The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Tent Camping near Franklin, GA

525 Reviews

Tent camping options near Franklin, Georgia include several established campgrounds along the Chattahoochee River and surrounding areas. Bush Head Shoals Park offers six well-maintained tent sites with picnic tables and fire pits on fine gravel plots. The Pinhoti Trail Backcountry Campground in nearby Alabama provides more remote tent camping experiences for those willing to venture slightly farther from Franklin.

Most tent sites feature minimal amenities and require self-sufficiency from campers. Bush Head Shoals Park provides fire rings and picnic tables but lacks running water and shower facilities, though vault toilets are available and lit at night. Tent campers should bring all necessary water and supplies, as services are limited throughout the region. Wildlife Management Areas like Joe Kurz require a valid Georgia hunting or fishing license to camp. Ground conditions vary from fine gravel at Bush Head Shoals to natural forest floor at backcountry sites, with most accommodating standard tent setups.

The camping experience near Franklin offers a mix of riverside relaxation and forest immersion. A visitor commented, "The sites are extremely spacious and clean. You could easily fit two 6-person tents, with plenty of trees around for hanging hammocks." Many campsites provide access to hiking trails and water activities, particularly along the Chattahoochee River. Bush Head Shoals Park features a public boat launch, making it convenient for kayaking and fishing. Tent campers often report seeing wildlife, including bald eagles flying over the river. While most sites are reasonably secluded, proximity to local roads can occasionally introduce some noise. The tent camping areas throughout the region generally maintain a natural setting with adequate tree cover providing shade during warmer months.

Map showing campgrounds near Franklin, GeorgiaExplore the Map

Best Tent Sites Near Franklin, Georgia (29)

    1. Bush Head Shoals Park

    5 Reviews
    Franklin, GA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (678) 416-6350

    $20 / night

    "They have Ice and firewood available. You just grab it and either venmo Raven or drop money in the drop box. There is a nice hiking trail right across from site 1."

    "They have 6 camp sites that all have a picnic table, fire pit and a large fine gravel plot for a tent. All the components are extremely well kept."

    2. Heard WMA Campground No. 3

    Be the first to review!
    Franklin, GA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (912) 825-6354

    3. Turnipseed Campground

    16 Reviews
    Munford, AL
    44 miles
    Website

    "Pit toilet, no water, critter proof trash cans. First come first serve. Cash box available to pay. We had cell service. Used 10' trailer/ camper. No hookups or running water."

    "Only about a dozen sites, most to partial shade (it's in the forest), plenty of downed pine not far. Sites are positioned well and decent for tent or something like a motorcycle camper."

    4. Cheaha Falls Campground

    10 Reviews
    Munford, AL
    45 miles
    Website

    "One of the great backpacking loop within the Cheaha wilderness is the skyway trail and the Cheaha Falls Campground is my favorite place to stay while doing it."

    "This walk in campsite is right next to the waterfalls. Tons of exploring can be done around camp or you could extend the trails and explore Devils Den Falls as well!"

    5. Hideaway Park

    2 Reviews
    Winston, GA
    34 miles
    +1 (678) 390-0020

    $25 / night

    "I'll definitely be returning for a visit again soon when the weather is a bit warmer!"

    6. Southern Harbor

    Be the first to review!
    West Point Lake, AL
    24 miles

    7. Pinhoti Trail Backcountry Campground — Cheaha State Park

    7 Reviews
    Delta, AL
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 362-2909

    "Like many sites along this section of the Pinhoti it is right off the patch and provides a large space to set up your tent with a nice campfire ring in the center."

    "This is one of my favorite trails to camp on in Alabama and living in Birmingham it is not too far of a trek to get here. We often take people on this hike if it is their first backpacking trip."

    8. Joe Kurz Wildlife Management Area

    2 Reviews
    Molena, GA
    34 miles

    "Ahead of my trip to Joe Kurz Wildlife Management Area(WMA), I've gathered crucial details for anyone looking to explore this serene destination."

    9. McDill Point Backcountry — Cheaha State Park

    5 Reviews
    Delta, AL
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 488-5111

    "Park at the Cheaha trailhead directly off of highway 281 and there find the beautifully built entry way. Hike in about 1 min then turn right and head up the hill."

    "The site is pretty primitive and doesn’t have any hookups but it is fairly large and has plenty of space to cook. There are some premade rock fire pits that are perfect for an evening cook out."

