.

    Numerous hiking opportunities surround these pet-friendly campgrounds, including the trail to Georgia's largest waterfall at Amicalola Falls. The Approach Trail to the Appalachian Trail begins here, offering 8.3 miles of pet-friendly hiking to Springer Mountain. Dogs must be kept on leashes no longer than six feet on all trails to protect wildlife and other visitors. Campsites at Amicalola are masterfully carved out of the mountain with timber retention walls providing privacy between sites. When camping with dogs in this region, be aware of wildlife including bears that may be attracted to pet food. Campgrounds enforce quiet hours when excessive barking must be controlled. Sweetwater Campground and Bald Ridge Creek provide additional pet-friendly options with water access that dogs particularly enjoy during warmer months.

    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Nelson (201)

      1. Amicalola Falls State Park Camping

      4.7(60)14mi from NelsonRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "It's proximity to Atlanta can cause the area around the falls to fill up quick so the earlier or colder the better."

      "If you're taking off on the AT, then you need to get walking. However, if you want a small taste of the AT and would like to camp out near the starting point, then this is a great place to be."

      2. Sweetwater Campground

      4.5(31)18mi from Nelson151 sitesRVs, Tents

      "These are two completely different parks in two completely different parts of Georgia. SCofA does not have a mill, ruins, river or mountain trails. It does have a lake. Allatoona Lake."

      "So RecGov will let you reserve a site w/three dogs but then when you drive 4 hrs to get there they tell you two dogs only..... what exactly would you like me to do with the spare one???"

      from $24 - $290 / night

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      3. Red Top Mountain State Park Campground

      4.3(81)25mi from Nelson115 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Red Red Top is one of my favorite spots when I need a quick Wilderness cat away from the city."

      "It has a boat access point, fishing, walking and biking trails, a small putt putt course, playground area for the kids and best of all it’s pet friendly!"

      from $40 - $275 / night

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      4. Bald Ridge Creek

      4.4(22)20mi from Nelson82 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "It was right on the lake with a beautiful view. It has a path that goes down to the lake. A lot of the sites are on the lake and most sites offer ample shade."

      "Our sites have all been lake-side and very large with a paved drive. There is hiking around the shore line and lots of ducks in the lake to feed (Shh!)"

      from $26 - $36 / night

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      5. Doll Mountain Campground

      4.6(23)21mi from Nelson68 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Doll Mountain Campground near Ellijay, Georgia is located on a peninsula stretching into Carter's Lake, and managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. "

      "The sites are tucked into the trees, lots of great spots for your hammock! We stayed at a walk-in site, but were still close to a pit toilet and our car."

      from $26 - $100 / night

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      6. Shady Grove Campground

      4.4(25)23mi from Nelson96 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "The host at the front office gave us a different spot that would be easier access to our 40ft 5th wheel. The view is fantastic. We brought 2 dogs which they enjoyed the scenery."

      "They already had a site (#51) which was nice with a beautiful view over the lake. The site had a nice big area with fire pit, picnic table, grill and room for a big tent."

      from $20 - $240 / night

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      7. Diamond Lure Campground

      5.0(7)16mi from NelsonRVs, Tents

      "There are walking trails, a lake, a beach, and they even have things for dogs! (Dog bath, dog beach, dog park, ect). I'd recommend this place 1,000 times over!!!"

      "Nice quiet place & pet friendly too!"

      from $30 - $50 / night

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      8. Fort Mountain State Park Campground

      4.5(58)32mi from Nelson83 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Its usually a good bit cooler due to the elevation, and the private wooded campsites make tent camping in Georgia’s summer heat much more enjoyable. Good hiking and things to do nearby."

      "The campground is well situated in a mountain valley.  the sites are flat and easy to access.  The roads are a bit narrow but big enough if you take your time.  "

      from $14 - $55 / night

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      9. Victoria Campground

      4.5(15)21mi from Nelson74 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Lots of sites are waterfront or has access to the lake, that is a plus. The lake area is tranquil and quiet."

      "I was in town for a trail run and camped at Victoria Campground. When making reservations if you happen to hit on a weekend you are stuck reserving two nights. Also they have a 2 dog limit."

      from $24 - $34 / night

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      10. Bolding Mill

      4.4(21)24mi from Nelson97 sitesRVs, Tents

      "It was a little longer walk to the water and when a camper was next to us we couldn’t see the lake. We already have our reservations for 2025 in the site we wanted."

