Tate Branch Campground (Clayton, Ga)

Star3.91
70 reviews
Tate Branch Campground (Clayton, Ga)

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

17 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens Chattahoochee National Forest site

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Tate Branch Campground (Clayton, Ga)
No fees available
Campsite Fees
Standard Site Fee$0.00
Hookup Site Fee$0.00
Premium Site Fee$0.00
Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00
Group Site Fee$0.00
Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00
Total Campsite Fees$0.00

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Recreation Dot Gov
Provider
(706) 754-6221

What Campers Say

3.91

Mixed Reviews

Based on 70 reviews

58 Google reviews

Most mentioned

viewsquietpeacefulspacious

"Reviewers overwhelmingly love Tate Branch Campground, describing it as beautiful, peaceful, and one of their favorite places to camp. Campers highlight the riverside setting, quiet atmosphere, and primitive, back-to-nature feel, with many repeat visitors over decades. The experience is consistently rated 5/5, especially for those specifically seeking a simple, rustic campground without hookups or modern amenities."

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Best Time to Camp at Tate Branch Campground (Clayton, Ga)

Whether you're seeking the vibrant greens of spring, the cool shade of summer hardwoods, the blazing colors of autumn, or the stark beauty of winter along the river, Tate Branch reveals a different character with each passing season. The riverside location and sheltering forest canopy create a microclimate that makes the campground inviting year-round, though each season paints the landscape in its own distinctive palette.

Spring (Mar-May)

Wildflowers bloom, mild temperatures, fewer crowds. Great for hiking and photography.

Best
Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm weather, perfect for water activities. Book early.

Fall (Sep-Nov)

Beautiful fall colors, cooler temps, quieter campgrounds. Ideal for peaceful trips.

Winter (Dec-Feb)

Off-season, limited services. Check for closures before visiting.

Planning Tips

    About Tate Branch Campground (Clayton, Ga)

    Nestled along the pristine shores of the Tallulah River, Tate Branch Campground offers 17 developed sites where the gentle rush of water becomes your constant companion. This rustic riverside retreat in the heart of Chattahoochee National Forest provides an authentic mountain camping experience, with all sites requiring advance reservations through recreation.gov beginning May 1st, 2025.
    A 17-site developed campground on the shore of the Tallulah River offering a rustic camping experience amid hardwoods.
    Historical SignificanceYour camping experience unfolds within the storied landscape of Chattahoochee National Forest, where centuries of human history intertwine with wilderness. This forest has long drawn hikers, explorers, and those seeking connection with the mountains, creating a legacy of outdoor adventure that continues to attract visitors from across the region who come to walk the same trails and experience the same wild beauty that has captivated generations before them.
    Weather and SeasonsWhether you're seeking the vibrant greens of spring, the cool shade of summer hardwoods, the blazing colors of autumn, or the stark beauty of winter along the river, Tate Branch reveals a different character with each passing season. The riverside location and sheltering forest canopy create a microclimate that makes the campground inviting year-round, though each season paints the landscape in its own distinctive palette.
    Natural Features and SceneryThe Tallulah River flows past your campsite through a cathedral of hardwoods—oak, hickory, and maple forming a leafy canopy overhead. Beyond the campground's wooded embrace, the broader Chattahoochee National Forest beckons with cascading waterfalls hidden in forested hollows, trail systems that wind through ancient mountains, and scenic drives that reveal vista after breathtaking vista. The proximity to the Southern Nantahala Wilderness Area adds an extra dimension of wild character to the landscape.
    Geological RegionChattahoochee National Forest, positioned near the Southern Nantahala Wilderness Area in the ancient Appalachian Mountains, where erosion-resistant bedrock and millennia of river carving have created the dramatic terrain that defines this corner of North Georgia.
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    Campsite details

    Total Campsites17 campsites
    Recommended CampsitesThere are 17 sites; each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern post. The new toilet building (built in 2023) is located on the exit road from the campground and drinking water is available between the toilet building and campsite #2.

    Best Campsites

    Curated by campers, for campers
    Reveal picks

    Reserving a campsite

    Tents
    Tents are not allowed
    RV vehicles
    RV vehicles are not allowed
    Primitive
    Primitive are not allowed
    Reservable
    Reservations are allowed

    Site layoutSeventeen campsites arranged within a hardwood forest along the river; amenities at each site include a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern post. New toilet building on the exit road; potable water between the toilet building and campsite #2.
    Reservation PlatformsReservations required via recreation.gov beginning May 1st, 2025.
    Walk-in AvailabilityNot available — reservations required via recreation.gov for all sites beginning May 1st, 2025.

