Searching for the perfect place to pitch your tent near Waleska? Find the best information on tent camping near Waleska, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. Each tent campsite offers quick access to one or more of Waleska's most popular destinations.
This recreation area is part of Lake Sidney Lanier
Sweetwater Creek State Park is a peaceful tract of wilderness only minutes from downtown Atlanta. A wooded trail follows the stream to the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company, a textile mill burned during the Civil War. Beyond the mill, the trail climbs rocky bluffs to provide views of the beautiful rapids below. Additional trails wind through fields and forest, showcasing ferns, magnolias, wild azaleas and hardwoods. Park rangers lead informative hikes to these areas throughout the year.
Totally Off-grid, Offline, Private, Natural retreat weekend
Enjoy your completely private, secluded camping experience on over 20 forested acres in the foothills of Blueridge Mountains. We are in Northern Georgia near the tiny town of Fairmount, between Jasper, Cartersville, and Calhoun, GA. You will be our ONLY GUESTS for the entire weekend!
When you arrive, your tent will already be set up, and your air mattress bed turned down, welcoming you to enjoy your first night under the stars. That evening, we suggest winding down by maybe reading a book, or curling up by the fire to be mesmerized by its flames. With no traffic or light pollution, you may find some of the best star gazing ever. Then the night sounds of the forest will soothe you into a night of restful sleep.
We love kids, but this is a retreat designed for ADULTS. There are cliffs and drop-offs near the campsite that are not safe for children. Adults with disabilities should contact us in advance of booking to make sure you are comfortable with the physical demands of spending the weekend camping on this raw, wild property. Pathways and trails are uneven and rocky in spots, and some trails are steep.
MUST LOVE DOGS! Our property is owned by four dogs, two goats, and a cat who let us live with them! Our dogs and cat roam freely on the property and the goats may be offended if you don’t at least say hello.
Off-grid and Offline means: NO electricity, NO indoor plumbing, NO Wi-Fi
(This kind of weekend is not for everyone, and that’s OK!)
Off-grid and Offline also means: You will be staying on a ridge with a panoramic view of the forest and mountains like none other. You will experience no traffic, no city noise. Just quiet, peace, and wild nature.
We live in our tiny, off-grid house on the first ridge. You will be able to see it from your campsite on the second ridge. Please do let us know before you stop by though, because we shower outside! We will provide a walkie-talkie should you need to contact us, and otherwise, we will respect your privacy and the entire second ridge will be yours! If you would like to hike to the creek or explore the rest of the 20 acres, just let us know and we will direct you to the trailhead.
Going without your phone is encouraged, but optional, of course, though you may not have a signal either way. We provide walkie-talkies for safety, and we personally have phone service in case of emergencies.
You may bring your own alcohol and we are 420 friendly. Please just keep it at your campsite, consume responsibly and in moderation to preserve your nature experience. There are steep inclines, rocks and stumps that may cause injury to an inebriated camper! Also, clean up cans/bottles and any other waste every day and night.
On this lovely weekend, you may want to hike, bird watch, meditate, sketch, read or just relax on the ridge with the scenic overlook that is all yours.
Please call us to book your weekend! We can’t wait to hear from you and help you plan the most relaxing, natural, off-grid weekend you can have!
What is included:
o One or two four person tents.
o A large canopy shelter with table and two chairs to keep you out of the weather. (Bring your own camping chairs.)
o 5 gallons of water
o 1 bundle of firewood each night (No firewood may be brought in. We don’t want to introduce new bugs to our natural environment)
o A fire pit
o A bucket toilet with toilet seat. (Remember, this is off-grid!)
o Cooler with ice
Some items to remember to bring:
o All food for the weekend. We are a remote location, so you won’t be able to just run into town for supplies.
o Sleeping bags or sheets, blankets, pillows. It sometimes gets cold on the mountain at night, so prepare to bundle up.
o Dishwashing supplies. Dawn soap is the only soap allowed for dish washing, as it is safe for the environment.
