Franklin D Roosevelt State Park Campground provides extensive camping options beyond glamping, with multiple campground areas spread across 9,049 acres of Georgia woodland. Located at 2,000 feet elevation in Pine Mountain Valley, the area features rolling hills and moderate temperatures that average 15 degrees cooler than surrounding regions. The park includes five distinct campgrounds with sites ranging from primitive to full-hookup, and can accommodate tents, pop-ups, and RVs up to 40 feet in length.
What to do
Hiking exploration: 42 miles of trails connect through mature hardwood forests with moderate elevation changes. Trails range from the quarter-mile accessible Spring Trail to the challenging 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail. "First time I came here, I was about 12 years old. I returned when I bought my first camper at 34 years old and wanted to test it out for the first time. 3rd time, I brought my wife to show this amazing place. Great camping spots with lots of trees and a creek running through. Many gorgeous hiking trails, several starting from the camping area," notes a camper at Franklin D Roosevelt State Park Campground.
Family scavenger hunts: Park-organized activities occur regularly for children, particularly during summer months. "My four kids and I had a blast at FDR state park. They have a lot of stuff to do there. We fished and swam, they also had a scavenger hunt that you kids loved doing," reports a visitor to Franklin D Roosevelt State Park.
Water recreation: Multiple options for getting on the water include renting canoes, paddle boats, and kayaks from the trading post ($15-25 per hour). "We were on site 213 and 214. Beautiful wooded site lots of space between sites in this loop. Very short walk to lake. Loop 1 sites are lake front and lake view but more close together than we like... Lots of hiking trails, pool, can rent canoes and paddle boats on the lake," explains a camper at Chattahoochee Bend State Park Campground.
What campers like
Clean, accessible facilities: Bathrooms and shower houses receive regular maintenance with multiple cleaning cycles throughout the day. "Each site has a dirt or gravel pad, water and electricity hookups and are all situated within walking distance of a bathroom. There is also a centralised trading Post in the camp, separate from the main office. The bathrooms are all spotless and each area has a camp host constantly cleaning," reports a visitor to Franklin D Roosevelt State Park Campground.
Diverse accommodation options: Beyond glamping, the area offers traditional camping with varying levels of privacy and access. "The campground is developed and maintained by the Corp of Engineers, so everything is well designed and maintained. The lots are hugh. most are on the water. Some sites are so private you'd think you are alone. The park is spread out so that each loop is so far from the others you can't hear or see them," explains a camper at Amity Campground.
Pool and water recreation amenities: Several campgrounds offer swimming facilities beyond lake access. "We stayed here overnight on the way to Fl and wished we could have stayed here longer. The campground is very clean and has a great pool area. The pool area has a kids pool and hot tub along with the regular inground pool," notes a visitor to Pine Mountain RV Resort.
What you should know
Limited winter services: Some campground areas close seasonally or offer reduced amenities from November through March. "Water and power year round even in winter. Some spots are a little closer than others but most have woods in between so they are somewhat private. The lake is down right now because they are repairing the dam so it was fun to walk along the banks," reports a camper at R. Shaefer Heard Campground.
Gate access restrictions: Several campgrounds implement overnight lockdown policies for security. "Beware: the gate is locked shut from 10 PM to 8 AM, no exceptions unless the elderly host personally deems your emergency worthy. Installing a simple keypad would save everyone time and dignity," notes a visitor to R. Shaefer Heard Campground.
Limited cell service: Coverage varies significantly by carrier and campground location. "Verizon LTE is one tiny bar, but webpages and videos load, albeit slow," explains a camper at Blanton Creek Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Request sites near recreational facilities when traveling with children. "We camped in campground 5 and from where our site was we could see the playground and also let our kids ride there bikes around the circle that the camp sites where on. We will be visiting FDR again soon," recommends a visitor to Franklin D Roosevelt State Park.
Multiple water features: Several campgrounds offer a range of swimming options, from lakes to pools to splash pads. "They have a really nice and well maintained pool, hot tub, and splash area for small kids. The RV sites near the pool are concrete pads and well spaced out," explains a camper at Pine Mountain RV Resort.
Wildlife observation opportunities: Camping areas provide frequent animal sightings for young nature enthusiasts. "We saw all types of wild life, deer, boar, and a variety of birds," reports a visitor to Military Park Fort Benning Uchee Creek Army Campground and Marina.
Tips from RVers
Uneven sites at some locations: Bring leveling blocks for many of the older campgrounds. "Sites pretty level and gravel. Concrete picnic table, fire ring and light pole with lots of room fir our dogs," notes a camper at Franklin D Roosevelt State Park.
Power limitations: Some sites have inadequate electrical capacity for multiple appliances. "30 amp circuit was not adequate. The breaker continually tripped while using small kitchen appliances," reports a visitor to Pine Mountain RV Resort.
Reserve specific sites: Request sites by number after researching campground layouts. "Chewacla was a favorite to visit for a few hours a a local college student and now it's an excellent location to take the family on an RV trip. Many of the sites back up into the woods for shade and a hint of privacy with plenty of space to setup outside. We are staying in the second loop and really like our site. The sites near us (28-33) all look great for space," recommends a camper at Chewacla State Park Campground.
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