Waterside safari tents near Tallulah Falls
This North Georgia town is the gateway to cascading waterfalls, dramatic canyons, and gleaming lakes.
- Tallulah Falls
Popular camping styles for Tallulah Falls
Waterside safari tents near Tallulah Falls guide
Overview
Perched at the mouth of the 1,000-foot Tallulah Gorge and hemmed in by woodlands, waterfalls, and lakes, the small town of Tallulah Falls is one of Georgia’s most popular outdoor escapes. Sitting pretty at the entrance to the Tallulah Gorge State Park, hikers, campers, and leaf-peepers can explore scenic rim trails and five waterfalls, hike down into the Tallulah river gorge, and admire views of Hurricane Falls from a 200-foot-long suspension bridge. The state park campground has tent and RV campsites with electric hookups, plus backcountry camping.
Where to go
Rabun County
North of Tallulah Falls, the mountains Rabun County affords plenty of options for hikers. Head to Lake Rabun just outside of town, check into a campground on the shore of Lake Burton, or see the waterfalls at Moccasin Creek State Park. For mountain hikes, you can’t go wrong at Black Rock Mountain State Park, Georgia’s highest state park, where you can drive your RV up into the hills or rent a mountaintop cottage.
Habersham County
In the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and dotted with small towns, Habersham County stretches south of Tallulah Falls. Go canoeing, kayaking, and fly fishing along the Chattahoochee and Soque rivers, or try hiking and backcountry camping along part of the Appalachian Trail. Further south, Lake Russell has hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails, while Don Carter State Park sports a lakeside campground and cabin rentals.
South Carolina
Tallulah Falls sits right on the border of Georgia and South Carolina, making it easy to hop over state lines. On the border, Lake Tugalo is a popular spot for boating and fishing, but if you prefer your water sports with a dose of adrenaline, you could try whitewater rafting along the Chattooga River instead. Also within reach are the many campgrounds of Lake Keowee and Lake Hartwell, and the mountain trails and cabins of Oconee State Park.
When to go
The state park and campgrounds are open year-round, but the best weather for hiking and camping is in the cooler months of spring and fall (March to June or September to November), as summers can be sweltering in Georgia. Leaf-peepers should time their trip for fall when the forested gorges serve up some of the state’s best fall foliage views.
Know before you go
- Tallulah Falls has a general store and a couple of restaurants and cafés, while the closest gas stations are along Highway 23, a short drive from town.
- Both a daily parking fee and camping reservation fees apply at Tallulah Gorge State Park. A free, first-come, first-served permit is required to access the gorge floor and is available from the Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center. Numbers are limited, so arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays.
- Permitted backcountry camping is possible only at designated sites within the park.
