Available sites
41 total sitesAbout Lake Russell Recreation Area
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Water and Hygiene
- Restrooms
Cooking and Fire
- Picnic Table
Water Access
- Beach Access
- Lake Access
Rates, Sites & Availability
41 Sites Available
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Site Details
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41 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (119)
What Guests Are Saying
Lake Russell Recreation Area offers a peaceful and beautiful environment with spacious campsites and friendly staff, making it a popular choice for regular visitors. Many guests appreciate the quiet atmosphere, opportunities for fishing and hiking, and the overall charm of the area. However, there are concerns regarding the maintenance of bathrooms, cleanliness, and some campsite conditions, which detract from the experience for some visitors.
What Guests Are Saying
Lake Russell Recreation Area offers a peaceful and beautiful environment with spacious campsites and friendly staff, making it a popular choice for regular visitors. Many guests appreciate the quiet atmosphere, opportunities for fishing and hiking, and the overall charm of the area. However, there are concerns regarding the maintenance of bathrooms, cleanliness, and some campsite conditions, which detract from the experience for some visitors.
Review Summary
Amy L
VerifiedJanuary 25, 2026 • Stayed at: 29, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
Very placid and peaceful place. Remote but easy to check in.
James B
VerifiedMarch 1, 2026 • Stayed at: 21, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
8th
Bill C
VerifiedApril 3, 2026 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
It was unkept. Trash in our site and many others - and been there awhile.
We are self contained but thr bathroom had no warm water and no light in shower.
The parking areas in sites was in terrible shape in all of the sites in loop A.
A tour of loop B - all were clean and kept up. The host of loop A - not good at all.
Jewell S
VerifiedApril 12, 2026 • Stayed at: 06, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
Peaceful serenity. Best campground Host ever, she is friendly and caring.
Kirsten T
VerifiedApril 29, 2026 • Stayed at: 10, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
We only booked for 2 nights as a trial run. Unfortunately the fire restriction went into effect the day we checked in and became a complete ban. (No fault of the campground) The bath house had no hot water and smelled like sewage. Overall the amenities they do offer are not well maintained. During the day we were over ran with a neighbor campers’ children (we also had our kids) who were continuously getting into our food and things and wouldn’t stop when asked. In the evening it was quiet and peaceful though.
Nicole C
VerifiedMay 3, 2026 • Stayed at: 30D, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
The CG is very quiet. The bike trail was fun to ride for mid to experience trail bikers. The beach was a nice place to access the lake and sit and enjoy.
Keith C
VerifiedMay 11, 2026 • Stayed at: 33, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
Camp site was spacious and well-marked. Bathrooms were clean and maintained well. The lake was quiet and clean. The campground hosts were friendly and welcoming, and other campers were courteous.
Kelly M
VerifiedMay 17, 2026 • Stayed at: 30D, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
Wonderful level site with some privacy. Short walk downhill to the water. Clean site. Bathroom is the down fall. It needs repairs. Focus on repairing the facility and clear downed trees from trails.
Robert M H
VerifiedMay 17, 2026 • Stayed at: 35, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
Smallish, low-key, I liked it very much. Swimming ,fishing ,hiking, camping and not that far to town for supplies. I was there in May. The water in the lake was relatively clear, four to five foot visibility but I think that by the end of the summer it may get murky.
Katherine S
VerifiedJune 1, 2026 • Stayed at: 08, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
Worst campground I’ve been to in a long time! Do not stay here.
The 2 loops were poorly marked inside the park - they say A or B instead of the campsite numbers and there’s no indication of loop A or loop B in the confirmation email.
Is it even maintained anymore? Sites looked horrible, roads were filled with potholes and ridges from tree roots, and trees over/along the roads were extremely overgrown so they’d scrape the sides and top of the RV.
The site we booked and several others were the least level sites I’ve seen in a long time. Even using all my leveling blocks we were at such an incline.
The shower in the women’s restroom didn’t work. The one in the men’s did but you push a button every 15sec for water.
Location & Directions for Lake Russell Recreation Area
3059 Lake Russell Road, Mt. Airy, GA 30563 United States
Elevation: 321 ft
Getting There
Take Ga 365/U.S. 23 North from Gainesville past Cornelia to Hwy 197. Turn right for approximately 3 mi until dead-end. Right on Dicks Hill Parkway for approx.3/4 mi. Turn left onto the paved Lake Russell Road.
Highway access
Lake Russell Recreation Area is accessible via Ga 365/U.S. 23 and Hwy 197. Ga 365/U.S. 23 is the nearest major road, providing access from Gainesville.
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
2PM
Check out time
12:01PM
General
- If a generator is unreasonably disturbing to other campers you may be asked to turn it off.
- Click here for more information on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
- Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.
- Third loop for future use and part of campground facility. No hunting within any developed campground, developed campsite, developed trail, or other developed recreation site on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest.
- 14 day stay limit at all campsites. All parties must vacate the site to allow other visitors to enjoy camping on that site.
- The bathroom across from Campsite #25 has been decommissioned and is no longer in use.
- No driving, unloading, or loading of any ATVs or UTV, allowed on or near all the campgrounds, dispersed campsites, and Day Use Areas to include Nancytown, and the Lake Russell WMA.
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Last updated: October 20, 2026