5 Notes on Visiting Magnolia Springs State Park

Magnolia Springs State Park is a very underrated Georgia State Park in Millen, GA. It’s built around, well, an actual huge spring but also has a huge lake, trails, cabins, walk-in campsites and more. It’s also pretty far off the beaten path in Georgia. I probably would have never planned a trip if we didn’t have a goal of visiting every Georgia State Park. But the Park should absolutely be in the second tier of Georgia State Parks.

Basics of Magnolia Springs State Park

Magnolia Springs State Park spans over 1,000 acres and has been around for quite a while. It’s one of Georgia’s State Parks that saw work from the CCC – and you can tell from the landscape and layout. The whole Park is settled in, lovely, and well-designed. Famed for its crystal clear springs, which pump out an impressive 7 million gallons of water daily, the park is very chill, open, and accessible. They’ve got trails, a lake, well-designed walk-in sites, and solid cabins. The actual Park amenities could use some of the updating that the Georgia DNR has been doing at other State Parks, but most everything is in good condition.

The Actual Magnolia Springs Are Fascinating

The namesake springs of Magnolia Springs State Park are a pretty incredible sight. I mean, it’s a pool with millions of gallons of water flowing out. It’s pretty nuts to see it up close IRL.

A Lot More Civil War History Than Expected

Magnolia Springs State Park has a lot of Civil War history due to its location on a rail line. The park is home to Camp Lawton, which once served as the largest Confederate prisoner-of-war camp – it was like a miniature Andersonville. The on-site museum offers a glimpse into the past with its artifacts and stories of the soldiers who lived and perished here. It’s a bit depressing, but also interesting to walk around and check out.

Several Lodging Options

They have cabins, an RV / Trailer campground and walk-in tent sites. I love the walk-in site design (even though they would be quite buggy in the summer) and the cabins were, though not as good as the renovated new cabins in other State Parks, in decent condition.

Beautiful South Georgia Scenery (but in Middle Georgia)

While situated in Middle Georgia, Magnolia Springs State Park has all the scenery of South Georgia, such as live oaks draped in Spanish moss, vibrant wildflowers, and expansive, sandy green spaces.

Lovely, Quiet Setting w/ Good Trails

Since it’s such a big property that does not bring in the same crowds as Amicalola or Unicoi, Magnolia Springs State Park is a really chill, quiet park. It’s one of the more underrated Parks in the Georgia State Parks system. I hope they spend a bit of money over the next few years to upgrade it.