B
Bert S.
Traveler
TravelerShoal Creek Campground
It is a beautiful campground and very friendly. The sites are spacious and it is was a great time with my family and my truck camper.
Tent Camping near Bishop, GA
1 campground with availability next weekend
Search destinations
Add dates
Tent campers exploring the Bishop, Georgia area can find multiple options at nearby locations within a 30-mile radius. James Shackleford Memorial Park offers tent camping with established sites that provide drinking water, picnic tables and fire rings. For more primitive experiences, Ocmulgee River Camp provides dispersed tent camping opportunities with minimal amenities and natural surroundings about an hour's drive south.
Most tent sites in the region feature basic accommodations with varying levels of development. At James Shackleford Memorial Park, campers have access to showers and toilets, while sites at Panola Mountain State Park Campground provide electric hookups suitable for tent campers needing power. The dispersed sites at Ocmulgee River Camp lack facilities entirely, requiring self-sufficiency. One camper noted that at Ocmulgee River Camp, the access road is "a bit bumpy but manageable" and the site offers "plenty of spots for camping" about a mile from the main road. Seasonal considerations include summer heat and humidity, particularly at riverside locations where bugs can be prevalent.
The tent camping experience near Bishop provides opportunities for both developed and primitive stays. Campers seeking more isolation often prefer the dispersed sites at Ocmulgee River Camp, where reviews describe "quiet and peaceful" conditions with "great amount of space to find a nice spot." Sites with more amenities like Laurel Park provide concrete pads with nearby bathroom facilities, which some tent campers appreciate for convenience. Tyler Hunt Camp offers a middle ground, described by a visitor as "a refuge" that's "quiet, super dark at night and beautiful" despite having no amenities. When planning backcountry tent camping trips, visitors should prepare for potentially challenging conditions including limited cell service at some locations and the need to pack out all trash and supplies.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Bishop (10)
1. James Shackleford Memorial Park
"Not much to say about it pretty much all the sites around the lake area the same in Hall county Gwinnett it was very peaceful nice people was able to find plenty of outdoor stuff to do hope other people"
2. Panola Mountain State Park Campground
"We did an overnighter to check this out after doing a separate hike on the primary trails from the other side of the park in the morning. "
"Camped overnight on a primitive site"
1 Site AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $125 / night
3. Ocmulgee River Camp
"Beautiful campsite, just a few neighbors, tons of flat space and a few fire pits. There are hunters around and we heard a good deal of shots. Saw some deer on a walk."
"Very nice a bit bumpy on the drive in but no major holes. Quiet and peaceful 2 neighbors great amount of space to find a nice spot."
4. Laurel Park
"It has a splash pad that’s operating from late spring through summer. It has plenty of access to lake Lanier, and plenty of room for grilling out."
5. Bell Acres Nudist Resort
6. Tyler Hunt Camp
"There are privately owned homes around but the folks keep to themselves. It's quiet, super dark at night and beautiful. No amenities, you pack it in, you pack it out."
7. The Washington Grass Inn
Check Availabilityfrom $50 / night
8. Buford Dam Park Shelters (GA)
"This is a nice place to just come and stroll around for a bit. Parking is close to the street and paths go down to the lakeside."
"Wonderful walks, good fishing most of the year. Can be heavily used at times."
9. Sunset Campground
10. Herb'n Soul Sanctuary
Drive Time
- 11 min from Athens, GA
- 57 min from Gainesville, GA
- 1 hr 10 min from Atlanta, GA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Bishop, GA
2 Photos of 10 Bishop Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Bishop, GA
589 Reviews of 10 Bishop Campgrounds
- j
james F.
ScoutShoal Creek Campground
I love this run down old campground. They are slowly fixing up the amenities, but the sites probably haven’t been fixed up in decades. That’s honestly the charm of itv
- TTed H.
GuideHard Labor Creek State Park Campground
We went over the Halloween weekend. What great fun. Lots of events for families and kids. Even us retired people got into the spirit! Sites were well maintained with space between sites. Bathrooms were clean all the time. Cell service was at best 2 bars on all networks. But that’s okay. Fall colors were abundant. If you had a small boat, canoe or kayak the lake is perfect for fishing or just enjoying. The only drawback was some road noise from Fairplay road. Otherwise I can’t say enough of how much we liked this park. Site 16 October.
Lorilee S.
LegendIndian Springs State Park Campground
This was our first trip here and it was beautiful! We loved biking all over the park. We loved sitting by the falls. Would’ve loved to go in the museum, but it wasn’t open when we were there (very limited days/hours).
-Camp hosts were absolutely wonderful! They were a pleasure to talk with. The friendliest group ever!!
-Bath house was extremely clean.
-We stayed in the newer section.
-Definitely make your way to the Stone Pavilion and sample the natural artesian spring water. It’s not something I’d want a lot, but when in Rome…🤣
- JJerryTraveler
Stone Mountain Park Campground
Welcome 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.
Amanda T.TravelerBald Ridge Creek
Not ideal for the primitive camper …
Way 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.
Mark 'Tony' Z.TravelerWar Hill Park
Reservation Page Worthless
The webpage is hokey 1990s vintage, can’t handle multi-day reservations. I gave up out of frustration.
