Hartwell Georgia KOA: Lakefront Camping & RV Adventures

After weaving through the mountains and cities on our journey, Hartwell, Georgia welcomed us with something we’d been dreaming about—our very first lakefront RV spot. The KOA we stayed at had a site where the view from every window was nothing but sparkling water. From the moment we parked, it felt like the kind of place you could sit with a cup of coffee and never want to leave. The sun was already starting to set, and the colors reflected on the lake like glass—it was gorgeous.

This was our "porch" outside the Airstream.

As idyllic as our spot was, the night wasn’t without a little campground drama. A few sites down, a couple had just pulled out to go drain their tanks. On their return, things went sideways fast. Their site required pulling in between two trees, and their RV clipped one of them—leaving them stuck, wedged tight between the trunks. I kept nudging Patrick, asking if we should go and help, but he just shook his head. The couple was already arguing and clearly having a tough day. Sometimes the kindest thing is to give people space, and we decided this was one of those times.

On a lighter note, that evening we went for a walk and ended up meeting our very first RV friends. A couple traveling in a teardrop trailer struck up a conversation with us. Their names were Jeff and Carrie (from Key West, Florida), and the icebreaker came when Jeff offered dog treats to Indy and Piper. From there, we stood around chatting, swapping stories, and laughing about life on the road. It was easy, genuine, and felt like the start of a community we’d been craving.

Sweet Indy girl enjoying the lake

Unfortunately, we were heading out the very next day, so our time with them was short. But we connected on Instagram and have loved following their adventures since. Even though it was just one evening, meeting them made Hartwell feel extra special.

The beautiful sunset at Hartwell Lake

Our quick stop in Hartwell gave us so much—peaceful lake views, a little RV park drama, and the start of new friendships. It reminded us that road life is about more than just the places we see—it’s about the people and the stories that come with them.