Add on’s (please try to request in advance):
$10 - Coffee bundle: Camp style coffee percolator, Coffee mugs, coffee grounds, sugar, sweetener, powdered creamer
$5 – Extra firewood – per bundle
$15 – Smore’s package
$15 – Guided tour to creek, and other sites (note: The creek is usually dry from October until February, which provides the opportunity to search for artifacts. From March until September, the creek is usually flowing, which provides the opportunity to play in the creek, or sit by the water and listen to the sounds.)
$20 - for a trip into town to pick up forgotten supplies
Penalty Fees: Please avoid these at all costs. We are assuming the kind of people who want to camp off-grid and offline are also the kind of people who will respect nature and others.
$80 - $100 / night
Bear locker/box is provided, water is available but needs to be filtered/purified.
Springer Mountain Shelter (3700 ft) to trail east on side trail with privy and reliable spring. Established tent sites nearby.
This recreation area is part of Carters Lake
The Hembree Park Campsite offers an area for individuals or groups to gather and enjoy nature within the safe environment of a City Park. The site can be used by individuals, families, civic groups, etc. The grounds include an open grass area, fire ring with log seating, 2 picnic tables, and 11 tent pads.
There are no water/electrical hookups, or firewood on-site.
Buford Dam Park lies just north of Buford Dam on Lake Sidney Lanier. The site features beautiful views of the lake as well as excellent access to swimming, picnicking and boating.
The lake, named for the poet, Sidney Lanier, is well known for its aqua-blue colored water, spectacular scenery and variety of recreational activities. Each year, over 7.5 million people come to visit.
Lake Lanier boasts 38,000 surface acres, 690 miles of shoreline and over 100 small islands. Its location in the forested foothills of the Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains, makes for a beautiful backdrop to any activity.
Visitors can access the Laurel Ridge Hiking Trail from multiple locations and parks. The trail is a 3.5 mile loop that offers great views of the lake and Chattahoochee River. Fisherman can expect to catch a variety of species including bass, catfish and panfish. Activities include fishing, swimming, wake boarding, kayaking and hiking.
Bolding Mill Park offers access to a designated swim beach and the Laurel Ridge Hiking Trail. The park also offers a basketball court, soccer field, playground, picnic areas and restrooms.
Nearby attractions include boat ramps, other USACE parks, and Lake Lanier Islands.
Guide
They have a very nice set up and are very polite. Great prices. We did tent camping with water and electricity. The tent sites are all either beside a creek or next to the pond. Large campsites fo tents, we could have easily had 3 tents comfortably. Highly recommend them!
Scout
We had 3 couples who spent the long weekend for 4th of July (2016) on two sites in the walk-in tent camping area. There are (non-flush) potties at the tent camping area, but if you're grossed out by those, it's a couple of minutes drive to the closest bath house. The bath house was very satisfactory and pretty clean, plus plenty of hot water. There's a (steep!) trail from the tent camping area down to the lake with some good places for swimming. It would probably be tough to walk a kayak down to the water from tent sites, though. We found the gravel tent pads well maintained and clean.
The location near Ellijay is great. We visited a couple of area wineries, and there's a fun mountain bike trail at Woodring Branch rec area (directly across the lake from Doll Mtn. Campground, but no direct route to get there, so it's about a 45 minute drive.)
Ranger
We spent our three-day Memorial Day weekend at Vogel State Park. We camped in a tent. The staff is very friendly/helpful and the facilities are pristine. Our campsite (#70) was located directly across from the bathhouse and was huge for a "tent" site...we have a 17'x9' tent and the site accommodated our tent, two vehicles and a 5'x8' utility trailer with room to spare! The park has beautiful views and is only a short distance from Brasstown Bald and Helton Creek Falls. The park store had most of the supplies that you would need for camping but, if not, there is a Dollar General located just a few miles away. This is our favorite of the GA State Parks so far!! There are kayak, pedal boat, paddle board and bicycle rentals available!
Guide
We love camping at Fort Mountain. Its usually a good bit cooler due to the elevation, and the private wooded campsites make tent camping in Georgia’s summer heat much more enjoyable. Good hiking and things to do nearby.
