georgia camping

May 7, 2005 11:12 PM

This summer, some friends and I plan on going camping and we're looking for some good overnight camping spots and hope some you might know a place or two that rock. Waterfalls to visit & swim in and drinking copious amounts of alcohol at night not being a problem is a plus and am willing to drive a few hours.
posted by jmd82 to sports, hobbies, & recreation (6 comments total)

Calhoun Falls is near you, and there are some nice campgrounds there. If you were planning on coming further west, I could give you some good advice in California and Oregon, but I've only been through Georgia twice, sorry.
posted by luriete at 11:22 PM on May 7, 2005

You can be at Hunting Island State Park in under five hours.

My wife and I spent a week there for spring break and I bet summer there would be astounding. Beach right across from your campsite. No waterfalls, but great for drinking.
posted by bryanzera at 11:45 PM on May 7, 2005

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in North Florida is very cool, but it's a pretty good haul for you at 6 hrs. according to google maps. It would be worth a weekend trip, though - especially for Magfest in the Fall, lineup TBA, but here's the 2004 lineup to give you an idea. Alcohol not a problem.
posted by wsg at 12:55 AM on May 8, 2005

You can be here in about 4 hours and it's fabulous. Lots of secluded camping, several waterfalls, you can climb Looking Glass Rock or John Rock (I like it better) and take some great photos. Then, when you get tired of camping, it's only 40 minutes to downtown Asheville. Email me & I'll tell you how to get to the Daniel Ridge trail camping - my favorite place in Pisgah.
posted by mygothlaundry at 2:07 PM on May 8, 2005

Gorges State Park and Panthertown Valley, both west of Brevard, NC are about two hours from Athens. Waterfalls abound, watering holes... you may want to BYOB. I know Brevard has some bars.
posted by Frank Grimes at 7:31 PM on May 8, 2005

I'll second Hunting Island. I've had some good times there, with shrimp and crabs and beer. I once put a canoe into the lagoon, then out into the sound, and was approached by a group of two adult porpoises and a baby. Way cool.

The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest will be a bit of a drive (about 4 hours from Atlanta), but you'll see true unspoiled old-growth Appalachian forest there, with waterfalls and the clearest lake you'll ever swim in, seriously, 12-foot visibility or more.
posted by MrMoonPie at 7:35 AM on May 9, 2005