Army Corps of Engineers · Lake Sidney Lanier · Flowery Branch, GA

Old Federal

Old Federal Campground lies on the eastern banks of Lake Sidney Lanier in Northern Georgia. Popular for its aqua-blue waters and spectacular scenery, Lake Sidney Lanier hosts over 11 million visitors annually for fantastic fishing and boating opportunities.

More like this: electric hookups in Georgia · reservable in Georgia · big rigs in Georgia · pets allowed in Georgia

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
OLD FEDERALOLD FEDERALOLD FEDERALOld Federal
Photos courtesy of Russ Lundstrum · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric58
Tent-only12
Walk-in7
RV with electric5
tent only electric2
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 120 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

84 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesAccessible
01RV electricBack-in52PavedPartial50 ampYes / –Riverfront8 / 3
02Tent Only ElectricBack-inPavedPartial50 ampRiverfront8 / 3
03RV electricBack-in45PavedPartial50 ampYes / –Riverfront8 / 3
04RV electricPull-throughPavedPartial50 ampYes / –Riverfront8 / 3
05RV electricPull-through120PavedFull50 ampYes / –Riverfront8 / 3
06RV electricBack-in70PavedPartial50 ampYes / –Riverfront8 / 3
07Tent onlyBack-inPavedPartialNoLakefront,riverfront8 / 3
08Tent onlyPull-throughPavedPartialNoLakefront,riverfront8 / 3
09Tent onlyPull-throughPavedFullNoLakefront,riverfront8 / 3
10Tent onlyBack-inPavedPartialNoRiverfront8 / 3

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length160 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
FeesReservations can be made online at recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
AccessibilitySites 76, 77, 78, 82 and 1 more are listed accessible

There are 65 campsites that have electric and water hookups (no sewer) and 12 primitive tent-only campsites. There are also 7 walk-in sites for those who don't mind leaving their vehicles behind. Campers will have access to restrooms/bathouses, laundry facilities, two picnic shelters and a dump station.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Old Federal40°50°60°70°80°January: 5.28 inches of precipitation, 0.7 inches of snowFebruary: 5.15 inches of precipitation, 0.5 inches of snowMarch: 5.31 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowApril: 4.19 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 4.23 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 4.51 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.90 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 5.11 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 4.13 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 4.20 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 4.39 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowDecember: 5.16 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 41.1°F averageFebruary: 44.2°F averageMarch: 51.4°F averageApril: 59.2°F averageMay: 67.0°F averageJune: 74.3°F averageJuly: 77.8°F averageAugust: 76.7°F averageSeptember: 71.0°F averageOctober: 60.9°F averageNovember: 50.8°F averageDecember: 44.0°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Gainesville, 7 miles from the campground at 1,170 feet, station USC00093621 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 56 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 2 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Take I-85 north to I-985, take Exit 8, turn left on Hwy 347/Friendship Rd. turn right on McEver Rd. turn left on Jim Crow Rd. and follow signs to the campground.

Nearest townFlowery Branch, Georgia
Coordinates34.2222° N, 83.9494° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

Cancellations must be made via the online/phone reservation system or in person at the gatehouse. Cancellation calls to the gatehouse will not be honored.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗0.2 mi
RV sales & serviceCamper City ↗5.7 mi
Outdoor gearREI ↗11.3 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Old Federal Campground Review | Lakefront Camping Near Atlanta!

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests begins about 5.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Natural features

Lake Sidney Lanier is nestled in the foothills of the Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains. The lake features 692 miles of shoreline and spans 38,000 surface water acres and 17,000 acres of lush terrain. The reservoir was created in 1956 with teh completion of Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee River.

Recreation

Old Federal Campground offers many outdoor recreation opportunities including fishing, swimming, picnicking and bike riding. On the lake there are opportunities for wake boarding, kayaking, boating and much more. There's also a swimming beach and boat ramp available for campers.

Nearby

Lake Lanier Islands as well as other nearby Army Corps and county parks provide may different recreation opportunities at the lake. The nearby city of Gainesville provides many opportunities for those looking to explore the local area.

Guidebooks for Georgia

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Old Federal?

Sites at Old Federal are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Old Federal?

Reservations can be made online at recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Old Federal?

Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Old Federal have?

84 sites, including 58 standard sites with power, 12 tent-only sites, 7 walk-in sites, and 5 RV sites with electric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Old Federal?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Old Federal have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Old Federal?

Campers will have access to restrooms/bathouses, laundry facilities, two picnic shelters and a dump station.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Old Federal?

Yes, pets are allowed at Old Federal. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Old Federal?

Sites 76, 77, 78, and 82 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 5 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Old Federal?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Old Federal?

Old Federal Campground offers many outdoor recreation opportunities including fishing, swimming, picnicking and bike riding. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Old Federal?

Flowery Branch, Georgia. Lake Lanier Islands as well as other nearby Army Corps and county parks provide may different recreation opportunities at the lake.

Source: Getting there