371 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Waleska, Georgia serves as a gateway to multiple established campgrounds along Lake Allatoona and surrounding areas. Red Top Mountain State Park Campground and McKinney Campground provide diverse accommodation options including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. Most campgrounds in this region feature water and electric hookups, with several offering full sewer connections for RVs. Sweetwater Campground and Victoria Campground provide additional options within 15 miles of Waleska, each maintaining waterfront access and basic amenities for overnight stays.
Seasonal availability varies significantly among these camping areas, with some facilities operating year-round while others close during winter months. Sweetwater Campground typically operates from mid-March through early September, while McKinney Campground remains open throughout the year. Tent campers can find water and electric hookups at most established sites, though primitive camping options are limited in the immediate area. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for weekend stays during summer when lakefront sites fill quickly. A visitor noted, "The lake is definitely low, we walked across the deep end of the swimming area. Overall the campground is well maintained and staffed by professional retirees."
Lake Allatoona serves as the central feature for camping in this region, with numerous campgrounds offering direct water access. Campers consistently rate waterfront sites highest, particularly those with level parking pads and adequate shade. Several developed campgrounds maintain boat ramps, designated swimming areas, and fishing access points around the lake's perimeter. Privacy between campsites varies considerably, with some locations featuring adequate spacing while others position sites in closer proximity. A recent review noted, "Not a lot of privacy or woods between camp sites but all services available and plenty of spots right on lake line." Most campgrounds provide clean restroom facilities and trash collection, though amenities like showers may be limited at certain locations.
"I stayed at the walk- in campsites with waterfront view and access to walk down to the water. There is no electric at site and water didn’t work."
"Many were positioned right on the lake. The trails in the park were great for hiking and running. We enjoyed visiting the Qualusi Winery that was nearby."
from $40 - $315 / night
Check Availability"These are two completely different parks in two completely different parts of Georgia. SCofA does not have a mill, ruins, river or mountain trails. It does have a lake. Allatoona Lake."
"Beautiful area of camping spots around the lake. Very good infrastructure, showers, bathrooms, etc."
from $24 - $290 / night
Check Availability"It's proximity to Atlanta can cause the area around the falls to fill up quick so the earlier or colder the better."
"If you're taking off on the AT, then you need to get walking. However, if you want a small taste of the AT and would like to camp out near the starting point, then this is a great place to be."
"Georgia Veteran’s Memorial State Park, McKinney Campground on Allatoona Lake (north of Atlanta; a Corp of Engineer park) - very woodsy and a nice lake. Hiking, rafting/etc, and walking all around."
"Campground Review: This campground is an excellent place to stay not far outside of the bustling metropolis of Atlanta."
from $30 - $34 / night
Check Availability"Lots of sites are waterfront or has access to the lake, that is a plus. The lake area is tranquil and quiet."
"Wanted to know every detail of everyone in our party, and my husband came late and I have to give notice for him to join us ( the campground is gated) Now the positives- It’s right on beautiful lake Allatoona"
from $24 - $34 / night
Check Availability"This campground is full of beautiful lakeside sites! Many are well-spaced, but some are close together. We camped with our van in one of the tent sites because the rv sites were full."
"I didn't get a chance to snap pictures or videos but it is nestled along the shore of Lake Allatoona."
from $24 - $68 / night
Check Availability"My dad SCUBA dives quite a bit in a quarry nearby, so this is a great site for the family to stay with the camper."
"It also seems as though most have access to the lake and the bath houses are pretty clean."
from $24 - $34 / night
Check Availability"Doll Mountain Campground near Ellijay, Georgia is located on a peninsula stretching into Carter's Lake, and managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. "
"The sites are tucked into the trees, lots of great spots for your hammock! We stayed at a walk-in site, but were still close to a pit toilet and our car."
from $26 - $100 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Clark Creek North is a small gem tucked along the shore of Lake Allatoona just north of Atlanta. It is small with just 24 spots equipped with water and electric and every spot has water access."
from $34 / night
Check Availability"The lake is beautiful. It’s quiet other than the occasional train whistles. The WiFi is pretty much non existent so don’t plan on that. Even with a booster we couldn’t pick it up."
"The bathrooms were pretty amazing compared to the last campground we were at which was also on alatoona lake as well. ( McKinney camp ground ) The first night we got here it was packed, like crazy packed"
from $42 - $52 / night
Check Availability
TravelerSpot #50 is perfection! Feels like you live alone on a tiny peninsula. Perfect place to explore trails, go fishing, enjoy sunset, and just be.
GuideThe campsites are great - most appear to be very level and in good shape. Our site is noisy at times, as it backs up to a primary road in the park and there is a good bit of vehicle and foot traffic. There is zero reception for T-Mobile users at this campsite.
