Camping at Laura S. Walker State Park, Waycross, Georgia

We have arrived at the final camping stop on our RV trip.  Travelling to Waycross, Georgia – we stayed at Laura S. Walker State Park.  This park is somewhat remote and near the Okefenokee Swamp with fairly dark skies – except there were lights in many places through out the park making it harder to do any night photography.  It was founded in 1937 (that's before World War II!).  Laura S. Walker was a writer, teacher, civic leader and naturalist.

Our arrival time was shortly after 4pm – we are staying here just one night and heading on home the next day.  A good portion of this campground is sunny with little shade – for us, this would present some issues during the middle of the summer with temperatures in the 90s.  We actually seek out campsites with some shade to make it nicer temperatures.

Park Details

Laura S Walker State Park

Address: 5653 Laura Walker Road, Waycross, GA 30503

Phone: 912 287 4900

Cell phone service (Verizon) was good at this park

The park is remote, so be prepared with food, drink, etc.  Google maps does indicate that Waycross, Georgia (town/city) is about 15 minutes away – but when we approached from the east, it appeared to be pretty much isolated.

The park office is open Monday through Sunday 8am – 5pm

When we checked in I received a map of the park and campground along with an information sheet about the park.  It was established in 1941 as a state park.  It is named after one of Waycross, Georgia's most distinguished citizens.  Mrs. Walker was born in Milledgeville, Georgia on February 28, 1861, less than 2 months before the Civil War began.  She married Dr. J. L. Walker, the former mayor of Waycross in 1886. "In the 1930s, the federal government bought land under Depression-Era programs, where some of the eroded, worn out and uneconomical land was purchased from farmers and developed for recreational purposes.  The land that became Laura S Walker State Park was purchased under a Federal land Use Areas project, and was the first park in Georgia named for a woman.  Laura Walker was a National Park until around 1941 when it became the 13th state park of Georgia.  It was initially built in 1937 by President Franklin D Roosevelt's Work Progress Administration (WPA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)." http://gastateparks.org/LauraSWalker

Campsite details

30 and 50 amp electric

Picnic table, Fire ring

Gravel campsite

Sunny (a few small sites looked like they are fairly shady - 26 and 28); some are on the lake front but those are all sun

We stayed in campsite #16 which was fairly well shaded on the outside of the loop for the campground.

Water/Electric (has dump station)

Back in sites

Checkin is 1pm

Checkout is 12pm

Quiet hours 10pm - 7am

Laundry facilities

Exercise equipment (outdoors)

Playground

Swim area in lake

Dog park (small dog and large dog areas) with a dog poop bag station

DOG PARK

This is the first campground that we have camped that has a dog park within the park itself.  I took our dogs there to see if they wanted to run around a little – free!  Something that they really haven’t experienced much during our adventure.  They did run around a little bit (having the park to themselves) but they didn’t seem really excited!  Maybe just to tired? 

Rue

Abby (she loves to roll in the grass)

Ollie

FIRST WALK

After stopping at the dog park, the dogs and I walked on over to the lake to get an idea of park and opportunities available at this park.  They have outdoor exercise equipment.

Gazebo near the lake shore.

Lake

SUNSET

After having some dinner, we got Jim to come with us over to the lake shore – I was hoping to get a shot at the sunset but it wasn’t really in the right place to get it.  Here’s a few images of what we did manage to capture.

AFTER DARK

The night sky there is fairly nice – you will see a good amount of stars (especially compared to what is here at home for us with all the light pollution).

MAP

The next morning we took our time getting ready to break down camp after breakfast and start the final trek home – just another 250 miles!

To view all photographs from this park, click on this link.