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We recently wrapped up an amazing weekend at Don Carter State Park in Gainesville, Georgia. The park borders the northern tip of Lake Lanier.
Don Carter State Park is one of the great state parks near Atlanta and is easily accessible from the city. The drivetime is only a little over an hour.
On our overnight stay, we opted for renting a primitive campsite nestled in the woods amongst 12 other campsites.
There is so much to do at this state park, we could never get it all done in one trip.
So what did we do on our overnight stay at Don Carter State Park?
We arrived in the early afternoon and set up our campsite. It’s been a while since we camped, as a family, so erecting the tent took more time than I anticipated.
After camp was set up, we took the kids for about a three mile hike. There are over 14 miles of trails at this park, which I normally would have tried to see it all, but with another family joining us on the trip and 6 kids of varying ages, 3 miles was about all we could muster.
After the hike, we made burgers and dogs for dinner. Followed with smores for desert. The kids finally settled down around 9:30 and I poured a little Woodford from my flask as a night cap and settled in for the night.
Early the next morning, I woke everyone up to the smell of bacon and eggs.
Don Carter State Park Location
The park is located at the very north eastern tip of Lake Lanier where the Chattahoochee river flows into the Lake.
The park is about 65 miles north east from Atlanta. Just follow 85 to 985 and take exit 24. Its only a few miles off the highway.
The address for the park is 5000 N Browning Bridge Rd, Gainesville, GA 30506.
Things To Do At Don Carter State Park
Don Carter State Park has a lot to offer. The parks total size is over 1,300 acres with access to the 38,000 acre Lake Lanier. There are boat ramps and fishing docks in the park, making this a easy way to get onto the lake with a fishing boat, kayak or canoe.
Beyond the water sports on lake, there are 14.5 miles of trails to go hiking or you can even bring your horse for a nice walk on the trails.
Camping is another main draw to Don Carter State Park. There are 8 cottages you can rent, 44 tent and RV campsites and 14 primitive camp sites.
We reserved a primitive campsite. It was nice and flat, with spot to make a fire and a picnic table. If you are looking to make a reservation, check the parks reservation availably.
There is a beach on Lake Lanier at the park, but we did not visit because the weather did not cooperate on our trip.
Don Carter State Park Campsite Photos
The primitive campsites are separate from the RV campsites.
For the primitive campsites, there is a bathroom accessible via the short walk back to the parking lot.
For a detailed look at the layout of Don Carter State Park, please check out this link to the campsite map.
Here is a view of our fully assemble tent. It wasn’t a perfect set up, but it got the job done.
Four of us slept rather comfortably in this Coleman tent. Even though it rained a little overnight, we all stayed dry.
We didn’t use this firepit as our friends started a fire at the adjacent campsite. I used the small table to set up my Coleman grill. Next to the grill was a place to hang extra food and supplies.
Trail Map and Information
There are miles of trails at the park. I was hoping explore all the trails so we could see views of Lake Lanier, but the kids were tired and everyone was hungry. So we took the shortest 3 mile loop and returned back to campsite.
If you are planning your trip, its a good idea to review the parks Trail Map. We winged it and did not plan enough to maximize our hiking experience.
Don Carter State Park is located at 5000 N Browning Bridge Rd, Gainesville, GA 30506. More information for the park can be found on the state park website.