Atlanta State Park
RV Guide
Introduction
Sitting on the shores of the 18,994-acre Wright Patman Lake, Atlanta State Park, with its towering pines and hardwoods which shade the park and provide year-round colorful displays, is the place to take in the beauty of nature. Located 11 miles northwest of Atlanta, Texas, this state park is a must-visit on your next RV vacation. The wealth of recreational activities available to you at the park include walking, nature study, birding, camping, picnicking, geocaching, and jogging or hiking along roads, trails and shorelines. In fact, you can explore hilly park roads on your bicycle. Even more, on the Wright Patman Lake, you can fish, boat, water-ski and swim at a designated area (no lifeguard on duty).
Atlanta State Park has two boat ramps and a fish cleaning station, five miles of hiking trails, campsites with electric, water, and sewer hookups for your RV, as well as a picnic pavilion and an amphitheater reservable for group events. You can rent a canoe at the park anytime of the year and loan some fishing tackle. Even more, basketballs, volleyballs and horseshoes are available to borrow for use in the park.
Archaeologists discovered signs of human occupation and settlement by nomadic hunters and gatherers, who lived off of the bounty of the river corridor in Atlanta State Park starting around more than 12,000 years ago.
RV Rentals in Atlanta State Park
Transportation
Driving
Atlanta State Park is easy to access by RV/trailer or car, since it is located just 11 miles northwest of Atlanta. Local paved roads link all the campsites in the park, meaning you can go anywhere you want in the park with ease, whether in your RV, trailer or other vehicles. There are no driving restrictions for RVs/trailers within the park as long as they are not above specified RV length limits.
Parking
Atlanta State Park has six parking lots distributed across the entire park, giving you options to park your RV/trailer. You can find spots to park your rig at the White Oak Ridge campground, Wilkins Creek campground, Knights Bluff campground, the boat ramp, as well as around the Hickory Hollow Nature Trail.
Public Transportation
There are no public transportation facilities at Atlanta State Park.
Campgrounds and parking in Atlanta State Park
Campsites in Atlanta State Park
Reservations camping
Knights Bluff Camping Area
The Knights Bluff Camping Area in Atlanta State Park is a pet-friendly campground consisting of 55 campsites available for tents and RVs/trailers year-round, and a group picnic pavilion. Fourteen of the campsites in Knights Bluff campground offer full hookups (electric, water, and sewer hookups) for your RV, while the remaining 41 campsites offer electric hookups only. RV/trailer length limit at the campground is 116 feet. Amenities at the campground include restrooms and showers, a playground, picnic areas, horseshoes, an amphitheater, and a sand volleyball court. There are two parking lots for your RV around the Knights Bluff campground. Some of the campsites with 30-amp electric RV hookups are assigned on first-come, first served basis while other are on reservation basis.
The campground connects to the trailhead of the Volksmarch Trail and also a scenic overlook where you can take in the breathtaking view of the 27, 025-acre Wright Patman Lake and see soaring bald eagles or a squadron of white pelicans fishing for a meal. A boat ramp, canoe launch site, and designated swimming area is also close to the campground. Public consumption or display of any alcoholic beverage is prohibited, and gathering of firewood is also prohibited.
Wilkins Creek Camping Area
Wilkins Creek Camping Area in Atlanta State Park is a pet-friendly campground with 19 campsites available for tents and RVs/trailers. One of the campsites has full hookup options (electric, water, and sewer hookups) for your RV/trailer, while the rest have electric hookups only. RV/trailer length limit at the campground is 111 feet. Amenities at this campground include restrooms and showers, a dump station, and two parking lots for your RV/trailer. Campsites with 30-amp electric hookups are assigned on first-come, first served basis while other are on reservation basis. You can bring a book, a picnic, escape the hustle and bustle of life, and catch a glimpse of a variety of wildlife at the bluff overlooking Wilkins Creek cove around the campground. The campground connects to the trailhead of the White Oak Ridge Trail and the Hickory Hollow Nature Trail. Public consumption or display of any alcoholic
White Oak Ridge Camping Area
The White Oak Ridge Camping Area in Atlanta State Park is a pet-friendly campground with 17 campsites available for RV/trailers and tents. One of the campsites has full hookup options (electric, water, and sewer hookups) for your RV/trailer, while the rest have electric hookups only. RV/trailer length limit at the campground is 60 feet. Amenities at this campground include showers and restrooms, horseshoes, as well as a parking lot for your RV/trailer. Campsites with 30-amp electric RV hookups are assigned on first-come, first served basis while other are on reservation basis. The campground connects to the trailhead of the White Oak Ridge trail and the road that leads to a canoe rack and boat ramp. Public consumption or display of any alcoholic beverage, and gathering of firewood are prohibited.
Seasonal activities in Atlanta State Park
In-Season
Hiking
Atlanta State Park offers nearly five miles of hiking trails, including a 0.8-mile nature trail for you to enjoy on your RV vacation. These trails which wind through all parts of the park vary in difficulty. If you are looking for an easy hike, check out the one and a half-mile Volksmarch Trail which intersects with the Arrowhead Trail leading to a great view of the Wright Patman Lake. For a more challenging trail, trek on the 0.81-mile Hickory Hollow Nature Trail around the Wilkins Creek camping area. The White Oak Ridge Trail, which you can start near the boat ramp, allows you hike above the lakeshore for additional adventure.
Fishing
Thanks to the Wright Patman Lake which borders Atlanta State Park, you can rest assured that you will enjoy fishing while on your RV holiday. Species of fish in the lake include crappie, largemouth bass, white bass and several species of sunfish. In addition, plentiful catfish such as channel, blue and flathead, swim in the lake too giving you a wide array of catch possibilities. What’s more, quality-size fish are available. So, get your fishing gear and dive into the experience. After you’re done, you can proceed to the fish cleaning station and make use of the facility to round off the fun experience.
Geocaching
Get ready for adventurous treasure hunts as you visit Atlanta State Park on your RV trip. The park has geocaching sites that will make your modern-day treasure hunt absolutely fun-filled while taking you to creative and beautiful places in the park. All you need do is use a GPS unit or smartphone app to find the coordinates of a geocache site in the park and set out on the adventure. Each geocache has a difficulty rating based on how hard it is to find, so gear up and bring your “Sherlock Holmes” skills to bear!
Off-Season
Birding
RV campers enjoy the sight of woodland birds around the picnic and camping areas in Atlanta State Park, as well as on the Volksmarch and Arrowhead Trails. Examples of bird species in the park are brown-headed nuthatches and pine warblers which reside in the trees overhead. During winter, the picnic area in the park offers the best view of bufflehead, ruddy duck, and other duck species, along with the many American white pelicans and double-crested cormorants found on the water. Besides, birders can also see various species of gulls around the dam in winter.
Flora
The beautiful trees at Atlanta State Park are the focal point of the park, particularly the 90-foot tall pines and hardwoods decorating the shores of the Wright Patman Lake. Within Atlanta State Park, short leaf pine, white oak, loblolly pines and other varieties of oak also grow, adding to the sweet vista of the park. Visiting the park for your RV vacation during fall will provide you the opportunity to see the spectacular fall color, while in the spring, the dogwoods in bloom are an amazing sight.
Boating and Swimming
Atlanta State Park has two dedicated boat ramps for you to launch your boating experience while on your vacation at the park. In fact, the park rents canoes all year-round to RV campers, which means you cannot miss out on the fun as you row across the 40-feet deep Wright Patman Lake.
If your preference is to have a good swim in the moderately clear Wright Patman Lake, then you have nothing to worry about. The designated swimming area in the Atlanta State Park is just perfect for you.
