Georgia Camping Laws

Overnight parking, alcohol, pets, quiet hours, stay limits and bear food storage for Georgia camping, each with the agency page it comes from.

Photo: NPS staff (Public domain), Wikimedia Commons

Georgia camping rules by place

Where	Rule	Source
Rest areas and welcome centers	Georgia DOT lists rest area locations and custodian hours (most 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.) and states no overnight, camping or time-limit rule. No official rule was found, so none is given here.	Source
Walmart, truck stops and store lots	No state agency page on overnight parking at private lots was found. Ask the store; policies are set by the owner.
State parks: where camping is allowed	41 parks offer more than 2,700 campsites including tent-only, RV pull-thru, primitive, backpacking and group camping. No rule on sleeping in a vehicle was found on the Park Rules or Reservation Policies pages. Campsite occupancy is limited to listed vehicle and tent combinations, camping between designated sites is prohibited, and 'tents erected off designated tent pads are s	Source
State parks: alcohol	Consumption or use of alcoholic beverages or intoxicants is unlawful in any public-use area. The park rules page states no campsite exception.	Source
State parks: pets	Pets are welcome in state parks and campgrounds if leashed (no longer than six feet) and accompanied by the owner at all times. Not allowed in park and historic site buildings, lodges, yurts, group camps, swimming areas, beaches or some trails at Panola Mountain and Tallulah Gorge. No kennels. Dog-friendly cottages cost $50 per dog (limit 2).	Source
State parks: quiet hours	Radios, televisions, musical instruments and other noise-making devices are not to be used between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and must be kept at low volumes at other times. Group gatherings must end before 10 p.m.	Source
State parks: people per site	Campsites have a six-person limit. Allowed combinations per site: one motor home plus two automobiles plus one tent; one automobile with trailer plus one automobile plus one tent; one pickup with camper plus two automobiles plus one tent; or two tents and two automobiles. One boat trailer allowed if the site is large enough.	Source
State parks: check-in and out	Campsite check-in 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., check-out before 12:00 p.m. Most park gates are locked at 10 p.m.	Source
State parks: weapons and drones	A lawful weapons carrier (O.C.G.A. 16-11-125.1) may carry a handgun or long gun in parks, historic sites and recreational areas except where federal law prohibits. Bows, explosives, fireworks, slingshots and projectile devices are prohibited. Firearms on lease Drones are prohibited. ATVs and UTVs are not allowed. Metal detectors are prohibited. Smoking is prohibited in enclosed facilities.	Source
State parks: ParkPass	A ParkPass ($10 per vehicle per day, $70 annual) is required for all vehicles. Overnight guests pay the daily fee once per stay.	Source
Wildlife management areas: camping	Camping, pre-season scouting, hiking, picnicking, horse riding, canoeing and other recreational uses are allowed year-round on WMAs unless otherwise indicated or posted at the check station or at a specific recreation site. The department may close specific sites by posting. Unlawful to consume or use alcoholic beverages on any WMA except in houses or at campsites on these areas; does not apply to national forest lands.	Source
Wildlife management areas: dogs and firearms	Dogs entering WMAs must be leashed or otherwise confined except when hunting or training in designated seasons and areas. Unlawful to possess a loaded firearm in designated camping areas except as provided in O.C.G.A. 16-11-126.	Source
Bears and food storage	Do not store food, trash, clothes worn when cooking, or toiletries in your tent. Store in approved bear-resistant containers, out of sight in a locked vehicle, or suspended at least 10 feet above the ground and 10 feet from any part of the tree. 'Local regulations vary.' Cook as far from your tent as possible and do not burn food scraps in the fire ring. Guidance. No statewide bear food storage rule was found for state parks.	Source
Corps of Engineers lakes: stay limit	Camping at one or more campsites at any one water resource project for a period longer than 14 days during any 30-consecutive-day period is prohibited without the written permission of the District Commander.	Source
Corps of Engineers lakes: alcohol and quiet hours	Quiet shall be maintained in all public use areas between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., or those hours designated by the District Commander. Possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages on any portion of the project land or waters, or the entire project, may be prohibited when designated and posted by the District Commander.	Source
Georgia Power campgrounds	Campsite occupancy is limited to 14 nights. Campers using the site for 14 nights are asked to vacate the park for at least 3 days before returning. Georgia Power prohibits any alcoholic beverages or drugs inside the park. All pets must be leashed, confined and under physical control at all times. Maximum leash length is 6 feet and pets are not allowed on beach or playground areas.	Source
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest: stays	General Forest Order on Camping Limits CO-08-03-00-25-02 (issued May 6, 2025, effective to May 6, 2030): camping in developed and dispersed areas is limited to 14 days within any 30-day period; after 14 days the camper must leave the area/campground and move off forest land for 30 days (36 CFR 261.58(a)). Stay in Appalachian Trail shelters is limited to 3 days. Individual recreation.gov listings show a 14-night maximum.	Source
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest: food storage and bear canisters	General Forest Orders 08-03-00-26-01 (re-issued July 15, 2026, expire in two years) prohibit improper storage of food or refuse to prevent access by wildlife (36 CFR 261.58(cc)). The forest asks campers at developed campgrounds to keep food and scented items in coolers in vehicles. Bear canisters: required for anyone camping overnight along the five miles of the Appalachian Trail from Jarrard Gap to Neels Gap (Order CO-16-02, since 2016); beginning January 1, 2027, Forest Order 00-26-02 requires a non-pliable bear-resistant canister for all food, food containers, garbage and toiletries for all	Source
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest: campgrounds	Entering or remaining in a campground between 10 pm and 6 am is prohibited except for people occupying it (order 08-03-00-26-01). Quiet hours are 10 pm to 6 am at most campgrounds, and 10 pm to 7 am at Morganton Point, Lake Sinclair and Oconee River. Pets must always be restrained or on a leash in developed recreation sites and are not allowed in swimming areas (guide dogs excepted). Campground pages repeat that dogs must be leashed.	Source
Cumberland Island National Seashore	Stay limit 7 consecutive nights. A person cannot hold more than one permit for the same date; the permit holder must occupy the site. No pets in campgrounds; only service animals. Campfires only at Sea Camp and Stafford Beach, in designated fire rings. No fires at the wilderness sites (Hickory Hill, Yankee Paradise, Brickhill Bluff). No beach fires. Propane tanks larger than 1 gallon are not permitted on the ferry.	Source
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge	March and April up to 2 nights; May-February 1-4 nights; exit for one day before re-entering. Open fires are prohibited. Campfires are permitted only at Canal Run, Floyds Island and Mixons Hammock. Portable camp stoves are required elsewhere. Restrictions may be put in place during high fire danger. Possessing or discharging fireworks is prohibited.	Source

