Over the past couple of years we have fallen in love with the Georgia State Parks. We have visited a total of thirteen of the forty-nine that offer camping. Our plans are to visit others over the next few years.
Many years ago we camped at a few of the southern most state parks during family reunions Thanksgiving week. Much has changed since that time some 30 years ago as the parks have seen improvements in the campgrounds to better accommodate the larger RVs of today. All now have water and electrical hookups and a few even have full hookup which make the experience even more enjoyable.
We have traveled from coast to coast and up and down the USA and even into Canada. I would venture to say that Georgia has some of the nicest state parks in the entire country. We generally love state parks and COE campgrounds and try to stay in them as much as possible during our adventures. Most other states would do well to take a hint from Georgia and upgrade their state parks to better accommodate the bigger rigs of today. If you live in Georgia, you are blessed for sure with some nice campgrounds.
We spent a few days at each park which gives us enough time to really explore the parks and the surrounding towns and area.
Crooked River State Park – Our first state park stay in February 2021 on a return trip from south Florida was Crooked River State Park near St. Marys. The campground is rather small but the sites are spread out nicely and very spacious. We stayed in site 12 which backed up to the river giving us an unobstructed view of it.
While I did not try it, the fishing seemed good as I saw several people catch a few. The campground offered a few short hiking trails between different area of the park and just walking around the campground was rather enjoyable.
The Verizon and AT&T reception was good. Local attractions were limited but the town of St. Marys was pleasant. We did not take the ferry over to the Cumberland Island National Seashore because of the weather in February. It is known for secluded beaches and wild horses.
Fort McAllister State Park – We spent five nights at Ft. McAllister and we were so glad to have the extra time to enjoy the park and tour Savannah. We stayed in site 13 which was a full hookup site with a view of the salt marsh behind us.
The lower number sites are the better ones since they are more spacious, larger and the roads in the area are better. Some of the roads are tight along with smaller sites in the back of the campground. I did notice the tent camping area was rather large and all the sites seemed great.
Each morning and afternoon we saw deer as they wandered through the campground. Also saw a few racoons near our site around sunset. The park does have a great hiking trail that wanders through the woods around the island. Across the causeway was a fort built over a century ago with tone of history and a nice Civil War museum. Its a good place to spend the afternoon visiting.
Of course the main attraction in the area has to be Savannah. While we have traveled much of the USA this was our first trip to Savannah and it did not disappoint at all. It is a beautiful city downtown with so much to explore from graveyards to early American homes. The riverwalk is a great place to stroll and enjoy a meal.
General Coffee State Park – Of all the Georgia state parks we visited this one was somewhat old and worn-out. The campground has not been improved to meet the needs of those of us with rather large motorhomes. The roads are still dirt and sand for the most part and the sites are not up to today’s standards when it comes to size and accessibility.
The highlight of this park is the agricultural history shown at Heritage Farm with animals and a couple of log cabins to explore. Hiking trails are abundant along with wildlife. We stayed in site 25 which was the last site on the circle.
Laura S. Walker State Park – The park is located near the northern edge of the Okefenokee Swamp and that is why we came here. The day use area and campground are very close together and offers a chance to see the entire park in a short time. The campground is not huge but very nice and up to date with easy access for our RV.
Situated on the shores of the lake we saw campers with kayaks and canoes enjoying the scenery and trying to catch a few fish. Our site, number 39 was in the middle and close to everything.
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We did a day trip to the other side of the Okefenokee Swamp where we rented a small boat to better explore the swamp. The boat ride allowed us to view the alligators up close as we spotted as many as 100 of the fascinating creatures in the water and along the shore.
Don Carter State Park – One of the newest state parks, Don Carter has a very nice campground. The odd thing is that although it is relatively new the campground is strange in how the sites are numbered. It can be difficult to find your site and ours was very difficult to get into. The park is wooded and offers several playgrounds for the kiddos.
We stayed in site 44 which was a pull-through site with a great view of nothing but woods in front of us. The park is on Lake Lanier so if boating is your pleasure this is the place.
Cloudland Canyon State Park – Likely our favorite Georgia state park of them all. Cloudland Canyon has it all. Mountain views, hiking, waterfalls, cliffs, canyons and scenery. The park is located on top of Lookout Mountain and the drive up from the west is steep but very doable in any RV. Just take your time. We did unhook our jeep in Trenton before proceeding up the mountain.
We stayed in the west campground in site 14. The east campground is more crowded than the west. The campground was spacious and easy to maneuver through even though our particular pull-through site was a bit unlevel.
