Desoto Falls Recreation Area

De Soto Falls Recreation Area, Dahlonega, Georgia, United States
Check Availability
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
View all amenities

Available sites

23 total sites
RV Sites 15 sites Check Availability Tent Sites 8 sites Check Availability

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)

Verified Only

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

Denietra D

Verified

July 6, 2025 • Stayed at: 13, Loop: B

2

No showers the entire 2 weeks of my stay

Ken D

Verified

July 3, 2025 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: B

4

I had a great visit & really enjoyed my stay.
I would give 1 more star if only the bath house had had water so that I could get a shower.
The weather was hot & a shower each day would have been better.
The entry to site 5 is a little tight but overall that site would be a favorite.
I’m looking forward to a return trip & maybe the water will be working at the bath house.

Claire K

Verified

June 27, 2025 • Stayed at: 14, Loop: B

5

Being next to the water was amazing. The space was ample 10 out of 10

Pamela B

Verified

June 16, 2025 • Stayed at: 23, Loop: B

4

WE ENJOY CAMPIMG HERE EVERY YEAR WITH FAMILY
THE CAMPSITES ARE WELL TAKING CARE OF
THE CAMPHOST ARE GREAT

Marla P

Verified

June 9, 2025 • Stayed at: 19, Loop: B

4

We enjoyed our stay at Desoto Falls campground, so much so that our kids said they want to come back. The site was very clean and well maintained. There was easy access to the trails to the falls. Site 19 is right next to the pit toilet bathrooms. There is a lot of road noise from motorcycles on the nearby road during the day, but the traffic lightened at a reasonable time at night so that it didn't keep us awake and overall didn't bother us. It is conveniently located to the cute downtown Dahlonega area. Our kids loved the Consolidated Gold Mine tour and gold panning and the North Georgia Wildlife Safari. One small thing to note-the campground map on recreation.gov makes it look like the site is on the outside of the loop when it is actually on the inside of the loop. Overall a great place to camp.

Mireille T

Verified

May 26, 2025 • Stayed at: 21, Loop: B

5

Nice flat camp site, with a path that goes to the river and close to the bathroom.
One of the best site on this campground

Aly H

Verified

May 26, 2025 • Stayed at: 14, Loop: B

5

I always have a wonderful camping experience at Desoto Falls. This time was no exception. I brought my grandsons and we had a blast!

Henry D

Verified

May 20, 2025 • Stayed at: 22, Loop: B

5

Site 22 beautiful creek side site
Sites spread out
Will definitely be back

ray w

Verified

May 17, 2025 • Stayed at: 21, Loop: B

5

campground host keep camp in great shape for many years.

Neil E

Verified

May 4, 2025 • Stayed at: 23, Loop: B

4

My coach is 13 ft high they were some limbs the rubbed the top of tje coach.

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

Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area
Closed for Season

Campground / RV park

Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area

Suches, GA

Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area provides year-round activities such as camping, picnicking, boating, swimming, and hiking around the scenic lake. Located in a mountain valley within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, it is about 80 mi f...

9 RV Sites
16 Tent Sites
4.5 (180)

Campground / RV park

Postcard Cabins Chattahoochee

Suches, GA
3.4 (5)
Upper Chattahoochee River Campground
Instant Book

Campground / RV park

Upper Chattahoochee River Campground

Helen, GA

Upper Chattahoochee River Campground features a scenic 19-site campground accessible via winding roads in North Georgia. Despite the remote feel, the charming alpine village of Helen is less than an hour away, offering shopping, dining, and entert...

14 RV Sites
19 Tent Sites
3.5 (10)

Nearby destinations

Suches
Helen
Cleveland

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

Learn more about Dahlonega

From our Travel Guides

View all guides
USDA Forest Service Logo
Managed by the USDA Forest Service