      "Our site was near access to walk-in camping (which did not turn out to be a problem since we set up facing the water) and a long walk to the bathroom, which was reasonably clean with hot shower but no"

      from $20 - $36 / night

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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Nelson, GA

    1549 Reviews of 201 Nelson Campgrounds


    • Michael H.
      Oct. 15, 2020

      Fort Mountain State Park Campground

      Great Campground

      We love camping at Fort Mountain. Its usually a good bit cooler due to the elevation, and the private wooded campsites make tent camping in Georgia’s summer heat much more enjoyable. Good hiking and things to do nearby.

    • Maethea R.
      Jul. 29, 2018

      Vogel State Park Campground

      Beautiful views

      This campground has a beautiful mountain view behind the lake. There is also a beautiful waterfall to hike to. They offer paddle boards, kayaks, peddleboats, and aqua cycles to rent for the lake. They also offer bike rentals and putt putt course. There is a general store in the visitor center. There are hiking trails for the extreme hikers too that go into the mountains on the Appalachian trail. The campsites are pretty close together, but we had a premier spot that was larger and a pull-through. The bathrooms were clean, but old and dated. This is one of the oldest campgrounds in the state. They offer cottages and cabins for rent. There was a dog parking loud constantly that was so annoying. We have dogs and many people camping there did, but our dogs don’t bark constantly. I would say this isn’t the campgrounds fault, but this irresponsible pet owner was literally between two campground hosts. Had it continued late at night past 10pm we would have had to call someone. It’s hard to relax by the fire with a dog barking constantly. The campground needs to add more signage. People are driving around looking lost. Here’s the problem ... if you have an RV or camper and park in the RV spaces when you pull out on the far end to the right you cannot see the directional signs. We pulled to the right and it was a dead end at the cottages. It was very stressful trying to the turn around hauling a camper. People in the cottages told us we weren’t the only ones to pull down there and have to turn around. Lots of cars were turning around down there, but with a camper it’s a nightmare. I paid extra for a pullthrough only to deal with that nonsense at the start. I suggest adding a sign at the far right exit of parking lot that has directions. Add another sign that says “Cabins only - Dead End”. If our camper had been an inch longer we couldn’t have turned around. Not impressed by the swimming area at the beach.

    • Ted N.The Dyrt PRO User
      May. 15, 2023

      411 River Rest Campground

      Great Facilities

      Campground is next to SR 411. Excellent facilities and staff. We stayed for 3 days and had an enjoyable time. Fished in the pond played corn hole. Ran our dogs every day at the dog park. Will definitely head up there again

    • Corey G.
      May. 20, 2023

      Diamond Lure Campground

      Awesome Campground

      This Campground is amazing. The woman in the office is so nice and very helpful. They have workers escort you to your site to make sure everything is OK. The man who escorted us was very nice, and made sure we knew where everything was (even after being told at the office). I loved that. The grounds are super clean. There are walking trails, a lake, a beach, and they even have things for dogs! (Dog bath, dog beach, dog park, ect). I'd recommend this place 1,000 times over!!!

    • K
      Feb. 27, 2022

      Cedar Break RV Park

      Needs renovation

      Great for an overnight stop while traveling.
      Not so great for a fun weekend.
      No firepits or tables at many of the sites.
      Bathroom seriously dated.

      Dog park looked clean, if small. Playground had some "old school" equipment great for older kids.

    • c
      Jun. 28, 2025

      411 River Rest Campground

      Nice Rv/tent campground

      This is a great place to camp, we enjoy staying here they also have some tent sites, wifi is a bit spotty which is to be expected since everyone is trying to use it so either use your hotspot or a mobile internet provider and you will be fine, dog park was well kept, playground has plenty of options for the little ones, the splash pad was a hit for our little ones as they enjoyed it, check in was a breeze as the office folks are very informative as to the surrounding place’s you can visit all really at a relatively short drive…your close to your neighbor but not to close “if that makes since”….will definitely stay here again

    • T
      Jul. 9, 2021

      Riverside

      Below average camping...

      I would not recommend this place as a goto camp. The Yellow River floods into the park during high rain periods, park gives no warning till they are getting water into the park, then it is a knock on the door to get out of the park if they have no openings in high ground area. Lots of wild cats in park, but no vermin there. Many ex-cons in the park, all kinds of history in them....woof. They try to keep it in good shape, but a lot of trash offender, litters adults as well as kids, people not picking up behind their pets. 

      Over all not the worst, but surely not close to good either. Only stayed a month just had to go.

    • L&A C.
      May. 18, 2024

      Hiawassee Georgia KOA

      Love this KOA

      Great mountain Thanksgiving vacay! Lots of area attractions and lots of activities at the KOA for our granddaughter! 2 playgrounds, mini golf, pillow pad, paddle boats, game room. Nice little dog park with mutt mitts, and staff friendly and helpful. Picnic table at each site, we were by the lake, but would have chosen near pillow-pad if available as those spots were better spaced. Nice store and clean facilities even though we didn’t use.