    10. Alexander Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Delta, AL
    26 miles
    +1 (256) 531-2820

    $30 - $40 / night

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 29 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Franklin Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Tent Camping Photos near Franklin, GA

23 Photos of 29 Franklin Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Franklin, GA

525 Reviews of 29 Franklin Campgrounds

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 7, 2022

    Upper Improved Campground — Cheaha State Park

    Alabama's highest mountain!

    General: Two improved campgrounds (Upper and Lower), two primitive campgrounds, chalets, cabins, and a motel. We camped in the improved Upper campground, so this review is focused on that. I would recommend you arrive during daylight hours as it was challenging for us to find our site in the dark! There is very limited cell service in the park and none in the campgrounds. 

    Site Quality: Gravel and pavement; most looked level. They are all rated tent/RV and small- medium– large and they mean it! We have an 18-foot campervan, and we were pretty snug in Site 19. Also, it was hilly and the angle to back into the site was somewhat challenging. All of the sites are FHU. We were warned that freezing temperatures were expected during our stay and that we could not stay connected to water or the spigot would break if not drained and that we would be charged a $125 repair fee. Each site has a metal picnic table, a BBQ grill, and a fire ring with a grate. 

    Bathhouse/Shower: Basic but clean. No hooks to hang toiletry bags but it looks like there used to be some. The showers looked a bit sketchy but since it was so cold during our visit, I didn’t feel the need to check them out. Plenty of toilet paper but hubby reported that in the men's room, there always seemed to be toilet paper unraveled all around the restroom! 

    Activities/Amenities: Several short hiking trails and longer forest service ones nearby. Mountain biking, although I read on the All Trails app that the trails are extremely challenging for biking. I agree that with so many leaves covering the roots and rocks, the trails were more challenging (hubby slipped and fell on one hike). There is a small store and a pool for in-season. Rappelling is also popular in this park but requires a permit. There was a small informative CCC museum (there was significant evidence of the work of the CCC in the park). There was also a small “fairy garden” near the entrance that was quite adorable. There was a postcard in the store that showed an impressive waterfall but it was completely dried up in November! There used to be a restaurant/bar but it has been closed indefinitely due to staffing issues. 

    Cheaha State Park prides itself on being a Leave No Trace Park (one of about a dozen in the US) but while there were two large dumpsters by the campground, there were no recycling bins.

  • Asher K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2018

    Blue Mountain Shelter - on the AT

    Ranger Review: ROM Pack at Blue Mountain Shelter

    Campground Review:

    Since I have reviewed many of the backpacking routes in the Cheaha area I would first recommend taking a look at some of the other campground reviews in this area. This shelter is actually along a new trail for me where the Pinhoti heads North from the Cheaha Trailhead on 281. The parking lot has a beautiful entrance archway then heads away from the road before splitting. Take your first right then when the trail splits again take another right. I have a video attached showing the turns. You then continue for about .5 miles before crossing back over the road and following the ridge for a while. After going a little more than 2 miles you will reach a sign that directs you to the shelter. You can’t miss the wooden structure a few yards down the path.

    Most of the camping along the Pinhoti is classic semi-flat backcountry sites with a small fire pit and not much else. So when we came across this amazing shelter we were thoroughly impressed. It has a large area on the first floor where you could set up several sleeping bags and then there is an additional closed off area in the loft that is dark and dingy but very clean and perfect if the weather is ugly. The site also has a HUGE firepit which seemed a little overkill but could be nice if you have a large group. Finishing off the amenities is a picnic table and several cleared out tent areas. Make sure to check out my video to get a full idea of how this site is set up and if it would be a good place for you to stay. 

    ............................

    Product Review:

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to try out new and interesting products at campgrounds I visit. On this trip, I tried out the RoM Pack. My takeaways from using the combo backpack, poncho, picnic blanket are:

    1. The backpack works incredibly well for what it is designed to do. If you are going to be carrying your things somewhere where you will then unpack and hang out for a while this piece of gear does exactly what you need. It held all the items we needed for the day of hiking including a hammock, water bottles, food, and small items (phone, wallet, keys, etc.) and still had plenty of internal space to spare. When we arrived at the campground we set up and unpacked then took apart the backpack so that we could use the blanket to sit on. I can imagine in the future this pack also being very useful for keeping in the car when any one of its uses might come up.
    2. It is very comfortable to hike with. I found the strap design and layout to fit comfortably on my chest. They are highly adjustable for different sized individuals. The one criticism I had of the straps is that the cross chest straps are a little too long and I had trouble getting it tight enough since I am a relatively small person. Overall though I didn’t have much shifting around while hiking. 
    3. Included with a backpack was a small drawstring bag that is designed to fit inside the larger pack and hold your gear when using the pack as a poncho or blanket. I found this to work ok but felt it was a little unnecessary since anytime I would plan to take about the pack I would want to be at my final destination where I would be ok just taking out my gear. 

