Lake Sidney Lanier
13 mi northeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
Nestled in the foothills of the Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains lies Lake Sidney Lanier, one of America?s favorite lakes. Over 7.5 million people a year choose to visit Lanier.
Outdoors
Picnic spots near Alpharetta
Day-use and picnic areas near Alpharetta on public land, from quick drives to full-day outings.
21picnic areas
13 mito the closest
9within 30 miles
March–June, September–Novemberbest months
Good to know: Group picnic sites can often be reserved; fire rules change with the season, so check before bringing a grill.
Closest picks
Sawnee
13 mi northeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
Sawnee Campground lies just north of the Buford Dam on Lake Sidney Lanier. The campground features beautiful views of the lake as well as excellent access to boating and swimming.
Van Pugh South Day Use Facility
18 mi northeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
Van Pugh South Day Use Facility lies on the banks of Lake Sidney Lanier in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Northern Georgia.
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Within 30 miles (9)
Lake Sidney Lanier
Nestled in the foothills of the Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains lies Lake Sidney Lanier, one of America?s favorite lakes. Over 7.5 million people a year choose to visit Lanier.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
Sawnee
Sawnee Campground lies just north of the Buford Dam on Lake Sidney Lanier. The campground features beautiful views of the lake as well as excellent access to boating and swimming.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Water Access
- Water Activities
Van Pugh South Day Use Facility
Van Pugh South Day Use Facility lies on the banks of Lake Sidney Lanier in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Northern Georgia.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Water Access
- Water Activities
Sweetwater Day Use Area (Ga)
Sweetwater Day Use Area is situated on Allatoona Lake on the Etowah River, a tributary of the Coosa River. The serene lake and peaceful surroundings offer a relaxing getaway from the nearby city of Atlanta, just 45 miles south.
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Water Access
Old Federal
Old Federal Campground lies on the eastern banks of Lake Sidney Lanier in Northern Georgia.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Water Access
- Water Activities
Galt'S Ferry Day Use Area (Ga)
Galt's Ferry Day Use Area is situated on Allatoona Lake on the Etowah River, a tributary of the Coosa River. The serene lake and peaceful surroundings offer a relaxing getaway from the nearby city of Atlanta, just 35 miles south.
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Kayaking
- Picnicking
- Sailing
- Swimming
Duckett Mill
Duckett Mill Campground is located on Lake Sidney Lanier. With over 692 miles of shoreline, the lake is well known for its aqua-blue water, spectacular scenery and variety of recreational activities.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Water Access
- Water Activities
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
Allatoona Lake
Allatoona Lake is one of the most frequently visited U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes in the nation.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
30 to 75 miles (2)
Arabia Mountain National National Heritage Area
For millions of years, granite monadnocks have stood watch over the rivers and forests of Georgia.
- Biking
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Carters Lake
Carters Lake Project is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District. Carters Lake is one of the most scenic lakes in the Southeast.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
- Water sports
75 miles and farther (10)
Little River Canyon National Preserve
Little River is unique because it flows for most of its length atop Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama.
- Biking
- Climbing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Paddling
- Picnicking
Hartwell Lake
Hartwell Lake is one of the most popular Corps lakes in the nation. Built by the U.S.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Cherokee National Forest
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
In 1863, Union and Confederate forces fought for control of Chattanooga - a gateway to the Confederacy. The Confederates were victorious at nearby Chickamauga in September.
- Biking
- Climbing
- Hiking
- History
- Horseback riding
- Paddling
- Picnicking
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. This park is a prehistoric American Indian site, where many different American Indian cultures occupied this land for thousands of years.
- Biking
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
West Point Lake
Fishing is probably the most popular activity on West Point Lake. A dozen creeks and more than 40 square miles of lake provide plenty of good fishing spots for the thousands of anglers who fish here regularly.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
Richard B. Russell Lake
"Ole Dan Tucker was a grand ole man; He washed his face in a fryin' pan; Combed his hair with a wagon wheel; Died with a tooth ache in his heel!" During the 1700's, this famous folk song was sung by slaves in praise of the Reverend Dan…
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
- Picnicking
J. Strom Thurmond Lake
Thurmond Lake is the largest Corps of Engineers lake east of the Mississippi River. The lake encompasses 1,200 miles of shoreline, 70,000 acres of water and 80,000 acres of land.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
Andersonville National Historic Site
Nearly 13,000 men died on these grounds, a site that became infamous even before the Civil War ended. Their burial grounds became Andersonville National Cemetery, where veterans continue to be buried today.
- History
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Alpharetta. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
Get outside around Alpharetta
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Things to do in Alpharetta GA
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More outdoors near Alpharetta
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Questions
Where is the closest place for picnic spots near Alpharetta?
Lake Sidney Lanier (US Army Corps of Engineers), about 13 miles northeast of Alpharetta as the crow flies. Next are Sawnee (13 mi) and Van Pugh South Day Use Facility (18 mi).
When is the best time for picnic spots near Alpharetta?
Based on Alpharetta’s average highs, March–June, September–November. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including US Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, USDA Forest Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.