Best Cabin Camping near Waycross, GA

Super close to Okefenokee Swamp (actually, any closer, you’d be in it!). Strategically located right down the street to the park entrance, this is likely the very closest to camping near Okefenokee you’ll come. Of course, you could try to camp INSIDE Okefenokee, but that’s quite challenging as you’ll need to book well in advance and kayak / canoe/ boat to get to the primitive sites that are there (more on this in another review from inside Okefenokee). Here, you don’t have to think about anything. Just rock up, pitch your tent, park your RV or open the door to the wooden cabins they rent. The place is incredibly compact and tight, but if you don’t mind rubbing elbows with your neighbors in exchange for waking up early the next morning to be one of the first to get zapped by the mosquitos in the south’s most infamous swampland, then you’ve come to the right place. Great news is that you are far enough removed from civilization, you won’t miss it (or hear/ see it!), but if you do need anything, Okefenokee Pastimes has you covered with a campground store where you can find those commonly forgotten things, get snacks, drinks, candy, ice cream, ice and even trinkets from local craftsman as well as some beginner and advanced astronomy equipment from time to time as well as a view into one of the darkest, natural skies on the East cost (this place is also rated as one of the top 10 in the Country!).  And if you can't find what you need here at Pastimes, no worries, the nearby town of Folkston has you covered with its many restaurants (mostly fast food joints), gas stations, grocery stores and typical small town shopping.

Pastimes has excellent paved / milling parking pads & roads, built-in fire pits at all sites, relatively new / well-maintained wooden picnic tables as well as natural grass boundaries that both separates and surrounds all sites. There are many wildflower areas to attract pollinators and hummingbirds (with the campground's own distinct, bespoke hummingbird area), a small patio / dock area where you can feed the fish, watch the hummingbirds and / or just sit back, soak it all in and relax. A covered, lit pergola, complete with picnic tables, built-in benches and a top-end charcoal grill to cook at while overlooking the pond area.  There's also a small, fenced-in dog park that's perfect for keeping your furry friends active and engaged (they even provide pet toys!).  Nearby, there's a small playground, swing set and small yard game areas (think horseshoes, badminton, volleyball, jenga and jarts!).  Beyond playtime activities, there's a proper laundry room with 2 sets of washers and dryers (with only 1 key given to a single guest at a time, so you have a real sense of privacy. This place scores extra points for having a book exchange and even offers up DVD's and VCR tape rentals (take that Blockbuster!).  The best part about Pastimes?  Unlike many other campgrounds that are well lit, Pastimes actually has a policy where they turn off all their lights at night so as not to contribute to light pollution and to preserve the most amazing star-gazing experiences you will ever have (OK, at least hear near Okefenokee - sorry, star-gazing in the Nordics is still the best IMHO!).

Insider’s tip? You’ve made it this close to Okefenokee, it’s important that you get out early – that’s when you’ll see the gators at their most active and we’re you’ll land some great photos – albeit from the bow of a canoe or kayak, which you can easily rent at the refuge itself.  Also, while at Pastimes, do ensure you get out to spy on the many dragonflies, shouldered hawks, butterflies, squirrels, barn owls, armadillos and woodpeckers (obviously, be sure to pack your binoculars).

Happy Camping!

This is off the beaten path but worth it. Make sure you have groceries before turning onto 177.  Once inside the camping area it is very quiet and peaceful. The sites are spread out pretty well and most have foliage between them to provide privacy. We were in 'back-in spot' #5.  Each site comes with fire pit and picnic table. They do sell firewood at the Trading Post along with a few essentials.  The "Dark Sky" designation was the draw for us and the night sky was indeed spectacular.  No bug issues for us as it was mid January however it was pretty chilly at night (30 degrees). The bathrooms were a short walk away however no heaters so on a cold weekend be prepared! A neighboring camper brought a dog that barked at every opportunity, but otherwise we really enjoyed our time at this park. There are nice flat walking trails, a great playground for kids, and canoes/boats for rent at the Trading Post to head out into the Okefenokee. Overall a great spot that we will definitely return to.

Sometimes you need to look (and go) long and far to find the perfect slice of heaven. That would describe Deep Bend Landing – with its complete out-of-the-way location, if you weren’t careful, you’d just drive right by this hidden 100 acre campground gem. It’s a simple place, with an easy layout and the sort of down-to-earth, lovely people that will welcome you and immediately make you feel as though you belong right from the start. 

Have an RV? Well, there’s plenty of spots(and all come with 20 / 30 / 50 electrical amp, water and sewage hook-ups along with picnic table, fire ring and a proper dump station). But if you are of the ilk that needs the perfectly flat, poured concrete slab to call your home for the evening, then this place may not be for you. While immaculately maintained, the grounds are natural, so expect gravel and easy to maneuver pathways. 

