Discover the best campgrounds near Columbus, Georgia

Columbus is set right along the Alabama-Georgia border with the Chattahoochee River and Lake Oliver marking its northwestern border. Camping here means quick access to national forests, fishing lakes, and endless hiking trails. Less than an hour away, F.D. Roosevelt State Park is Georgia’s largest state park, with well-appointed, year-round campgrounds that include restrooms and showers. Meanwhile, RV campsites with full hookups (and access to amazing bass fishing!) are available in Florence Marina State Park. A little farther off the beaten path, try primitive hunting campsites in Tuskegee National Forest. Near Columbus, serene escape into the American South awaits every type of Hipcamper.

Where to go

Florence Marina State Park

About 40 minutes south of Columbus, Florence Marina State Park offers terrific opportunities to fish for bass, bream, and catfish in Walter F. George Lake and Chattahoochee River. The accessible pier and boat ramp can accommodate anglers of all types who hit the bait shop in the visitor center from spring to fall. After a day on the water, spend the night glamping in a cottage, camping in a tent, or settling in at a back-in or pull-through RV campsite with full electricity and water hookups. Picnic tables, fire rings, and a children’s playground are among the amenities in this quiet Georgia park.

Tuskegee National Forest

Cross over to Alabama, less than an hour east of Columbus, to visit Tuskegee National Forest, home to hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails that vary in difficulty. Check with the Tuskegee Ranger District office for camping permits at one of the year-round designated primitive campsites. For big-game hunters, Tuskegee is the only national forest in Alabama without a wildlife management area (WMA), but licenses are still required.

F.D. Roosevelt State Park

Less than an hour north of Columbus, near Pine Mountain, sits F.D. Roosevelt State Park—the largest state park in Georgia covering 9,000 acres. Hikers and backpackers can daytrip in or reserve a pet-friendly campsite next to a small fishing pond. Cast a line from the shore or head out in a kayak to catch catfish, bream, and largemouth bass. Back-in and pull-through RV campsites are open year-round with up to 50-amp electrical hookups, water hookups, picnic tables, and firepits. Shared amenities include laundry facilities, restrooms, and showers.

When to go

The hot and humid summer in Georgia is also the peak tourist season for campgrounds in Columbus. For a milder, quieter escape into nature, reserve a campsite in the spring or fall. In spring, daytime temperatures hover around 70°F. During this time, many campers hike among the blooming wildflowers. Fall temperatures are a bit chillier, around 60°F, with picturesque foliage creating a colorful backdrop for year-round hiking trails in the region. Spring and fall tend to be the best times for fishing near Columbus, as well, particularly for bass.