Stay limits by agency

Agency	Days	Rule	Source
GA State Parks	14	14 consecutive days, then leave for 3 nights	Source
GA WMAs		Not stated in 391-4-2-.60	Source
Chattahoochee-Oconee NF	14	14 days aggregate in any 30-day period (Forest Order 08-03-00-25-02, alert dated 2026-05-27)	Source
Corps of Engineers lakes	14	14 days in any 30-day period at one project.	Source
Georgia Power campgrounds	14	14 nights, then 3 days away.	Source
Cumberland Island	7	Stay limit 7 consecutive nights. A person cannot hold more than one permit for the same date; the permit holder must occupy the site.	Source

What the sources do not say

The Georgia Code sections on trespass and public property were behind a site that blocked automated reads, so no summary of them is given. Georgia Code trespass, noise and under-age statutes not read (official host blocked). GDOT rest area overnight rule not published on pages read.

Georgia camping laws: questions

Can I sleep at a Georgia rest area?

The Georgia DOT rest area page states no overnight rule, so none can be quoted. Rest area custodian hours are listed on that page.

Is alcohol allowed at Georgia state park campsites?

Consumption or use of alcoholic beverages or intoxicants is unlawful in any public-use area. The rules page gives no campsite exception, so ask the park.

How long can I stay at a Georgia state park?

14 consecutive days at one park, then leave for at least three nights.

Are dogs allowed in Georgia campgrounds?

Yes at state parks on a leash of six feet or less with the owner present. Cumberland Island campgrounds allow service animals only.

Do I need a bear canister in Georgia?

Along the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, a canister is required from January 1, 2027 under Forest Order 00-26-02. Elsewhere state guidance asks for secure food storage.

Can I camp on WMAs?

Camping is allowed on WMAs unless an area is posted otherwise, and a hunting or fishing license or a Lands Pass is needed to enter.

See where to camp free

Dispersed camping rules for the national forest and WMAs.

Free camping Firewood rules