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Van Pugh South Campground lies on the banks of Lake Sidney Lanier in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Northern Georgia. The popular lake boasts nearly 700 miles of shoreline and over 100 small islands, providing over 11 million annual visitors with limitless recreation opportunities.
Lake Lanier offers excellent boating, fishing and swimming. The lake offers additional opportunities for kayaking, wake boarding and much more.
The campground contains 37 sites with water and electric hookups and 18 primitive tent-only sites. Amenities include accessible flush toilets and showers, drinking water, laundry facilities and a dump station. An accessible boat ramp is on-site.
The reservoir was created in 1956 with the completion of Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee River, and today spans 38,000 acres of water in the lush foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Dense forests of oak, hickory and pine cover the region, providing shade in the campground and abundant wildlife habitat.
Lake Lanier Islands is within driving distance and along with other parks provides many opportunities for outdoor recreation. There are several towns within driving distance that provide opportinuties to explore.
Cancellations must be made via the online/phone reservation system or in person at the gatehouse. Cancellation calls to the gatehouse will not be honored.
Take I-85 north to I-985, take Exit 8, turn left on Highway 347/Friendship Road. Turn right on McEver Road, then left on Gaines Ferry Road and follow signs to the campground.
Reservations can be made online at recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
Beautiful campground! Security guarding all the time ! I had an amazing experience here! Only I wish there were more restrooms so that we could just walk from any distance!
Campground is very nice and well run, bathrooms are decent. We had site 46 which has nice waterfront view and is good for swimming. Campsite pad are very small and close to each other.Great access to water for any water sport. We will definitely be back.
Fantastic campground with lots of hidden coves and shores. The reservation website is easy to use and the rangers are very kind. The campground and restrooms are clean.
Van Pugh South is a U.S Corps of Engineers campground that is open to the public. For the most part of the sites are tiny and seem to accommodate one small tent or RV but site 52 is the largest and has a water hookup across the street from it but it is a nonelectric site and they do ask that you do not flush the tanks of your RV with the water hookup at the dumpster area. They offer access to a range of activities with every site waterfront so fishing is as easy as 123. No catch and release restrictions. If you're planning on going out on the water, they even have a boat ramp access. All in all we give it a 4 for beauty but the sites could be a little bigger.
Great spot for a long weekend getaway. Camp host were phenomenal and very accommodating. We fished all weekend and were able to leave the boats in the water and pull them up right in front of camp. The islands in front of the campground do attract a lot of boats pulling up on the beaches and shallow sand bars hanging out for the day, but was not too bad the weekend we were there. Be sure to read all of the restrictions, the host do a good job of monitoring that as well.
