Camping opportunities near Ellijay, Georgia range from primitive riverside sites to full-service RV resorts, with elevations between 1,200 and 2,800 feet across the region. The area sits at the southern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains where multiple rivers converge, creating diverse waterways for recreation. Weather patterns can shift rapidly during spring and fall, with temperature differences of 15-20 degrees between valley campgrounds and those at higher elevations.
What to do
Waterfall hiking: Access Long Creek Falls via a 2.5 mile hike from Three Forks Campground. The trail follows the Appalachian Trail corridor with moderate elevation changes. "Short 2.5 mile hike to Long Creek Falls off the AT. Three forks is only 1.4 miles away. Camped for three nights," reports one camper.
Lake activities: Explore Carters Lake from Woodring Campground. The campground offers direct access to swimming, fishing, and paddling on Georgia's deepest lake. "Carters Lake is a great deep lake, clean and private. Bring your kayaks cause y'all wanna explore the lake plenty of little swimming holes," advises a visitor.
Historic exploration: Discover CCC structures at Fort Mountain. Stone steps, overlooks, and the fire tower showcase 1930s craftsmanship. "The fire tower is a vision..To think that young men came and worked and set every stone step you walk on to get to see the tower is an amazing feat of engineering," notes a camper.
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: Bear sightings are common at several campsites near Ellijay. "We had bear visitors, something they'll warn you about upon arrival. The bears just added to the appeal of this place though. The views here? Amazing. Camping? Amazing!" reports a Fort Mountain State Park Campground visitor.
Privacy: Wooded sites with separation from neighbors. "The sites are wooded and well spaced out. Boat ramp and trailer parking onsite," notes a Doll Mountain Campground camper. Sites are generally spread apart with natural barriers between them.
Fishing opportunities: Year-round access to trout streams and lake fishing. "Three trout streams, waterfalls, the AT. Only accessible by hiking or the unpaved forest service road," explains a Three Forks camper. Several campgrounds offer fishing options within walking distance of campsites.
What you should know
Road conditions: Steep grades on campground access roads require caution, especially for RVs. Several campgrounds feature challenging entrance roads with tight curves and significant elevation changes. "Roads leading to campgrounds are extremely steep getting to the campground," notes an Amicalola Falls State Park Camping visitor.
Seasonal operations: Limited winter availability for facilities and services. Many campgrounds close between November and April, while others operate with reduced amenities during colder months. "It was January and basically had the place to ourselves," reports a winter visitor.
Food storage: Bear-proof containers required at most campgrounds. "Be sure to pack up ALL trash, food and water before sleeping or leaving camp. There are bears that like to rummage through your stuff looking for food," warns a Three Forks camper. Some campgrounds provide shared bear boxes at platform sites.
Tips for camping with families
Platform camping: Squirrel's Nests at Fort Mountain offer unique elevated camping experiences. "We chose Fort Mountain for the variety of camping options they had, specifically the platform sites. As one of our primary requirements for camping is privacy and a place our kids can run around without bothering anyone else, having a place slightly off the main road sounded perfect--and it was," shares a Diamond Lure Campground visitor.
Water features: Beaches and splash pads available at select locations. "There's a little beach to swim in or go fishing, etc. There are gorgeous, peaceful walking trails that are decorated really well!" notes a Diamond Lure camper. Swimming areas provide controlled environments for younger children.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas for children. "They have a nice sized dog park, playground, seasonal concession and rentals, beach area and a super nice walking trail for everybody," explains a Fort Mountain visitor. Playground availability varies by season.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Request end spaces for more room and privacy. "We were on a very nice end site with plenty of yard space where our rally friends gathered for evening fires. The back-ins in front of our site were a little tricky to get into but doable," advises a Talona Ridge RV Resort visitor.
Leveling challenges: Bring additional blocks for significant slope compensation at some sites. "The site had about a 5 inch difference shopping towards the road. I used rocker blocks maxed out (about 4 inches in height) and still was not level," notes a Fort Mountain camper about specific sites.
Utility placement: Position varies by campground and may require extension cords or hoses. "The utilities are at the middle of the pad so you can adjust according to your needs. The water pressure was good at around 50 psi," explains a Talona Ridge visitor. Some campgrounds feature older hookup configurations requiring adaptors.
