Laura S. Walker State Park — Attraction in Waycross

REVIEW:

Laura Walker State Park - Waycross, Georgia. 85 miles northwest of Jacksonville, Florida.

Another nice Georgia State Park. Well kept but compact campsite area with some lakeside and lakeview sites. Staff and camp hosts were friendly and helpful. We were in site 10, a pull through unobstructed lakeview that was very nice. Lake sites have limited shade but the interior sites have good shade. Most sites are level gravel with electric and water hookups only,but convenient dump site and garbage dumpster at the entrance near site 1. This park also has many rental cabins widely spread across the park.

One old bathhouse and a newer bathhouse right beside it in the middle of the campground. Both have laundry, showers and bathrooms. Dog park was a hit for our mutt. Separate small and large dog areas but we never had any other dogs in the park when we were there. Nice covered large picnic shelter with at least 10 tables and open field for campers to use.

The park has a small lake, swimming area, playground, workout area and a boat ramp. Can rent canoes and kayaks. Saw a couple of bass boats and ski boats on the lake too.

A couple of nice walking and biking trails. The Lake trail has a footbridge that crosses the lake that provides a good spot for some nature photography. A few signs warning of gators but we didn’t see any. At night the frogs croaking were loud down by the lake.

Waycross is about 15 minutes away and has many restaurants and stores.

We’ll be back but think a Fall or Winter visit would be better for us as it was very hot in late July and we like hiking and biking better than...

I grew up in Waycross and spent a lot of time at Laura Walker State Park in my youth at the day use area and group camping areas. This was my first time in the RV section. My experience was top notch. Very, very spacious lots. You could play football between some of them. Lot 4 was across the street from water, it was perfect for our dogs. Staff and camp hosts are super friendly and helpful. Can’t really think of any cons…. There are two very clean shower houses/laundry facilities in the RV section, good water and power, convenient dump station with a good long black water flush hose. The sites are water and electric so bring a poop tote. There are two FHU spots but those are available only to handicap/special physical needs campers. If you’re into hiking or Geocaching there are great trails and caches along them all around the park and lake. It’s posted for alligators but they stay on the north side and no where near the swimming areas. Fishing and boating opportunities are excellent too. I pulled many large mouth bass and catfish out of that lake in my youth.

Very convenient to Waycross for shopping. Check out Okefenokee Swamp park in either Folkston or Waycross for close encounters with massive gators shed other swamp critters. Gated access that is locked at night. They give you a code do you can enter/exit after hours. Law enforcement (County sheriff and game wardens) are ever present not because there’s issues but because they are very visible. If you fish make sure you have the...

Just got back from a 4 day guys golf trip...stayed at cottage #5 and 6. Cottages are a bit small, but they work fine. Golf course was in great shape and fhe greens are very challenging...not flat tops!! Checking in was an issue. I am a veteran and get discounts. For this park, you must have a Georgia Veteran Services issued card...you can get them at county Georgia veteran offices. I must have called the park 3-4 times to see what they require and at first no one knew what I needed!! I then find out about this card so I ho get one. When I go to check in, the clerk said there is no veteran discount...needless to say, my blood pressure went up! I got to the lead Park Ranger and he had to figure it out...took some time...but got it done. At rhe golf course, if you are a 100% VA disabled Vet and a senior, 18 holes is $27!! Not bad....but have your card!! A suggestion for the Commissioner of Georgia DNR...consider signing on with ID.me. Several federal government agencies as well as companies have it and it makes verification of a person claiming to be a veteran one click and done. In Georgia, it depends if a park is State run or run by a third party....the process for veteran verification are different. It gets confusing and can be...