View from the Observation Deck
Foot Bridge(across from host site) that accesses the trail to the upper and lower water falls.

Featured amenities

Parking Parking
Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
Picnic Table Picnic Table
Restrooms Restrooms
River Access River Access

Available sites

23 total sites

About Desoto Falls Recreation Area

Desoto Falls Recreation Area is a U.S. Forest Service Campground located approximately 2 hours North of Atlanta in the North Georgia mountains of the Chattahoochee National Forest.  Desoto Falls offers visitors year-round recreation opportunities including camping, fishing, picnicking, and beautiful hikes to our nearby waterfalls. The campground is situated along Frogtown Creek with at an elevation of 2.1 ft above sea level, under a dense forest of deciduous and evergreen trees.   23 campsites are neatly arranged in two loops(upper and lower), with each loop having creek sites. The climate here is fairly mild and generally offers all four seasons, so it is a wonderful place to relax and experience each of these throughout the year. North Georgia is a playground for wildlife watchers. An abundance of Deer, Turkey, Bear and, small furbearers can be seen as well as bird watching. If you need to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, come to Desoto Falls.   

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 - Apr 1 to Oct 31

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Parking Parking
Pet friendly Pet friendly
Picnic Table Picnic Table
Restrooms Restrooms
River Access River Access
Fire Pit Fire Pit
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Restrooms
Cooking and Fire

Cooking and Fire

  • Picnic Table
  • Grill
  • Fire Pit
Parking and Transport

Parking and Transport

  • Parking
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.

23 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 1, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 40 × 30 ft · Gravel
⛺ 10, Loop: B Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 11, Loop: B Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 12, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 45 × 27 ft · Gravel
⛺ 13, Loop: B Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 14, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 90 × 33 ft · Gravel
🚐 15, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 45 × 42 ft · Gravel
🚐 16, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 48 × 36 ft · Gravel
🚐 17, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 36 × 21 ft · Gravel
🚐 18, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 48 × 36 ft · Gravel
🚐 19, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 36 × 36 ft · Gravel
🚐 2, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 40 × 15 ft · Gravel
🚐 20, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 45 × 40 ft · Gravel
🚐 21, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 48 × 36 ft · Gravel
🚐 22, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 50 × 27 ft · Gravel
🚐 23, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 45 × 42 ft · Gravel
🚐 3, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 50 × 36 ft · Gravel
🚐 4, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 45 × 36 ft · Gravel
⛺ 5, Loop: B Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 6, Loop: B Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 7, Loop: B Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 8, Loop: B Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 9, Loop: B Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire

Reviews (323)

What Guests Are Saying

Desoto Falls Recreation Area offers a clean and well-maintained campground with beautiful surroundings and spacious sites, especially along the creek. Many visitors appreciate the friendly camp hosts and the proximity to hiking trails leading to stunning waterfalls. However, some guests note significant road noise from nearby traffic and mention that the facilities could use improvements, particularly the bathrooms. Overall, it remains a popular destination for those seeking a peaceful camping experience in nature.

Review Summary

4.3
323 reviews
5
57.0%
184
4
24.1%
78
3
10.8%
35
2
5.0%
16
1
3.1%
10

Robert B

Verified

May 5, 2021 • Stayed at: 21, Loop: B

4

Making reservations for Desoto Falls Recreation Area was very easy, and we were able to change sites when we needed. We parked a rented Class B camper on site 15. It was very nice, only slightly sloped, but that didn't cause any trouble. There was a very clean two-door pit toilet without a sink or water in a building across the road. Water was a short walk away. We enjoyed eating meals on the picnic table. We would visit this area again, maybe even with a tent.
We were a little disappointed that we didn't get to either of the falls. We found the bridge across the creek with a sign indicating 1/4 mi to the lower falls, but we walked 1/4 mi toward them and they were nowhere in sight. We were going uphill not going lower and It was getting dark. The map we had didn't show an ascent, so we just went back to the campsite and sat outside for a while. Having a three-hour drive in the morning, we couldn't investigate the falls this trip.

Valerie S

Verified

May 2, 2021 • Stayed at: 3, Loop: A

5

We love Desoto Falls Recreation area, as we visit every year! The hosts are very dear friends of my husband and myself. The falls are a sight to see, there are two so either one of them, both are a peaceful hike. Staying in the campground is very peaceful, the lower loop have flushable toilets and and hot showers , and the upper loop has a chemical toilet . There is a creek flowing thru the the campground. Rains and winds can be challenging.
Although we cant get enough!

