Visiting and camping Kolomoki Mounds State Park was certainly a different and interesting experience.
I will admit, I was not expecting much from this park, yet I was about to be pleasantly surprised! This park has so much to offer in terms of camping amenities, so much history, and so many activities to do!
In this review, I cover all the relevant information you need for a great camping experience. You will learn what sites to book and which ones to avoid, what to expect when camping here, activities to do within the campground, and what to bring.
Let’s get to it!
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10 THINGS TO KNOW – The Gist about Camping at Kolomoki Mounds State Park
If reading a full review is not in your to-do list for today, then I’ve got you covered. Here is the TL,DR version.
- Checking in is at the museum. You will need to pay a $5 parking pass that will be valid for the whole stay.
- Sites are spacious, made of packed gravel, and most seemed easy to level. Shade will depend on the site and time of year.
- Sites by the lake offer the most privacy and gorgeous sunset views.
- Cell signal is spotty at best, mostly non-existent.
- Bathrooms are in excellent condition and include a laundry facility and a dishwashing sink.
- You can bring your own kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards to enjoy a leisure day at the lake
- Kayaks and pedal boats can be rented through the museum.
- We brought our bikes, but they were a bit difficult to use because there are lots of hills.
- There are tons of playgrounds for kids throughout the park
- There is a gun-shooting range nearby. You hear gunshots constantly throughout the day.
If you want more details about the campground and activities, continue reading below!
CAMPING AT KOLOMOKI MOUNDS STATE PARK: The Complete Review
About the Park
Located in Early County, near the town of Blakely, this park is about 5 miles east of the Georgia-Alabama border, and about 20 miles off the Florida-Georgia border.
Not only is Kolomoki Mounds a recreational area, but it is also an important archaeological site. Its eight preserved mounds make it one of the largest mound sites in the USA.
Directions
(If you have our RV Trip Planner, go ahead and copy this information into the Bucket List section)
Arriving at Kolomoki Mounds State Park is fairly easy. While there are a couple of smaller entrances, the main entrance is easy to see, and your GPS should be able to take you there.
The main entrance is on Indian Mounds Rd off of S 1940. Here is the campground address and phone number:
205, Indian Mounds Rd, Blakely, GA 39823
(229) 724-2150
There are other smaller entrances from a road conveniently called “2nd Kolomoki Rd”. These entrances will not take you directly to the museum where you will be checking in.
Important – If you are driving an RV, please make sure you have good insurance and the right protection before hitting the road. Good Sams Roadside Assistance is the leading company in providing peace of mind to RVers.
Campground Arrival and Check-in
Once you enter the park you will drive to the museum located just about ⅓ of a mile from the entrance. You will need to go into the office to complete the check in process.
There is a large parking lot in front, so you can easily park your rig while you go into the office to check in.
During check-in, you will need to purchase a $5 parking pass
The Roads
The roads are paved and in somewhat decent condition, both within the park and within the campground loop. They did get narrow in some parts within the campground, and we saw a few potholes as well.
At the time of visit, I did not see low hanging tree branches that would be dangerous for large RVs.
The Campground Loops
The campground consists of a single, small loop with only 25 sites to choose from. There is a decent amount of trees throughout, although shade was in short supply.
Keep in mind, however, that we visited in March. The trees were still somewhat bare from the winter, and I am certain that there is probably more shade in late spring and summer after the trees leaf out a bit more.
The Campsites: Best and Worst
All RV sites have water and 30 amp power connection. The water provided has decent pressure.
Most sites are quite spacious, clearly made to accommodate large rigs. The sites, consisting of packed dirt or gravel, give the impression of being level, but they are not perfect. Definitely expect to do some work here to level your camper.
There are some trees and vegetation, but not enough to provide privacy between sites.
Best Sites
- The best RV sites are the ones by Lake Kolomoki, but not too close to the main road or the boat dock.
- The best site in terms of views and privacy is site 11, followed by sites 7 and 8.
- We had originally booked site 3, but switched to site 8 because it offered more shade, improved privacy, and better views.
- If you need buddy sites (when camping with another group or family), then try to get sites 4 and 5 together.
Worst Sites
- There are a few pull-through sites on the inside of the loop, but they do not offer great privacy or views. Unless you need a pull-through because you are not comfortable backing in, I would suggest avoiding them.
- There are a few buddy sites that you want to avoid if you are not camping in a group. Those are sites 1&2, 4&5, 22&23.
