Upper Chattahoochee River Campground
USDA Forest Service campground in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, near Helen, Georgia.
Summary
Managed by the USDA Forest Service, Upper Chattahoochee River Campground sits in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, about 80 miles (straight line) from Atlanta. It has 19 overnight sites and a nightly fee of $12, and it is open seasonally (about Mar to Oct). Within 5 miles there are 2.9 miles of trail open to bikes, the closest being Appalachian Trail (1.5 mi away). Sites are reservable on Recreation.gov; the largest accommodate RVs and trailers up to 16 ft.
When it's open
Seasonal (approx Mar–Oct) Mar 15 – Oct 31
Georgia campgrounds open year-round →
Source: USDA Forest Service recreation page. It says: “Season 03/15 – 10/31” Opening and closing dates can shift with weather and staffing.
Hookups & amenities
- 🚿ShowersNot listed
- 🚻Toilets (vault or pit)Listed
- 🚰Drinking waterNot listed
- ⚡Electric hookupsNot listed
- 💧Water hookupsNot listed
- 🔧Sewer hookupsNot listed
- 🔌Full hookups (E/W/S)Not listed
- ↪Pull-through sites (1)Listed
- 🚐Dump stationNot listed
- 📶Wi-FiNot listed
- 🧺LaundryNot listed
- 🏪Camp storeNot listed
- 🛝PlaygroundNot listed
- 🏊SwimmingNot listed
- 🚤Boat rampNot listed
- 🐕Pet-friendlyListed
- ♿ADA-accessible sitesNot listed
- 🛖CabinsNot listed
- 🔥Fire ringsListed
- 🍖GrillsNot listed
- 🪑Picnic tablesListed
- 🧑Camp hostNot listed
- 🐻Food storage lockersNot listed
Listed only when Recreation.gov site records report it. "Not listed" means the source doesn't say, not that the campground lacks it.
Map: trails and roads near Upper Chattahoochee River Campground
Loads MapLibre with OpenFreeMap tiles only when you tap.
Campsite layout
Check live availability on Recreation.gov ↗
We don't show live availability. Openings change by the minute and only the official reservation system has them.
How it compares
- With 19 sites it is the #70 largest of 92 Georgia campgrounds that publish a site count (small and usually quieter).
- Its lowest fee ($12) is $3 below the Georgia median of $15/night.
- There are 39 other campgrounds in our data within 25 miles; 1 of them list a lower starting fee.
- 97% of Georgia campgrounds that publish a length limit accept a rig this long (16 ft).
- Pets allowed on 19 of 19 sites; campfires allowed on 18 (subject to seasonal fire bans).
- Straight-line distance: Atlanta ~80 mi, Knoxville ~81 mi, Chattanooga ~88 mi.
Amenities & rules
Fire ringsLantern postsPicnic tablesTent padsTrash collectionVault toiletsPets allowedTentsRVs/trailers
Nightly fee: $12, from the USDA Forest Service recreation page page (retrieved Oct 20, 2026).
Fee notes from Recreation.gov: All camping is by Reservation only and needs to be completed online at www.recreation.gov or by phone at (877) 444-6777.
Trails within 5 miles
| Trail | Closest point | Mapped miles within 5 mi | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horse Trough Falls | 0.4 mi | 0.1 | USFS |
| Appalachian Trail | 1.5 mi | 16.6 | USFS |
| Jacks Knob | 2.6 mi | 3.0 | USFS |
| Andrews Cove | 2.7 mi | 1.7 | USFS |
| Rocky Mountain | 3.1 mi | 1.7 | USFS |
| High Shoals | 3.8 mi | 1.1 | USFS |
| Anna Ruby Falls | 4.3 mi | 0.4 | USFS |
| Smith Creek Trail | 4.3 mi | 1.3 | USFS |
| Anna Ruby Picnic | 4.6 mi | 0.1 | USFS |
| Raven Cliffs | 4.9 mi | 1.5 | USFS |
Mountain biking nearby
2.9 miles of bike-legal trail lie within 5 miles. Difficulty mix: Unrated: 2.9 mi
| Trail | Closest point | Miles within 5 mi | Difficulty (as tagged) | Kids | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Trail | 1.5 mi | 1.1 | Unrated | USFS | |
| Andrews Cove | 2.7 mi | 1.7 | Unrated | USFS | |
| Anna Ruby Picnic | 4.6 mi | 0.1 | Unrated | USFS |
Ratings come only from OpenStreetMap mtb:scale / IMBA tags. Untagged trails show as "Unrated", and we never guess. Check conditions and maps on Trailforks or MTB Project.
Dump stations near Upper Chattahoochee River Campground
| Public dump station (OpenStreetMap) | Distance | Fee | Water | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dump station (unnamed in OSM) | 17.7 mi | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Dump station (unnamed in OSM) | 22.2 mi | Free | Yes | Customers |
Straight-line distances. Dump station points: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); fees, hours and access change, so confirm before you go.
Activities listed
BikingBoatingCampingDay Use AreaFire Lookouts/cabins OvernightFishingHikingHorse CampingHorseback RidingHuntingOff Highway VehiclePicnickingRecreational VehiclesScenic DriveSwimmingVisitor CenterWildernessWildlife Viewing
Nearest campgrounds
| Campground | Miles | State | Fee/night | Sites | Hookups | Max RV | Pets | Booking | Trails ≤5 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasus Creek Campground Private campground |
2.0 | GA | — | — | — | — | — | ? | 12 (31.8 mi) |
| Low Gap Campground Private campground |
2.4 | GA | — | — | — | — | — | ? | 12 (31.8 mi) |
| Andrew's Cove Campground Mar–Dec Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest |
2.6 | GA | $12–$18 | 10 | — | 24 ft | yes | Reserve | 9 (25.7 mi) |
| Indian Grave Gap Road Dispersed Campsite 1 National Forest |
3.6 | GA | Free | — | — | yes | — | ? | 9 (27.6 mi) |
| Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area Cabins Open year-round Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest |
7.0 | GA | $26–$48 | 32 | E 50A W | 40 ft | yes | Reserve | 17 (47.0 mi) |
| Smithgall Woods State Park Campground Cabins Smithgall Woods State Park |
7.4 | GA | $23–$50 (GA schedule) | — | — | — | — | Reserve | 4 (7.2 mi) |
Hookups: E = electric (max amps), W = water, S = sewer. "—" means the agency doesn't publish it. Trail counts are named USFS/NPS trails within 5 miles. 🟢 = kid-friendly (green-rated) bike trail nearby. "Open year-round" and month ranges come from the agency, state park or OpenStreetMap season; no tag means no season is published.