LegendWe stayed at Winding Waters Riverfront RV Resort for four nights after picking up our new 5th wheel toy hauler from Three Way Campers in Marietta to thoroughly test all of the RV's systems while remaining close to the dealership if any issues arose. We followed the emailed arrival instructions, checked in quickly, and were escorted to pull-through Site 89 with full hookups. The staff was friendly, service-oriented, and very accommodating throughout our stay. We spent our first night in the pull-through before moving to a river-view back-in site. The staff initially suggested Site 190, but after we noticed it had very little yard space, they happily moved us to Site 193, which better suited our needs. The resort offers several unsecured Wi-Fi networks; we selected the strongest signal and averaged 82 Mbps download and 9 Mbps upload. We received two bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile, and our T-Mobile Home Internet worked well. We didn't bring Starlink on this trip, but with very few trees throughout the main campground, it should perform well in most sites. The pull-through sites are better spaced than many campgrounds of this type, although we still wouldn't describe them as spacious. We appreciated the PVC chairs and round tables found at many sites instead of the typical picnic table, and there are five"Paw Pen" pull-through sites with private fenced pet areas. The nearby dog park consists of two small fenced runs that are adequate for potty breaks but not really large enough to throw a ball. Although the water park and numerous family-oriented amenities are not typically what we look for in a campground, Winding Waters was an excellent place to shake down our new rig.
LegendReally nice newer RV park located in the mountains. They originally were a motorhome only resort, but since opened it up to towable units (still no tents). Many sites have great mountain views and the website has pictures of each site so you can decide what you want and how much you want to pay. They accept Passport America and give a 50% discount for up to a two-week stay which is why we stayed for two weeks. That discount made it a great place for a full hook-up RV resort with nice amenities. We loved the campground and the owners are super nice and helpful. Upon check-in, you get a nice welcome packet full of information about the local area and a loaf of homemade sourdough bread (which was delicious!!!!). Sites are basically a double site so where you park your camper and patio are both paved. They have “Solo” type firepits so you can move them wherever you want and not destroy the grass or pavement. Our site had two comfortable patio chairs and a picnic table. Everything is paved so no dusty roads or dirty sites. They allow you to wash your RV and car which was a big plus for us since they both needed it. The utilities worked well. There is a really nice swimming pool with lounge chairs and tables. The clubhouse is large and a great gathering place that offers free Nespresso coffee, snacks, and information. There are a couple of hiking trails on the property and they offer guided walks with staff. The nearby town of Talking Rock is really cute with restaurants, a brewery, shops, and a general store that sells a variety of items including firewood and pantry staples. We would definitely stay here again.
GuideRed Top Mountain State Park is surrounded by Altoona Lake with boat docks & marina for water sports.
ScoutI had one of tha best times at McKinney campground.. tha water is perfect and its so pretty .. the people that runs it also was very polite and very kind.. I highly recommend this locations
ScoutGreat location small river but absolutely NO Cell service of any kind.
ScoutThey have plenty of pads for pull behinds or the fancy RV. Plenty of hookups for all your needs. 2 pools, weight room, live music, restaurant, bar, dog park, dog bath, and close to all local stores.
GuideSite 24 has a large pad that easily fit our 14x10 tent. It is part shade; our tent received a little sun when we arrived around lunchtime, but only for a couple of hours.
Although the site is next to the walk-in tent parking lot, it sits higher than the parking area, making the parking lot barely noticeable from camp. The wooden railing and a few trees around the site helped create a sense of privacy while still preserving our view of the water. The railing also came in handy for drying towels.
The fire ring includes a cooking grate, and we loved watching the lightning bugs around our site at night. Unlike the fishing areas near the tent sites, we didn’t experience any mosquitoes around our campsite during our stay.
What stood out most about this campground was what I can only describe as being “socially secluded.” There were plenty of other campers, and many sites appeared to be occupied by families and groups camping together. You could occasionally hear laughter and conversation while walking through the campground, which made it feel welcoming and lively. Yet once back at our site, those sounds seemed to disappear. We often forgot we even had neighbors. It was a surprisingly peaceful experience and one of the things we enjoyed most about Site 24.
A gravel path from the tent parking lot leads to a small fishing area with a metal bench and a timed fish feeder, making it a great spot for anglers, especially kids wanting to catch bream/panfish. During our stay they were constantly stealing bait from our hooks until we started using size 8 hooks. Once we switched, we had the best luck fishing close to shore and caught fish one after another. Honestly, if your kids want to make their own fishing pole by tying line and a hook to a stick and yanking fish out of the water, this is the place to do it! You don’t even need worms—a ball of bread worked like a charm! 😂
⛺ The bathrooms were close enough to walk to, clean, and had lighting. However, I recommend bringing a flashlight for nighttime trips since the road leading to them is quite dark.
⛺ There is another small fishing area near the swimming beach, though we didn’t have a chance to try it.
⛺ The dumpsters are located near the swimming beach. Taking your trash on the way there is an easy way to help keep ants out of your campsite.
