Can you reserve a site at Lake Russell Recreation Area?

Yes, Lake Russell Recreation Area is reservable through Recreation.gov.

How many campsites does Lake Russell Recreation Area have?

42 sites in total, of which 41 can be booked.

What is the maximum RV length at Lake Russell Recreation Area?

67 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Lake Russell Recreation Area?

Yes, pets are allowed at Lake Russell Recreation Area.

Are campfires allowed at Lake Russell Recreation Area?

Campfires are allowed at Lake Russell Recreation Area. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Lake Russell Recreation Area, Georgia — 41 sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

This North Georgia mountain mecca has something for everyone, swimming, camping, picnicking, hiking, biking (on and off road), fishing and boating (electric, wind, or human powered), wildlife, foliage, camping,

Recreation

The Lake Russell Recreation Area maintains a swim beach for those hot summer days, along with plenty of picnic spaces with tables and grills to help fuel your day in the mountains. No dogs on the beach please, and no shore fishing within the swim area boundary.

The Nancytown Recreation area adjoins the Lake Russell Rec Area and includes several popular trailheads as well as the smaller Nancytown Lake. Parking Access at Nancytown is included for day use visitors to the Lake Russell Recreation Area, and registered campers. No gas motors allowed on Lake Russell, nor the adjacent Nancytown Lake.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources stocks trout in Nancytown Lake four times between March and August. While the Broad River coursing through the adjacent WMA also produces trout for the hearty angler. Many other fish species can be found in both Nancytown Lake and Lake Russell.

Mountain bikers will find miles of single track; the Lady Slipper Trail is a popular trail of moderate difficulty. There are many trail options for hikers that include the lake loop as well as the rhododendron trail that connects to the manicured area atop Chenoceta Mountain where the Chenoceta Fire Tower can be found. Additional trails abound in the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area to keep you exploring the naturalized area that covers the lake and several miles of lands in the mountains and valleys that contribute to the Broad River watershed.

Road Bikers enjoy the asphalt roads that encompass both Nancytown and Lake Russell Recreation Areas, the highly motivated aim for the access road and climb the hill back toward Mt. Airy, Georgia. The nearest town, Mt. Airy includes convenience stores nearby where you can find bait and tackle, ice, drinks, and various sundries to complement your visit.

Facilities

The campground offers 42 campsites for tents and RVs, however there are no hookups. Campsites have a fire ring, picnic table, and lantern hook. Water is available throughout the campground via water hydrants. Bathrooms have flush toilets with showers.

Adjacent to the campground area includes a grass-covered beach and swimming area, picnic shelter/picnic area, biking, boat launch, fishing dock, and near Loop A of the campground is a dump station.

Natural Features

Nestled in the Chattahoochee Oconee Forest, 100-acre Lake Russell is an ideal summer camping location because of the cool mountain air. There are two paved campground loops for easy access to everything there is to do here. No gas motors allowed on the lake, nor the adjacent Nancytown Lake. The Nancytown Recreation area adjoins the Lake Russell Rec Area, and includes several popular trailheads as well as the smaller Nancytown Lake. Parking Access at Nancytown is included for day use visitors to the Lake Russell Recreation Area, and registered campers.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources stocks trout in Nancytown Lake four times between March and August. While the Broad River courses through the adjacent WMA also produces trout for the hearty angler. Many other fish species can be found in both Nancytown Lake and Lake Russell.

Mountain bikers will find miles of single track; the Lady Slipper Trail is a popular trail of moderate difficulty. There are many trail options for hikers that include the lake loop as well as the rhododendron trail that connects to the manicured area atop Chenoceta Mountain where the Chenoceta Fire Tower can be found. Additional trails abound in the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area to keep you exploring the naturalized area that covers the lake and several miles of lands in the mountains and valleys that contribute to the Broad River watershed.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (706) 754-6221.

Nearby Attractions

Visitors to the area can enjoy exploring Anna Ruby Falls; Brasstown Bald Recreation Area (Georgia's highest point); Cornelia, GA; and the Chenocetah Fire Tower.

