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Tips for Visiting Chattahoochee Bend State Park

ByPaige Watts

Just an hour south of Atlanta is Chattahoochee Bend State Park, a quiet outdoor escape far from the noise of the city. If you’re planning a weekend getaway to this hidden gem, expect a peaceful retreat with hiking trails, river access, and plenty of room to spread out.

I’ve visited this state park a few times to hike and to stay overnight in their cottages. Located in Newnan along the Chattahoochee River, this sprawling state park is great for hiking, camping, paddling, and slowing down in nature.

After exploring the park for myself, I’m sharing the things I’d recommend knowing before you go, from staying in the park’s cottages and hiking the trails to accessibility tips and the best things to do while you’re there.

Calm Chattahoochee River viewed from a sandy bank, with leafless trees lining the opposite shore beneath a heavy gray cloud filled sky at Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Newnan, Georgia. The still water and muted winter colors give the landscape a quiet, overcast mood.

Chattahoochee Bend State Park

Chattahoochee Bend State Park is 2,910 acres of wilderness nestled in the crook of the Chattahoochee River, making this the 5th largest state park in Georgia.

Located in Newnan, Georgia, the state park is about 53 miles southwest of Atlanta and only about an hour drive.

Dogs and pets are allowed at all Georgia State Parks as long as they’re leashed.

Parking at Chattahoochee Bend State Park costs $10. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The park’s office is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Chattahoochee River

Dirt path opens onto a calm riverbank along the Chattahoochee River bordered by low brush and thin trees, with the water stretching across the middle of the scene. The opposite shore is lined with early spring trees under a cloudy sky, giving the river view a quiet, open feel at Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Newnan, Georgia.

This state park protects 5 miles of the Chattahoochee River. Because of this, it’s become a popular place for boating, fishing, paddling, kayaking, and canoeing.

The park provides a boat ramp with easy access to the water, a 5.5 mile hike along the Riverside Trail for perfect river views, as well as a guided Hike and Paddle program.

The park recommends against tubing on this part of the Chattahoochee due to the deep waters, few access points, and tree limbs and debris.

If you want to kayak or canoe, expect at least 5 miles between launches:

  • From McIntosh Reserve to Chattahoochee Bend Boat Launch: 5.5 miles
  • From Hwy 16 Bridge to Chattahoochee Bend Boat Launch: 10 miles
  • From Chattahoochee Bend Launch to Franklin, GA: 15 miles

Note: The park does not provide kayak or canoe rentals. They also do no provide a shuttle service, so paddlers will want to bring two vehicles.

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Chattahoochee Bend State Park Facilities

Narrow wooden footbridge crossing a shallow creek in a leaf covered forest, with a dirt path continuing through the trees beyond it. A blue trail marker on a trunk to the left helps show this as part of a marked woodland trail leading from the Wild Turkey Trail to the campsites at Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Newnan, Georgia.

If you’re looking to stay overnight at the park, you have a lot of options. The park offers 6 cottages; 37 tent, trailer, and RV campsites; 12 tent walk-in campsites; 8 platform campsites; 8 backcountry and paddle-in campsites; and an Adirondack group campsite.

If you just want to picnic in the park for the day, the park has 2 picnic shelters. There are also plenty of picnic spots located all around the park. And there’s plenty of space to play at the park’s playgrounds.

For those interested in watersports, the park has a boat ramp and a Park Paddlers Club.

Chattahoochee Bend Cottages

Single story cabin at Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Newnan, Georgia, with tan siding and two small covered porches sits beside a concrete walkway and trimmed shrubs at the edge of a wooded area. Bare trees rise behind the building, and a satellite dish stands in the grass to the left.
Cabin living room at Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Newnan, Georgia, with two upholstered armchairs, a black leather sofa, and dark wood tables arranged on wood flooring beneath a wall mounted TV. An open doorway reveals a bedroom in the back, while large windows on the left look out to a covered porch with rocking chairs.
Neatly made bed with a light patterned quilt sits centered between two dark nightstands topped with matching lamps in a simple bedroom in a cottage at Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Newnan, Georgia. A large window with blinds fills the left wall with light, and a framed landscape photograph hangs above the headboard.
Screened in porch with five wooden rocking chairs and a small table arranged in warm sunlight on a wood plank floor. Large screened windows look out to the trees, and a glass door at the back connects the quiet sitting area to the cabin interior at Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Newnan, Georgia.

I got to stay in one of the modern cottages at Chattahoochee Bend State Park (special thanks to Explore Newnan-Coweta for hosting me!) on my last visit.

The cottages range from 2-bedroom to 3-bedroom. Two of the cottages are fully wheelchair accessible. There are also two pet-friendly cottages.

I stayed in Cottage 2, one of the 2-bedroom non-accessible cottages.

My cottage had a nice large front porch with rocking chairs. The front door entered into an open-concept living room and kitchen space, with the living room seating area to the right and the full kitchen and dining table to the left.

The bedroom on the right was the primary bedroom with a queen sized bed and a large bathroom with a walk-in shower. I slept in this bedroom, and the bed was so comfortable! The bedroom on the left had two full sized beds and a spacious bathroom with a tub-shower combo.