Joseph M

Verified

April 28, 2021 • Stayed at: 18, Loop: B

4

Good campsites, great weekend. The highway going by was obnoxious at times, but it's a beautiful place.

Alan W

Verified

April 26, 2021 • Stayed at: 14, Loop: B

2

x

Emily B

Verified

April 25, 2021 • Stayed at: 19, Loop: B

4

We had a great time. Campground was clean and well maintained, we enjoyed hiking to falls (upper and lower) and exploring the area.

KATHLEEN D

Verified

April 14, 2021 • Stayed at: 20, Loop: B

3

Our family really enjoyed the spacious sites and stream that ran behind our site. The restrooms were clean and adequate. I would have loved to give 5 stars but the noise from cars racing on the road above the campground was non stop!! It really ruined what would have otherwise been a very serene campground.

andrew h

Verified

March 30, 2021 • Stayed at: 14, Loop: B

5

The sites next to the creek are absolutely beautiful! Some of my favorite car camping spots hands-down. My only words of warning would be that one, in the sites closer to the highway you will hear people driving by at all hours of the day, that Mountain Road is very popular. And two, know that the bathrooms are really just glorified out houses with no lights, so you’ll need to bring your headlamp in with you. Certainly not a dealbreaker! But it is just something to be aware of. If you do end up camping here I recommend you drive about 10 minutes up the mountain road and check out mountain crossings. It is a mile stone on the AT and holds a lot of sentimental value to through hikers. To the right the store has a beautiful vista view, and frankly the store itself is really cool. The store is without a doubt one of a kind so if you’re in the area you should definitely check it out.

Darryl S

Verified

March 28, 2021 • Stayed at: 16, Loop: B

4

Good location and good camp sites.

Charles R

Verified

March 26, 2021 • Stayed at: 9, Loop: B

4

Some friends and I stayed at one of the sites for a night, and everything was perfect, good bathrooms, nice hiking trails, beautiful scenery, etc. There’s a bit of a problem with campsite cleanup after people leave but otherwise it was a pretty good experience. Great park for lots of outdoor activities.

Christer B

Verified

March 23, 2021 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: B

5

The campsites are clean and well kept and the gravel road is in good shape. There are several bathrooms that could have been cleaner but they are in functional order. The sites are close together and not for you if you are looking for a more private camping experience. Plenty of sign and information boards available. The river runs through the site and provides a nice background sound at night. The main road also provides a sound but only the sound of the jake Break from the many trucks driving past day and night.....Pick the lower loop or bring some earplugs for your nighttime slumber. If you venture on the two trails that lead to the upper and lower falls you will encounter bridges and steps that have been redone recently and a beautiful picture spot for amazing pictures. Overall a good campsite.

Location & Directions for Desoto Falls Recreation Area

De Soto Falls Recreation Area, Dahlonega, GA 30533 United States

Elevation: 624 ft

Getting There

<p>From Blairsville, GA take U.S. Highway 19/129 South for 17 mi and the campground entrance is on your right. From Dahlonega, GA take Highway 19 North for 18 mi and the entrance in on your left. From Cleveland, GA, take 19/129 North for 16 mi and...

Nearest town

Dahlonega, GA - 17 mi

About 29 min to downtown

Highway access

Desoto Falls Recreation Area is accessible via U.S. Highway 19, with connections to U.S. Highway 129. It is approximately 17 miles from Blairsville and 18 miles from Dahlonega.

Policies & Rules

General

  • During non-peak season (November 1 - April 1), all water is turned off to the entire campground.
  • Be bear aware; keep all food in containers or locked inside a vehicle as much as possible. Remove all food from the area after eating and during nighttime hours. Dispose of garbage promptly in our bear proof garbage dumpster.
  • Limit of two vehicles per campsite except the double site (site #14), which is a maximum of 4 vehicles.
  • No generators, music or other loud noises during this time. Be respectful to other campground visitors.
  • Campfires are permitted in grills only.
  • Pets must be on a leash at all times.
  • Discharging of firearms and fireworks is prohibited.
  • Do not leave fires unattended; they must be fully-extinguished and cold to the touch before check-out.
  • Note: cell phone service may not work in some areas due to tower location and terrain.
  • No day use or picnicking in the campground. Please use the day-use area or the picnic area if you do not have a reservation.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 22, 2026

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Explore Dahlonega, GA

Population: 7,299

Nearby city: Alpharetta, GA

Approx. 49 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 1,450 ft

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Managed by the USDA Forest Service