- Sites 1, 2, 3, 17, and 24 are close to the playground and the dump station. This could be a positive or a negative trait, depending on your preferences.
Best Time to Camp
We visited in early March, which made the weather fairly cool. However, the trees were not lush and the lake was a bit too cold for swimming. If we were to go back, we would try to make it late summer to enjoy more water activities, or in early fall to enjoy the gorgeous autumn colors.
Related: Camping at Disney’s Fort Wilderness – The Ultimate Guide
The Bathhouse
With this being such a small campground, it is not surprising that there is only one bathhouse.
The bathhouse was kept clean and tidy, and it has three bathroom stalls and two shower stalls. The water pressure is decent, but hot water was limited.
Laundry/Sink
There is a single washer and a single drier just outside of the bathhouse. At the time of our visit, using the washer costs $1.75, and the drier $1..
There is also a large sink for dishwashing or for washing those garments that you would prefer washing by hand.
Cell Phone Reception and Connectivity
Cell signal in the campground is practically non-existent for AT&T and Sprint. Signal to my Verizon hotspot would come and go, but it was certainly not reliable.
The only place we were able to get some signal in the pine area in front of the minigolf, as well as on top of Temple Mound.
Dump Station
The dump station is located toward the end of the loop, just in front of the campground host site. It is positioned on a weird slope, which made it necessary to raise the passenger side of the camper.
Worth noting: We witnessed a camper getting into trouble because they used wipes that were flushed down their toilet. Please, don’t do it! However, if it accidentally happens (kids are wonderful at doing this), make sure you have the right information on hand to get it all fixed. RV Repair Club is an excellent resource to help RV owners to solve problems like these. This is especially handy when you are far from your dealer!
Pets
Well-behaved dogs are allowed on all sites, as long as they are kept in a 6-foot leash.
THINGS TO DO AT KOLOMOKI MOUNDS STATE PARK
The Mounds
One thing to remember is that Kolomoki Mounds State Park is not only a recreational area but also an important archaeological site.
The mounds were built by the Swift Creek and Weeden Island Indians between 200-900 C.E.
The largest mound (Mound A) is called the Temple Mound. It is the oldest temple mound in Georgia and stands tall at 56 feet. There are also two burial mounds (Mounds D and E) and four ceremonial mounds (B, C, F and H).
Click here to learn more about Kolomoki’s mounds.
The Museum
In the museum you will find artifacts that were excavated from the mounds, as well as films explaining the burial rituals that were performed.
A very cool feature is the museum itself is in a partially excavated mound (Mound E), which gives guests a glimpse into what these mounds look like on the inside!
The rates at the time of our visit were $5 for adults, $4 for seniors (over 62 years), and $3.50 for kids between 6 and 17 years. Children 5 and under get free admission.
Lake Kolomoki
There are multiple types of activities and recreation opportunities right on Lake Kolomoki! I will summarize what those are next.
Swimming
There is a large designated swimming space by the swimming area. We did not go in because it was still fairly cold when we visited. However, this swimming space certainly makes Kolomoki Mounds a wonderful place to visit during the summer.
The water itself did not look particularly appealing. As it seems to be the case for most lakes we have visited in Georgia, the water carries a brownish color. While I am certain that this is due to high amounts of dissolved organic matter, or Georgia’s typical red clay soils, or a combination of both, it is difficult for this Florida girl used to spring water to not be slightly put off by it.
That being said, if we were visiting in the heat of summer, you would certainly find me cooling off in it!
Related: Best Florida Springs with Camping
Kayaking/Canoeing/Boating
You can bring your own or rent them in the museum during office hours. They provide the life jackets and paddles, and they will hold on to your Photo ID until the equipment is returned.
The rental rates at the time of your visit were as follow:
- $10 for 1 hour
- $25 for 4 hours
- $40 for 8 hours
Instead of renting, you can opt for bringing your own kayaks. In order to save space, we ended purchasing inflatable kayaks before this trip.
We purchased Intex Explorer K2, as we needed the capacity for two people. This was our first time bringing our own inflatable kayaks, and we greatly enjoyed paddling around the lake.
Fishing
There are small docks in Lake Kolomoki and on Lake Yohola, and you can use them from 7 am until sunset. Sunsets from this area are gorgeous, and that would certainly be a great way to spend the last few hours of the day.
Do not forget that all fishermen (16 + years) must possess a valid Georgia Fishing License.
You can purchase fishing bait at Sentry Hardware, Pure Gas Station, and Piggly Wiggly.
