Stone Mountain and the surrounding areas near Brookhaven, Georgia offer diverse camping options beyond typical tent sites. The region sits at approximately 1,000 feet elevation with a humid subtropical climate that allows for year-round camping. Weather patterns typically include hot summers with temperatures averaging 88°F and mild winters with occasional frost, requiring different preparation depending on season.
What to do
Hiking trails: Stone Mountain Park features extensive hiking opportunities beyond the main mountain trail. "We loved these grounds. They were clean and there was easy access to bathrooms. The hike to the top was a challenge, but the views were worth it," notes Judy B., who visited Stone Mountain Park Campground.
Kayaking: Lake Allatoona provides excellent paddling opportunities with rental services available. "My husband and son enjoyed fishing and paddle boarding right behind our site," shares Susan K., who camped at Stone Mountain Park.
Mountain biking: Sweetwater Creek State Park maintains extensive trail systems for cyclists of various skill levels. "This park is set up on the land of an old factory that used the river to power a water wheel. There are a whole bunch of trails of varying difficulty and length that meander through the woods along the river," explains Asher K. from Sweetwater Creek State Park.
Historical sites: Fort Yargo features a 19th-century log fort plus interpretive trails. "Manchester Mill Ruins" at Sweetwater Creek provides glimpses into industrial history. Mike K. recommends: "Make sure you go see Manchester Mill Ruins."
What campers like
Lake access: Many campgrounds offer direct water access for swimming and fishing. "We camped with my parents in the RV section of the campground, it was beautifully wooded and offered plenty of space/privacy from other campsites and was still a short walk from the bathhouse. Also had a little view of a lake down below," shares Dalhya L. from Stone Mountain Park Campground.
Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain well-kept shower houses. "The bathrooms and showers were not great but there if you need them," shares Jennifer S. about Shady Grove Campground. Other visitors note higher quality facilities at different times of year.
Yurt accommodations: Fort Yargo State Park offers yurt camping near Brookhaven with climate-controlled options. "We stayed in site 15, 14, and my parents used the Georgia glamping company in site 16," reports Imagine C., who enjoyed their experience.
Secluded sites: Walk-in camping areas provide more privacy. "If you're like me and appreciate a bit of privacy when camping, the walk-in campsites at Fort Yargo are the place to go. Just a short 1-2 minutes walk from your car and bathrooms, but you feel much more secluded than the campsites in the regular campground," advises Amalia K. about Fort Yargo State Park.
What you should know
Strict alcohol policies: Some campgrounds enforce strict rules about alcohol consumption. "If you enjoy having a beer while camping don't come here. Beautiful day, beer in a solo cup playing cards with my wife at a picnic table. We were not making noise, nobody complained about us. Ranger pulls up and gave us both tickets," warns Rick B. about their experience at Shady Grove Campground.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience ambient noise from nearby highways. "This park is about 30-40 minutes outside of Atlanta right off of I-75. If you are in a tent... you will hear I-75 traffic all night so keep in mind, that while it looks like country, you are not deep in nature... the drone of the highway will remind you," explains Jeff E. about Red Top Mountain State Park.
Security concerns: Isolated incidents of theft have occurred at some locations. "After discussing the issue with the campground staff, we were informed that locals often come through the woods and even wade through the edge of the lake to steal from the campground," notes Chris C. about Clark Creek North Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Beach access: Look for campgrounds with dedicated swim areas. "We spent a weekend here in section O. It was a nice, spacious campsite with a nice picnic table and partial view of the lake even though we didn't have 'lake view' site," shares Tonya B. about Stone Mountain Park.
Playground facilities: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. "There's all kind of activities for the kids. They have free transportation within the park/campground area. Helpful staff too," notes Harvey B. from Stone Mountain Park Campground.
Educational programs: Many state parks run ranger-led activities. "Friendly staff, with the Jr ranger program still going with the help of adult campers during covid. Still so much fun and so clean and beautiful!!" reports Cheryl C. about Red Top Mountain State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site access: Some campgrounds have challenging roads for larger vehicles. "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," warns Brock D. about Red Top Mountain.
Dump station locations: Note the availability of sanitary facilities. "Only reason for the 4 stars is our site was not level, took some work to level our rig. Also our site needed a little TLC. I did notice them updating sites. Definitely worth a stay," notes 5Dudes about Shady Grove Campground.
Leveling challenges: Many sites require equipment for proper RV setup. "We got the rig into the levelist position possible to get our rig's steps down to an assessable position and fairly level, but we did need to add levelers to our steps and the passenger-side tires," explains MickandKarla W. about Clark Creek North Campground.