    Amenities available

    Potable water
    Fire rings
    Picnic tables

    Activities you can enjoy

    Recreation centers on river- and trail-based activities including hiking, fishing, swimming, and nearby boating and water-sport opportunities. Trails and scenic drives are accessible from the campground and lakes and rivers in the area offer paddling and rafting options.
    Hiking
    Short drives access Beech Creek Trail and Buck Creek Trail in the Southern Nantahala Wilderness, and about 5 miles along Tallulah River Road is bridge #1 with a small parking area for the Coleman River Trail (1.1-mile in-and-out). Walking along the Tallulah River is also noted.
    Fishing
    Fishing is described as a popular sport on the Tallulah River adjacent to the campground.
    Swimming
    The facility description lists swimming among common activities on the Tallulah River.
    Boating
    Nearby Lake Rabun and Lake Burton are mentioned as boat-accessible lakes; the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River offers canoeing and kayaking and outfitters for whitewater rafting.
    Water Sports
    Whitewater rafting, canoeing, and kayaking on the Chattooga River; boating on nearby Lake Rabun and Lake Burton.
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    Campground rules

    • Pets are not allowed
    • Each site has a fire ring; no specific fire restriction policy is stated in the source material.

    Hazards


    Weather at Tate Branch Campground (Clayton, Ga)

    35
    °F
    Dec 11
    Thursday
    Clear sky
    Precipitation: 0%
    Humidity: 69%
    Wind: 8 mph
    Clear sky

    Weather History
    Weather data powered by Open-Meteo

    Detailed 7-Day Forecast
    Powered by AI weather analysis
    Reveal forecast

    Good to know

    Proximity to water featuresLocated on the shore of the Tallulah River; drinking water is available between the toilet building and campsite #2.

    Campground Map

    Tate Branch Campground (Clayton, Ga)
    Driving directionsTake U.S. 76 west from Clayton, Georgia for 8 miles; turn right (north) on Persimmon Road for 4.2 miles; turn left (northwest) on Tallulah River Road (Forest Service 70 Road) for 4 miles.
    Access via U.S. 76 west from Clayton, then Persimmon Road (north) for 4.2 miles, then Tallulah River Road (Forest Service 70 Road) for 4 miles.
    Nearby places
    Helen — within an hour's drive
    Clayton — nearest city (see driving directions from Clayton).

    Reviews from booking and map sources

    3.9
    70 reviews
    Mixed Reviews
    Mixed Reviews
    Tate Branch Campground (Clayton, Ga) has mixed reviews, placing it in the bottom 85% of campgrounds based on reviews
    Reviewers overwhelmingly love Tate Branch Campground, describing it as beautiful, peaceful, and one of their favorite places to camp. Campers highlight the riverside setting, quiet atmosphere, and primitive, back-to-nature feel, with many repeat visitors over decades. The experience is consistently rated 5/5, especially for those specifically seeking a simple, rustic campground without hookups or modern amenities.
    Review Summaries
    Based on 70 reviews

    What Campers Love

    Campers praise the beautiful riverside setting, scenic views, and the sound of the river at the campsites. The campground is consistently described as quiet, relaxing, and peaceful, with spacious...
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    Based on 70 reviews

    Common Concerns

    The main downsides mentioned are related to its primitive and remote nature rather than specific service problems. Multiple reviewers note there is no electricity, no hookups, and limited water...
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    Based on 70 reviews

    Pro Tips & Recommendations

    Reviewers emphasize that this is a primitive campground: come prepared to camp without electricity, hookups, or reliable cell service, and plan for pump water and chemical toilets only. Arrive early...
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    Based on 70 reviews

    Camper Quotes

    "My favorite place to go camping! All three campgrounds are quiet and peaceful with the river running right along beside it. Don't come if you can't handle living without electricity!" "Primitive....
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    Based on 70 reviews

    Site-Specific Reviews

    Several reviews mention that there are approximately 4–6 riverside campsites, which are especially desirable and tend to be taken early. Another camper notes that all three nearby campgrounds are...
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    Based on 70 reviews

    Accessibility Features

    One reviewer reports that the road into the campground is gravel and caused their car to scrape the bottom a few times, advising drivers of low-clearance vehicles to go slowly. No other specific...
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    Based on 70 reviews

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    Last updated December 10, 2025
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