Tugaloo State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Located on the shore of Lake Hartwell in Franklin County, Georgia, Tugaloo State Park is a favorite among campers who love being surrounded by water. This recreational area features 393 acres of forest with a diverse mix of pines, hickories, and oaks. While closest to Lavonia, this park is also within 20 miles of Bowersville, Martin, and Canon. With muggy summers and cold winters, the best time to visit the park for outdoor activities such as fishing, swimming, boating, and hiking is from April to early June and late August to mid-October.
Spring 41-80 F
Summer 67-89 F
Fall 42-80 F
Winter 32-55 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Tugaloo State Park
If you want to enjoy the Tugaloo State Park amenities with fellow campers, consider visiting in an RV. This makes it much easier to pack up and check out other parts of Lake Hartwell and other attractions on the Georgia-South Carolina border. If you don't own an RV, consider getting a rental through RVshare.com.
Tugaloo State Park Campground
Tugaloo State Park Campground is one of Georgia's most attractive and picturesque sites. It is snuggled on the shores of the breathtaking Lake Hartwell and has a total of 105 campsites available for RVers.
Every campsite at Tugaloo State Park is fitted with electrical and water hookups as well as BBQ grills and picnic tables. Some of the sites also offer access to cable TV and full hookups. Pets are allowed on the campgrounds for as long as they stay on a leash near your RV.
The campground has a dumping station located near the entrance of the park. It also has several washroom facilities and a playground within a walking distance where you and your kids, or friends, can have lots of fun at the lake. Meanwhile, if you would rather engage the new friends you make, or your family, in sports, there is a mini-golf course, horseshoe pits, tennis courts, and volleyball courts.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Site-specific
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Dumping station, picnic tables, BBQ grills, cable TV (site-specific)
Lake Hartwell State Park Campground
Across the lake and approximately 12 miles from Tugaloo State Park is Lake Hartwell State Park in Fair Play, South Carolina. Featuring a lakefront with 115 paved sites, this campground is a beautiful choice if you fancy a blend of waterfront and woodsy locations.
Lake Hartwell State Park Campground consists of sites with pull-thru or back-in parking, and it can handle up to 45-feet long RVs. However, be sure to double-check the specifications as the concrete pads vary in size.
For your RV site, the campground provides water and electricity hookups, picnic tables, and a fire ring. The facility also offers flush toilets and hot showers. There is also a dump station, boat ramp, as well as laundry facilities at the campground. Pets are allowed, but they must be kept within a short leash.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Dumping station, picnic tables, BBQ grills
What to Do at
Tugaloo State Park
Inside Tugaloo State Park
Tugaloo State Park offers an endless array of outdoor recreation options. Those who enjoy water sports can boat, sail, canoe, and swim in 56,000-acre Lake Hartwell. You can also go picnicking on the shores of the lake or take part in fishing tournaments. Birdwatching is also popular; keep an eye out for the endangered peregrine falcon.
Outside Tugaloo State Park
RV camping in northeastern Georgia is a true delight. Apart from the beautiful scenery of Tugaloo State Park, there are restaurants, resorts, spas, grocery shops, and historical sites in the general area. Downtown Lavonia is less than eight miles from the park.
Restaurants
Gumlog Bar B Que and Fish Lodge
This restaurant is a tasty destination for barbecue lovers in Lavonia. The joint is kid-friendly, and it has enough space for RV parking except on busy occasions. Gumlog Bar B Que and Fish Lodge is known for serving chicken, burgers, and seafood.
Type: American, Seafood, Barbecue
Location: 106 Whitworthschool Farmer Ct, Lavonia, GA 30553
Tilly's Tiki Bar and Grill
Located in Harbor Light Marina, Tilly's Tiki Bar and Grill is a lake restaurant that serves a great mix of menu items, including seafood. It offers free parking, a full bar, and lots of entertainment on a nightly basis.
Type: American, Bar, Pub
Location: 1476 Harbor Light Marina Rd, Lavonia, GA 30553
Spotted Pig
The Spotted Pig is known for its savory smoky meats and mouth-watering sides. If you love brisket, pulled pork, and ribs, this restaurant is the place to go. It offers both indoor and outdoor dining.
Type: Barbecue, Southern
Location: 15491 SC-11, Fair Play, SC 29643
211 Main Street Restaurant & Bakery
If you are looking for a beautiful place to enjoy paninis, salads, and sandwiches, then stop by the 211 Main Street Restaurant & Bakery. They offer lots of baked pies and cakes too.