Traveler
If you are into boating and have a 30’ or less camper or like to tent camp this is the place for you. There are several lake front sites, both with power/water hookups and primitive tent sites. If you have a larger RV (35’ or bigger) your choice of sites is limited. There are only 2 sites (59 & 60) with full hookups (which are not near the water) but are very spacious. Many of the sites that are advertised as fitting larger rigs would be very challenging to get into and some would be impossible. The bathhouse was in good shape but dated as would be expected for an older COE. The camp hosts were very friendly and helpful. We probably won’t be back as we are not lake type folks but will leave space open for other to enjoy.
Traveler
We had a great experience. We camped in a tent on the lakeside and had a lot of room, the facilities were clean and the campsite was amazing. Great for beginner campers :)
Ranger
This is Georgia's newest state park (2013) and it is a beautiful park! The staff is great and there is plenty to see/do! The park is located on Lake Lanier with plenty of opportunities for fishing, swimming and boating! There's even a fish cleaning station (located near the main boat ramp entrance).
There are hiking trails, geocaches, a beach area, picnic shelters, cottages and a brand new equestrian trail system!
As far as camping goes, there are primitive tent/hammock sites and an RV campground. The RV campground features all paved campsites so it would be tough camping in a tent (no way to stake your tent).
Now, the ASPHALT is part of the reason for the review's title, coupled with the fact that this is a new park and tree coverage is a bit sparse for the time being. Once the canopy fills out, it will be shady.
We camped in our trusty pop up camper so direct sun is always an issue (non-insulated bunk ends) but a travel trailer/RV would probably fare well (as far as temp goes).
We'll be back but in the Fall when it is a bit cooler!
The campground hosts were friendly and they kept the bath houses/laundry facilities spotless!
This is a beautiful park and we highly recommend it, in the proper weather or camper!
GuideCampground Review:
Red Top Mountain State Park is located in Acworth, GA. The park is located around 12,000-acre Lake Allatoona, which made it perfect for summer camping. The park has about 15 miles worth of shaded trails for hiking and mountain biking. The park also has RV, yurt, and cottage options for camping. We rented a first come first serve RV/Tent campsite during our visit, and the price was $35 for one night. The campsite was gate access and had electric/water hookups with 2 car spaces, a BBQ grill, picnic table, and a lot of trees. We had access to a public restroom, showers, and laundry. There were also primitive campsites available to rent, which were closer to the lake. Our group decided to stay at this park because we wanted to utilize the lake. The lake is beautiful; however, it was very crowded the weekend we went. The park overall has a lot of “things to do” and is family friendly, but it was given 4 stars because of how busy and crowded it was during our visit.
Product Review:
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products. At this campground, I had the opportunity to test the Tentsile Flite +, which is a tent and hammock fusion. I was super excited to use this product because I am a hammock camper and there are times I wish I had the option of tent camping. The design and uniqueness of Tentsile Flite + is amazing, and I would consider it more of a tent instead of a hammock, because of how flat it lays when suspended in the air.
Pros:
Cons:
Overall the Tentsile Flite + is perfect for someone who loves hammock camping, but want to enjoy some of the features tents have. I love the design and the wow factor it has on people. Also the company’s mission is very noble and how they help people in need and the environment.
Traveler
Conasauga Lake campground is heaven on earth for this country boy. On top of Grassy mountain in North Georgia it is a great small camper / tent camp. Lots of large hemlocks and rotadendren on the trail aroundthe lake. The gravel road up the mountain is not for the faint of heart but worth the effort.
Guide
Enjoyed tent camping. Nicely maintained facility, but partiers (or a bar?) across the way on the lake played loud music both nights I was there.
Traveler
I slept really well last night here, and the camp host and guests were just great. Heated bathhouse with warm shower was definitely a highlight on a chilly morning!
Only downside in my mind was that I booked a tent site, only to find that the tent sites are down the hill from all the other sites, so if you book them you will have to haul your stuff down to the lake. It did sound like the night-time fishing would be awesome though!
Scouti arrived looking for tent camping. Looks like cabins and it was not open. 8:11pm on June 14th, 2021. Maybe its just closed? 1 star.