    • DeWayne H.
      Apr. 12, 2019

      Stone Mountain Park Campground

      So close to me and I love it.

      Lived in Georgia my whole life and yet my first time to Stone Mountain was literally three years ago. Now we have an annual pass and go all the time. This place is world renowned for its fireworks and laser show but you have to go off the pavement to truly fall in love with Stone Mountain! This place is great for everyone. I mean everyone, from free runners to hikers and all you folk that like to “camp” in your RVs. Visit this place anytime of year and you will not be disappointed. Apparently it’s rated #1 as the best place to camp in Georgia. I’m more into the nature only kind of camping but that’s not everyone’s cup a tea. Stone Mountain has something for everyone.


    Guide to Nelson

    Camping options near Nelson, Georgia sit within the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at elevations ranging from 700 to 1,500 feet. The area receives approximately 55 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush forest conditions and numerous water features. Several campgrounds operate on a seasonal basis with peak visitation from March through October when temperatures average 65-85°F during the day.

    What to do

    Hiking to historic structures: Fort Mountain State Park Campground features trails leading to a mysterious 855-foot-long rock wall believed to be over 1,000 years old. "The fire tower is a vision..To think that young men came and worked and set every stone step you walk on to get to see the tower is an amazing feat of engineering," notes camper Elaine G.

    Fishing in mountain lakes: Doll Mountain Campground provides direct access to Carters Lake, the deepest lake in Georgia at 450 feet. "Located on a peninsula, you have access to the lake from almost all campsites. Some sites are on a hill so the walk to the water can be challenging," reports Carissa D.

    Wildlife observation: Red Top Mountain State Park Campground offers opportunities to spot deer, various bird species, and small mammals. "There is plenty of wildlife around. The water is nice and cool. Perfect lake to boat and fish on," writes Tracy L.

    What campers like

    Lake proximity: Bald Ridge Creek provides numerous lakeside camping spots with water access. "Almost all the campsites have the best lake views and you can do pretty much anything on the lake! Great place for the whole family!" shares Bethany M.

    Swimming beaches: Many visitors appreciate the designated swimming areas at Sweetwater Campground. "Sweetwater is a nice park with a Beach. We camped right next to the beach and the kids loved it. Beautiful place," mentions Rodney G.

    Accessibility for disabilities: Bolding Mill has been noted for its accessible features. "We were able to hike and boat and explore with no issues for me. The showers and restrooms were easy to navigate around. This was a quiet gem," writes Kathy C., who is blind.

    What you should know

    Steep terrain challenges: Several campgrounds in the area have significant elevation changes. At Fort Mountain State Park Campground, "Remember, there are a lot of hills here so expect this when walking to bathouses from most campsites."

    Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly throughout the region. "We had inconsistent cell coverage even with a Winegard booster with AT&T and Verizon. Mornings were best reception and evening were not so good," a camper reports about Fort Mountain.

    Pet restrictions: While most are dog friendly campgrounds near Nelson, specific rules apply. At Diamond Lure Campground, "They have workers escort you to your site to make sure everything is OK... They even have things for dogs! (Dog bath, dog beach, dog park, etc)," notes Corey G.

    Tips for camping with families

    Lakefront sites require planning: For optimal water views at Victoria Campground, reservations well in advance are necessary. "We stayed at this campground on the lake while coaching a tournament in Atlanta. The spaces were spread out with plenty of shade and canopy cover," shares Nate H.

    Beach activities: Sweetwater Campground offers a popular swimming area. "This is a must for our family at least once a year. We love the water. We also love the historical trails that lead to the old civil war mill. It's a great hike," recommends Elaine G.

    Wildlife education opportunities: Kids often enjoy the diverse insect and animal species. "My teens loved it. They found all kinds of insects they had never seen even a Luna moth," reports Traci C. about her family's experience at Amicalola Falls.

    Tips from RVers

    Site selection considerations: RV campers should check site details carefully before booking. "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," warns Soren B. about Amicalola Falls State Park Camping.

    Narrow campground roads: Some campgrounds have challenging access routes. "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," cautions Brock D. about Red Top Mountain.

    Dump station availability: Most pet-friendly campgrounds near Nelson offer dump stations, but they can become congested. "Single dump station tends to line up on Sunday but I suppose that's part of the deal," notes a camper at Bolding Mill.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Nelson, GA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Nelson, GA is Amicalola Falls State Park Camping with a 4.7-star rating from 60 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Nelson, GA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 201 dog-friendly camping locations near Nelson, GA, with real photos and reviews from campers.