HARD LABOR CREEK STATE PARK, GA
Rutledge, Georgia
📅 Date visited: 6/31/2023
⏰ Check-in / Check-out Times: Campsite check-in is between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m., check-out is before 12 p.m. Cottage check-in is 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., check-out is 11 a.m.
🌞 Type: State Park
📍 Address/Grid Coord: 5 Hard Labor Creek Rd Rutledge, GA 30663 / GPS N 33.6549850 | W -83.596848
🌐 Website/Social Media Link: https://gastateparks.org/HardLaborCreek
📞 Phone: Park: 706-557-3001 | Reservations: 800-864-7275
💲 Pricing Details/Discounts: Rates vary by amenity. Campsites range from $36 to $62 per night. We paid $57 per night when we stayed. Current campground details and pricing can be found HERE.
🅿️ Site Used: 7
⌚ Length of Stay: 4 days
⏱️ Max Length of Stay Permitted: Reservations can be made up to 13 months in advance either online or by calling reservations. Camping is limited to 14 consecutive days at any one park.
🚘 Vehicle and Rig Specs: Ford F-250, SRW - Palomino Solaire 317BHSK, Length: 35’ Height: 11’, 50amp service
👨👩👧👧 Family Demographics: 2 Adults, 2 Kids (Under 10)
🐶 Pets: We don’t have any, but they are permitted and must be leashed. If staying in a cottage, there are a limited number of units that allow pets and they require a deposit of $50.
📱 Cell Service Used: Verizon, poor service throughout the park. Intermittent reception early in the morning and late in the evening.
📶 Other Cell Service Quality: Kids have Gabb watch phones, service was not available.
💻 Internet Service Used: Verizon and Starlink
🛰️ Starlink Accessibility: NE access was partially blocked by tree canopy. Intermittent service.
📡 Campground WiFi Quality: Moderate. Only available at the Ranger Station and in the cottages.
🛀 Facilities: Ranger Station and Camp Store, various picnic shelters, one event room, multiple comfort stations and laundry facilities. Canoes and other recreational items can be rented at the Ranger Station then retrieved by the lake. There was also a lakeside cafe that had drinks and snacks for purchase.
🏊🏻♂️ Amenities: Lots of equestrian camping and riding options to include multiple hiking trails for various skill levels. Theres also a playground and putt-putt course across the road from the Ranger Station. Putt-putt was $5 per person. There is a sand beach by the lake and several options to rent recreational equipment for water activities as well as fishing. There’s also a golf course right outside the park entrance called The Creek.
🔢 Total Number of Sites and General Condition: 51 RV & tent sites (13 with sewer), 11 pop-up/tent sites, 2 buddy sites, 20 cottages
⛺ Tent Camping Permitted: Yes, in designated areas.
♿ Handicap Accessibility: Yes
🔌💧🚽 Electric, Water & Sewer details: Limited electric, water and sewer available at select sites. There is a dump station and various water points available.
👋🏻 Assigned sites or FCFS: Select site when reserving.
👀 Site selection/location assistance: No
🔒 Gated Access: Yes (after hours, gate is closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.)
🚧 Road Condition: Good, would not recommend units over 30 feet go beyond campsite 11 because of terrain and limited turning options.
⛽ Gas: Chevron (7 miles), Marathon (7 miles) The closest Open Roads station is Loves (12.5 miles) and TA (15.5 miles).
🛒 Grocery: Freshway Market (7 miles)
🚩 Local Area Attractions / Amenities: The Creek Golf Course (.4 miles), Madison, GA (14 miles), Covington, GA aka “Hollywood of the South” (18 miles), Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (19 miles), Athens, GA (28 miles), Lake Oconee (42 miles)
✏️ Additional Notes / Review: We love Georgia State Parks! We stopped by Hard Labor Creek on our way back from Florida instead of staying at a Harvest Host, and we’re so glad we did! Beautiful location and so relaxing. We visited just before Independence Day, but it wasn’t busy at all. The girls completed the Junior Ranger program during our visit and earned their badges. Such a great way for all of us to learn about the history of the park. There are also Ranger-led activities and other pre-scheduled learning opportunities for kids, but conditions apply. You can access their website or Facebook page for additional information. The Hard Labor Creek Observatory operated by Georgia State University is also here; however, it’s only open on select dates and events can be canceled dependent on the weather. Also, there have been multiple movies filmed at Hard Labor including Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. If you’ve seen the movie, being at the lake can be interesting… Overall, we’ll definitely keep this one on the list!
