9 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Amicalola Falls State Park houses upscale glamping accommodations just outside Ball Ground in the North Georgia mountains. Spacious yurts and glamping-style canvas tents provide the perfect blend of rustic charm and modern comfort. The glamping units feature electricity, comfortable beds with clean linens, heating and cooling options, and proximity to clean bathhouse facilities. Red Top Mountain State Park, about 30 minutes southwest, offers similar boutique camping experiences with yurts that include furnished interiors, private decks, and climate control systems. Under The Hemlock Campground provides glamping cabins with electrical hookups and access to hot showers. Each glamping site includes a fire pit, picnic table, and grill for outdoor relaxation. One guest shared, "Clean showers, personable host with small store, spots for campers, tents and even a few rental cabins. Fantastic spot out of the crowds but less than a mile from Amicalola Falls."
Proximity to Amicalola Falls creates exceptional outdoor experiences for glamping guests. The 729-foot cascading waterfall, the tallest in Georgia, provides a dramatic backdrop for morning hikes directly from several glamping sites. Stone Mountain Park Campground, within an hour's drive, combines glamping accommodations with boating access and multiple hiking trails. Safari-style canvas tent options at select locations include private porches for wildlife viewing and stargazing. Fort Mountain State Park glamping units provide access to mountain trails, fishing spots, and scenic overlooks. Visitors frequently mention the perfect balance of outdoor adventure and comfortable accommodations. According to a camper, "This campground has everything you need. The tent pads are new with nice and level gravel. The facilities are great and the camp host was helpful, even during the cold winter months we were there. You cannot beat all this being next to one of the largest cascading waterfalls on the east coast."
"There are only about 24 sites, some cabins, and some new glamping tents. There is a bathhouse with individual showers. You are fairly close to the lodge. You are also right at the falls."
"We arrived just before sunset & we were in a rush to set up before it started to pour."
"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!"
"I stayed at the walk- in campsites with waterfront view and access to walk down to the water. There is no electric at site and water didn’t work."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $40 - $315 / night
"Nice view of lake when site across the lane isn't occupied. Restrooms/ showers cleaned and relatively maintained (1 shower curtain missing) , debris free paved lanes to all sites."
"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!)"
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $26 - $36 / night
"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."
"Each camping spot has a decent amount of room including a fire pit, grill, and picnic table. Spots are slightly uneven. There is easy access to the boat ramp and lake beach. The bathrooms are clean."
from $20 - $240 / night
"We have traveled across the country a few times in the last year and are always looking for a good place to stay near Atlanta. We've found it!"
"This is a very newbie-friendly park on a pretty lake. The attendants were great and responsive. The spaces are well-equipped. My spot was 38 and had a brand new huge picnic table."
from $30 - $34 / night
"The views of the lake, and, yes, the mountain are gorgeous. There is a nice spacious check-in store. Your trash is picked up constantly from your site."
"Campgrounds are different sizes and we got a smaller one with a spigot, outlet, picnic table and a grill. We did not have a fire pit. Bathrooms/showers are close and it’s a great park."
from $44 - $65 / night
"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 sites in campground 1 are spaced apart, large, shaded and close to bath house."
Available next weekend
from $14 - $55 / night
"Each site has electric, water, grill, and fire pit. They have a great little store where you can get snacks, ice cream, hot dogs and more."
"Less than a mile from Amicalola Falls/hiking, quiet camp spots and clean bath houses."
"Site 29 is on the peninsula, near the end. It is caddy corner from the beach swimming area and very close walking distance. You cannot see the site from the beach area or vice versa."
"Bathhouse was clean, has 2 showers available. The lake is clear and scenery is awesome. If you have a boat, there is a boat dock and several of the sites you can tie your boat up right next to them."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $50 / night
"bathroom! "
"Everything from the drive up the windy roads and hairpin turns to the campsites being located close to some awesome trail heads. especially the trail to Blood Mountain."
Available next weekend
from $30 - $290 / night
ScoutA great find to hang your hat for the evening. New owners look like they are doing amazing up grades. Our site 57 didn’t have a picnic table or fire ring but I’m sure they are working on it. Fairly quite and we would for sure come back and give it a 5 star when their done on the remodel.
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.
TravelerWay too many rules to have to abide by. It’s not a day use area, so you HAVE to camp over night or else they threaten to ban you from all FoCo campsites. Normally not a big deal, but there was supposed to be rain during our visit and that had me paranoid. We camped out, the rain held off, it was nice. Then day 2, I wasn’t feeling it anymore, but I didn’t want to be banned from camping 🙄 so we stayed the night and packed up at 5:45am the next day. No coffee or chilling. I just wanted to get out of there! I love camping out in the wilderness…no rules, no stress, no people, no RVs. Just nature.
GuideVery large dispersed campsites along the White Oak Gap Road. Very rugged road, AWD recommended but possible in some smaller vehicles. Creek crossings in some areas. Access to Dukes Creek Trail and Raven Cliffs Trail towards bottom of road. Vault toilets near trailheads. Great for large groups, our party slept 8 tents and several hammocks and there was still plenty of space.
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. 🏕️🥾
GuideHopefully they open it up soon but we drove about an hour to get here just for it to be closed. The whole road seems to be closed for the time being for road work. I hope this helps someone!.