Taylor H.
RangerFort Yargo State Park Campground
Lakefront Overlook
We 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.
bridget I.ScoutBolding Mill
Site 27
This is our favorite lake Lanier campground. Our family loves to visit here a few times a year. I wish they would build the pier back and put some tlc into the bathrooms. Advice, don’t plan to arrive at closing. You’ll be greeted rudely by the gate house workers. I missed their call due to it being “potential spam” and well trying to get on the road. If you’re going to arrive after 6:30 call ahead bc I guess there’s not an after hours come through the gate and finish checking in the next day option. It’s 2026. Do you really need me to show ID and harass me for my tag number? This can all be uploaded online, right? Text? The check in for the army corp of engineer sites could use improvement. Then perhaps you wouldn’t have to employee as many people who are obviously unhappy with their job.
Guide to Bishop
Tent campsites near Bishop, Georgia are situated in a transition zone between the Georgia Piedmont and the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The region experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures frequently exceeding 90°F from June through August, and mild winters with occasional freezing temperatures. Camping areas range from elevation levels of approximately 700 to 1,200 feet above sea level, creating varied terrain and weather patterns throughout the area.
What to do
Explore hiking trails: At Panola Mountain State Park Campground, visitors can access multiple trail systems. Michael T. notes, "We did an overnighter to check this out after doing a separate hike on the primary trails from the other side of the park in the morning." The park features ranger-led hikes to protected areas not accessible without guides.
Fishing opportunities: Laurel Park offers lake access for anglers. According to Josh D., "It has plenty of access to lake Lanier, and plenty of room for grilling out." The park maintains several shoreline fishing areas and a boat launch for accessing deeper waters.
Wildlife observation: Tyler Hunt Camp provides natural spaces for spotting local wildlife. One camper reports, "Saw some deer on a walk. It was quite hot but surprisingly not that buggy." The camp borders conservation areas where deer and various bird species are commonly spotted.
What campers like
Dark skies for stargazing: Tyler Hunt Camp offers exceptional night sky viewing. LeeAnne T. describes it as "super dark at night and beautiful." The area has minimal light pollution compared to other camping areas closer to Athens or Atlanta.
Peace and seclusion: Many campers value the quiet setting at Ocmulgee River Camp. A visitor states, "Quiet and peaceful 2 neighbors great amount of space to find a nice spot." The dispersed camping area spreads across several acres, allowing campers to find isolated spots.
Water recreation: The concrete pads at Laurel Park provide stable tent setups near water features. Gianni E. mentions the "Amazing sunsets and much fun" available at this location. During summer months, Josh D. notes, "It has a splash pad that's operating from late spring through summer."
What you should know
Access road conditions: Some camping areas have challenging approach roads. At Ocmulgee River Camp, Michael S. explains the location is "Only a mile off the road, which is a little bumpy but manageable." Four-wheel drive is not required but clearance should be considered after heavy rains.
Limited facilities: Most dispersed sites require complete self-sufficiency. Buford Dam Park Shelters has seasonal limitations, with Ginny noting, "The bathrooms were locked when we went so make sure you keep that in mind when coming here. There is not a convenience store for miles, the nearest is 20-30 mins drive away."
Seasonal considerations: Winter camping offers fewer crowds but requires preparation. Greg D. shares about Ocmulgee River Camp in January: "Open spaces and very quiet this time of the year (January) train horn in the distance and gunshots in the distance as well from hunters here and there."
Tips for camping with families
Water play options: For families seeking relief from summer heat, Laurel Park offers structured water recreation. Josh D. mentions, "It has a splash pad that's operating from late spring through summer." The splash pad operates from 10am to 7pm during peak season.
Safety considerations: Be aware of hunting seasons when camping with children. Julie H. notes about Ocmulgee River Camp, "There are hunters around and we heard a good deal of shots." Check Georgia DNR hunting calendars before planning trips during fall and winter months.
Educational opportunities: Panola Mountain State Park Campground offers learning experiences for children. Holly B. shares, "We took the guided tour of the Mountain and it was awesome. We ate Pine Trees and they explained about likenand the red fungus. Highly recommended." These ranger-led programs typically run weekends from March through October.
Tips from RVers
Site surface considerations: RVers should note that some tent sites have hard surfaces. At Laurel Park, Vivian T. shares, "The campground was on cemented floor, which we did not realize till we got there." These concrete pads measure approximately 10x12 feet and require appropriate tent stakes or weights.
Limited hookup options: Many camping areas near Bishop offer minimal RV amenities. James Shackleford Memorial Park provides basic services but Neil R. notes simply that "pretty much all the sites around the lake area the same in Hall county Gwinnett." Most sites offer water access but limited or no electric hookups.
Security awareness: When camping in remote areas, maintain situational awareness. At Tyler Hunt Camp, Micah C. cautions, "I enjoyed my stay here during the day, but things changed after dark... As night fell, I began preparing for bed, but I noticed vehicles coming and going—at least three within an hour." Plan to arrive during daylight hours for better site selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Bishop, GA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Bishop, GA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Bishop, GA is James Shackleford Memorial Park with a 4-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Bishop, GA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Bishop, GA?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Bishop, GA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring