It was one of those impromptu weekend trips last month that took us to the brand new KOA in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Previously, trips to our favorite mountain village required a stay in a cabin or camping in an adjacent county. So we shouldn’t have been at all surprised when our three nights were finished and we desperately wanted to stay longer.

Situated directly on the famous Toccoa River, the campground lulled us into lazy days of fishing and easy hikes, a few hours of shopping in the quaint village, and nights with movies under the stars.

location, location, location

I admit when we first pulled into the campground I was underwhelmed. It was just off a major highway. In its infancy, the trees around the campsites haven’t grown large enough to provide any shade. On the other hand, it had that spiffy feeling of a brand new car. Everything was spotless, and the guard gate and waft of hand sanitizer at check-in made me feel safe.

But once we found our campsite directly on the clear Toccoa River, I knew this was a place like no other in Georgia. Our campsite wasn’t even fully set up when the fishing poles came out.

sweet southern comfort

The cold nights begged for something stronger than hot chocolate. Just a minute away was a Publix and an Ingle’s. And the picturesque, hipster, dog-loving town of Blue Ridge was only a three-minute drive. But the liquor store – this doesn’t exist in Fannin County. We made the 25-minute drive down to Ellijay to pick up Captain Bacon’s Vanilla Crown Royal.  Next time, we’ll be better prepared.

the moon over georgia

Nights contrasted greatly with our recent evening forays in Fort Wilderness. Once the sun sets, this campground gets pretty darned quiet. But this is when the tiny trees came in handy as Orion and the fall constellations were on full display. We were one of just a few with evening fires, and probably one of two or three with full-blown outdoor movie or football nights.

day trips

Surprisingly, it was hard to leave the campsite. The Toccoa River seemed to have a giant magnet that made it nearly impossible to leave. Nevertheless, the reason we went was for the mountain hikes, artsy restaurants and shops in Blue Ridge, shopping, and horseback riding. In the summertime, we usually rent a boat and ski on one of the nearby lakes or go tubing on the rivers.

Blue Ridge is also home to one of the last remaining drive-in theaters in Georgia. Located on the edge of downtown, the historic Swan is a family-night bargain with classic movies and an old-school snack bar.

Trip tips

• Be sure to get a riverside site. These are directly on the river. In April 2021, these are $79-$89 per night, with the higher price for slightly larger sites and a patio setup with Adirondack chairs.
• If you’re a liquor drinker, bring it with you or plan to make a 25-minute drive down the mountain to the next county.
• Be aware of the times that the dam is released. It rises quickly and you can be caught off guard when you’re wading.
• If you’re headed to or from Atlanta (1.5 hours away) on your route, plan for a meal at Biguns BBQ in Talking Rock, Georgia. It’s one of our favorites anywhere, and there’s a large covered pavilion for outdoor seating as well as indoor dining.