Camping, Overlanding, & Lifestyle blog

Are you looking for the best campgrounds near Atlanta? Below are our favorite public campgrounds in Metro Atlanta, and the best thing about each of them is they all have access to water and amazing views. They each offer a variety of accommodations with RV, tent, and group campsites, and they all have the options for water and electricity at your campsite.

1. Shoals Creek Campground is located on Lake Lanier and is only 36 miles from Atlanta in Buford, GA. The best thing about Shoals Creek is the waterfront campsites. All of the campsites don’t sit directly on the water, but many of them do. Our favorite of the campsites is number 32. Although this site is not equipped with water or electricity, it is large with plenty of space to set up two tents and also has an area that’s closer to the lake where you can set up your shade tent, build a fire or even go fishing right off the bank. At Shoals Creek, there are plenty of options for entertainment, with playgrounds for the kids, a beach to hang out in during the warmer months, and the paths through the property are great for daily walks. And if you’re into water sports, make sure to bring your boat, water skis, or kayak.

2. Red Top Mountain is conveniently located right off I-75 north, only 40 minutes from Atlanta, and sits on Lake Allatoona. This is another great campsite with options for waterfront views. Being a state park, Red Top Mountain has well-marked and well-maintained trails for hiking, biking, and running. It’s easy to get caught up chilling with the lake view, but do take advantage of the trails. We don’t have a favorite site here, but select your site wisely. Some of the campsites here can be pretty close together. Either way, take advantage of all the park has to offer, and you will have a great time.

3. Cloudland Canyon is a bit of a stretch to define as being in Metro Atlanta, but it is worth driving a little further for. It’s located in a small town called Rising Fawn, in the mountains of northeast Georgia (about 2 hours from Atlanta and 30 minutes from Chattanooga). This is by far our favorite Georgia State Park. Unfortunately, Cloudland Canyon does not offer waterfront campsites, but the views, hiking trails, and waterfalls make up for that. We prefer the walk-in campsites here, with site 10 being the favorite. Cloudland fills up pretty quickly during the summer months, but if you can’t get reservations, consider a day trip here. The drive through the mountains is amazing.

If you’re interested in one of our visits to Cloudland, check out the video below. It’s one of our first videos, so enjoy a classic with a good overview of our campsite.