Weekend Adventure: Magnolia Springs State Park
Millen, Georgia
🚐 120 miles from home
A Bit of History
Magnolia Springs State Park isn’t just a place for fresh air and peaceful camping—it’s steeped in history. As one of Georgia’s original Civilian Conservation Corps campgrounds, this site holds deep historical roots, even dating back to the Civil War. It was once home to Fort Lawton, a prisoner of war camp that housed Union soldiers. While the original structures no longer stand, you can still clearly see where the walls once were. The on-site museum offers a self-guided tour that really helps bring that piece of history to life.
Camping at Magnolia Springs
The campground itself has a nice variety of options for visitors:
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9 cottages
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26 tent, trailer, and RV campsites
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3 walk-in campsites
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1 Pioneer campground
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10 picnic shelters
Amenities include a fishing dock, scenic boardwalk, two playgrounds, and a spring-fed lake with canoe and kayak rentals. While there are no full hookups, all sites (except the walk-in tent sites) offer water and electric. Most are standard 30-amp, with a few 50-amp options. There’s also a dump station for RVers. All campsites are pet-friendly, and a few cabins welcome pets too.
Our Campsite Experience
We stayed at Site 20—a level, sandy back-in spot. This trip was extra special because it was the maiden voyage of our semi-finished utility trailer camper. There was great space between the sites, and the layout made the whole campground feel open despite only having 26 spots. Each site included a fire ring, which we put to good use roasting baked potatoes stuffed with pulled pork—our first official campfire meal in the new setup.
While we did prep for colder temps, we underestimated just how chilly the night would get. We learned a hard but valuable lesson about camping in colder weather—blankets alone weren't enough. That led to a fun side adventure the next morning: a 30-mile drive to find a small space heater.
Our pups, Monty and Gadget, had a blast. We set up their doggy pen, giving them some off-leash time safely at camp. We actually picked up this idea from fellow campers on a previous tent trip, and it’s been a game-changer ever since.
Things to Do
We didn’t have to go far for fun. We hiked with Monty and Gadget along the Woodpecker Trail and Beaver Trail, covering about half of the park’s 5 total miles of trails. The paths were easy and scenic—perfect for both humans and dogs to stretch their legs and get some sniffer time in.
Magnolia Springs is ideal for anyone looking to unplug. The town of Millen is small, with a basic IGA grocery store and a handful of restaurants. If you need more amenities or a big box store, you’ll need to make the 30-mile trek to either Waynesboro or Statesboro.
Final Thoughts
Magnolia Springs State Park is a quiet, no-frills escape perfect for a relaxing weekend. You won’t find tons of surrounding attractions, but you will find peace, nature, and starry skies. Keep your eyes peeled—you might spot deer wandering through camp, or even an alligator sunning itself near the spring, depending on the season.
This spot is especially great if you’re looking for simple amenities, beautiful trails, and a peaceful, pet-friendly atmosphere.
🐾 Camping with the Innies Score 🐾
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Location: 🦴🦴🦴🦴
Easy to get to along state highways and quiet surroundings. -
Hiking/Walking Trails: 🦴🦴🦴🦴
5 miles of easy, dog-friendly trails. -
Bath House: 🦴🦴🦴
Standard and clean, with laundry facilities. -
Campsite Amenities: 🦴🦴🦴🦴
Spacious sites, pet-friendly, with electric and water hookups. -
Surrounding Activities/Attractions: 🦴🦴
Not much nearby unless you're up for a drive.
Final Score: 17/25
Thanks for stopping by and checking out our review of Magnolia Springs State Park! If you’ve got any questions or want to share your own experience, feel free to drop a comment below.
Until next time—
Tim, Kristen, Monty, and Gadget 🐶🐶
*We stayed here prior to Hurricane Helene, according to their website they are still recovering from the impact.
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