    Overall, I would say this pack has a few very specific applications and it performs really well for all those situations. Worth checking out if you want to have a multipurpose backup bag in the car or are often in a situation where you are hiking in to picnic locations.

  • M
    May. 17, 2020

    Upper Improved Campground — Cheaha State Park

    Great to getaway

    We just left this morning, booked May 15th-May17th. I did my booking about two weeks early and I know it was sold out when we got there. The majority of the attractions are closed, and half the grounds are due to Covid. The others, including a trail or two are closed due to AT&T tower construction. We got in on the upper semi primitive tent sites, which was absolutely perfect. I booked 107&109 together for a family that was coming up with us, but did want to keep our distance as much as possible as there are still distancing and safety guidelines to live by. I think the ground was perfect and fully shaded spots, I did my research here and we were about 100 ft from the bathrooms (no bathhouse just toilets). They were okay...they did clean them (empty the trash and refilled the soap) by the time we left so maybe once a day. I'd like to see them a bit more sparkling or smell somewhat like cleaning spray to feel comfortable, but I take a cleaning wipe to touch anything that others may touch as well. Then I ensure I'm washing again, with sanitizer after. People don't seem to mind the fact a pandemic is happening but I just want to safely get my family outside the house, and my selfish outdoors experience in. Might not make me much different than the others, but I'd be very careful. The sites were perfect and had trails leading to the Leave no trace trail, which was a good mile for my 3 yr old and 16 month old (we carried both intermittently 16 months obviously was in the ergo baby 99% of the mile). There are shared spigots for water supply and this is no big deal, we put a small hose on ours at 109 & everyone very well enjoyed it. Views make you feel out of Alabama, I am used to 4,000 footers and up but I loved being out there and will go back to plan a hike without my kids (or even husband!)

  • Missy W.
    Jun. 13, 2018

    Upper Improved Campground — Cheaha State Park

    Great for one, friends and family

    My best friend and I camped for Mother's Day in 2017. We loved it. We were in the semi primitive area. Some sites were smaller than others and not all sites had flat spots to set up the tent but they are within walking distance to the bathroom and the pavilions. It was quiet and the staff were helpful. The only real downside are the showers. You have to buy tokens to use the showers and they're only open until (I believe) 6 p.m. The showers were pricey considering most places offer them for free. The pavilions are great! They're huge, have plenty of picnic tables, a fireplace on both sides and outlets. We set up our coffee pot and ate breakfast then rode around to explore. A few minutes drive from the park is a great hiking spot with 3 waterfalls. I'm looking forward to visiting again with my family.

  • R
    Nov. 6, 2022

    Coleman Lake Rec Area

    Overflow for tents

    First time here. Clean camp, clean restrooms, great scenery. Main two loops are really for campers/RVs and are really close together with little privacy but have water and electricity. We ended up checking out the “overflow” area - didnt know it existed - and those campsites are more primitive, no water or electricity but have fire rings and pea gravel. Overflow is more spacious and private. Our spot was right above the lake. Main two loops are $16 and overflow is $6. The overflow is on the right as you pull in the campground - some people had campers up there but definitely the spot if you are tent camping. Had a great time, will return!

  • Deborah C.
    Feb. 23, 2019

    Upper Improved Campground — Cheaha State Park

    Beautiful views/highest point in Alabama

    My husband and I tent camped at Cheaha State Park in February,2019 as part of our quest to hike the highest point in every state. This park is probably much better for those not tent camping. First the store and staff are AWESOME! We had to change our stay to one night vs two due to the upcoming storm, no, problem. The hiking trails are great and the views are awesome. I think we were the only tent campers in the park. The actual site had no level ground to pitch our tent, we even tried a separate site since we were the only ones there, but no luck. The bathrooms had no shower, otherwise nice. The highest point is actually in the park, so it wasn’t much of a hike, but there is a nice tower and a museum that has much of the history of CCC. There are Pavillions and a restaurant on site. We couldn’t decide between 3 and 4 stars, but for tent campers we chose 3 due to reasons stated.

  • Johnnie J.
    Oct. 10, 2018

    Upper Improved Campground — Cheaha State Park

    Cheaha State Park: Absolutely Amazing!

    A few weeks back, I had a few days off during the week and decided to make a quick trip up for a few days of camping. After viewing some of the campsites online and reading a few reviews on here, I decided to stay at a semi-primitive site inside the park. My initial concern was the location of the semi-primitive sites, as they were located right off the road. However, I found that this wasn't much of an issue since I was the only one in that entire area for 90% of my trip.

