The geography around Porterdale provides unique glamping experiences with the moderate Georgia climate allowing for camping opportunities throughout most of the year. Average temperatures range from 50-90°F depending on season, with glamping accommodations positioned near water features and wooded areas. Visitors can expect a mix of piedmont terrain with rolling hills, creek systems, and lake access at multiple locations.
What to do
Hiking to historic ruins: At Sweetwater Creek State Park, trails lead to the Manchester Mill ruins along the creek. "The hiking is a mixture of trails and old gravel roads. There is a large loop to see everything that is intersected by shorter cross trails. Very busy down near the ruins, but worth the hike to see the area," notes reviewer Shelly S.
Kayaking by moonlight: Hard Labor Creek State Park offers specialized evening kayak programs. "You can rent kayaks and kayak in the lake. They offered a kayak by moonlight group tour that was fun," reports Maethea R., providing a unique nighttime water experience.
Mini golf and recreation: Several parks provide family recreation beyond hiking. "HLC features hiking trails, mini golf, newly 'renovated' campsites that include two BRAND new bathhouses. The comfort stations have restrooms/showers, as well as two family restroom/shower facilities," explains George & Patty C. about their Hard Labor Creek experience.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The natural areas support diverse wildlife. "Deer walking through the site. Good water views and hiking. Mountain biking a few miles down the road," notes Christina at Hard Labor Creek State Park, highlighting the common wildlife encounters.
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Stone Mountain Park Campground offers well-designed campsites. "We camped with my parents in the RV section of the campground, it was beautifully wooded and offered plenty of space/privacy from other campsites and was still a short walk from the bathhouse. Also had a little view of a lake down below," shares Dalhya L.
Lake access and fishing: Dames Ferry State Park provides waterfront camping options. "Beautiful view of the lake. Clean bathhouse. Site is partially fenced and the pad is level. Very friendly host. Firepit down by the lake. Easy to get kayaks into the water," says Chad F., noting the amenities.
Trail access from sites: Campers appreciate how some glamping locations connect directly to trail systems. "We were at site # 2 (full hook up) and there was plenty of room to stretch out! We stayed in our 26' travel trailer. We were able to walk off of the back of our site and onto the trail system, which is perfect because we are avid hikers," shares George & Patty C.
Clean, updated facilities: Bathhouses receive consistent praise. "The bathrooms and showers were among the cleanest I've seen on the road and the hiking was really great. Not busy at all in the early AM," reports Tyler B. about his experience at Sweetwater Creek.
What you should know
Seasonal popularity affects experience: Fort Yargo State Park sees significant variation between weekday and weekend visits. "Have waited six months into our RV life to start reviews for fair comparisons. Spent 7 nights. The weekend nights were so crowded with cars spilling into the camp roads, loads of large groups at each site. Felt very claustrophobic. On weekdays the park became a lovely ghost town," explains Christina.
Alcohol regulations vary: Some locations strictly enforce no-alcohol policies. At Shady Grove Campground, a reviewer notes: "There is a strict no alcohol policy in the campground and it is made very clear by signage in the park."
Site-specific reservations: Hard Labor Creek has transitioned to site-specific reservations. George & Patty C. explain: "HLC swapped over to 'site-specific' reservations..meaning that you must choose a particular site when reserving. This is VERY useful if you're familiar with the campground and have a favorite site but it can be a shot in the dark if you're not familiar with the campground."
Water quality considerations: At some locations, water quality may be a concern. "I'm not sure about the quality of the water. There is a GA Power plant close by and I read an article about possible contamination from the smoke stacks. Do your research," advises Chad F. regarding Dames Ferry.
Tips for camping with families
Playground accessibility: High Falls State Park offers family-friendly amenities. "This campground is great if you have kids. The playground is centrally located. Trails are easy to get to and the falls are a nice sight," explains Bille W., highlighting the convenient layout.
Water safety awareness: Some parks have water hazards to note. "There is a putt putt (mini golf) course. You can rent kayaks and kayak in the lake. The bathrooms are very clean. We had a huge nice site with lots of room for the pups to be on the tether," says Maethea R. about Hard Labor Creek, while another reviewer at High Falls notes, "do not swim in falls - dangerous."
Transportation options: Stone Mountain provides convenient ways to move around with families. "There's all kind of activities for the kids. They have free transportation within the park/campground area. Helpful staff too," says Harvey B.
Varied accommodation options: For families not ready for tent camping, options range from cabins to glamping close to Porterdale, Georgia. "If you like low cut socks to prevent tan lines or need a high calf sock to fit in your tall boots, they have those too," mentions a reviewer discussing the various comfort considerations.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: At Stone Mountain, certain sections offer better RV accommodations. "The sites are close but they are not difficult to enter. We were there last month and they were renovating and updating areas but this did not impede any traffic or fun," notes Harvey B.
Leveling requirements: High Falls presents some challenges. "Very nice wooded campground on Lake Lanier, very spacious sites, many on the lake. Water and electric with a dump station. Dump station very easy to get into. Only reason for the 4 stars is our site was not level, took some work to level our rig," reports 5Dudes about their experience.
GPS routing caution: Hard Labor Creek requires attention to navigation. "Be careful and follow the Campground signs and not your GPS because you might come in a different way and have to navigate an overpass that, for some rigs, is too short! Comfort stations are clean and sites are nice!" warns Debbie K.
Road noise considerations: Campgrounds near major roads may experience noise issues. "The road noise in the far loop is horrible, all night long!! I didn't realize it was so close to the road! There are 18 wheelers for the nearby rock plant that run at all hours and they are loud!!" shares Jenny P. about Dames Ferry.
