Reservations (800) 864-7275
Park
(912) 637-5274
FACILITIES AVAILABLE for May 18-20:
Tent & RV Campsites / 1 two-Bedroom Cottage / Picnic Shelters / Pioneer Campsites
(as of May 15, 2012 - updated every Tuesday)
See what SUWANNEE RIVER ECO-LODGE FACILITIES are available.
NOTICES:
 Water levels are low and boating is not always possible. Call the park for current boating restrictions.
 The pioneer campsite is closed due to logging. Please contact the park for more information.
Due to dry conditions campfires are currently banned until further notice.
Please be advised that the park is experiencing smoke periodically due to a fire in the Pin Hook swamp on the Georgia/Florida border.
The Nature Trail is temporarily closed due to fire damage.
This remote park is a primary entrance to the legendary Okefenokee Swamp -- one of Georgia's seven natural wonders. Spanish moss-laced trees reflect off the black swamp waters, while cypress knees rise upward from the glass-like surface. Here, paddlers and photographers will enjoy breathtaking scenery and abundant wildlife. Alligators, turtles, raccoons, black bears, deer, ibis, herons, wood storks, red-cockaded woodpeckers and numerous other creatures make their homes in the 402,000-acre refuge. Stargazers will appreciate the particularly dark sky.
Park staff offer guided boat tours, and same-day reservations are recommended. More adventurous visitors may wish to rent canoes, kayaks or jon boats for further exploration of the swamp, including a trip to historic Billy’s Island. Fishing in the lake is excellent, particularly for warmouth, bluegill, catfish, chain pickerel and bowfin. Boating is dependent upon water levels. Overnight guests may stay in a shaded campground or fully equipped cabins. Because the state park is located within a National Wildlife Refuge, gates lock at closing and a refuge fee is charged.
Perhaps the most famous inhabitant of the Okefenokee Swamp is the American Alligator. Officials estimate that 12,000 of the country’s largest reptile live within the 402,000-acre refuge. To safely view these creatures, visitors should admire them from a distance and keep hands and feet inside boats. Pets are not allowed in boats, even privately owned vessels. Children should not play near the water’s edge. Feeding any wildlife is prohibited. Following these guidelines will help visitors have a safe and entertaining experience in one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia.
At the park's Suwannee River Visitor Center in Fargo, visitors learn not only about the Okefenokee Swamp's ecosystem, but also how buildings can be made from recycled car parts. Located off Hwy. 441 at the Suwannee River bridge, the center mixes environmental education with engineering showmanship. Inside, visitors learn that tannic acid produced by decaying vegetation is what gives the river its tea color, and that unlike other reptiles, mother alligators actively care for their babies. A third of the building materials was made from recycled content, including a retaining wall made from old dashboards and electrical cables.
Because Stephen C. Foster State Park is located within a National Wildlife Refuge, gate lock at closing and a $5 refuge fee is charged.
Park Hours:
7AM-10PM (gate locks at close; no late entry)
Office Hours:
8AM-5 PM
GeorgiaStateParks.org/StephenCFoster
Suwannee River Center Hours:
9AM-5PM Wednesday-Sunday (closed Monday-Tuesday)
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Access may be restricted after heavy rain.
Call ahead to confirm hours - 912-637-5274.
ACCOMMODATIONS & FACILITIES:
- 80 Acres
- 9 Cottages ($115-$125) -- #5 is dog friendly ($40 per dog, max 2)
- 64 Tent, Trailer, RV Campsites ($25-$30) - cable TV hookups, some areas closed seasonally
- Pioneer Campground ($50)
- 3 Picnic Shelters ($35-$45)
- Interpretive Center/Museum
- Suwannee River Eco-Lodge: -- (The Eco-Lodge has Wi-Fi accessibility and is located 18-miles from the park.)
- Conference Room (seats 100, $175)
- Meeting Room (seats 35, $100)
- Commercial Kitchen ($50, approved caterers only)
- BBQ Shelter ($25)
- Eco-Lodge Cottages:
#1 & 10 (sleep 8, $125)
#2, 3, 8, 9 (sleep 4, $100)
#5 & 6 - (efficiencies, sleep 2, $65)
(ADA cottages are #2, 5, 6, 9)
- Eco-Lodge Group Camp
Entire Eco-Lodge can be reserved for $800/night.
