Glamping options near Rydal, Georgia rest at approximately 800 feet elevation in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The area contains part of Lake Allatoona, a 12,000-acre reservoir with 270 miles of shoreline managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Winter temperatures typically range from 30-50°F while summer months see consistent 80-90°F days with high humidity levels that can make tent camping challenging without proper ventilation.
What to do
Hiking and mountain biking: Fort Mountain State Park offers diverse trail options beyond the main campground area. "Fort Mountain State Park is an incredible spot for a camping getaway. I love campgrounds that offer both nature and comfort, good hiking trails, a peaceful lake, and hot showers are definitely a win. The fact that they have rental cottages and yurts makes it a great choice for people who want a more relaxed camping experience too," notes one Fort Mountain State Park Campground visitor.
Fishing from shore: Many sites at Clark Creek North Campground provide immediate water access. "My whole family has camped here on and off over the past 40 years. Allatoona is our go to Lake and this is a small, quiet, clean campground. The hosts are friendly and sites are kept clean," explains a reviewer at Clark Creek North Campground.
Waterfall exploration: Amicalola Falls features Georgia's tallest waterfall and challenging hiking options. "Beautiful falls if you can get to the top. Moderate hike to the top of the falls," reports one camper about Amicalola Falls State Park Camping.
What campers like
Tent-only sites with views: Red Top Mountain offers specific walk-in sites with premium lake vistas. "Red Top Mountain State Park is beautiful and Lake Allatoona is large. Campsite 50 is a premium tent only walk-in site (a few dollars more). It sits on a point that sticks out in the lake. There is no shade or tree cover, so it's not 'private'," explains one camper at Red Top Mountain State Park Campground.
Private waterfront access: Many sites at McKinney Campground provide direct lake access. "We LOVE McKinney Campground. Stayed multiple times," writes one frequent visitor to Mckinney Campground.
Elevated camping platforms: Fort Mountain State Park offers unique raised sleeping platforms. "I'll be honest. I've never slept outside of a tent. I've always wanted to, but never had the guts to do it. I looked up information on the platforms (also called Squirrel's Nest) on the state park website. It looked doable to me!" shares one camper about their platform camping experience at Fort Mountain State Park.
What you should know
Highway noise impacts: Some campgrounds near Rydal experience significant noise from nearby highways. "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," notes one camper at Red Top Mountain State Park.
Advance site selection: Not all sites accommodate larger RVs. "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. The bend halfway into the campground would be extremely difficult with much bigger than 27' camper," warns a visitor to Amicalola Falls State Park.
Seasonal restrictions: Some facilities close during winter months. "Has a bathroom, picnic tables, fire ring and grill. No water this time of year but the lake can be accessed at the nearby boat ramp. Beautiful lake and forest. Have the place to myself for the most part at this time of year. Often in the 30s at night but nice in daytime," reports a winter camper at Woodring Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Family-friendly bathrooms: Some campgrounds maintain exceptional facilities. "This isn't for backpackers but for camping with your family, it's good. They have water and outlets and very very clean bathrooms. Like cleaner than a Publix bathroom. Kid friendly," explains one family camper about Red Top Mountain.
Playground access: Some parks offer additional recreational amenities. "Peaceful setting, very clean. Shower house is clean and well maintained also has laundry facilities. Hosts are friendly. Has lots of power and water sites as well as tent sites with nice gravel tent pads. Some sites do not have grills. The TV pads are all paved and mostly level. There is a swimming beach, no lifeguard," shares a reviewer about COE Allatoona Lake Old Highway 41 No 3 Campground.
Youth ranger programs: Some parks offer educational activities. "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!!" notes one visitor to Red Top Mountain.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain. "The park is fairly nice, I'd avoid 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," warns one RVer about Fort Mountain State Park.
Road access concerns: Some campgrounds have challenging entrance 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," cautions one RVer about Red Top Mountain.
Length limitations: Maximum RV sizes vary by campground. "Our RV GPS and Waze brought us right to the campground (CG). There is also signage to verify that you are going the right way until you see the CG entrance. We pulled into the gate area and were checked in by the attendant on duty. During the process, she wanted to be sure how to navigate the CG to pull through site 16 with water and electric(50/30/20 AMP) due to the size of our rig," shares an RVer from Clark Creek North describing their arrival process.
