McIntosh Reserve Park offers tent, RV, and primitive camping on the banks of the Chattahoochee River in Whitesburg, Georgia. Located 40 minutes west of Peachtree City, this 527-acre park maintains first-come, first-served camping with fire pits at most sites. The camping layout falls between dispersed and established, with spacious, flat wooded areas that can accommodate multiple tents or small campers per site.
What to do
River activities: Explore the Chattahoochee River at McIntosh Reserve Park, where visitors can fish directly from their campsites. "I saw people fishing in the Chattahoochee River right off of their campsite. There is a small rapid that stretches across the river near sites 1-10, so you get that nice water flowing sound to fall asleep to," reports Sarah S.
Hiking trails: Follow the 2-mile Eagle Loop Trail or explore the orienteering course at McIntosh Reserve Park. A camper noted, "The park has wide trails for horseback riding. I hiked the 2 mile Eagle Loop Trail and saw a mountain biker as well. I saw signs for an Orienteering Course."
Lake activities: Enjoy water sports at R. Shaefer Heard Campground on West Point Lake. "We had an amazing site with a great waterfront view perfect for sunsets. Kids thoroughly enjoyed playing at the edge of the water," writes Dianna B. The lake supports fishing, swimming, and boating without excessive crowds.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Franklin D Roosevelt State Park offers well-designed camping areas with room to spread out. "We were on site 213 and 214. Beautiful wooded site lots of space between sites in this loop. Very short walk to lake. Loop 1 sites are lake front and lake view but more close together than we like," notes Liz H.
Clean facilities: The campground at Franklin D Roosevelt maintains high cleanliness standards. "Each site has a dirt or gravel pad, water and electricity hookups and are all situated within walking distance of a bathroom. There is also a centralised trading Post in the camp, separate from the main office. The bathrooms are all spotless and each area has a camp host constantly cleaning," reports Everette G.
Privacy between sites: Newton Factory Shoals Rec Area provides waterfront campsites with natural separation. "They have many water front campsites with a lot of room. They have a box platform for your tent. It could easily fit my 8 person tent," shares Addison C., adding that most sites have raised gravel platforms for tents.
What you should know
Reservation systems vary: McIntosh Reserve Park doesn't take reservations. "Camping is first come first served basis, no reservations. $20 per night, parking for one vehicle included. Extra vehicles require $5 parking pass per day. They take credit card," explains Sarah S.
Bathroom conditions differ: Facility quality ranges widely across campgrounds. At Ocmulgee River Camp, there are no bathroom facilities, making it suitable only for self-contained camping. Meanwhile, R. Shaefer Heard has aging facilities: "The bathhouses are something out of a post-apocalyptic travel journal— rusted fixtures, broken tiles, and enough cockroaches and spiders to start a nature documentary," reports Denis P.
Gate closures: Some parks lock their gates overnight. At R. Shaefer Heard, "the gate is locked shut from 10 PM to 8 AM, no exceptions unless the elderly host personally deems your emergency worthy," according to Denis P.
Tips for camping with families
Water features: Little Tallapoosa Park offers a splash park during summer months. "Splash park was fun and clean for the kids as well as really nice walking trails we enjoyed," shares Andy M., making it an excellent choice for families seeking to cool off.
Playgrounds: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas. At McIntosh Reserve Park, "There is a splash pad and a new looking playground that from a glance, might be ADA accessible," notes Sarah S.
Child-friendly activities: Franklin D Roosevelt State Park includes organized activities for children. "My four kids and I had a blast at FDR state park. They have a lot of stuff to do there. We fished and swam, they also had a scavenger hunt that you kids loved doing," shares Joshua H.
Tips from RVers
Equestrian camping near Peachtree City, Georgia: For those traveling with horses, Quail Run at Pate's Creek offers convenient access. "Great location if you're driving through or visiting Atlanta. It's just off the interstate, and there are plenty of restaurants around. Also there's a Dollar General at the end of the road if you need anything," notes Joseph P.
Site selection for larger rigs: At R. Shaefer Heard, check site dimensions carefully. "Reserved out spot long in advance to get a spot on the lake, please do like all campgrounds all sites are not created equal. Most all are concrete pads and level but if your camper is over 25' or so length may cause a problem," advises a camper named Ward.
Horse-friendly facilities: Little Tallapoosa Park accommodates equestrian camping needs when the main area is full. "We stayed in the horse camp section because the RV area was full. They use the horse camp area as overflow. Plenty of space there with power and water. Sewer hookup is only available in the RV section," explains Hollis K.