The facts

41 bookable sites
42 sites in total, including non-bookable
Vehicles up to 67 ft
Up to 10 people per site
Loops: LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA

Site types

32 Standard Nonelectric
9 Tent Only Nonelectric
1 Management

Amenities

Electric hookups
Water hookups
Sewer hookups
Campfires allowed
Fire pits
Picnic tables
Grills
Shade
Pets allowed

Book on Recreation.gov

42 campsites at Lake Russell Recreation Area

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Grade	Access	Max rig	People
01	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Severe	Drive In	43 ft	5	🐾
02	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	—	Severe	Drive In	22 ft	5	🐾
03	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	29 ft	5	🐾
04	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	—	Drive In	34 ft	5	🐾
05	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	—	Drive In	38 ft	5	🐾
06	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	—	Drive In	65 ft	5	🐾
07	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	35 ft	5	🐾
08	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	52 ft	5	🐾
09	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	35 ft	5	🐾
10	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	30 ft	5	🐾
11	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	—	Drive In	33 ft	5	🐾
12	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Slight	Hike In	30 ft	5	🐾
13	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Slight	Hike In	30 ft	5	🐾
14	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Slight	Hike In	30 ft	5	🐾
15	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	42 ft	5	🐾
16	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	35 ft	5	🐾
17	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Slight	Hike In	30 ft	5	🐾
18	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Slight	Hike In	30 ft	5	🐾
19	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Slight	Hike In	30 ft	5	🐾
20	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	—	Drive In	56 ft	5	🐾
21	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	50 ft	5	🐾
22	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	49 ft	5	🐾
23	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Severe	Drive In	50 ft	5	🐾
24	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Management	Back In	—	—	Drive In	30 ft	5	🐾
25	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	—	Drive In	59 ft	5	🐾
26	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	60 ft	5	🐾
27	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	—	Drive In	50 ft	5	🐾
28	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	—	Drive In	59 ft	5	🐾
29	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	65 ft	5	🐾
30D	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	—	Drive In	49 ft	10	🐾
31	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	56 ft	5	🐾
32	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	52 ft	5	🐾
33	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	—	Drive In	30 ft	5	🐾
34	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	59 ft	5	🐾
35	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	—	Drive In	37 ft	5	🐾
36	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	50 ft	5	🐾
37	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	46 ft	5	🐾
38	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	51 ft	5	🐾
39	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	—	Drive In	51 ft	5	🐾
40	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	59 ft	5	🐾
41	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	53 ft	5	🐾
42D	LAKE RUSSELL RECREATION AREA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	—	Slight	Drive In	67 ft	10	🐾

Getting there

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.

34.49315, -83.49496 · 34°29'35.3"N 83°29'41.9"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Low °F	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Precip in	5.7	5.1	5.6	4.5	4.6	5.5	4.7	5.6	4.3	4.8	4.5	5.8

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 2.1 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Common questions about Lake Russell Recreation Area

Can you reserve a site at Lake Russell Recreation Area?: Yes, Lake Russell Recreation Area is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Lake Russell Recreation Area have?: 42 sites in total, of which 41 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Lake Russell Recreation Area?: 67 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Lake Russell Recreation Area?: Yes, pets are allowed at Lake Russell Recreation Area.
Does Lake Russell Recreation Area have hookups?: Electric, Water, Sewer.
Are campfires allowed at Lake Russell Recreation Area?: Campfires are allowed at Lake Russell Recreation Area. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Camping near Lake Russell Recreation Area

Fern Springs Day Use Picnic Area 5.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Lake Rabun Beach Recreation Area 18.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Andrew's Cove Campground 24 mi · Campground · we watch it
Lake Russell Boat Launch and Beach Areas less than 0.1 mi · Activity pass
Nancytown Day Use and Trailhead Pass 0.8 mi · Activity pass
Frady Branch Trail System 6.6 mi · Activity pass
Panther Creek Recreation Area 14.8 mi · Campground
Pear Tree Hill Group Camp 18.1 mi · Campground
Angel Falls Trailhead 18.5 mi · Facility
Chattooga River District 18.8 mi · Facility
Raven Cliffs Trailhead 22.5 mi · Facility
Wildcat Creek Road Corridor 24.2 mi · Facility

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-03-11.

Lake Russell Recreation Area