Overview
Ridge Road Campground is located on a scenic peninsula surrounded by the J. Strom Thurmond Lake, only 15 miles away from the Lake Thurmond Visitor Center and Dam and one of the area's first campgrounds.
Camping at Ridge Road is ripe with many different opportunities for relaxation, skill-building, family bonding, and nature appreciation. The 70,000 acre lake and 1,000+ miles of shoreline are prime for activities that facilitate such opportunities such as boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, kayaking, hiking, biking, and bird watching, and so much more of course!
Recreation
Thurmond Lake provides some of the best fishing, hunting, and water sports in the southeastern United States. Anglers fish for largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish and striped bass. The large lake offers great conditions for exciting activities such as boating, water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing and swimming. Many miles of hiking trails are available a few miles from the campground. Hikers enjoy the 1.8-mile Lake Springs Loop and the 27-mile Bartram Trail, which meanders along the scenic shoreline and through Wildwood Park. Shorter sections can be hiked from several intersecting trailheads, the closest is Keg Creek.
When recreating at Thurmond Lake, we hope to give our visitors opportunities to bond, appreciate nature, relive stress, improve skills, and improve physical fitness.
Facilities
Ridge Road Campground has many facilities that every camper can enjoy with 63 sites with water and electric hook up, while providing a space for campers that prefer a more primitive experience with the convenience of modern amenities! The gatehouse has friendly camp hosts, information about the campground, and local area. There are two bathhouses that have flush toilets and showers. There are vault toilets spread throughout the campground at the boat ramp, primitive island, and playground for convenience. For the young campers, there is a playground near the designated swimming beach. For camper convenience, there are two dump stations and dumpsters located in the campground.
Natural Features
Water/ Land:
Ridge Road Campground is on the shoreline of the J Strom Thurmond lake that is over 70,000 acres, and surrounded with a mix of pine and hardwood trees which offer shade and visual interest.
Wildlife:
Wildlife is abundant around the lake. Visitors regularly see southern bald eagles, migratory waterfowl, neo-tropical birds, wild turkeys and whitetail deer.
Weather/ Climate:
Average temperatures during the camping season starts out at 76 degrees Fahrenheit and peaks in July at 90 degrees Fahrenheit. May receives the least amount of rainfall on average, but increased rainfall for June, July, and August.
Nearby Attractions
Numerous parks and recreation areas lie around Thurmond Lake, providing additional settings for outdoor activities such as, boating, swimming, hunting, and hiking. There are many USACE managed day-use areas within six miles where registered campers may enter for free by displaying their campground hangtag pass. Within 15 miles, campers may visit the dam, Visitor Center, and various USACE trails.
Nearby cities house museums, art galleries, zoos, restaurants, and shopping areas.
The Bartram Trail, a designated National Recreation Trail, has a trailhead only 7 miles away by the Keg Creek Boat ramp. This trail is loved by hikers and mountain bikers. There are many trailheads that offer different lengths of trail and challenge levels along the 27 mile trail.
The Augusta National Golf Club hosts the Masters Golf Tournament annually the first week of April.
The description, directions and fees are the Army Corps of Engineers’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
US Forest Service (USFS)
National Park Service (NPS)
US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
Department Of Defense (DOD)
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
Other Federal
State
Local
Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
Alaska Native Allotment
Road
Primitive Road
Road
Primitive Road
Trail
Roads open to all Vehicles, Yearlong
Roads open to all Vehicles, Seasonal
Roads open to highway legal vehicles only, Yearlong
Roads open to highway legal vehicles only, Seasonal
Special Designation, Yearlong
Special Designation, Seasonal
Trails open to all vehicles, Yearlong
Trails open to all vehicles, Seasonal
Trails open to vehicles 50" or less in width, Yearlong
Trails open to vehicles 50" or less in width, Seasonal
Trails open to motorcycles, Yearlong
Trails open to motorcycles, Seasonal
Special Designation, Seasonal
Trails Open to Wheeled Vehicles Only < 50" in Width, Yearlong
Trails Open to Wheeled Vehicles Only < 50" or Less in Width, Seasonal
Wilderness Area
Wilderness Study Area