Swainsboro is a small town in Emanuel County that sits almost equidistant between Macon, Augusta, and Savannah. Known as the "Crossroads of the Great South," this quaint town of 7,425 residents lives up to its nickname because of its placement at the intersection of Route 1 and Route 80. Established in 1882, Swainsboro was named after George Swain, a state senator. When you visit Swainsboro on your next RV trip, you will find a charming downtown area that wraps around a plaza. This well-maintained plaza features a beautiful, brick-lined water fountain framed by tall palm trees.
As the seat of Emanuel County, Swainsboro places you in a great location to explore many area attractions. The county’s diverse landscape includes pine forests, grasslands, and three rivers. Because of its natural beauty, this region is an outdoorsman’s paradise. The Ohoopee Dunes Wildlife Management Area is ideal for hiking, hunting, fishing, and viewing native wildlife. Picnic tables, a playground, tennis courts, and other amenities are available at Harmon Park. On warm days, a visit to the sandy beach at Palm Beach Island is a great way to cool off. This swimming hole has picnic tables and a water slide to make your day more enjoyable.
In the Swainsboro area, visitors can join in the festivities at several special events. In January, the city hosts marching bands and other guests for its Martin Luther King Jr. parade. Numerous musical acts perform live at the Rhythm & Pines Music Festival in May. Immediately following this festival, the Pine Tree Festival brings crowds into the community to see a pageant, sports events, a parade, a barbecue cook-off, and a car show.
Campgrounds Near Swainsboro, Georgia
Located a short drive from Swainsboro, Camp South RV Park boasts a farm-like setting and 25 secluded RV sites. The back-in, gravel sites sit off dirt roads and offer full hookups. Free wireless internet is also available. During your stay, you can take advantage of the community farm, the animal farm, the playground, nature trails, and a fishing pond. Travelers should call the RV park directly to make daily, weekly or monthly reservations.
Evans County Public Fishing Area offers 10 pull-through RV sites. In addition to providing full hookups, this campground has restrooms with showers for your convenience. The gravel pads are mostly shaded and placed a comfortable distance apart. During your time at this 372-acre outdoor recreational area, you can take advantage of fishing and water activities at three lakes. A boat launch and picnic tables are also available. Standard RV sites are $30 nightly, and premium sites are $35 per night.
Beaver Run RV Park's RV sites are large enough to accommodate big rigs, and they come with free internet access, cable service, and full hookups. Challenge other travelers to a game of foosball, pool, or ping pong in the game room. You can also enjoy a designated swimming area, on-site fishing, cornhole, a supplies store, a coin laundry facility, hot showers, and warm cookies when you arrive. The nightly rate is $40, and longer-term rates are available.
State Parks Near Swainsboro, Georgia
Situated 37 miles down the road from Swainsboro, Magnolia Springs State Park is a 1,070-acre protected space with a spring, abundant wildlife, and numerous recreational opportunities. A walk on the boardwalk may give you glimpses of turtles, alligators, and other animals. The small fishing lake features a dock and boat rentals. Four hiking trails are available, including the Fort Lawton Historic Trail, which takes you to the remnants of Civil War-era Camp Lawton. A splash pad and two playgrounds are also on-site.
When you make the one-hour drive from Swainsboro to McRae-Helena, Georgia, you will arrive at Little Ocmulgee State Park. At this park, you can enjoy swimming on a sandy beach along a 256-acre lake. Several nature trails take you by the lake and inland. You can also spend time on the championship golf course and enjoy a meal at the clubhouse restaurant. In addition, miniature golf and a splash pad are available for family fun.
Hamburg State Park is also located an hour away from Swainsboro. It offers a campground that wraps around Hamburg Lake. This lake is teeming with bream, crappie, and bass. A fishing pier and a boat ramp make this park a fisherman’s paradise. The water and park grounds are home to deer, turtles, raccoons, alligators, and many more animals. At this 741-acre park, history buffs can also take advantage of the opportunity to tour a 1920s grist mill and its museum to take a look at what life was like in rural Georgia's history.
National Sites Near Swainsboro, Georgia
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park is located in Macon, approximately 90 miles west of Swainsboro. This park gives you the opportunity to explore the region’s history, dating back to the Ice Age. During your visit, you can discover ancient structures, trenches, and mounds up to 10,000 years old. Some top attractions include the Funeral Mound, the Cornfield Mound, and the McDougal Mound. There are also more than 1 million historical artifacts on display. Ranger-led tours, a visitor center, and multiple hiking and biking trails are also on-site.
Close to Savannah on Cockspur Island, Fort Pulaski National Monument marks the site of a Confederate fort and a prisoner-of-war camp. This location is also historically significant as a destination on the Underground Railroad. The visitor center has a fascinating combination of exhibits and an educational film that delves deep into the history of this landmark. Bicycling, hiking, and kayaking are fun ways to spend time at Fort Pulaski National Monument. The park also offers ranger-led programs for history enthusiasts.
At Ninety Six National Historic Site in South Carolina, you can walk across grounds where two battles in the Revolutionary War took place. Prior to the battles, the lands were contested by settlers and native Cherokee Indians. A walking trail takes you by some of the most monumental locations in the area, and the visitor center features a live-action film, a bookstore, and a museum. Visitors can also go horseback riding, enjoy a picnic, or fish in the Star Fort Pond.
National Forests Near Swainsboro, Georgia
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is a vast, protected wilderness area that covers 867,000 acres through 26 counties. The diverse landscape includes more than just forestland. You'll find tree-covered hills, rivers, streams, and waterfalls. If you walk along a small portion of the 850 miles of nature trails, you may see beavers, bears, foxes, deer, and the endangered red wolf in their native habitats. The Appalachian Trail starts in the forest and offers backpacking and hiking to adventurous visitors. The area is also home to Brasstown Bald, Anna Ruby Falls, and other natural attractions.
Covering 258,864 acres in nearby South Carolina, Francis Marion National Forest has magnificent landscapes. These include the Appalachian Mountains, the Intracoastal Waterway, the Piedmont pine forests, and more. A great way to take in natural beauty and look for the area’s abundant wildlife is by hiking or biking along the Palmetto Trail. For a more rigorous experience, the Wambaw Cycle Trail is suitable for ATVs. A rifle range, boat ramps, and other amenities are also available.
Sumter National Forest is also in South Carolina. On its 370,442 acres, you will find towering trees, 15 waterfalls, the Chattanooga River, and the Appalachian Mountains. The waterfalls range in size from 12 to 75 feet tall. The numerous outdoor recreational activities available to forest visitors include hiking, horseback riding, backpacking, ATV riding, target shooting, hunting, and fishing. In fact, one area of the forest is home to the Forks Area Trail System, which is a collection of mountain biking trails that have received national recognition.
