Trails.com's list of the best campgrounds in Georgia has Amicalola rated number one. The park showcases the 729-foot Amicalola Falls, the tallest in the East. The topography makes this state park a favorite. The campgrounds have been rejuvenated, and nature interpretive programs are rated "the best in the country."
The number two-rated campgrounds are a cluster of northeast Georgia mountain parks near Gainesville. The list includes Bald Ridge, Bolding Mill, Chestnut Ridge, Chestnut Ridge, Sawnee, Shady Grove, Shoal Creek, Old Federal, Toto Creek and War Hill. The rugged terrain and interesting culture make this popular especially in the fall when the campers enjoy the lakeside foliage.
Number three on the list are the campgrounds in the northwest Georgia mountains: Cloudland Canyon State Park, Doll Mountain, Fort Mountain State Park, Harris Branch, Hidden Creek,James H. Sloppy Floyd State Park, Lake Conasauga, Lake Blue Ridge, Morganton Point, Pocket Recreation Area, Woodring Branch,Ridgeway, Frank Gross, Deep Hole, Poteete Creek, Mulky and Cooper Creek. These primitive sites offer campers isolation, but amenities are close by.
Georgia State Parks under the Department of Natural Resources offers tent, trailer and RV sites with electrical and water hookups, tables, grills and fire pits. Most have hot showers and electrical outlets, and some have cable hookups. Walk-in sites and primitive sites do not provide trash cans, running water or electricity. Restrooms are located within walking distance. Reservations can be made at the Georgia State Parks reservation website. Some popular state parks require several months advance reservations, especially on high-volume weekends.
The National Park Service in Georgia manages many historical sites such as the Martin Luther King Jr. and the Jimmy Carter national historical sites. There only a few national parks in Georgia where camping is permitted. The historic Appalachian Trail has no-fee shelters and campsites on the Georgia portion of the trail beginning at Springer Mountain.
The U.S. Forest Service manages six campgrounds in the two national forests in Georgia. Oconee National Forest is in middle Georgia. The Chattahoochee National Forest is located in north Georgia. Since its inception in 1905, the job of the U.S. Forest Service is to help people enjoy the forests while conserving it. The U.S. Forest Service motto is "Caring for the Land and Serving People." U.S. Forest Service campsites can be reviewed and reserved at Recreation.gov.
George Washington named the first army engineer officers in 1775. The Corps of Engineers became a permanent and separate branch of the military in 1802. Since the late 1960s, the Army Corps of Engineers became leaders in preservation and environmental restoration in the United States. There are 42 Army Corps sites in Georgia. Most are situated next to a body of water created by the corps. Reservations and campground details can be found at Recreation.gov.
