Stephen L
April 25, 2021
Clean place to camp, Reasonable prices, Friendly staff. Overall a pretty good place to camp.
Helpful
About Van Pugh South Day Use Facility
Van Pugh South Day Use Facility lies on the banks of Lake Sidney Lanier in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Northern Georgia.
The popular lake boasts nearly 700 mi of shoreline and over 100 small islands, providing over 11 million annual visitors with limitless recreation opportunities.
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Boating
Spring
Summer
Fall
Fishing
Year-round
Kayaking
Spring
Summer
Fall
Swimming
Summer
Year-round
Fishing
Nearby
Spring
Boating
Nearby
Kayaking
Nearby
Summer
Boating
Nearby
Kayaking
Nearby
Swimming
Nearby
Fall
Boating
Nearby
Kayaking
Nearby
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
Showers
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
- Showers
Water Access
- Lake Access
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
Missing information?
Reviews
631 reviews
Summary
Van Pugh South Day Use Facility is highly praised for its friendly and accommodating staff, well-maintained sites, and cleanliness, making it a perfect spot for a day at the lake. Many visitors express a desire for the campground to reopen for overnight camping, highlighting its appeal for extended stays. Overall, guests enjoy the privacy and experience offered, especially in comparison to public beaches.
Based on guest feedback
4.3
Overall rating
Based on 631 reviews
5 stars
62.4% (394)
4 stars
21.6% (136)
3 stars
5.9% (37)
2 stars
3.8% (24)
1 star
6.3% (40)
Showing 631 reviews
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Stephen L
April 25, 2021
Clean place to camp, Reasonable prices, Friendly staff. Overall a pretty good place to camp.
Helpful
Stephen L
April 25, 2021
Clean place to camp, Reasonable prices, Friendly staff. Overall a pretty good place to camp.
Helpful
Susan B
April 24, 2021
The RV sites at Van Pugh are not close to the water, so we were not able to fish every day like we thought we would. The tent sites are on the water, but RV campers would need to locate a place to hike down to the water and most RV sites don't have water access. We thought it strange as the campground is located on Lake Lanier. Site #16 is much steeper than was described ("slight" incline) on Recreation.gov. So much so, that we were not able to back our small travel trailer up the hill and into the site with our full size truck A bit unsettling experience to say the least, but thankfully the host was able to move us to their emergency holding site (#1), where we stayed for the entire six nights of our trip.
Helpful
Kathy C
April 24, 2021
Beautiful area,clean and VERY friendly and courteous staff.
Helpful
Larry W
April 24, 2021
Beautiful location right on the lake. Would love to go there again.
Helpful
Susan B
April 24, 2021
The RV sites at Van Pugh are not close to the water, so we were not able to fish every day like we thought we would. The tent sites are on the water, but RV campers would need to locate a place to hike down to the water and most RV sites don't have water access. We thought it strange as the campground is located on Lake Lanier. Site #16 is much steeper than was described ("slight" incline) on Recreation.gov. So much so, that we were not able to back our small travel trailer up the hill and into the site with our full size truck A bit unsettling experience to say the least, but thankfully the host was able to move us to their emergency holding site (#1), where we stayed for the entire six nights of our trip.
Helpful
Kathy C
April 24, 2021
Beautiful area,clean and VERY friendly and courteous staff.
Helpful
Larry W
April 24, 2021
Beautiful location right on the lake. Would love to go there again.
Helpful
Susan B
April 24, 2021
The RV sites at Van Pugh are not close to the water, so we were not able to fish every day like we thought we would. The tent sites are on the water, but RV campers would need to locate a place to hike down to the water and most RV sites don't have water access. We thought it strange as the campground is located on Lake Lanier. Site #16 is much steeper than was described ("slight" incline) on Recreation.gov. So much so, that we were not able to back our small travel trailer up the hill and into the site with our full size truck A bit unsettling experience to say the least, but thankfully the host was able to move us to their emergency holding site (#1), where we stayed for the entire six nights of our trip.
Helpful
Location & Directions for Van Pugh South Day Use Facility
6749 Gaines Ferry Road, Flowery Branch, GA 30542 United States
Elevation: 344 ft
Getting There
Take I-85 north to I-985, take Exit 8, turn left on Highway 347/Friendship Road. Turn right on McEver Road, then left on Gaines Ferry Road and follow signs to the campground.
Highway access
The campground is accessible via I-85 and I-985, with Exit 8 leading to Highway 347/Friendship Road. McEver Road and Gaines Ferry Road provide further access to the facility.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: October 7, 2026
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Explore Flowery Branch, GA
Population: 10,925
Nearby city: Alpharetta, GA
Approx. 19 mi away (straight-line distance)
Elevation: 1,122 ft
Flowery Branch, GA
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Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers