Gainesville, Georgia was initially called Mule Camp Springs by European settlers in the early 1800s. In 1818, Hall County was established, and three short years later, the name Mule Camp Springs was changed to Gainesville and was chosen as the county seat. The city is named in honor of Gen. Edmund P. Gaines, a hero from the War of 1812.
Gainesville began to grow in population due to a gold rush in nearby Lumpkin, Georgia in the 1830s. It became known as a resort center in the middle of the 1800s until the small city was almost destroyed by fire in 1851. However, the creation of the Airline Railway brought people back to Gainesville, and its proximity to Atlanta has kept the city growing to its current population of over 40,000 people.
Lake Lanier is a top-rated resort lake that features house and cabin rentals, a large water park, fishing, boating, and one of the nation's best Christmas light shows. The Blue Ridge Mountains are also a short drive away, making the area a tourist destination for outdoor activities.
Located just outside of Atlanta, Gainesville is a beautiful place to stay if you want to visit Atlanta but do not want to deal with the traffic and crowds of the Metropolitan area. An easy, all-interstate drive 50 miles southwest of Gainesville will have you in the middle of Atlanta, and all that city has to offer.
Shoal Creek Campground is about 30 miles southwest of Gainesville in Buford, Georgia, and offers waterfront camping on the famous Lake Lanier. Being on Lake Lanier, you can fish, kayak, swim, boat, and relax next to the water. Shoal Creek features tent and RV campsites for groups, families, or individuals. Some amenities include showers, restrooms, picnic tables, boat ramps, swim areas, and full hookup sites.
Located in Athens, Georgia, the home of the University of Georgia Bulldogs, Team RV Park is about 50 miles southeast of Gainesville. Team RV Park is a small, 20-site RV park that is often used for significant tailgating events on Saturdays leading up to big games at the University and is a great place to make memories with friends and fellow Bulldog fans.
Scenic Mountain RV Park is located two hours south of Gainesville in Milledgeville, Georgia, and features 92 RV sites with full hookups. Scenic Mountain covers over 100 acres in Milledgeville and features showers, bathrooms, coin laundry, three pavilions, and a swimming pool. There is also a fenced-in area for dogs, multiple hiking trails, and a few fishing ponds. This RV park is close to Macon and Atlanta but far enough away from everything to feel like you are in the middle of nature.
Just 11 miles north of Gainesville is Don Carter State Park, where Lake Lanier meets the flowing waters of the Chattahoochee River. This is the only state park on the 38,000-acre Lake Lanier, and it features a beach, boat ramp, gift shop, playground, and more. Within the park, you will find an RV campsite and primitive camping areas, and there are many more RV parks in the surrounding area.
Fort Yargo State Park is just east of Atlanta and is a great place to visit Gainesville. The park is home to a log fort built in 1792 as a way for settlers to protect themselves against Creek and Cherokee Indians and a 260-acre lake with boat ramps and good fishing. Guests can choose between RV campsites, primitive campsites, and cabin rentals, and a wide array of outdoor sports and activities are available.
Traveling north from Gainesville and just outside of Helen, Georgia is Vogel State Park. Vogel is the base of Blood Mountain, the second tallest mountain in Georgia and one of the most popular hikes in Georgia's section of the Appalachian Trail. Vogel State Park is especially popular when the leaves change colors in the fall. Cottages are available for rent, as well as RV campsites, and plenty of primitive camping both in and around the park.
The Appalachian Trail is one of the most popular hikes in America, and it either starts or ends at Springer Mountain, just 30 miles northwest of Gainesville. The Appalachian Trail runs 2,190 miles from Georgia to Maine, and many people spend months hiking it from beginning to end. However, if you cannot or do not want to do that, there are plenty of individual mountains or shortened trails throughout the Appalachians that also make for good hiking.
The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is a serene and quiet display of nature that exists just outside one of the country's largest metropolitan areas. Hiking, boating, cycling, fishing, and camping are just some of the popular outdoor activities in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. You can float the 48-mile section of the Chattahoochee in a canoe or raft or take a section at a time and experience the wildlife and scenery.
The center of the civil rights movement of the 1960s is close to Gainesville. The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park is in Atlanta and is home to historical artifacts, pictures, information, and more about the leader of the civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. You can visit the church where he spoke, walk the same steps he took, and learn more about this leader and how he led a peaceful movement that changed the world.
The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is a fun place to visit during your stay in Gainesville. The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is two national forests with three administrative districts. There are numerous hiking trails, camping areas, and places to park your RV throughout the parks. If you are looking for mountainous terrain with great hiking and camping options, the Chattahoochee is where you should visit. On the other hand, if you are more interested in flat terrain, river scenery, boating, fishing, and even some whitewater rafting, the Oconee National Forest is where you should look.
The Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina is a beautiful forest with the Nantahala River running directly through it. If you can brave the river's frigid waters, there are some significant whitewater areas to raft, and the park is covered with hiking trails, sightseeing opportunities, boating, and fishing. This is the largest of the four national forests in North Carolina and one of the most popular to visit because of the outdoor recreation and, specifically, the rafting. There are also plenty of campsites within the park and around it.
Sumter National Forest is located 70 miles northeast of Gainesville and is one of two national forests in South Carolina. The forest has three distinct ranger districts which are not contiguous and offer different terrain and recreational opportunities. For example, there is an exceedingly popular mountain bike trail in the Long Cane district, excellent hunting and fishing in Enoree Ranger District, and plentiful fishing and paddling options in the Andrew Pickens district.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is just a two-hour drive from Gainesville and is one of America's most popular national parks. The park encompasses more than 500,000 acres of beautiful mountainous terrain. Places like Cades Cove, Clingmans Dome, the Chimney Tops, and more make this park great for hiking and sightseeing. In addition, the park is home to many black bears, foxes, other wildlife, waterfalls, and mountain streams. Resort towns like Gatlinburg, Cherokee, and Pigeon Forge are also close by if you need to resupply.
A little over 200 miles east of Gainesville is South Carolina's Congaree National Park, the only national park in the state. Located just a few miles outside of Columbia, Congaree consists of over 25,000 acres of hardwood forests and swampland. Some of the tallest trees in the southeast are located within the park as it is one of the only hardwood forests to escape the lumber industry in the late 1800s. Canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, sightseeing, and camping are some of the most popular activities at Congaree. The Congaree Blue River Trail is a beautiful 50-mile paddle in the middle of the park.
Mammoth Cave National Park is one of the unique national parks in America, and it features the longest-known cave system in the world. It is a six-hour drive from Gainesville, but it is worth the distance. You can tour some of the most popular caverns, but more than 400 miles of explored caves are inaccessible. It is thought that there are still miles of undiscovered and unexplored caverns left under the ground at Mammoth Cave National Park. If you prefer to stay above ground, you can enjoy hiking, boating, kayaking, camping, fishing, and more within the park's borders.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Gainesville, GA, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Gainesville?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Gainesville from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Gainesville?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
