Making Memories at Lake Lanier
Chances are you don’t remember too much about the hotels and motels you stayed at when you were a kid on vacation. However, if you ever went camping, we bet you haven’t forgotten about that trip. From the smell of campfire smoke to the warmth of a down filled sleeping bag, there’s nothing like the sensory overload of camping.
Camping at Georgia’s Lake Lanier is a great way to escape the ordinary and create memories with your family and friends. The options for camping here are plentiful and available for all budgets. The most important thing to remember is that precious memories are priceless.
We’ve curated a list of our favorite places to create memories when camping at Lake Lanier. We hope you’ll give these a try and you’ll share your stories with us too. We love a good campfire story, don’t you?
Vrrrooom with a View – Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta
If you feel the need for speed and also enjoy a campout with about 50,000 of your closest friends, then this fall event is for you. For the past 20+ years, Motul Petit Le Mans has been a world class motorsports event with four days of on-track battles, culminating in the 10-hour IMSA WeatherTech Championship finale. The track opens its gates to over 100,000 eager fans who enjoy a kids zone, vendor showcase, food trucks, car displays and more. Purchase an RV/Tent site for the Sept 28-Oct 1, 2022 event for only $150 (race tickets are $95 per person for the week.) Campsites at Micheline Raceway Road Atlanta are right alongside the racetrack. Cool your heels under your camper awning while drivers burn rubber on the twists and turns of the track. Check out their camping map here. No camping gear? No problem. Discover Lake Lanier has a list of camping equipment vendors who will rent gear and even set it up for you.
Teach a Kid to Fish – Don Carter State Park
Those of us old enough to remember the Andy Griffith Show can picture a young Ope Taylor walking with his father to their local fishing hole while whistling the show’s theme song. Some people say those days are gone. Well, not at Don Carter State Park on Lake Lanier. Georgia’s newest state park and the only one on Lake Lanier has a picture perfect setting for creating a Mayberry kind of memory with your kids or grandkids. The park has a marvelous campground with 44 tent, trailer and rv sites. Additionally, the park has 12 primitive tent campsites. Their swimming beach, picnic areas, bench swings and fishing dock all provide plenty of activities to keep young ones occupied. Prep your catch of the day at the park’s fish cleaning station and cook it over your campfire. Their gift shop also rents fishing gear and full tent camping set ups with camp stoves and sleeping bags.
Giddy Up – Grove River Ranch
With the popularity of the television series Yellowstone, it’s no wonder that rodeos and horseback riding are having a surge in popularity. Nestled between the shores of Lake Lanier and the Georgia Mountains is Grove River Ranch. The ranch runs along the banks of Grove Creek and features cabins, camping and a full service equestrian facility. Live out your ranch hand dreams with a stay in their Bunk House while attending a horseback riding clinic. For parents of Boy/Girl Scouts, they offer horsemanship workshops where merit badges may be earned over a weekend stay. The ranch’s many wooded trails offer a scenic setting for lessons for everyone from beginners to experienced riders. Bring the whole family for a group campout and book a pony party in the indoor arena. Saddle up!
Come Sail Away – Old Federal Park
Lake Lanier has many options for camping at parks run by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Among their parks is Old Federal, a local favorite. Known for its spectacular lake views and convenient location near the town of Flowery Branch, Old Federal is a memory making park due to it’s incredible views of the weekly sailboat regattas held by the Lanier Sailing Club. Witness the fleet of sailboats with their colorful flags and sails flying across the surface of the lake on Wednesday evenings in March and April. There are other sailing events held regularly throughout the year including learn to sail classes (Lanier Sailing Club) and chartered sailboat cruises (Windsong Sailing.) A campout at Old Federal just isn’t complete without a turn at the wheel of a sailboat.