⛺ The camper registration tags for your site post are located on the information board beside the tent parking area.
⛺ Be aware that Game Wardens actively enforce the rule requiring everyone to be off the lake by sunset, including anglers, swimmers, and boaters.
Next time we visit, we plan to try one of the walk-in tent sites. The path appeared easy enough to navigate with a wagon loaded with camping gear from the parking lot.
Camping spots near Waleska, Georgia center around Lake Allatoona, which covers 12,010 acres with 270 miles of shoreline. The area maintains a moderate climate with summer temperatures averaging 85-90°F and winter lows rarely dropping below freezing. Fall camping is particularly popular when humidity decreases and water temperatures remain comfortable for swimming through September.
Hiking at Amicalola Falls: The tallest waterfall in Georgia (729 feet) is accessible within a 45-minute drive from Waleska. "Amazing views, good walking/hiking. A bit strenuous climbing the 400+ steps from the base of the waterfall to the top, but well worth it!" notes a visitor to Amicalola Falls State Park Camping.
Boating opportunities: Multiple campgrounds offer direct boat access to Lake Allatoona. At McKinney Campground, you'll find "a very newbie-friendly park on a pretty lake. The attendants were great and responsive. The spaces are well-equipped." Many campers recommend bringing kayaks or canoes for exploring quiet coves.
Swimming beaches: Several campgrounds maintain designated swimming areas with sand beaches. A camper at Sweetwater Campground mentions, "We camped right next to the beach and the kids loved it. Beautiful place." The swimming areas are typically open from late May through early September, though most lack lifeguards.
Waterfront accessibility: Most sites offer paths to the water, but elevation varies significantly. At Doll Mountain Campground, "Located on a peninsula, you have access to the lake from almost all campsites. Some sites are on a hill so the walk to the water can be challenging." This terrain creates more privacy between sites.
Clean facilities: Bathhouses receive consistent praise across campgrounds. A visitor to Clark Creek North Campground noted, "Shower house is clean and well maintained also has laundry facilities." The campground offers washer ($3) and dryer ($2) facilities that take credit cards.
Proximity to Atlanta: Many campers value the short distance from urban areas. "This is close enough to metro to make for a quick getaway," says one camper about Red Top Mountain State Park. Most campgrounds are within 30-60 minutes of Atlanta, making them ideal for weekend trips without extensive travel time.
Seasonal water levels: Lake Allatoona experiences significant water level fluctuations. At Victoria Campground, a visitor cautions "the beach area is in a cove and the water level is often down." Water levels typically drop during late summer and fall.
Railroad noise: Several campgrounds near the lake experience train noise. At Marina Resort - Allatoona Landing, "the campground entrance is located between 2 railroad crossings... the trains run pretty close by the campground roughly on the hour." Light sleepers may want earplugs at certain locations.
Varying site accessibility: Many campsites present challenges for larger RVs. A visitor to Payne Campground observed, "Site 2 was nice and shady. Our dog loved to swim in the lake! It had a single bathhouse that was nice." However, others note tight turns and steep inclines at several campgrounds that can be difficult to navigate.
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play structures for children. At Mckaskey Creek Campground, a visitor appreciated that it was "very quiet and kid friendly with a nice playground, kept very clean." The playground areas provide entertainment when taking breaks from water activities.
Beach selection: For families with young children, seek out campgrounds with dedicated swimming areas. A visitor to Sweetwater Campground noted, "Great place to camp. The entire park was very clean and well kept. A lake-side spot would have been awesome, but overall very happy with our stay. Spots are large and spacious."
Wildlife viewing: The lake attracts diverse bird species including herons, osprey and waterfowl. One camper at Allatoona Falls mentioned, "My teens loved it. They found all kinds of insects they had never seen even a Luna moth." Morning and evening hours typically offer the best wildlife observation opportunities.
Site selection cautions: RVers should carefully review site descriptions and maps. At Red Top Mountain State Park, a visitor warned, "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."
Hookup variations: Water and electric hookups are standard, but sewer connections vary by campground. At McKinney Campground, "Most sites don't have sewer hookup but there is a dump station and randomly placed gray water dumps which aren't really accessible while parked unless you have a 50'+ hose."
Off-season advantages: Many experienced RVers recommend visiting between October and April. "It was January and basically had the place to ourselves," noted a camper at Amicalola Falls State Park. Lower visitation during cooler months provides more privacy and easier site selection, though some facilities operate with reduced services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Waleska, GA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Waleska, GA offers a wide range of camping options, with 371 campgrounds and RV parks near Waleska, GA and 17 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Waleska, GA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Waleska, GA is Red Top Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 83 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Waleska, GA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 free dispersed camping spots near Waleska, GA.
What parks are near Waleska, GA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Waleska, GA that allow camping, notably Allatoona Lake and Carters Lake.
Keep Exploring
