Free camping near Clarkesville, GA
Within 25 straight-line miles of Clarkesville, GA there are 24 camps: 11 free, 13 fee. The closest is Lake Russell Recreation Area Campground, 8.2 miles south of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Wilson Shoals WMA - Wilson Shoals Campground, 13 miles out. The circle crosses a state line: GA and SC.
Who manages them: 23 on the Forest Service; 1 on Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Russell Recreation Area Campground | 8.2 | Fee | — | 2.2 mi to Mount Airy | — |
| Lake Rabun Beach Recreation Area Campground | 11 | Fee | — | 5.5 mi to Tallulah Falls | — |
| Wilson Shoals WMA - Wilson Shoals Campground | 13 | Free | — | 2.6 mi to Alto | — |
| A.T. Tray Mountain Shelter | 16 | Free | Mossy Cove Branch (stream) | 4.5 mi to Mountain Scene | — |
| Wildcat Campground #1 | 16 | Fee | — | 10 mi to Sautee-Nacoochee | — |
| Wildcat Campground #2 | 16 | Fee | — | 10 mi to Helen | — |
| Andrew'S Cove | 17 | Fee | — | 4.8 mi to Helen | — |
| Low Gap Campground | 18 | Fee | — | 4.3 mi to Helen | — |
| Indian Grave Gap Road Dispersed Campsite 1 | 19 | Free | Hiwassee River (stream) | 2.6 mi to Mountain Scene | — |
| A.T. Whitley Gap Shelter | 19 | Free | Dodd Creek (stream) | 4.2 mi to Hood | — |
| Upper Chattahoochee River Campground | 19 | Fee | — | 6.3 mi to Helen | — |
| A.T. Blue Mountain Shelter | 20 | Free | Watkins Branch (stream) | 3.8 mi to Mountain Scene | — |
| A.T. Deep Gap Shelter | 20 | Free | Chastain Creek (stream) | 4.1 mi to Osborn | — |
| A.T. Low Gap Shelter | 20 | Free | Low Gap Creek (stream) | 2.9 mi to Hood | — |
| Cassidy Bridge | 22 | Fee | — | 2.7 mi to Longcreek | — |
| Tallulah River | 22 | Fee | — | 3.4 mi to Tate | — |
| Desoto Falls Recreation Area | 23 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Yonah | — |
| A.T. Plum Orchard Shelter | 24 | Free | Plumorchard Creek (stream) | 2.5 mi to Titus | — |
| Dicks Creek Dispersed Area | 24 | Free | Dicks Creek (stream) | 3.7 mi to Porter Springs | — |
| Tate Branch Campground | 24 | Fee | — | 1.5 mi to Tate | — |
| Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area (Campground) | 24 | Fee | — | 1.1 mi to Tate | — |
| Whetstone | 25 | Fee | — | 5.7 mi to Longcreek | — |
| Grapevine | 25 | Free | — | 5.1 mi to Longcreek | — |
| A.T. Blood Mountain Shelter | 25 | Free | Slaughter Creek (stream) | 4.0 mi to Hood | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Clarkesville, GA, not a driving distance — a camp four miles out across a canyon can be an hour of road. Cost is the audited three-state verdict on each camp's own record: free, fee, or unpriced where we could not confirm a price. A blank column is a gap in the record, not a statement that the thing is absent. Camps come from state and federal agency records, not from a visit, except the ones marked. Seasons, permits and fire rules change: confirm with the managing office before you go. Found a fee where we show free? Tell us on the contact page.