Morganton, Georgia: the town by Morganton Point

Morganton is a small town in Fannin County, Georgia, and the gateway to Morganton Point Recreation Area, the Forest Service site with Lake Blue Ridge’s only developed campground and its designated swim area. The recreation area is about a mile south of town on Lake Drive (County Road 616), per Recreation.gov.

Morganton for a visitor

For most visitors Morganton is the last stop before the water. Recreation.gov says the nearest store and gas station to the campground are in Morganton, and that full groceries are in Blue Ridge, about 15 minutes west on U.S. 76. We don’t publish a population for Morganton, and we haven’t verified a list of businesses in town, so this page sticks to what the Forest Service and Recreation.gov publish.

Morganton Point Recreation Area

Morganton Point is the only developed campground on the lake’s shoreline. It offers camping, picnicking, hiking, boating, skiing and fishing (USFS). The Forest Service lists its season as yearlong and marks it “Site Open”. It is open 24 hours, with quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Campsites must be reserved through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777, from the same day up to six months ahead; you can’t book on site. Recreation.gov lists 41 overnight campsites. The Forest Service and Recreation.gov list different rates, so expect about $26 to $50 a night depending on the site, and confirm at booking. Campground rules include no alcohol, a 14-day stay limit, two vehicles per campsite and dogs leashed at all times. Our camping guide compares it with the Forest Service campgrounds upstream on the Toccoa.

The Forest Service lists Morganton Point's season as yearlong and marks the site "Site Open". It is open 24 hours, with quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (USFS, checked Oct 18, 2026)

The swim area

Morganton Point has a designated swimming area with picnic tables and outdoor showers, and the campground has accessible showers and drinking water. Day use is $5 per person 16 and older, per the Forest Service, checked October 2026. Alcohol isn’t allowed in the day-use areas either.

It is the only designated swim area we found listed on the lake. At Lakewood Landing on the north side, swimming from the dock and ramp is prohibited (Recreation.gov). Our swimming guide has the details.

Launching a boat at Morganton Point

Morganton Point charges $5 to launch a boat trailer, and the lake is open to motorboats and jet skis as well as nonmotorized craft. Georgia’s 100-foot rule applies here: boats and personal watercraft must stay at idle speed within 100 feet of docks, people in the water and shoreline next to swimming areas, among other places (GA DNR LE). Our boating guide lists the other public launches and the marina.

The water off the point is trout water too. Georgia DNR releases rainbow trout in the main lake from the dam upstream to Morganton Point (GA DNR).

What the water level means here

In a normal year the lake level varies about 22 feet between summer and winter (TVA). On TVA’s guide curve it peaks around June 1 at about 1,686.8 ft and bottoms out at 1,664.8 ft at the turn of the year (TVA), so the beach and ramp look different in January than in July. Check TVA’s page for the day’s level, and see our lake levels guide for the month-by-month curve.

The drive to Blue Ridge

From the campground, Recreation.gov puts Blue Ridge about 15 minutes west on U.S. 76. That is where the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway boards and where campers go for full groceries. See our Blue Ridge town guide.

Places in and around Morganton

• Campground

  Morganton Point Recreation Area (USFS)

  The only developed campground on Lake Blue Ridge's shoreline, with tent and RV sites, walk-in tent sites, a swim beach, boat ramp, picnic area and showers. USFS lists it as open yearlong and reservation-only through Recreation.gov (same day to six months ahead). Fees differ between USFS ($30-$50/night) and Recreation.gov ($26-$50), so confirm at booking. Day use is $5 per person 16+, and the boat launch is $5.

  • Yearlong (USFS)
  • Camping $30-$50/night per USFS ($26-$50 per Recreation.gov); day use $5/person 16+; boat launch $5
  • 475 Lake Drive, Morganton, GA 30560 (Fannin County, Georgia)
  • 706-374-1645

  Source: USDA Forest Service; Recreation.gov, checked Oct 18, 2026

• Beach

  Morganton Point swim beach (USFS)

  A designated swimming area with picnic tables, outdoor showers and trash bins inside Morganton Point Recreation Area. Day-use parking is $5 per person 16 and older. No alcohol is allowed in the day-use areas.

  • Yearlong (USFS)
  • $5/person/day for 16+
  • 475 Lake Drive, Morganton, GA 30560 (Fannin County, Georgia)
  • 706-374-1645

  Source: USDA Forest Service, checked Oct 18, 2026

• Town

  Morganton

  A small Fannin County town near the lake. Morganton Point Recreation Area is about a mile south of town on Lake Drive (County Road 616), and the nearest convenience store and gas station to the campground are in Morganton.

  • Morganton, GA 30560 (Fannin County, Georgia)

  Source: Recreation.gov (USDA Forest Service), checked Oct 18, 2026

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