Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area Campground (Clayton, GA)

Kiosk Sign
New Toilet Building
Campsite #4
Campsite # 3
Campsite #1

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
River Access River Access

Available sites

12 total sites

About Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area Campground (Clayton, GA)

All campsites are available by reservation only, reservations may be made at recreation.govWhether you plan your trip during the rebirth of Spring or later in the year during the display of the prominent North Georgia Fall colors, this 13-site developed campground is sure to heighten the innate beauty of the season. Graced with various species of hardwoods and resting on the shore of Tallulah River, Sandy Bottoms provides a rustic experience for the outdoor enthusiast to camp, swim, fish, or just enjoy the scenery. 

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Mar 15 to Dec 31

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Pet friendly Pet friendly
River Access River Access
Water Access

Water Access

  • River Access
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

12 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 1, Loop: Sandy Bottoms RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 10, Loop: Sandy Bottoms RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 11, Loop: Sandy Bottoms RV
Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 13, Loop: Sandy Bottoms RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 2, Loop: Sandy Bottoms RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 3, Loop: Sandy Bottoms RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 4, Loop: Sandy Bottoms RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 5, Loop: Sandy Bottoms RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 6, Loop: Sandy Bottoms RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 7, Loop: Sandy Bottoms RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel
🚐 8, Loop: Sandy Bottoms RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 9, Loop: Sandy Bottoms RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site

Reviews (26)

What Guests Are Saying

Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area Campground is praised for its spacious, clean campsites and peaceful atmosphere, making it a favorite for families over many years. Visitors appreciate the beautiful surroundings, good fishing opportunities, and the chance to unplug from technology due to the lack of cell service. Some concerns include the need for better grass maintenance and issues with the reservation system, but overall, guests report enjoyable stays and a desire to return.

Review Summary

4.5
26 reviews
5
61.5%
16
4
23.1%
6
3
15.4%
4
2
0.0%
0
1
0.0%
0

Thomas B

Verified

October 6, 2025 • Stayed at: 4, Loop: Sandy Bottoms

3

On recreation.gov you gave the wrong directions to the campsite. I clicked on the other Sandy Bottoms near Morgantown Georgia. You need to fix the website. There are two Sandy Bottoms campgrounds in north georgia

Dana G

Verified

September 17, 2025 • Stayed at: 6, Loop: Sandy Bottoms

5

We had so much fun exploring the area! The campground was well kept, clean vault toilets. We camped on site 6 and loved it! Great sun/shade combo, easy access to the water, close to potable and toilet. We saw a mountain lion one morning across the creek but he kept moving. Pay attention to your driving directions! GPS sent us to upper Hightower road and unless you have a vehicle made for major off road and creek crossings- DONT go that way! I was in an Acadia and almost got stuck. Fortunately someone came along who knew the area, helped me turn around on a super sketch incline and redirected me to turn on Persimmion. There is zero cell service at campground and for miles leading to it- so be sure to map it beforehand. Loved exploring Tate City. A local told us about a waterfall and where the AT crosses nearby. We didn’t do the hike to falls bc I couldn’t find the trailhead and again no service. I had my 80 yo mother with me so I didn’t want to risk it. Take your flyrods because there’s lots of places to fish! This was our first visit to Sandy Bottoms as well as the Clayton area. We LOVED IT! There was literally not a bad campsite. All the ones along the water were my favorites and while I loved site 6, the only other one I preferred more was site 2. Site 7 is popular because it’s at the end of the loop and has a cool small waterfall as well as access to a deeper swimming hole, but I noticed it didn’t have much shade. We stayed 5 nights and the first 2 someone was on it- then Sunday and Monday people used it as a day use area until another camper came along. We saw a sheriff ride through a few times which for a female was comforting. Also may want to check Nicolas campground to see about paying for a hot shower for lengthy trips. I drove down but couldn’t find anyone to ask, so maybe call ahead if that’s an interest for you. Sandy Bottoms was our favorite, but Tate Branch seemed nice too if you can’t get in at Sandy Bottom.

Artie H

Verified

September 14, 2025 • Stayed at: 3, Loop: Sandy Bottoms

5

Y

Joy M

Verified

August 17, 2025 • Stayed at: 9, Loop: Sandy Bottoms

4

Always enjoy camping at Sandy Bottoms. The campsites are sized fairly large giving ample room for setup and mobility. The restrooms are maintained well. Overall the campsites are left pretty clean by other campers. I wish the campground remained open longer since our area really doesn’t experience winter until Jan/Feb. Now that the campground is on the reservation calendar, you can be sure of a campsite. However, the site we desired showed a reservation for the weekend we camped but no one ever showed up for the entire weekend.

Jeff N

Verified

June 7, 2025 • Stayed at: 10, Loop: Sandy Bottoms

5

Very nice campground and very clean. Great spot on the lake.

Tim H

Verified

May 19, 2025 • Stayed at: 7, Loop: Sandy Bottoms

5

Quiet and private campground. Bathrooms were clean and neighbors were nice and respectful. No cell service for quite a distance. Trout fishing was good.

Location & Directions for Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area Campground (Clayton, GA)

4841 Tallulah River Road, Clayton, GA 30525 United States

Elevation: 572 ft

Getting There

Take U.S. 76 west from Clayton, Georgia for 8 mi; turn right (north) on Persimmon Road for 4.2 mi; turn left (northwest) on Tallulah River Road (Forest Service Road 70) for 4.6 mi to arrive at Sandy Bottoms Campground.

Nearest town

Clayton, GA - 67 mi

About over 1 hr (92 min) to downtown

Highway access

Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area Campground is accessible via U.S. Highway 76, approximately 8 miles east of Clayton, Georgia.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 20, 2026

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Explore Clayton, GA

Population: 2,018

Nearby larger city

Alpharetta, GA

Approx. 49 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 1,932 ft

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Managed by the USDA Forest Service