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

Tommy G

Verified

October 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 8, Loop: B

5

Been camping here for over 15 years and will keep going back finally they are by reservation so we can reserve our favorite spot and not have to wonder if its open or not waterfalls and camp host (MRS BRENDA) are great

Brittany C

Verified

October 12, 2020 • Stayed at: 1, Loop: A

1

The campsite host were rude drunks!! I packed up and left a day early and can’t even get the federal park to give me a refund.

Elizabeth J

Verified

October 10, 2020 • Stayed at: 12, Loop: B

4

Enjoyed our camping. Had a great camp site and walked to the falls the camp grounds and park are very beautiful. Road noise from above on Route 19 could get pretty loud. There is no electricity even in the toilets.

Daniel W

Verified

October 9, 2020 • Stayed at: 14, Loop: B

5

We love Desoto Falls campground as there is sufficient space between campsites and you feel you have some privacy. It's clean and the location is good for other activities but most importantly the camp hosts have been there for years and they are readily available to handle any problems that arise. They keep trouble makers out of the camp. We love Brenda and Doug

Kiana C

Verified

October 8, 2020 • Stayed at: 13, Loop: B

5

DeSoto Falls is an excellent place to camp. There are a lot of regulars so you're not surrounded by strangers. The camp hosts are awesome. I have a family member with a disability and he is always treated like family. I camp here three and four times a year and love it.

Aly H

Verified

October 6, 2020 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: B

4

Love the spots near the running water. Pretty close to the road, so there was road noise though. Nice hikes to the falls.

Betty E

Verified

October 5, 2020 • Stayed at: 3, Loop: A

4

We used to love going to Desoto Falls. The camp host MR.and Mrs. Ayers are the best. They work their behinds off there to keep the falls looking great. They carry out and enforce the rules. I’m sorry that my husband and I witnessed a camper and two girls being very rude and loud, barking dogs not on a leash most of the time and a loud generator keeping us awake all night long. It’s sad when these campers cussed Mr.Ayers like a dog and was calling him terriable names. These camp host make Desoto Falls the awesome place that it was .

Ann B

Verified

October 4, 2020 • Stayed at: 23, Loop: B

3

The camp host were very friendly and helpful. Their knowledge of the area was great.
We were in site 23. It was nice but in desperate need of some gravel.
Someone ran a generator all night a couple of nights.

Michael V

Verified

October 4, 2020 • Stayed at: 4, Loop: A

5

Great campground right along DeSoto Falls. It provided great access to plenty of hiking in the area. We stayed in the lower loop, but if I visit again I would stay in the back loop, as it is along the stream that goes between the two waterfalls and I'm guessing has a little less road noise than our lower loop spot did.

Chloe S

Verified

September 25, 2020 • Stayed at: 4, Loop: A

5

Great hosts. Clean area. Well planned sites.

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

Message us

Need help?

Our team is here to help you find the perfect spot for your next adventure.

Message us

Replies within minutes

Explore Dahlonega, GA

Population: 7,299

Nearby city: Alpharetta, GA

Approx. 49 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 1,450 ft

USDA Forest Service Logo
Managed by the USDA Forest Service