Location:
Cleveland, GA
Campground Address:
18365 US-19 Cleveland, GA 30528
Campground GPS Coordinates:
34.70655, -83.91513
Campsite Reservations:
Online at Recreation.gov
National Forest:
Chattahoochee-Oconee
Number of Campsites:
23
Campsite Type:
RV, Trailer & Tent-Only (All Non-Electric)
Campsite Season:
Open Year-Round | 4/1 - 10/31 (Peak) | 11/1 - 3/31 (Non-Peak)
Key Amenities:
Flush Toliets (Peak Season), Vault Toliets, Warm Showers (Peak Season), Creek-Front Sites
Map:
Google Maps
Thanks for stopping by to check out this post in the best campsites in Georgia series! Each post features a unique campsite or campground that we have visited in North Georgia.
If you are looking for a quiet and scenic campground with waterfall hiking trails that are kid-friendly, then the DeSoto Falls Recreation Area and campground is a great place to visit.
The 23-site campground is open year-round and is on Frogtown Creek at 2,080 feet elevation. Dark green dense tree canopy covers the entire campground and provides shade from the sun in warmer months, and turn to vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow during October in the fall. Several of the campsites are along Frogtown Creek as well! The creek is periodically stocked with trout twice a month from April to Labor Day which makes for good trout fishing.
Two short hiking trails to Upper (.75 miles) & Lower (.25 miles) DeSoto Falls are accessible via a wooden footbridge across Frogtown Creek from the campground. Both trails are kid-and-dog friendly and have a mild-to-moderate elevation change.
Legend has it that a piece of armor from Hernando de Soto’s 1540 expedition to Georgia and the Southeast was found near one of the waterfalls, giving them the DeSoto Falls name!
Location
The DeSoto Falls Recreation Area is located off of Hwy 129 northwest of Cleveland, GA within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest.
The drive from North Atlanta (Alpharetta/Roswell) is about 1.5 hrs up GA 400 to Cleveland.
Campsite Details
The campground is split into lower (A) and upper (B) loops. The lower loop has 4 sites – 1, 2 and 3 can accommodate one of our trailers, and site 4 is large enough for an RV.
The upper loop has 19 sites – 5 to 10 are tent-only, and 11 to 23 can accommodate one of our trailers. Sites 12, 14, 15, 18 and 20-23 are large enough for an RV.
The campground’s peak season is between April 1st to October 31st and the non-peak season is November 1st to March 31st.
During the peak season warm showers, flush toilets and drinking water are available. The bathhouse is located on the lower loop. Water hydrants are located around the campground.
During the non-peak season, all water in the campground is turned off, but vault toilets are located in the upper loop.
Each campsite has a picnic table, lantern post, and a grill.
Reservations are required and can be made online at Recreation.gov.
Book one of our campers today and start planning your adventure to the DeSoto Falls Campground!