We took a day trip to the top of Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga which was about an hour one way. Well worth the drive and even managed to pickup some great bar-b-que just outside the campground. The West Rim Loop Trail around the edge of the cliffs offers spectacular views of the canyon and surrounding valleys.
The east side hiking trails are much busier so arrive early for the best experience.
Reed Bingham State Park – This is one of the parks we had visited many years ago but it was difficult to remember much about the campground since it was renovated and expanded some years ago. The sites are spread out and spacious. Some offer shade which can be nice depending upon when you visit. We stayed in site 37 backed up to the woods.
We did have the chance sighting of a huge gopher tortoise next to our site which the park is best known for having. There is a great hiking trail along the river that loops back through the coastal plains and pine forest. Much of it is a boardwalk making the walk easy and enjoyable.
While not right on the lake, the campground is nearby and it is a short easy walk to reach the shoreline. They rent canoes and kayaks at the office for those that wish to explore the large lake up close.
High Falls State Park – We stayed in site 11 along the river. Well we were on the river but very few of the sites actually have a river view as the campground is well above the shore which is lined with thick vegetation and trees. Cell service was suspect at best but I understand it is better in the back of this campground and at the nearby lake campground.
The campground is a little tight to maneuver with a large RV but manageable. Most sites are small and not as spacious as many other state parks. The better sites are likely up the hill in the back of the campground.
The spillway falls as seen above are just down the road and well worth the effort to walk down the trail on the east side of the river for a better view.
Indian Springs State Park – We stayed in site 48 which was near the end of a cul-de-sac making for a quiet few days here. Most sites are great and spread apart. Near the entrance to the park is Sandy Creek which is a nice place to sit and relax along the banks of a fast flowing creek.
The small museum is also near the entrance along with a gift shop filled with goodies. The natural artesian spring has been used by generations of people using the flowing mineral water.
The nearby town of Jackson offers shopping and fast food dining if you wish.
Dames Ferry Campground– This is another of our favorite state park campgrounds in Georgia. I am told it is the most difficult to get reservations for most of the year especially on the weekends. We arrived on a Sunday and surprisingly there were not many other campers there in October.
Our campsite was 14 for a few days which was one of the best in the park. We had great views of the lake and sunsets. The campground is situated in such a way that most sites are on the water or just across the road from the lake.
The campground is part of High Falls State Park and not actually a state park in itself. Nearby is the small town of Juliette made famous in the movie “Fried Green Tomatoes.”
F. D. Roosevelt State Park – Georgia’s largest state park offers so much more than just camping. We stayed in two different sites since we had to move over the weekend to stay longer. Site 304 is deep in the campground away from the lake but quiet and plenty of shade. Site 102 is upfront on the main road through the campground but offered full hookups.
They are doing a lot of upgrades to the grounds including paving and even have a new section which opened recently it seemed.
We spent a few days exploring the area even though we have been here a few times previously. The town of Warm Springs is a great small southern town along with Pine Mountain. Both offer small shops to browse.
Callaway Gardens are nearby as well as the “Little White House” used as a retreat for F.D. Roosevelt. Dowdell’s Knob is a must stop if for nothing more than the scenic drive. It is where President Franklin D. Roosevelt sometimes picnicked and pondered world affairs back in the day.
James H. Floyd State Park – James Floyd State Park in located near Summerville GA in the foothills of mountains. It is a small park but has several interesting things to offer. The campground is not on the lake but is only a short walk away. It has a boardwalk that crosses the lake to a nice day use area on the far side.
Ducks and geese were around the lake and food for them can be purchased in the gift shop. The campground is rather small and tight but most of the sites are plenty big enough for any rig. We stayed in sites 25 and 13 since once again we had to move mid stay. Site 25 is the last site before exiting the campground and site 13 was much better to get into and out of.
Be very careful trying to find the park using GPS as it will route you far out of the way and want you to enter from the south. That is not correct and definitely not the best route. Enter from the north and save yourself a huge headache.
The campground is quiet with only 25 sites and the host is a nice gentleman who enjoys his job. Summerville is close enough to visit for supplies. We did take a 30 minute drive to Alabama and visited the water falls at DeSoto State Park. Well worth the trip.
Chattahoochee Bend State Park – Now this is one place where some planning will be needed before entering the park. It is at least a 30 minute drive to anything for supplies. So stock up before you go.
Cell service was surprising good and we even got a few over the air TV stations.
The park is really spread out and the actual campground is a mile or more from the entrance, office and gift shop. There are several hiking trails if you so desire. The river is close but does not adjoin the campground. Just remember it is the Chattahoochee and most always muddy.
We stayed in site 114 which was typical of every site in the campground. Not a bad site to be had here. Most offer some shade and they even had a few pull throughs if that is your choice.