Need an RV? Well, they have a few that they’ll rent you for your stay. Don’t like RV’s? They have that covered too. They’ll rent you either a river house or one of their cabins, from a traditional, rustic wooden cabin to a full-fledged 3BR house. They even offer up ‘Grandpa’s Cabin’ which could definitely qualify as ‘pioneer’ if not outright ‘primitive.’ And, if like me, you want to pitch a tent, you’ll be delighted to find tons of spots on nice flat rolling land underneath crowded ancient oaks blocking the sun from beating down on your brow. 

From an amenities standpoint, the RV designated spots have all the hook-ups you would need and every, single, spot has its own tree-lined ceiling with a natural window to see the sparkling stars each night. Oh, and there’s the alluring black waters of the Satilla River that runs through this place, of which there’s about a half dozen spots that rock up to this waterfront (including Grandpa’s Cabin), which I would highly recommend. There’s two very simple and easy small boat launches at both ends of the property that will send you off to explore an exquisite, blissful natural experience undisturbed by anything other than what God himself has planted or fowl / animal he has sent to remind you of what a slice of heaven can be on earth. Net-net, if you want to get away from it all and not hear traffic (or any noise for that matter from the modern world) or worry about getting a good cell signal (let alone WiFi connection) then this is the perfect spot for you. 

Insider’s tip? If you feel confined by the tight needle-like Satilla, I highly recommend an early morning kayak dip in nearby Kings Bay (it’s less than a 10 minute drive from the campground). And if you grow tired of dogs and beans by the fireside, I highly recommend either Scott’s BBQ & Grill, which is a must-stop for ribs, smoked chicken and potato bomb (don’t ask, just order and eat!). 

Happy Camping!

We stayed in site #61 it's a Pull thru site so you face the woods. It had water & electric, picnic table, fire pit, it was perfect. There is a dump station onsite.  It's nice to walk the campground there's a lot of shade. 

You will see gators near the boat ramp & as you kayak out the cut to the lake.  It's a long road 17 miles long paved & in good shape to get out to this park but nice & quiet.  It's very dark at night no lights so enjoy the sky.

We saw Hawks, Deer, Turkey, tons of Swallows, Blue Herons, Egrets & more. Beautiful swamp, lots of Lilly's, wildflowers & Cypress trees. 

As you go out the cut to the swamp you can go right & stop at Billy's Island it's amazing the story behind it. There's old logging equipment on it. 

We took a few hikes in the campground they were good.

And lots of it!

We went in April, which the staff said was the “less mosquito-y” time of year, so I can’t imagine how bad it gets moving forward! However, despite the bugs, we still had a great time!

It rained a good bit (and our site flooded slightly so make sure to take care when choosing where to pitch your tent). The camp store is also where you can rent canoes. There is a nature trail just a few steps from the store. While out on the canoe we found one of the paddle-in locations as well. Tons of beautiful wildlife and gators to see along the way as well.

The restroom area had a screened in porch (much needed!) and was clean and well stocked during our stay.

Following up on my review from over 3 years ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this backwoods hidden jewel of a campground.

Highs: (1) Lush wilderness surroundings giving very good privacy between sites; (2) RV slots are nice and spacious, although some areas are not as level as others; (3) Easy to access 2 kayak / canoe / boat launch(es) makes getting into the Satilla River quick and simple; (4) Plenty of shade at all CG spots with tons of tree cover; (5) Nearby fresh-water lakes perfect for fishing; (6) Excellent peace & quiet – you’ll feel completely removed from civilization here; (7) Excellent FHUs; (8) Barely functional WiFi – yes, that’s a plus!; (9) Extremely hospitable Southern hospitality from the host (Ron) and camping community here; (10) Great launching pad for exploring either Jekyll or St. Simons Islands; (11) River house or cabins available to rent; (12) Excellent price for what you get creating great value

Lows: (1) The entrance and backwoods roadways are fairly bad with deep ruts in them and when rainy, incredibly muddy; (2) No on-site bathrooms or showers is a major bummer; (3) Mosquitos, gnats and midges during the summer; (4) Nearest place to stock up on supplies is nearly 10 minutes away and even at that, it’s just a Dollar General and Waverly Minit Mart – you’ll need about 25 minutes to access the Winn-Dixie; (5) No nearby restaurants, so you’ll have to hike it back to Route 82 where you can find Scott’s BBQ & Grill, Village Snack Bar or Smoke’s Bar& Grill; (6)$20 for a bundle of firewood seems pretty steep

Happy Camping!

This campground (loop 2) offered privacy between spaces and clean bathrooms. It’s in the middle of nowhere which accounts for it’s dark park designation (although they should switch to red lights on the comfort stations). Moderate length hiking trails, canoe/kayak rentals and motorized John boats. Lots of gators! One beast of a gator resides in the boat launch area. There is very little cell service but there is wi-fi at the trading post/ranger station. It was a little noisy with some construction work while we were there, which is why I took 1 star off the rating.