Free camping near Clayton, GA
Within 25 straight-line miles of Clayton, GA there are 42 camps: 21 free, 21 fee. The closest is Sarah'S Creek Campground, 8.7 miles north-east of town. The closest one our audit calls free is A.T. Carter Gap Shelter, 10 miles out. One of them is a camp Dave has slept at. The circle crosses a state line: GA and NC and SC.
Who manages them: 41 on the Forest Service; 1 on an agency our record does not name.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah'S Creek Campground | 8.7 | Fee | — | 5.6 mi to Sky Valley | — |
| Tallulah River | 8.8 | Fee | — | 3.4 mi to Tate | — |
| Lake Rabun Beach Recreation Area Campground | 9.2 | Fee | — | 5.5 mi to Tallulah Falls | — |
| Tate Branch Campground | 10 | Fee | — | 1.5 mi to Tate | — |
| A.T. Carter Gap Shelter | 10 | Free | — | 3.5 mi to Tate | — |
| Whetstone | 10 | Fee | — | 5.7 mi to Longcreek | — |
| Willis Knob Horse Camp | 10 | Fee | — | 8.2 mi to Longcreek | — |
| Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area (Campground) | 11 | Fee | — | 1.1 mi to Tate | — |
| A.T. Plum Orchard Shelter | 12 | Free | Plumorchard Creek (stream) | 2.5 mi to Titus | — |
| A.T. Standing Indian Shelter | 12 | Free | Bearpen Creek (stream) | 4.4 mi to McDonald Mill | — |
| Macon CountyDave slept here | 12 | Free | Shope Fork (stream) | 4.1 mi to McDonald Mill | — |
| Long Bottom Ford | 12 | Free | Adline Branch (stream) | 0.1 mi to Long Bottom Ford | — |
| West Fork Campground | 12 | Fee | — | 7.3 mi to Highlands | — |
| Cassidy Bridge | 13 | Fee | — | 2.7 mi to Longcreek | — |
| Wildcat Campground #1 | 13 | Fee | — | 10 mi to Sautee-Nacoochee | — |
| Wildcat Campground #2 | 13 | Fee | — | 10 mi to Helen | — |
| Grapevine | 13 | Free | — | 5.1 mi to Longcreek | — |
| Blue Valley Camp | 14 | Free | Brooks Creek (stream) | 2.6 mi to Satolah | — |
| Hurricane Creek Horse & Primitive Camp | 14 | Fee | — | 5.9 mi to Tate | — |
| A.T. Deep Gap Shelter | 14 | Free | Chastain Creek (stream) | 4.1 mi to Osborn | — |
| A.T. Muskrat Creek Shelter | 14 | Free | Muskrat Branch (stream) | 3.1 mi to Tate City | — |
| USFS dispersed camp — Macon County, NC | 14 | Free | Brooks Creek (stream) | 2.5 mi to Highlands | — |
| A.T. Long Branch Shelter | 14 | Free | Long Branch (stream) | 3.5 mi to Teresita | — |
| Kimsey Creek Group Campground | 15 | Fee | — | 6.7 mi to Tate | — |
| A.T. Tray Mountain Shelter | 16 | Free | Mossy Cove Branch (stream) | 4.5 mi to Mountain Scene | — |
| A.T. Rock Gap Shelter | 16 | Free | Little Rock Branch (stream) | 2.4 mi to Rainbow Springs | — |
| Van Hook Glade Campground | 16 | Fee | Long Branch (stream) | 2.8 mi to Lickskillet | — |
| Van Hook Glade Campground | 17 | Fee | — | 3.0 mi to Highlands | — |
| Burrells Ford | 17 | Free | King Creek (stream) | 3.7 mi to Moody Cove | — |
| Ammons Branch Camp | 18 | Free | — | 3.7 mi to Highlands | — |
| Cherry Hill | 18 | Fee | — | 6.0 mi to Tamassee | — |
| Indian Grave Gap Road Dispersed Campsite 1 | 19 | Free | Hiwassee River (stream) | 2.6 mi to Mountain Scene | — |
| Andrew'S Cove | 20 | Fee | — | 4.8 mi to Helen | — |
| A.T. Siler Bald Shelter | 21 | Free | Right Prong Rough Fork (stream) | 3.5 mi to Rainbow Springs | — |
| A.T. Blue Mountain Shelter | 21 | Free | Watkins Branch (stream) | 3.8 mi to Mountain Scene | — |
| Lake Chatuge Recreation Area | 22 | Free | Hog Creek (stream) | 0.8 mi to Friendship | — |
| Upper Chattahoochee River Campground | 22 | Fee | — | 6.3 mi to Helen | — |
| Jackrabbit Mountain Campground | 23 | Fee | Shooting Creek (stream) | 1.5 mi to Elf | — |
| Low Gap Campground | 23 | Fee | — | 4.3 mi to Helen | — |
| A.T. Wayah Bald Shelter | 23 | Free | Little Laurel Creek (stream) | 2.3 mi to Slickrock Ford | — |
| Wine Spring Horse Camp | 24 | Fee | — | 12 mi to Andrews | — |
| A.T. Low Gap Shelter | 25 | Free | Low Gap Creek (stream) | 2.9 mi to Hood | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Clayton, 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.