Pedal Boat Rentals
At the entrance of the campground, you will find a small dock with pedal boats. These can be rented through the office. The rate at the time of our visit was $15 per hour.
Related: Silver Springs State Park: A Unique Experience
Hiking
The White Oak Trail (blue trail) starts by the group shelter building. It is a 1.5 mile, easy trail with some changes in elevation. About half-way through the loop you will reach the mounds.
The trail was fairly “rooty”, so make sure you watch your step to avoid a twisted ankle. We also saw lots of downed trees, remnants of Hurricane Michael in 2018.
The 1.25-mile Trillium Trail (yellow trail) starts near the campground and takes you to Lake Yohola. It is a nice, shady trail, with some portions overlooking the lake, and other portions going by the spring-fed creeks
This trail has more changes in elevation than White Oak Trail, and it did get muddy in some portions. It is possible that portions of the trail get flooded during the rainy season.
At 2.5 miles, the Spruce Pine Trail (red trail) is a bit longer and starts off by Lake Yohola dam. This trail is a bit more rugged and great for birding and wildlife viewing. It eventually leads to Lake Kolomoki.
If you are a family and new to hiking, remember to get yourself a good family hiking packing list and safety guide.
Biking
There were not designated bike trails that we were aware of. However, the roads are paved and it is certainly a great way to get around.
We were able to bike from the campground to the trail heads, to the mounds, and even all the way to the minigolf.
Do keep in mind that the campground itself is basically in a “valley”. The road leading into and out of the campground area gets a bit steep. While it is not a long stretch of road, it will certainly feel like it.
If you have an electric-assist bike, then this might not be an issue at all. Otherwise, make sure your bike has multiple gears to help you in this portion. Even with that, there is a good chance you will feel this in your quads!
Kids activities
This is one of the most kid-friendly parks we have visited.
Within the campground, kids can bike or scooter on the paved road. The roads are open enough that cars can be easily seen, making it relatively safe.
Biking outside the campground loop might be difficult for some kids, certainly the little ones. As I said above, the roads leading into and out of the campground are rather steep. Also, traffic outside of the campground loop is a bit too fast for me to be comfortable letting kids bike around.
For that reason, if you want to bike with your kids outside of the campground loop, make sure you are bringing the proper bike attachments and accessories to keep your kids with you.
One cool feature of this park, and one that my kids certainly appreciated, is that there are multiple playgrounds to choose from.
There is a nice playground just at the beginning of the campground. As if that was not enough, we saw three additional playground areas by the picnic area.
One of the playgrounds is basically a rope climbing structure right by the lake. It looks a bit advanced, not necessarily toddler-friendly. Yet, my three year old daughter had not trouble making it to the top and having a blast.
Minigolf
There is a small minigolf inside the park that costs $4 per person. It was closed at the time of our visit, but it looks like a fun activity to do!
THINGS TO DO OUTSIDE KOLOMOKI MOUNDS STATE PARK
The closest town to Kolomoki Mounds State Park. If you check the Things to Do in Blakely, you will notice that Kolomoki MOunds State Park is the number one attraction…check!
Surprisingly, there are no other major attractions in Blakely. There are, however, plenty of restaurants to choose from! Check out this list of Blakely restaurants on TripAdvisor.
WHAT TO BRING
In addition to standard camping gear, I suggest you bring the following:
- Outdoor fan for the summer.
- If bringing bikes, make sure they have gear or electric assist.
- If biking with kids, make sure you have proper bike attachments to keep them with you.
- Kayak/paddleboards (unless you plan to rent). We love our inflatable kayaks!
- Fishing gear.
- A cell signal booster or satellite dish to get some sort of signal.
- A picnic blanket to enjoy a nice picnic in the gorgeous open fields by the mounds.
- Kites to fly in the open fields by the mounds.
- Camera gear to catch the beautiful sunset over Lake Kolomoki.
AND THAT’S A WRAP!
I hope this guide gives you all the information you need for a wonderful experience at Kolomoki Mounds State Park.
As always, I love to hear your thoughts! So if you have additional comments, recommendations, or questions, please drop them below!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND LINKS
Make a reservation through Reserve America
Fabulous article! I live outside of Blakely and was doing a quick Google search to get the hourly rates of the paddle boats.. I ended up reading your entire article because of how detailed and thorough you were and even shed some light on things I didn’t previously know about the park. I enjoyed reading it very much and hope it draws in more visitors to our area! Hope you come back to visit again!
I am glad to hear the article was informational! I hope it helps you enjoy the park even more 🙂 Thank you for reading!