Camping at Stone Mountain, Georgia was a smashing success for our first family camping trip!
I was nervous about our first time camping with kids. But we’d been waiting for 5+ years, it was time to give it a try! So we added ‘go camping to our Fort Liberty Bucket List.
Camping with the kids turned out better than I ever imagined! And I know that the success of this first camping experience was due in part to the amazing campground at Stone Mountain.
Stone Mountain makes camping fun and easy for families! Here are 4 reasons why I recommend this beautiful park for your family camping adventures.
1. It Has So Many Amenities
Electricity & Water
We are tent campers, but that doesn’t mean that we want to camp without the comforts of running water and electricity. Camping at Stone Mountain means that you can enjoy the wonder of the outdoors and still have a fan at night! (And if you’ve experienced the Georgia heat before, you know how important that is!)
There are primitive campsites at Stone Mountain if you want a ‘real’ camping experience, but they also allow tents to be set up on pop-up camper sites. Those sites give you access to an electrical outlet and a water spigot, in addition to a picnic table, grill, and fire ring.
Bath Houses
Not only can you have electricity at your campsite, but you can use a real toilet and have a hot shower every night! Because there are several bathhouses spread out throughout the campground.
There were 2 different bathhouses just a short walk away from our campsite. Both were well-maintained and clean. Unfortunately, they weren’t air-conditioned, so it was hot and humid inside, but it was nice to take a shower every night.
Free Wi-Fi
As if camping at Stone Mountain wasn’t cushy enough, there is free Wi-Fi! I wouldn’t be disappointed if we didn’t have internet access, since camping is meant to be technology-free. But I admit that it was nice to be able to post pictures from my phone at the end of the day.
Swimming Pool
One of the best things about camping at Stone Mountain was the swimming pool!
We were very disappointed when we learned that swimming is not allowed in the lake. However, we loved that we could still escape the heat with a swim at the campground pool.
General Store & Laundry
There is a General Store and laundry facility on-site at Stone Mountain.
Even though it was our first camping trip in almost 10 years, we remembered everything….except for salt and pepper. My husband was able to run up to the store real quick and pick some up for us.
While we didn’t do any laundry while we were there, it was nice to know that we could wash clothes if we needed to. And we could have bought detergent at the General Store without ever having to leave the campground!
GoHimal 8 Person Tent for Camping, Waterproof Windproof Family Tent with Rainfly, Divided Curtain Design for Privacy Space, Portable with Carry BagUNP Camping Tent 10-Person-Family Tents, 2 Room Tent, Parties, Music Festival Tent, Big, Easy Up, 5 Large Mesh Windows, Double Layer, Waterproof, Weather Resistant, 18ft x 9ft x78in
2. There Are TONS of Things to Do
One of the absolute best things about camping at Stone Mountain is that it’s close to the park’s many attractions. It was one of the busiest camping trips we’ve EVER had!
We rode the top of the mountain on the Skyride, cooled off at the Geyser Tower, conquered our fear of heights on a rock wall and rope course, took a ride on the scenic railroad, and so much more all on our first day!
(You can find The BIG List of Things to do at Stone Mountain here.)
There is no such thing as boredom or downtime at Stone Mountain because there are SO MANY things to do!
3. Free Shuttle
We parked the truck at the campsite when we arrived on Thursday and didn’t move it again until Sunday when we left to go home! We were able to see all of the attractions at Stone Mountain without worrying about parking thanks to the free shuttle provided to campground and hotel guests.
I wasn’t even aware of the shuttle until we arrived at the campground, but it was one of the best perks that the campground had to offer.
The shuttle was especially useful when we went to see the laser show. The crowds were thick and parking would have been a nightmare, but thanks to the shuttle, we didn’t have to worry about any of it.
HERSHEY’S S’mores Kit – Complete Movie Night Supplies – Contains Marshmallows, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, and Delicious Graham Crackers – Ideal Party Pack for BBQ, Bonfires, or OutdoorJolly Green Products Rotating Marshmallow Roasting Sticks | Set of 5 Telescoping Forks – Free Bag | Safe, Fun Smores & Hot Dog Stainless Steel Long Camping Skewers | Campfire BBQ Cookware Accessories
4. Hotels are Nearby
My parents drove up from Florida and met us at Stone Mountain. However, they weren’t up for sleeping in a tent. So, they stayed in one of the park’s hotels.
It was nice to be close to their hotel, as we were able to ride the shuttle together to the attractions and they could visit us at the campground.
It was also comforting to know that if camping didn’t work out there were dry, clean rooms right down the road if we needed them.
5. Free Laser Show
The Laser Show Spectacular at Stone Mountain became a popular Atlanta attraction in 1983 and it hasn’t slowed down since! The Laser Show has only gotten MORE INCREDIBLE!
I wasn’t sure what to expect when we decided to go to the laser show, but since it was free, I figured it couldn’t hurt to try. And I am so glad that we did!
The show was so much more than lasers. There were fireworks, drones, tons of references to pop culture, fun music, and flame cannons powerful enough to make us feel their heat through the crowds and distance.
At times, it looked like the mountain and its carving was coming alive right before our eyes. If you are camping at Stone Mountain, you CANNOT miss the Laser Show!
Camping at Stone Mountain was an experience that we will never forget!
We were unsure about camping with the kids for the first time. Afraid that we would be hot and miserable, that we would forget something important, or that the kids would get bored and hate camping – but all of those fears were nonsense.
Camping at Stone Mountain was THE easiest and most fun camping trip I’ve ever taken. But more than that, I’m glad that it was my daughters’ first camping experience because it has left them wanting more!
