This review is part of the Lake Lanier Big Rig Project. Don Carter State park is one of the northernmost and newest parks on Lake Lanier. Opened in 2013, This is a very clean and nicely done park. With large paved roads and very nice camping sites. This is a state owned park that is a quandry. Overall facilities are very nice, but most if not all of the sites we saw did not have even a water view (Which is unusual considering it is on the lake.) If you are looking for a quiet nice park this may be the place for you. Personally I do not think we would go here. We may be missing something

Video shot about the park back in 2013

General Info: Don Carter State Park Gainesville, Ga

• Website: Don Carter State Park
• GPS Coordinates: N 34.3876220 | W -83.7464620
  
• Physical Address: 5000 North Browning Bridge Road Gainesville, GA 30506  
• Campground Phone Number: 678-450-7726
• Phone Number for Reservations: 800-864-7275
  
• RV Daily Rate as of June 1, 2016: $30 per day, No Weekly or Monthly rates
• Other Discounts: No Discounts that I am aware of
  
• Stay Limitations: You can only stay 14 days then you have to leave for 3 days and then you can come back for 14 more days.
• Additional Information: Park reservations are not for a specific spot. You make a reservation for a type (length, power, etc) then you choose from what is available when you get to the park. Each spot has 30 and/or 50 amp, water and dump for GREY only. There is a dump station on premises for Black water. The park can definitely handle big rigs but different spots are more viable than others.
  

Site Details

• Site Pad Material: Mostly Level sites with concrete pads
• Water: Yes, included with daily rate
• Electricity: Yes, included with daily rate. 30 amp or 50 amp
• Sewer: Sort of. Spoke to the Attendant. Spots have sewer for “Light Grey Water” and there is a dump station on site
• Laundry: Yes
• Cable TV: Yes, comes with each site and Many of the sites have a good line up to the sky so satellite will work. This campground is remote so I would not expect much OTA
• Wi-fi: No
• Dump Station: Yes
• Propane: No
• Pull Throughs: Some
• Back In: Some
• Big Rig Friendly: Yes – most see sites below
• Pet Friendly: Yes (very)

Additional Information: Most sites DO NOT have views of the water. There are hiking trails, a Beach, showers, restrooms and I understand you can rent kayaks. Note you make a reservation for a type of unit then choose based on availability once you get there.

Sites capable for Big Rig: Based on what we say these are the ones we believe can handle Big Rigs:

• Sites: 5,11,15,17-20,22-26, 28-31, 34-38,40

Things to Do here.

Don Carter State Park is the northern most park on Lake Lanier. About 12 miles north of Downtown Gainesville. This remoteness limits what there is to do here but these would be our recommendations.

As mentioned before we have not stayed at this park. Just drove over and took pics for this review. But we have lived in the area 15+ years.

Restaurants

• In Gainesville there are two restaurants that are worth the drive. Southern Recess Gastro Pub is an eclectic little bar right on the square with really good food. The Atlanta Seafood Market is an exceptional seafood restaurant for lunch in Little Mexico and we always go there when in Gainesville. Also good franchise is Olive Garden  and a Cheddar’s (A very good franchise restaurant).
• In Dawsonville there are plenty run of the mill restaurants but one is the exception. The Blue Bicycle is a high end dinner epicurean delight that has very, very good entrees. No need to dress up but a very high end restaurant.

Things to Do

• This is a remote campground on the lake so obviously plenty of lake things to do. You can rent a boat from Gainesville Marina or check out Boatbound – there are several listings out there as well. If you do go out on the lake the best restaurant is Fishtails and you do not want to miss Sunset Cove – a unique experience in itself.
• Lake Lanier water park is a pretty cool water park right on the lake and we love going there.
• Lake Lanier is famous for its Bass and Striper Fishing. We have caught some huge stripers with Shane Watson Guide service.
• Day trips up to Helen, Ga – The German capital of Georgia or hike the falls at Amicaloa Falls

Final Thoughts

This Park is a quandry:

The good – Nice new park. Very well maintained. Large Open Roads good lucking

The Bad: Very little views of the lake and a little ways away from the water. A long ways away from other activities.

This may be a nice park to some, but for us it would not be where we would want to go.

Let us know your opinion…

Other Campgrounds on Lake Lanier

• Bald Ridge Creek Campground – Gainesville, Ga
• Shady Grove Campground – Cumming, Ga
• Sawnee Campground – Cumming, Ga
• Old Federal Campground – Flowery Branch, Ga
• River Forks Park – Gainesville, Ga
• Bolding Mill Campground – Gainesville, Ga
• Duckett Mill Campground – Gainesville, Ga
• War Hill Park – Dawsonville, Ga