Camping at Allatoona Lake: Payne Campground
Payne Campground on Lake Allatoona is one of nine campgrounds in Georgia run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Allatoona Lake is only 30 miles from Atlanta, offering a quiet peaceful getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city life. The lake draws over 13 million visitors every year in the form of campers, hunters, fishermen, swimmers and hikers. There are never a lack of jet skis, pontoon boats, house boats, and speedboats that dot the lake from sunrise to each gorgeous sunset on the lake. Allatoona Lake is the oldest multipurpose project from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ South Atlantic Division. The dam was completed and operable in January 1950 and designed at a cost of $31.5 million. It is located on the Etowah River, one of the tributaries of the Coosa River.
Payne Campground has both primitive and full hookup sites that are laid out in a long “hall” like structure with four circles of cul de sacs. There are three parking lots, one beach, one shower house, one dump station, and a boat ramp. It is a mid sized campground with nice spacious lots and they are well kept. There is plenty of park officials to keep the peace and quiet throughout, plus the majority of people that camp there, camp there often and therefore respect the environment of Payne Campground. Since it is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground you can not stay longer than 14 days in this campground in a month or any of their campgrounds consecutively.
They have three sites that are double sites that they rent out together for a single price. These double lots are sites numbered 3/4, 15/16, and 24/25. The price of these double lots is $40 and come with water and electricity. These are just end lots that are too small to tight to be rented separately. These are good lots for those wanting more space to spread out, or for those that want to bring friends over.
Payne Campground allows 3 cars per campsite and a maximum of 6 visitors in addition to the registered camping party. Even with this generous allowance, the campsites never seemed crowded or closed in. It was a peaceful night due to the noise ordinance of quiet hours between 10pm and 6 am. They will lock up the gates at 10:30pm until they “re-open” the campsite at 7am. Your checkout time at this campground is a very reasonable 3pm.
Campground sites:
Sites without water or electricity: 44-54
Sites with water and electricity: 1-43, 55-60
Sites with water, electricity, sewer: 59 & 60
Handicap access: site 58
Sites 1-2, 3/4, 6, 13-14, 15/16, 17-23, 26-42, 55-57, 59, 60 are reservable
60 sites all together
18 Premium/Waterfront Sites
Site Fees:
Double lots: $40
Sites with water and electricity $20
Sites with water, electricity, sewer $24
Sites without water or electricity $14
Premium sites $22
Visitors to registered campers $4
For More Information:
Lake Information: 678-721-6700
Reservations: 1-877-444-6777
Lake Level Information: 770-386-0549
Getting To Payne Campground:
From I-75, take Exit 277, go E on GA Hwy 92, approx. 2 miles, turn left onto Old Alabama Road to dead end, turn right onto Kellogg Creek Road and follow l-l/2 mi. Entrance to campground will be on the right.
Payne Campground (Allatoona Lake)
PO BOX 487
CARTERSVILLE GA 30120-0487
