Best Camping near Atlanta, Georgia

Swimming weather hits this part of Georgia as early as March, when rental spots swing open, offering inner tubes, stand-up paddleboards, and kayaks to those looking to enjoy a slow float down the Chattahoochee River. There’s a short 1.5-mile trip starting from Don White Memorial Park, and a longer stretch from Island Ford.

Just outside the city, you can hike up to Stone Mountain for a view of downtown Atlanta and the North Georgia mountains (bring a penny for the penny press at the top); or explore the Arabia Mountain Natural Heritage Area by bike or foot. Located about 30 miles outside of Atlanta, the 40,000-acre site has taken 400 million years to form, and offers history, greenspace and cool granite outcrops called “monadnocks”.