Both bedrooms and the living area exit onto the screened-in back porch with rocking chairs. This was a great place to sit and read while listening to the bees buzzing in the spring time.

Outside, behind the cottage, there is a a fire ring, picnic table, and standing grill. You can purchase firewood and ice from the Visitor Center.

The entire cottage was so spacious with plenty of room to move around. It can sleep up to 8 people, so it’s perfect for families or groups of friends.

Overall, it was a great place to spend a weekend. I relaxed on the back porch, went for a hike in the morning, and enjoyed the calm of the park.

The only drawback is how far away the park is from everything. It’s a 10 minute drive just to get to the front of the park. And then it’s about 20 minutes to Downtown Newnan. So if you spend a weekend at Chatt Bend, you should be prepared to stay in, disconnect, and unwind.

Chattahoochee Bend Hiking Trails

Narrow dirt trail cutting through dry tan grass toward a line of pine trees, with a weathered wooden trail marker topped in blue standing to the left marking the Wild Turkey Trail at Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Newnan, Georgia. The open field and faint path make the route visible as it heads back into the woods.

Chattahoochee Bend State Park is a great place for hikers with 15 miles of hiking trails.

  • The 4.6 mile (one-way) Wild Turkey Trail takes you through the wilderness from the front of the state park to the banks of the Chattahoochee River.
  • The 2.9 mile (one-way) Bend Trail connects the Riverside Trail to the backcountry and paddle-in campsites.
  • The 2.6 mile (one-way) Riverside Trail takes you along the banks of the river from the Day-Use Area until meeting up with the Bend Trail.
  • The 1.4 mile (one-way) Bobcat Trail connects to the Flat Rock Trail to create a loop near the entrance of the park.
  • The 1.3 mile (one-way) Boulder Trail is the park’s paved, mostly-ADA accessible, multi-use trail.
  • The 1 mile (round-trip) Flat Rock Trail is a lollipop loop near the entrance of the park.
  • The 0.7 mile (one-way) Brown Thrasher Trail can be used to make a loop out of a portion of the Wild Turkey Trail.
  • The 0.7 mile (one-way) Tower Trail connects the Wild Turkey Trail and the Riverside Trail and takes you to an observation tower.

Hiking Essentials

Come prepared for your hike by making sure you pack the essentials. Check out this must-have hiking gear before you set off on the trails:

More Things to Do at Chattahoochee Bend State Park

Wooden footbridge crossing a narrow creek in a leaf covered forest of tall bare trees, with a path continuing straight ahead into the woods along the Wild Turkey Trail at Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Newnan, Georgia. The simple bridge and quiet winter landscape make the marked trail feel calm and secluded.

There are even more fun things to see and do at this Georgia State Park.

You can explore the park through geocaching or the 4.3 miles of Mountain Bike Trails. These trails go right on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and the trails go left on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. They have trails for beginners and for more advanced bikers.

The park has an observation platform with great views of the river and forest, which you can access from the Tower Trail, as well as a river overlook area along the Riverside Trail.

You can also check out the park’s Visitor Center for a gift shop and to learn about the ranger-led interpretive programs; there’s always something on the calendar!

Accessibility at Chattahoochee Bend State Park

Paved path curves downhill through a wooded area beside a brown sign that reads "Boulder Trail" with a right pointing arrow and an accessibility symbol below it. Trees, a split rail fence, and a road at the bottom of the hill place the trail entrance in a quiet park setting at Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Newnan, Georgia.

Chattahoochee Bend State Park is working hard to become more accessible.

Two of their overnight cottages are fully accessible. They’ve recently added the paved Boulder Trail that is accessible for 1 mile (signs are posted to warn you when the trail is about to become non-accessible due to steep grades).

They are also working on widening some of their other trails so that they’ll be eligible to receive an all-terrain wheelchair.

Chattahoochee Bend State Park FAQ

How much does it cost to go to Chattahoochee Bend State Park?

You will need to pay a $10 parking pass fee per vehicle in order to visit Chattahoochee Bend State Park.

What is the history of Chattahoochee Bend State Park?

The state first purchased the land for Chattahoochee State Park in 1999, and development finally began in 2008. The park opened in 2011.

How big is Chattahoochee Bend State Park?

Chattahoochee Bend State Park is 2,910 acres, making it the 5th largest Georgia state park.

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Where to Stay in Newnan

Things to Do Near Chattahoochee Bend State Park

After your hike or your day on the river, check out these other great things to do near Chattahoochee Bend State Park.

Ready to visit Newnan, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.

  • Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
  • Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Newnan using Booking.com.
  • Start Packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.

Cheers!

Paige

Tips for Visiting Chattahoochee Bend State Park

Have you visited Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Newnan, Georgia? Let me know in the comments!

Paige Watts is a travel expert and author of What's With Atlanta?, a guide to the quirks and charm of the ATL. A life-long traveler, Paige is dedicated to helping you discover the best things to do in the Southern USA and around the world. Her work has been featured in The Culture Trip, Matador, Newsbreak, MSN, NPR, and countless other interviews and podcasts.

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2 Comments

    1. It’s a great state park! I also recently recognized it as a filming location in an earlier season of The Walking Dead, so they seemed to think so, too 😉

      Reply

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