Lake Seminole creates a natural border between northwest Florida and southwest Georgia, as the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers combine into the body of water contained behind the Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam. Maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers, the dam was completed in 1952 and the lake opened in 1957. The water from Lake Seminole flows through the hydroelectric dam, which crosses the state line between Georgia and Florida, before becoming the Apalachicola River in Florida. Lake Seminole is a popular fishing destination, with hopeful anglers casting for bass, crappie, and catfish, while hunters visit the lake in search of geese. Seminole State Park provides a temporary home base for visitors to the lake, offering boating access from a shallow branch of water in the park to the “big water” of Lake Seminole.

Seminole State Park lies south of Donalsonville, GA and features 50 RV campsites, 14 cottages, and two primitive camping areas nestled along the banks of the lake and scattered throughout the nearby forest. We booked five nights at Seminole to slow down our recent travel pace a bit, allow some time to catch up on chores, and enjoy some time in a wooded setting by a lake. While we currently live a nomadic lifestyle, that doesn’t mean we look forward to driving hundreds of miles day after day. So after driving 700 miles in seven days, we were ready for a break from the front seats of the RV. I realize 700 miles may not seem like a lot to many road warriors, but we call this site “The Road Slowly Traveled” for a reason!

We arrived on a Saturday afternoon, expecting the park to be filled to capacity with weekend visitors. Sure enough, a sign posted at the entrance booth indicated all the sites were full as we drove around to the ranger station. We were checked in to our reserved site by two pleasant young women at the desk and given a handy map of restaurants in the local area, as well as information on obtaining a fishing license from the convenience store just up the road. Seminole State Park has non-site specific reservations, so I asked if we’d be driving around looking for the last one or two sites still available.

“We’re pretty full already,” one of the women replied in her rich south Georgia accent, “but most people will be clearing out tomorrow or Monday. You can change sites at any time.”

We thanked the park staff and set out in search of our possibly temporary site for the weekend. After an optimistic yet unsuccessful search through the waterfront sites, we found two sites along the treeline which seemed fine not only for the weekend but for our entire stay. Most of the waterfront sites offer 50-amp service and are fairly close together – certainly not cramped – but you enjoy the view of the lake and easy access to the water from your front yard. The sites in the wooded loops provide a bit more privacy and space, and most have 30-amp electric outlets which is enough power for us. We ended up in site 43, a large pull-through with the forest behind us and plenty of open area for the backyard.

After setting up, we decided to break out our bikes and check out the Seminole Grill, a local restaurant about a mile outside the park entrance. The Grill boasts the “only full bar in the county” and features local specialties on the menu like fried green tomatoes, catfish, and cheese grits. We locked up our bikes to a pole outside (probably unnecessary) and entered the simply adorned building to find an open seating area with tables neatly lined up throughout the restaurant, as well as a horseshoe-shaped bar. We just wanted some snacks and maybe a drink, so we grabbed two seats at the bar across from a group of people who quickly revealed themselves as regulars.

Our bar snacks arrived shortly after ordering, and we enjoyed fried green tomatoes and cheese curds along with a couple of standard cold beers – nothing local on the drink menu here. We learned a bit about the area from the locals, as I asked questions about fishing, and Ashley discussed knitting with the bartender/owner since she never leaves home without a project in tow. Our visit to Donalsonville was off to a good start, and we said goodbye as we headed out to our bikes for the ride back to the campground before the sun set.

The Seminole Grill is open Thursday through Saturday evenings, and Sundays for a lunch buffet. Their food is prepared from scratch and served in a wholesome, down-home setting. We decided to ride back for lunch on Sunday and found the same group of regulars who happily greeted us as we entered, asking if we rode our bikes again with concern because rain was in the forecast. We assured them we were prepared for the weather, showing off our raincoats (which turned out later to be an unnecessary precaution), as we took seats again at the bar. More tables were filled for lunch than the previous evening, and everyone helped themselves to the buffet table filled with beef tips in gravy, soft rolls, fried chicken, fried fish, green beans, macaroni and cheese, glazed carrots, collard greens, braised beans, a full salad bar, and homemade cake and cookies for dessert. Everything was prepared and seasoned well, and I naturally ate too much which meant Ashley had to roll me out the door to my bike and push me down the hill to get started. Stop by the Seminole Grill if you’re visiting the park and in the mood for simply and deliciously prepared home cooking in a friendly atmosphere, especially on a Sunday for lunch.

Later that evening, our campground neighbors invited us over to join them around the fire. We learned that they travel most of the year in their RV, as they happily shared tips, recommended destinations, and swapped stories by the fire. They even generously gave us a cast iron griddle pan, since we were discussing the versatility of the material and they had managed to collect too many in their travels. We’ve certainly met more friendly people in campgrounds as we’ve traveled south, and Seminole was no exception. Not only did we enjoy an evening of conversation, the smoke from the fire also helped to keep the gnats at bay, which become even more of a nuisance after dark. The locals at the grill warned us that the gnats get worse later in the summer, so keep that in mind when making reservations to visit the park.

In addition to our usual chores, we spent the next few days exploring the park’s simple trail network, searching for glimpses of an alligator or some turtles in the wetland area, and enjoying the mild weather in the southern Georgia forest. I broke my fishing rod out of storage and attempted a bit of freshwater fishing, with no success, but I was warned that the best fishing on the lake is by boat. Lake Seminole has an average depth of only ten feet, with the best fishing found in the deeper limestone holes hidden throughout the lake. Fishing from shore only allows access to water between three and five feet deep, even from the fishing pier in the state park. I still enjoy the act of fishing even if I don’t catch anything, but I was looking forward to catching some freshwater fish for a change. Looks like I’ll have to keep practicing as we continue our journey west this year.

The park offers an onsite dump station, as well as water and electric at each site in the RV loop. The bathrooms were always clean, although Ashley said two of the toilets and one of the sinks in one of the women’s bathrooms were broken during our visit. The sites are spacious, but aren’t separated by any plant growth like at some parks so you’re able to see everything around you. If you don’t have a Georgia State Parks Pass, you’ll be charged a $5 entry fee (we bought a pass last year, which was still valid during this visit – plus you receive a discount on your reservations when you check in). Seminole State Park is suitable for RVs of any size, and if you don’t arrive on a Friday or Saturday afternoon you’re likely to have your choice of available sites.

A visit to the park is sure to be filled with beautiful views of the Lake Seminole cove from the campgrounds. excellent opportunities to spot wildlife in the wetlands, and a relaxing walk through the pines on the 2.2-mile Gopher Tortoise Trail. If you’re lucky you’ll have some friendly neighbors for engaging conversations, and maybe even catch a fish or two from shore during your stay. Don’t forget a visit to the Seminole Grill for a little dose of southern hospitality to round out your visit to this scenic state park tucked away in a quiet corner of Georgia. See you on the road!