RV Rental Nelson, GA

Rent a motorhome in Nelson and you’ll find yourself in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest at Amicalola Falls State Park, less than an hour's drive out of town. Measuring some 800+ square miles, the park features its namesake highlight, the 729-foot Amicalola (Cherokee Indian for “tumbling waters”) Falls you can approach on an easy drive to the top and equally easy hike down to the base of the falls. If you have the energy, try the almost 10-mile Hike Inn Trail for gorgeous sunrise and mountain views. Linked by an eight-mile approach trail to Springer Mountain, the park also offers a convenient jumping off point for a legendary hike-through on the Appalachian Trail.

Georgia may be the Peach State, but few people know that decades before the Prohibition era, Georgia already had a blossoming wine industry until the “dry” voters prevailed. Today, north Georgia’s cool mountain nights, temperate warm days, and summer breezes create an ideal growing condition for the state’s re-emerging wine industry clustered in the Southern Blue Ridge Area. Treat yourself to a Georgia Wine Highway tour, take your Nelson camper rental along, and sample some of the region’s Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Grigio.

Hiking the Appalachian Trail requires time and commitment, and if you are short of both at the moment, try exploring the Stone Mountain instead. At 825 feet high, the hike up the summit on a walk-up trail is manageable, or you can take it a lot easier on a Skyride aerial tram to see the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlanta skyline. Bring your Nelson RV rental here and stay for a few days. The park surrounding the mountain covers 3,200 acres and has a 300-acre lake, 15 miles of wooded nature trails, and historic sites like the Confederate Memorial Carving standing at 400 feet high.

No campsites are available within the city limits, but if you’re willing to try a state park experience, simply find an RV site at Amicalola State Park. There are water and electric hookups, a dump station, and comfort stations. From here, you’re also a short ride to the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway and various outdoor activities such as whitewater rafting and horseback riding.

The closest RV parks outside of town are within 15 miles, in Cartersville and Talking Rock. A few of the campgrounds in those towns have full hookup sites, while most of the sites farther away offer only water and electric access. Most have restrooms and showers.

There’s also the option to dry camp at a Walmart parking lot. Get the store manager’s approval and you just might have a place to stay a night or two in Canton, about 10 miles away.

Nelson’s Marble Museum is a fitting introduction to appreciate the city’s history and Georgia’s marble legacy. Admire the marble sculptures, read the interpretive panels on how the earth’s natural forces created a massive marble vein in Pickens County, and understand how the mining history shaped Nelson as a city.

Following the marble vein, marvel at the pink marble on display at the historic Tate House in Jasper, 15 minutes away by motorhome rental in Nelson. Soak in “The First Mountain City’s” small-town atmosphere, and sample the local wines produced in vineyards growing around Sharp Mountain. Time your visit on the first weekend in October and join local revelers celebrating the annual Georgia Marble Festival when quarry tours are offered to the public and demonstrations of marble and granite sculpting are done live.

Some small towns around the county haven’t changed much since the late 19th century, and one of those is Talking Rock, about 20 minutes away by travel trailer rental in Nelson. Visit the historic schoolhouse museum, see the 1830’s Baptist church, or hunt for antiques. October seems to be a good time to explore Pickens County as it’s also around this time when Talking Rock rollicks with fun, food, and music during the two-day Heritage Days Festival.

It’s all quiet on the culinary front for Nelson but there are some pickings to be had in nearby Ball Ground. Whether you’re into Mexican, Italian, or BBQ, the few places in Ball Ground where these are served have you covered.

Let native son Ray Charles’ siren song "Georgia on My Mind" lure you to see more of this peachy state. Search for an RV rental in Nelson, GA, and follow the (marble) vein of adventure wherever it takes you. You’ll be glad you did.