Cabin rentals near Rydal, Georgia provide access to Lake Allatoona and the surrounding foothills of the Appalachian Mountains at elevations between 800-1,000 feet. The climate features mild winters with occasional snow and humid summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F. Most cabin accommodations remain open year-round, though winter visitors should check road conditions when traveling to higher elevation sites.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Allatoona spans 12,000 acres with 270 miles of shoreline for bass, crappie, and catfish. "Lake Alltoona is Good! These sites were amazing. Most of the sites are right on the lake. There is an abundance of wildlife around. The water is nice and cool. The people here are so friendly and helpful. Perfect lake to boat and fish on," notes a visitor to Red Top Mountain State Park.
Mountain hiking: Fort Mountain State Park maintains over 14 miles of trail networks with significant elevation changes. "What a sweet surprise to go camping here. We can't wait to go on more trails and explore everything this park has to offer. 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," writes a camper at Fort Mountain State Park.
Water recreation: Swimming areas, boat rentals, and beach access points exist at several lake cabin locations. "Very nice lake campground, paved parking pads, lots of foliage, a good bit of lakefront sites... campground has a pool boat ramp," reports a visitor to Marina Resort - Allatoona Landing.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Cabin accommodations typically feature regularly maintained facilities and updated amenities. "They have water and outlets and very very clean bathrooms. Like cleaner than a Publix bathroom. Kid friendly," shares a camper at Red Top Mountain State Park.
Lake views: Numerous lakefront cabin sites provide direct water access for fishing or launching watercraft. "This is a wonderful, scenic campground on beautiful Lake Allatoona. The sites are color coded depending on size and there is even a yurt to rent. We went swimming and hiking. Close to Cartersville to enjoy great restaurants and shopping," notes a visitor to Red Top Mountain.
Proximity to Atlanta: Many cabin rentals offer wilderness settings while remaining within 45-60 minutes of metro Atlanta. "This is close enough to metro to make for a quick getaway. The trail around the lake is good and in the winter it is not too far north has to be too cold to get outside in a tent," reports a camper at Red Top Mountain State Park.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most cabin facilities require advance bookings, especially during summer and holiday periods. "We spent an entire week here coaching in a PG Tournament. Great campground with everything you need! Beautiful views!!" shares a visitor to Marina Resort - Allatoona Landing.
Noise factors: Some cabin areas experience sound from nearby highways or train lines. "If you have kids be sure to check out the indoor play area (KRAB) and the pool! If you have kids be sure to check out the indoor play area (KRAB) and the pool... Sadly a tornado just went through, and destroyed many of the rv's. It may be a little while before everything gets put back together," reports a camper at Naval Recreation Site.
Road access considerations: Several cabin destinations feature steep or winding access roads. "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. Sites were very narrow," notes a visitor to Red Top Mountain State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several cabin areas maintain dedicated children's play areas and recreation facilities. "This isnt for backpackers but for camping with your family, its good. They have water and outlets and very very clean bathrooms. Like cleaner than a Publix bathroom. Kid friendly," notes a visitor to Red Top Mountain.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many cabin sites provide opportunities to observe local wildlife in natural settings. "We camped here just before all of the COVID-19 shutdowns began happening, hoping to get in a family trip that didn't involve a long drive from home/Chattanooga. We chose Fort Mountain for the variety of camping options they had, specifically the platform sites. As one of our primary requirements for camping is privacy and a place our kids can run around without bothering anyone else, having a place slightly off the main road sounded perfect—and it was," shares a camper at Fort Mountain State Park.
Educational programs: Several parks near Rydal offer ranger-led activities and junior ranger programs. "Friendly staff, with the Jr ranger program still going with the help of adult campers during covid. Still so much fun and so clean and beautiful!!" reports a visitor to Red Top Mountain State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling needs: Many cabin and RV areas require significant leveling equipment due to sloped terrain. "The campground is nice with plenty of amenities. I had two complaints. We stayed creekside at site 24. The site had about a 5 inch difference shopping towards the road. I used rocker blocks maxed out (about 4 inches in height) and still was not level," notes an RVer at Fort Mountain State Park.
Site size considerations: Several campgrounds have specific size restrictions or challenging access roads. "This is a great vacation spot. Between the variety of campsites, hiking, boat rentals, beach, and family activities, it would be easy to spend a week here in a camper or an RV and not even notice how fast the time was flying," reports a visitor to Fort Mountain State Park.