Type: American
Location: 211 W Main St, Lavonia, GA 30553
Downtown Cafe & Pizzeria
Situated downtown of the beautiful historic Lavonia, the Downtown Café and Pizzeria offers fine Italian cuisine, including tasty pizzas and salads.
Type: Italian
Location: 207 W Main St, Lavonia, GA 30553
Shopping
Tugaloo Corners General Store
Situated along the Tugaloo State Park Road, Tugaloo Corners General Store is a convenience store where you can get all your camping supplies.
Location: 24 Tugaloo State Park Rd, Lavonia, GA 30553
Lavonia Antique Market
For souvenirs and interesting antiques to help you remember Tugaloo State Park, stop at Lavonia Antique Market. This shop stocks everything you need to gift yourself and your loved ones.
Location: 180 Lauren Dr, Lavonia, GA 30553
Harbor Light Marina
The Harbor Light Marina is the place to go if you need a variety of services, including boat rentals for lake activities at Tugaloo.
Location: 1476 Harbor Light Marina Rd, Lavonia, GA 30553
Lakemont Jewelers
Jewelry often makes the best memorabilia of a place. On your visit to Tugaloo, stop at Lakemont Jewelers for rings, bracelets, and anklets among others.
Location: 13375 Jones St, Lavonia, GA 30553, United States
Dollar General
At the Dollar General, you can shop for all the essentials and necessities for your camping trip at great discounts.
Location: 60 Poplar Springs Rd, Lavonia, GA 30553
Sightseeing
Balloon Safaris International
You can experience great views from above Lake Hartwell in a hot air balloon, courtesy of Balloon Safaris International. This is the perfect option if you want a truly unforgettable adventure.
Location: 986 E. Main St, Lavonia, GA 30553
Lavonia Speedway
Before leaving the Tugaloo region, make a stop at the Lavonia Speedway for the popular motor racing event in Georgia.
Location: 5941 Lavonia Hwy, Lavonia, GA 30553
Side Track Theater at On the Rail
For the best entertainment, parties, anniversaries, movie and period sets, and theatrical productions, check out the Side Track Theater at On the Rail. This 85-year-old former warehouse offers a warm environment for events.
Location: 986 E Main St, Lavonia, GA 30553
Heart Strings Arts and Crafts
Heart Strings Arts and Crafts stocks vintage and antique items. If you need pottery items and paintings to carry home with you as souvenirs, this is the place to visit.
Location: 12415 Augusta Rd (Hwy 17), Lavonia, GA 30553
Chickasaw Point Golf Club
If you brought your clubs, book a tee time at Chickasaw Point Golf Club. You don’t even need to have the proper golfing attire.
Location: 503 S Hogan Dr, Westminster, SC 29693
How to Get to
Tugaloo State Park
From Atlanta, take I-85 North to exit #173, and turn left on GA-17. Turn right on Gerrard Road and go for 1.5 miles. You'll then left onto GA-328. The park is 3.3 miles ahead. The entrance is on the right.
Entering Tugaloo State Park
Like all the other state parks in Georgia, you require a ParkPass to enter Tugaloo. Your reservation charges are not inclusive of the ParkPass. You only need one ParkPass if you are staying overnight. You can use the ParkPass to visit other state parks in Georgia, but it is not valid while visiting historic sites.
Tugaloo State Park ParkPass per passenger vehicle : $5.0
per day
If you are looking for a magical place in the wild to visit this year, get an RV rental from RVshare.com and head to Tugaloo State Park. There is so much to see and do here! Don’t forget to tag us in your social media posts about your trip. You can also send photos to us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured on our blog.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tugaloo State Park
Because of the many outdoor activities Tugaloo State Park offers, the best time to visit is summer when you can go boating, sailing, water skiing and swimming. However, the park is less crowded in spring and autumn.
Lake Hartwell is teaming with waterfowl in autumn and winter. You can see Canadian geese, ring-necked ducks, common loons and other fowl during these seasons. You can also spot red foxes, gray foxes, hawks and raccoons.
There are 105 electric campsites. Select campsites have water and sewer hookups, and some sites are pull-throughs while others are back-ins. RV owners can also engage in pioneer or "dry" camping on sites with no hookups.
Pets are allowed in Tugaloo State Park, but you must abide by all of the park's rules concerning them. Some areas are not pet-friendly, so you can't take your pets there.
Yes, Tugaloo State Park has three accessible campsites. These sites are located near the ADA-compliant bathhouses and pavilions to accommodate disabled visitors' needs. One of the park's group shelters is accessible, too.