    I arrived on a Sunday afternoon and quickly set up my site. Each one features a stone fire ring, a picnic table, and a space to park right next to your campsite. Restrooms are located a short walk up the road and are attached to a large covered pavilion with plenty of picnic tables and a large stone fireplace on each end. The restrooms were clean and well maintained, but do not contain shower facilities on the semi-primitive loop. There are showers available in the RV section of the park, but they would require driving (or a long walk) to reach them. Select sites have outlets or water spigots at the road. 

    Unlike Oak Mountain, which is centrally located and a short driving distance from pretty much everything, Cheaha State park is pretty isolated. Unless you plan on eating at the restaurant or getting small items from the park store, you'd need to bring any food or other items you may need.

    When making reservations online, you can view each campsite and read a brief description for each one. Some of the semi-primitive sites are really small and close to the road, so I highly recommend viewing each site when making your online reservations to make sure you get something that suits your needs.

    Basically, this place is great! There's plenty to do and as always, the online registration process was quick and easy. The views along the Pinhoti are amazing and the waterfalls were quiet and relaxing. In the early morning hours, deer would wander thru the campsites and I saw tons of interesting wildlife while out on the trails. If you're a mountain biker, the Cheaha Express trail head is right up from the semi-primitive area, and the Pinhoti trailhead is only a half mile from the campground. All in all, it's definitely worth the trip.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2020

    Chattahoochee Bend State Park Campground

    Not much but the River

    Chattahoochee Bend State Park is located on bend of the Chattahoochee River southeast of Atlanta, near Columbus GA. This is one of Georgia’s largest and newest state parks, with five miles of river frontage on the Chattahoochee. The campground has about 40 sites, some pull-they, but little shade. There are also some walk-in tent sites, and platform sites. The standard sites are water & electric, there is a bathroom/shower, and a dump station. There are cabins if you are not a camper. This is mostly a fishing/hiking park. A boat ramp provides access to the river for boaters and canoeing and there are six miles of wooded trails are open for hiking. There is an observation platform with views of the river and forest, but visibility was limited because of the trees. There isn’t much here but the river trail. But it is close to Columbus, GA, there are some zip-line places near by, and Roosevelt’s Little White House are close.

  • George’s F.
    Jun. 24, 2019

    Upper Improved Campground — Cheaha State Park

    Lovely & Secluded

    Cheaha is beautiful and fit perfect for kids and families! We stayed in the Semi-Primitive space and picked a tent. Very clean and water was code by as well as restrooms. Picnic table and fire ring made cooking and dining simple. Parked right next to our tent spot. Walking distance to pool, look-out tower, and one of the picture perfect views at the hotel. Our first excursion was the lake. Very nice! Beach was clean with plenty of space. Park was there too. My kids loved the diving platform. Bathrooms were nice. It was super refreshing and awesome view! We cooked Chili for supper. Canopy of trees was pleasant and shady for Summer. We hit the lake again early the next morning. Hiked 3 trails with excellent views. All easy and enjoyable for all 3 of my kiddos, ages 6, 11 and 12. High Falls was my personal favorite. Also hiked Bold Rock and Pulpit Rock. Great park! We are for sure going back in the Fall!

Guide to Franklin

Tent camping near Franklin, Georgia offers a variety of scenic spots perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to escape into nature. With well-maintained sites and a range of amenities, these campgrounds cater to both relaxation and adventure.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • At Bush Head Shoals Park, campers can enjoy spacious sites equipped with picnic tables and fire pits, making it ideal for cozy evenings around the fire.
  • Sweetwater Creek State Park Campground features drinking water, showers, and electric hookups, ensuring a comfortable stay for families and groups.
  • Hideaway Park allows campfires and provides firewood, perfect for those looking to cook outdoors or enjoy a warm fire at night.

Activities for outdoor enthusiasts

Some prices for tent camping range from $10 to $30

  • Camping at Bush Head Shoals Park is budget-friendly, with rates that make it accessible for solo travelers and families alike.
  • Alexander Campground offers affordable rates while allowing pets, making it a great choice for those traveling with furry companions.
  • For a unique experience, Neverland provides a serene setting with prices that cater to various budgets, ensuring everyone can enjoy the outdoors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Franklin, GA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Franklin, GA is Bush Head Shoals Park with a 4.8-star rating from 5 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Franklin, GA?

TheDyrt.com has all 29 tent camping locations near Franklin, GA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring