Stephen C Foster State Park

Open — Open year-round. Park hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Cottages 1-7 will be closed for construction beginning February 16, 2026 for at least one year.

About

Located deep within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Stephen C. Foster State Park provides access to one of Georgia's seven natural wonders and the largest blackwater wetland in the South. The park encompasses 120 acres within the 438,000-acre refuge, where Spanish moss-laced cypress trees reflect off black swamp waters and cypress knees rise from the surface. The campground was recently renovated to offer modern amenities while maintaining the remote, natural character that makes this destination unique. The park is home to an estimated 12,000 American alligators along with black bears, deer, raccoons, and over 200 species of birds including wood storks and red-cockaded woodpeckers. Anglers can fish for warmouth, bluegill, catfish, chain pickerel, and bowfin. Paddlers can explore 25 miles of day-use waterways or arrange overnight canoe trips deeper into the swamp. The park offers guided boat tours including sunset and night excursions, plus canoe, kayak, and motorboat rentals. As a Certified Dark Sky Park, Stephen C. Foster offers some of the darkest skies in the Southeast. The remote location and minimal light pollution provide exceptional stargazing opportunities to view the Milky Way and countless stars. The swamp comes alive at night with nocturnal wildlife creating a dynamic soundscape of peepers, frogs, owls, and alligators. The park features a 3,000-foot boardwalk, the 1.5-mile Trembling Earth Nature Trail, and an interpretive center to help visitors understand this unique ecosystem.

Directions

Stephen C. Foster State Park is located 18 miles northeast of Fargo, Georgia, via GA Highway 177. The park's address is 17515 Hwy 177, Fargo, GA 31631.

Nearby Campgrounds