Camping near Snellville provides access to several lakes, including Lake Lanier and Stone Mountain Lake, with elevations ranging from 800 to 1,200 feet across the region. Most campgrounds in the area remain open from March through November, with a few year-round options. Water levels at lake campgrounds fluctuate seasonally, affecting beach access and water activities during drought conditions.
What to do
Hiking at Panola Mountain: The park features guided mountain tours where visitors can learn about local plant life. One visitor noted, "We took the guided tour of the Mountain and it was awesome. We ate Pine Trees and they explained about liken and the red fungus. Highly recommended."
Kayaking at Fort Yargo: The park's 260-acre lake provides excellent paddling opportunities with waterfront campsites. "If you're like me and appreciate a bit of privacy when camping, the walk-in campsites at Fort Yargo are the place to go. Just a short 1-2 minutes walk from your car and bathrooms, but you feel much more secluded than the campsites in the regular campground," shares a camper at Fort Yargo State Park Campground.
Mountain biking at Hard Labor Creek: The park offers dedicated mountain biking trails separate from hiking paths. A camper mentioned, "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."
Lake swimming at Bald Ridge Creek: The campground features a designated swimming beach area on Lake Lanier. "The beach is nice for the kids. Single dump station tends to line up on Sunday but I suppose that's part of the deal," notes one visitor at Bald Ridge Creek.
What campers like
Lakeside camping: Many campsites offer direct water access with private beaches. At Shady Grove Campground, campers enjoy "Very shaded sites with many being waterfront. We were in site 15, 14, and my parents used the Georgia glamping company in site 16."
Wildlife viewing: Deer sightings are common at several campgrounds. One camper at Shady Grove noted, "A lot of deer just walking around. Bathrooms are in good shape. We plan on staying a week."
Privacy between sites: Several campgrounds offer well-spaced sites with natural barriers. A visitor to Stone Mountain Park Campground commented, "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."
Evening entertainment: Several parks offer nighttime events during summer months. "We were recently there and someone set up a movie night on the lawn which was really nice. At 4th of July weekend there were lots of fireworks to see," shares a camper from Bald Ridge Creek.
What you should know
Alcohol policies: Alcohol is prohibited at some campgrounds with strict enforcement. A camper at Shady Grove warned, "Nice campground. If you enjoy having a beer while camping don't come here. Beautiful day, beer in a solo cup playing cards with my wife at a picnic table. We were not making noise, nobody complained about us. Ranger pulls up and gave us both tickets."
Weekday vs. weekend crowds: Significant difference in campground capacity between weekdays and weekends. At Hard Labor Creek State Park Campground, one camper observed, "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."
Cell service variations: Signal strength varies significantly between campgrounds. "We have Verizon and showing 2 bar LTE," notes a camper at Shady Grove, while others report spotty service at other locations.
Bathroom maintenance: Quality and cleanliness of facilities vary by location. "The shower house was a little dirty, so that's why I gave 4 stars instead of 5," mentioned one camper at Stone Mountain Park Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature playgrounds within walking distance of campsites. "There's all kind of activities for the kids. They have free transportation within the park/campground area. Helpful staff too," shares a visitor to Stone Mountain Park Campground.
Bike-friendly campgrounds: Paved roads throughout some parks make for safe cycling with children. A visitor to Bald Ridge Creek commented, "Debris free paved lanes to all sites. Spot 80 had good afternoon shade."
Educational opportunities: Ranger-led programs are available for children during summer months. "Great swimming and hiking," noted a camper at Fort Yargo State Park.
Multi-generational camping: Several parks accommodate different camping styles within the same group. "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," shares a visitor to Stone Mountain Park Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Be prepared with leveling blocks at some campgrounds. One RVer at Hard Labor Creek noted, "The campground is a good campground— clean and fairly easy for our big fifth wheel to get in to. 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!"
Hookup variations: Water and electric available at most sites, but sewer connections are limited. "Sites have water and electric hookups. There is a dump station near entrance," reports a camper at Bald Ridge Creek.
Site selection for larger rigs: Some parks have campground hosts who can recommend better sites for large RVs. A camper at Shady Grove noted, "We are at spot 97 and was supposed to get 44. The host at the front office gave us a different spot that would be easier access to our 40ft 5th wheel."
