About Lake Russell Recreation Area
Number of accommodations: 41
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
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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 (106)
What Guests Are Saying
Lake Russell Recreation Area offers a peaceful and serene camping experience, with fun bike trails and a lovely beach for lake access. Many reviewers appreciated the friendly campground host and the well-maintained campsites. However, there were concerns about restroom cleanliness, maintenance issues, and some overcrowding with neighboring campers, which detracted from the overall experience for some visitors.
What Guests Are Saying
Lake Russell Recreation Area offers a peaceful and serene camping experience, with fun bike trails and a lovely beach for lake access. Many reviewers appreciated the friendly campground host and the well-maintained campsites. However, there were concerns about restroom cleanliness, maintenance issues, and some overcrowding with neighboring campers, which detracted from the overall experience for some visitors.
Review Summary
David N
VerifiedMarch 22, 2021 • Stayed at: 36, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
Campground Hosts were great.
Water spigots need signs.
Departure times have contradictions ( 12?or 2).
Great place to visit.
Michael L
VerifiedMarch 21, 2021 • Stayed at: 32, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
Great stay, clean bathrooms, and showers. The host were great and helpful. Hope to see both loops open in the future.
Patrick K
VerifiedMarch 21, 2021 • Stayed at: 41, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
I didn’t catch the name of my campground hosts but they were very sweet! I even got a free bundle of wood for helping them out with something. Campers were all friendly and respectful.
Indra T
VerifiedMarch 7, 2021 • Stayed at: 27, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
I couldn’t attend because a tree was down. I was told I could reschedule and then told that was incorrect information. I will try it again. I was very disappointed thematic I was not refunded for the inconvenience.
yue c
VerifiedFebruary 23, 2021 • Stayed at: 35, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
Really helpful, warm and welcoming camp hosts! The chorus of spring peepers at night was just lovely
T.J. E
VerifiedJanuary 10, 2021 • Stayed at: 33, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
Great campsite on the lake! The Camp hosts are welcoming and helpful.
Chad H
VerifiedJanuary 9, 2021 • Stayed at: 30D, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
We reserved a “double site” in advance. We assumed that this meant exactly what it’s name implies...a site for double occupancy by two families. After setting up our campground hosts approached us informing us that double occupancy meant only a hard sided camper and a tent. (We had a 36’ RV, and a 28’ camping trailer and our nylon canvas shelter.). We were two separate families for a total of 4 adults. The hosts told us that this did not conform to the campground rules which were posted on the website. Double occupancy was not for two hard sided vehicles such as ours. Nevertheless they let us stay. They handled the situation very professionally, and did let us stay together on the one site. The rules regarding double occupancy at this campground need to be better delineated so that there is no misunderstanding as to the meaning of a “double site”.
Sean R
VerifiedDecember 13, 2020 • Stayed at: 33, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
Hosts were excellent
Sean R
VerifiedNovember 15, 2020 • Stayed at: 36, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
Hosts were great
Elizabeth W
VerifiedNovember 8, 2020 • Stayed at: 32, Loop: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA
First timers—reserved site 32 with no way of knowing anything about it other than the picture on the website. Was very disappointed when we arrived —tiny site and neighbors right on top of us. Fortunately there was a larger, better-spaced-out site available, so we switched (to site 39). Site was great—picnic table could use some repair, but we made it work. Bathrooms clean. Campground hosts were very nice and extremely helpful. Hiked the Lake Russell Loop Trail. It is not well marked. We somehow missed a turn and ended up on a different trail (apparently also a horse trail) that took us much further than we had planned to go. It was still a nice hike—just would appreciate better trail markers or more obvious blazes. We enjoyed our weekend and will definitely return.
Location Lake Russell Recreation Area
Address:
3059 Lake Russell Road
Mt. Airy, GA, 30563
United States
Take Ga 365/U.S. 23 North from Gainesville past Cornelia to Hwy 197. Turn right for approximately 3 miles until dead-end. Right on Dicks Hill Parkway for approx.3/4 mile. Turn left onto the paved Lake Russell Road.
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.
Latitude & Longitude: 34.4931 / -83.495
Elevation: 321 feet
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: June 4, 2026