The 5-8 miles up to this area do seem a little sketchy but we were hoping the actually site would be nice and hopefully it will be after the work they are doing right now.
GuideCampsite was the perfect lake front spot for our dog’s last camping adventure with us. The resort felt super safe for 2 females traveling with their dog and all campsites and bathrooms were super clean.
GuideBeautiful views from the trails. I went during the summer in July so it was on the busier side. There is a lake with a beach with boat and paddle board rentals. Seemed like a great spot to fish. Prepare for possibilities of bears as they were around. One night I must have not fully secured my bear box and a bear found my cooler. I tent camped on a pad where I can find some service (T-Mobile) but most spots are spotty. Next time I come, I want to try the back country locations. Trails are awesome with a cool story about the place around the tower and fortification. Attendants at the camp store were really nice. If groceries are needed there is grocery stores in the nearest town of Chatsworth down the mountain
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.
Camping opportunities near Ball Ground, Georgia stretch throughout the Blue Ridge foothills at elevations ranging from 1,100 to 2,500 feet. This transitional zone between Piedmont and mountain ecosystems creates diverse camping conditions with temperature swings of 15-20 degrees between day and night, even in summer months. Winter campers should prepare for overnight temperatures that can drop below freezing from December through February.
Hiking at Woodring Campground: Access several trails directly from campsites with minimal elevation gain for beginners. "The sunset view from there is very nice. There's benches!" reports Rogue Y., who adds, "This lake has heavy boat traffic, lots of fisherman and jet skies. During the week, it's quite."
Kayaking at Bald Ridge Creek: Launch directly from lakefront sites without needing to transport equipment. "Nearly every site is on the Lake, with access to the water. The sites are very well maintained," explains Pam, adding, "We come here often, as it's only a 35 minute drive from home!"
Wildlife viewing at Fort Mountain State Park: Observe deer, small mammals and occasional bears from campsites. "We had bear visitors, something they'll warn you about upon arrival. The bears just added to the appeal of this place though," shares Shelly C., who notes "The views here? Amazing. Camping? Amazing! The trails are great, and everything feels spread out."
Lakefront accessibility: Many sites at Bald Ridge Creek offer direct water access. "This is the best campground on Lake Lanier. Nearly every site is on the Lake, with access to the water," explains a camper who visits frequently due to its convenient location just 35 minutes from home.
Family-friendly facilities: Playgrounds, swimming areas, and organized activities at Shady Grove Campground accommodate children of all ages. "There is a nice playground that is walking distance from our favorite camp sites that the kids really love," explains Chris H., though he cautions, "There is a strict no alcohol policy in the campground and it is made very clear by signage in the park."
Abundant wildlife viewing: Vogel State Park offers frequent wildlife encounters, especially early morning and evening. "Several creeks meander through the campground, notably Burnett Branch, Wolf Creek...so the rushing water noise is both soothing and assists in drowning out neighborly conversations," shares Dave V., who adds that despite being busy, "this immediate area boasts numerous worthy falls."
Alcohol policies vary significantly: Some parks strictly enforce no-alcohol rules with fines. At Shady Grove, Rick B. warns, "Ranger pulls up and gave us both tickets. We had a mandatory court appearance, turns out each ticket is $280.00. No warning."
Reservation requirements: McKinney Campground and most state parks fill quickly during peak season (April-October). "We LOVE McKinney Campground. Stayed multiple times," says Imagine C., who recommends checking multiple campground options when planning trips.
Noise considerations: Highway and boat traffic affects some campgrounds more than others. At Vogel State Park, a camper notes, "From about 4am to 10pm you hear the constant traffic on the nearby highway...the air brakes of the trucks and the whine of all the motorcycle riders who love these curvy roads."
Platform camping options: For families wanting glamping close to Ball Ground, Georgia without the full expense, Stone Mountain Park offers unique accommodations. "The campground offers everything you would ever need. There are tons of things to do from Golf, hiking, zoo, laser show, food and you can hike the mountain or take a ride to the top," explains Holly B.
Multi-activity parks: Look for campgrounds with built-in entertainment for children. "There's all kind of activities for the kids. They have free transportation within the park/campground area. Helpful staff too," shares Harvey B., who found Stone Mountain Park ideal despite sites being relatively close together.
Beach access for kids: Several sites at Carter Lake provide safe swimming areas with gradual entry points. "We enjoyed the campground with the lake/beach area for the kids to swim. Very relaxing and the sites had some room to run around," says Natalie A. about Woodring Campground.
Site selection challenges: Many campgrounds in the area have uneven sites requiring careful leveling. At Red Top Mountain State Park, Brock D. cautions, "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."
Access road considerations: Several mountain campgrounds feature steep entry roads with tight turns. "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, adding that "The bend halfway into the campground would be extremely difficult with much bigger than 27' camper."
Full hookup availability: Limited sewer connections are available at select sites, typically requiring advance booking. "All sites have water and electric. A few have full hook ups. Sites are large and well placed," notes Susan H. about McKinney Campground, which remains popular with RVers seeking lakefront access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Ball Ground, GA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Ball Ground, GA is Amicalola Falls State Park Camping with a 4.7-star rating from 61 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Ball Ground, GA?
TheDyrt.com has all 62 glamping camping locations near Ball Ground, GA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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