Guide
Beautiful campground with great hiking. I wish there were more tent sites. Very friendly staff.
Guide
We tent camped here..we were up on a steep hill, but it was beautiful!! The bathrooms were close to the site. We had a great family time here!! Deer were roaming thru the campsite.. so many!! I loved the fresh Georgia air and the atmosphere was just so relaxing!! I do know there is a whole other area for RV camping.. looks fun and nice in that area as well!!
Traveler
We camped here via tent camping, we really enjoyed our stay beautiful views and showers at site were decent getting ready to go view the beach side! But definitely a spot I’d revisit!
ScoutThey have water Front camping on the weather and Forrest for RV’s of all sizes pull through and back in . Full hook-ups and dump station to boot . Also tent camping .
GuideMy wife and I did the walk-in tent camping. We had a nice, relatively secluded spot. This area of Lake Lanier is pretty quiet. Great for kayaking or paddle boarding.
Scout
We have tent camped here multiple times. Great place to stay. Owners are super nice and are working on a lot of upgrades. We love spending the day by rhe pool. Highly recommend and can't wait to go back!
TravelerWe tent camped on Spot 27. Nice back in RV spot with water and electric. Bathhouse is close by. Gray water dump is across the road. Originally we booked Spot 60. That’s a pull through with little room for a tent. No cell service but that’s okay as we disconnected for a while. You can get service at the top of the park. Clean bathrooms with hot showers. Trails are nicely blazed with colors that match trail map. Georgia apple farms are a short, 20-30 minutes away.
ScoutSecond time tent camping here, but easily my tenth time coming here for the scenery. I bring all out of town visitors here for a great hike and dip in the rapids. Great amenities and wildlife to boot.
Guide
Small campground, a few nice waterfront spots for small RVs, 6 tent camping spots all waterfront. Very nice clean & newish bathrooms. Dump station was also clean, large & new feeling. There were some sewage winds in sites near the bathroom.
Guide
This is a very well maintained and popular campground on Lanier. I’ve come here since I was a kid. Tent sites are down some stairs, keep that in mind.
TravelerThis was the first stop on our 10 day July 4th trip. This is a campground that we had visited many times in the past with our kids. In those days we tent camped and it is perfect family tent camping campground.
This was our first time in our travel trailer and it required lots of skills to backend to the sites. Not a lot of room because the roads are slim.
The staff is second to none and will go out of there way to make your stay pleasant.
Facilities are great. We use them sometimes to reduce our blank/gray water. They do have a honey wagon for $15, which was very helpful. This is close to Helen where there is lots to do. Lots of wineries to visit and downtown Cleveland is some nice restaurants and an awesome creamery.
TravelerThe site we stayed at was a tent site with no power or water. But it was a large site and right on the water. We were able to swim all weekend.
Scout
Beautiful area with hiking trails and plenty to do in general. Not far from the lodge with restaurant. Folks camping next door were super nice and even offered me hot food when tent camping in -0 degree weather. Overall pleasant experience and plenty to do and see.
GuideThis is a great park with a lot to offer and more in the near vicinity.
Cell reception (T-Mobile) was non-existent in the site. However, there was reception at the trading post and possibly elsewhere.
They're installing Bear Boxes in tent sites back and front country (as I understood it) and are clearly paying attention to what people want and how to improve visitors experiences.
A lot of the sites are RV orientated. But the walk in tent sites are really close to the parking area. Also, nearby backcountry platforms and sites can be easily accessed.
If you want walking access to the trails, it's probably best to choose a site near the lake as that's where most trails are accessed from.
Scout
Very nice, clean and quiet place. Clean restrooms with showers and sinks. Beautiful beach and forest view. Table, geill and fire ring at every site. Tent sites right on the water. Plenty of shade. Will definitely be back soon!!! Highly recommend!!
Tent camping near Waleska, Georgia offers a variety of scenic locations for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. With options ranging from well-equipped sites to more rustic experiences, there's something for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Waleska, GA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Waleska, GA is Shady Grove Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 23 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 40 tent camping locations near Waleska, GA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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