Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
Dispersed camping is generally allowed
On national forest and grassland, camping outside developed campgrounds is generally permitted unless an area is posted closed or a local order says otherwise. Stay on existing surfaces, camp away from water and trailheads, and check the forest's current orders before you go — fire restrictions change through the season.
Rules change with fire season and local order. Checked 2026-08-05. Confirm on the managing office’s official page
- Area
- 2,807 sq mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
- Campgrounds
- 35
- Longest rig
- 65 ft
Where the land is, and what fits
The official Forest Service boundary with every campground we hold inside it. Tell it how long your rig is and the map keeps only what takes it — public land rarely matches the shape people picture, and neither does what you can actually get into.
Official unit boundary · USDA Forest Service · 35 campgrounds shown
- Andrews Cove Campgroundto 24 ft · 10 sites · Pull-through03/15/2025 – 12/15/2025 · First-come, first-served
- Ball Field Dispersed Camping AreaMid-March – December 31
- Boggs Creek Recreation AreaSeason not published
- Cooper Creek Recreation AreaYearlong · Reservations accepted
- Cottonwood Patch Campground8 sites · Pull-throughYear round · Reservations accepted
- Deep Hole Recreation Area9 sites · Pull-throughYearlong · Reservations accepted
- DeSoto Falls Recreation Area23 sitesYearlong · Reservations accepted
- Dockery Lake Recreation AreaReservations accepted
- Dry Creek Equestrian TrailheadYear round
- Frank Gross Recreation Area8 sitesReservations accepted
- Hickey Gap CampgroundYear round · First-come, first-served
- Jacks River Fields Campground8 sitesYear round · First-come, first-served
- Lake Conasauga36 sites · Pull-throughMid-April (possibly later due to water leaks) – October 31 · Reservations accepted
- Lake Conasauga Overflow Campground6 sitesMid-March – December 31 · First-come, first-served
- Lake Rabun Beach Recreation Area77 sites · ElectricYear round
- Lake Russell Boat Launch and Beach AreasYear round · Reservations accepted
- Lake Sinclair Recreation AreaYear round · First-come, first-served
- Lake Winfield Scott Campgroundto 40 ft · 34 sites · Electric · Pull-throughYearlong - North Loop Only
- Low Gap Campground03/15/2025 – 12/15/2025 · First-come, first-served
- Morganton Point Campgroundto 30 ft · 44 sites · Electric · Pull-throughYearlong · Reservations accepted
- Mulky CampgroundYearlong · Reservations accepted
- Oconee River CampgroundYear round · First-come, first-served
- Panther Creek Recreation AreaYear round · First-come, first-served
- Pear Tree Hill Group Camp04/13/2025 – 10/30/2025 · Reservations accepted
- Sandy Bottoms Campground03/15 – 10/31 · Reservations accepted
- Sarah's Creek CampgroundYear round · Reservations accepted
- Tallulah River Campgroundto 65 ft · 17 sites · Pull-throughYear round · First-come, first-served
- Tate Branch Campground03/15/2025 – 10/31/2025 · Reservations accepted
- The Pocket Recreation AreaApril – October 31 · Reservations accepted
- Toccoa River Sandy Bottoms Recreation Areato 20 ft · 6 sitesYearlong · Reservations accepted
- Upper Chattahoochee River Campground19 sites · Pull-through03/15/2025 – 10/31/2025 · First-come, first-served
- West Fork CampgroundYear round · First-come, first-served
- Wildcat Creek Campground #1 LowerClosed at this time. No camping.
- Wildcat Creek Campground #2 UpperNo camping at this time
- Willis Knob Horse Campto 60 ft · 8 sites · ElectricYear round · Reservations accepted
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
The Chattahoochee–Oconee National Forest in northern Georgia comprises two United States National Forests, the Oconee National Forest in eastern Georgia and the Chattahoochee National Forest located in the North Georgia Mountains. The Chattahoochee National Forest is composed of an eastern and western forest. The western forest contains Johns Mountain, Little Sand Mountain, and Taylor Ridge. The combined total area of the Chattahoochee–Oconee National Forest is 867,265 acres (3,510 km2), of which the Chattahoochee National Forest comprises 751,069 acres (3,039 km2) and the Oconee National Forest comprises 116,196 acres (470 km2). The county with the largest portion of the eastern forest is Rabun County, Georgia, which has 148,684 acres (601.7 km2) within its boundaries.
Extract from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA. Agency description not published.
No vehicles past these lines
Designated wilderness is closed to every wheeled vehicle, including bicycles. You can walk in and camp; you cannot drive or park a rig inside one.
- Cohutta Wilderness37,039 acres
- Mark Trail Wilderness16,618 acres
- Brasstown Wilderness12,925 acres
- Rich Mountain Wilderness10,791 acres
- Tray Mountain Wilderness10,343 acres
- Raven Cliffs Wilderness9,240 acres
- Ellicott Rock Wilderness8,300 acres
- Blood Mountain Wilderness7,742 acres
Byways through this country
Places worth pulling over
Drive to Chattahoochee-Oconee the long way
Byway plans the road in, not just the destination — real places along the way, weighted to what you like, with nothing invented.