RV Parks near I-95 in Georgia

exit #	community	exit #	community
5	Lake Park	185-186	Forsyth
18	Valdosta	205	Jackson
29	Hahira	222	McDonough
39	Adel	227	Stockbridge
49	Lenox	235	Jonesboro
60-63	Tifton	237	Forest Park
82, 84	Ashburn	241-260	Atlanta*
92	Arabi	261	Marietta
97, 101	Cordele	269-273	Kennesaw
109	Vienna	277, 278	Acworth
127	Elko	288-296	Cartersville
135-136	Perry	306	Adairsville
142	Fort Valley	315	Calhoun
146	Warner Robins	333-336	Dalton
149	Byron	350	Ringgold
475: 5, 3	Macon
*We strongly recommend staying on I-75 through downtown Atlanta. We have tried I-285, both clockwise and counter-clockwise, and found it to be worse of a nightmare although the traffic does move much, much faster (except during rush hours. Sometimes, slow is faster. If you have a 'toad', and you would like to see some of the sights in Atlanta (and that could take several days), we recommend you stay in Jackson or McDonough if you are southbound, or in Marietta if you are northbound. That way, if you depart Atlanta in the morning, the traffic won't be as bad . . . and their rush hour is B-A-D!

   Interstate 75 enters central Georgia running in a slightly northwestern slant. At exit 20 (GA-31) you pass the souther entrance to Valdosta, source of the world-famous Valdosta onions (and they're worth every penny). You see Georgia Pines but actually there used to be a lot of wetlands in this area. The soil is unique and very productive.
   As you get to Tifton, site of Georgia's Agrirama (exit 63-B) — 'Georgia's Living History Center' — you have an excellent opportunity to stop, stretch your legs and see some very interesting exhibits. The installation consists of five areas including a traditional farm community as it would have appeared in the 1870s. This isn't some dry, boring museum; it is fascinating and especially educating for the kids.
   As we progress to the north you will notice how the terrain becomes more hilly. We're also about 100 feet higher. We've left most of the wetlands behind. Also there are far fewer row crops and more pecan and peach orchards. Those great, thin-shelled, pecans can be purchased here and, in season, can be very inexpensive. You'll find many vendors at the exits, even in the gas stations, raring to sell them to you. Peanuts are also in abundance and you can see some cotton fields. We're still in an agricultural area but it is very different from further south.
   In Perry (exit 134) is a favorite stop of our: Priester's Pecans at 106 Fairview Drive (800-277-3226). Here you can not only buy but you can see pecan pralines, divinity, fudge, sugar nuts and lots of others delights being made, sample many of their homemade candies. Every day they also have a lunch buffet and on weekends a seafood dinner buffet.
   Exit 156 is where northbound traffic gets off I-75 to use I-475 to bypass the Macon traffic. Southbound traffic uses exit 177 for their escape. For folks with an interest in ancient civilization, however,

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you might rather stay on I-75, through Macon to I-16. Head east on I-16 to exit 2. Turn left on US-80 and go about 0.6 mile north to the junction of US-23. Turn right and go 0.8 mile to the entrance of Ocmulgee National Monument (on your right). And there is no admission charge!
   RV parks in and around Atlanta are few and far between. When you get to the north side (on I-75) there is one in Marietta. There is also one — our favorite by the way — in Stone Mountain Park. You have a choice in getting from one side of Atlanta to the other. You can go straight through (by far the shortest) or you can use the infamous belt highway, I-285. If you're northbound and in a hurry but need to spend the night in the Atlanta area, we recommend staying in Marietta to avoid a lot of the morning rush-hour traffic. If you're south bound on I-75 the nearest (we know of) is in McDonough, about 20 miles south of Atlanta. But, at least for us, Stone Mountain Park is a very special place and we like to take a break there.
   Okay, we made it out of Atlanta. At exit 290 (GA-20) you have access to a very popular campground on the shore of Allatoona Lake. Unfortunately it is only open from March to Labor Day and, in the summer months, it is almost always full. They take reservation (at least 3 days in advance) but have some 'first come first served' spots for the lucky folks. There is a private campground accessed from exit 283. Allatoona Landing Campground. You choose.
   There is another 'in the wilds' campground in the Coosawattee Wildlife Management Area at Carters Lake (near Oakman and US-411). You would access it from I-75 exit 320 going east on GA-136. We've never been there nor do we know anyone who has but you can phone the US Army Corps of Engineers office at 706--334-2248 for information.

contributed by Bob Masters

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