- Suwannee River Visitor Center
ACTIVITIES:
- Canoe, Kayak and Fishing Boat Rental - 25 miles of waterways, Park Paddlers Club, call ahead to confirm water levels
- Guided Pontoon Boat Tours ($8-$12) - depending on water levels, space is limited
- Evening Boat Tours ($15-$20) - Contact the park office for reservations, dates and times. Five-person minimum.
- Boating - the ramp will be closed April 16-30 for repairs, 10 horsepower limit
- Fishing
- Walking -- 1.5-mile Trembling Earth and 1.5-mile Pine Upland nature trails are temporarily closed
- Birding
- Nature Photography
- Astronomy - exceptionally dark skies, astronomy programs
- Playground
- GeoCaching
 Watch our video on the swamp.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
- Boating activities may be restricted during low water levels.
- The park is located 18 miles from Fargo and 50 miles from a major grocery store. Visitors should bring all supplies with them and have plenty of gasoline in their vehicle. The park office sells drinks, snacks, ice, books, gifts and t-shirts.
- Cell phone service may be unreliable.
- Late arrivals are not allowed due to NWR regulations. Gates lock at 10 p.m.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS:
SUPPORTERS:
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View by date Events
Evening Programs
Fridays 7 PM - 8 PM until Jul 6, 2012
| Come to our Interpretive Center Friday Evenings in June to learn about the natural and cultural history of Okefenokee. We'll have programs on Alligators, Snakes, Nocturnal creatures, and the logging operation that lasted over 20 years. $5 Refuge Parking. 912-637-5274. |
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National Trails Day in the Swamp
Saturday, Jun 2, 2012 9 AM to 10 AM
  Take a guided hike on the Trembling Earth Nature Trail through one of Georgia's wonders -- the Okefenokee Swamp. See how fast the swamp has recovered from last year's fire. You might have a chance to see deer, raccoons, snakes, turtles, alligators, and even black bear. Bay trees, bladderwort, and water lillies will be in bloom. $5 Refuge Parking Fee. (912) 637-5274. |
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Stargazing
Friday, Jun 15, 2012 9 PM to 10 PM
Saturday, Jul 14, 2012 9 PM to 10 PM
Saturday, Sep 15, 2012 8 PM to 10 PM
Saturday, Oct 13, 2012 7:30 PM to 10 PM
| Come out to the cul-de-sac at the end of 177 where we'll have an 18" telescope set up. You'll be able to see planets, star clusters, nebulae, and other celestial bodies. Learn new constellations you may not be familiar with. $5 Refuge Parking Fee. $3. 912-637-5274. |
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Swamp Excursion to Billy's Island
Saturday, Jun 16, 2012 5 PM to 8 PM
| Go with a park ranger on a guided canoe trip to Billy's Island. See alligators in their natural environment (from a safe distance, of course!). Once on Billy's Island, we will hike a nature trail to find out how the boom town from a logging operation was once laid out. Reservations required. Weather permitting. $20 plus $5 parking. 912-637-5274. |
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Get Mooned!
Saturday, Jun 23, 2012 8 PM to 10 PM
| Come to the Suwannee River Eco-lodge to look through powerful telescopes to see the craters on the moon. $5 parking. 912-637-5274. |
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Perseid Meteor Shower
Friday, Aug 10, 2012 8:30 PM to 10 PM
Saturday, Aug 11, 2012 8:30 PM to 10 PM
Sunday, Aug 12, 2012 8:30 PM to 10 PM
| Come out to the darkest skies in the state for a spectacular view of the Perseid Meteor Shower. We'll meet the cul-de-sac at the end of Ga Hwy 177. Ask about our new astronomy permit that allows you to stay between 2 and 4 a.m. to see up to 100 meteors per hour. Bring blankets for your comfort. $5. 912-637-5274. |
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Suwannee River Clean-up
Saturday, Sep 22, 2012 9 AM to 5 PM
| Join us at the Suwannee River Visitor Center on the first day of fall to pick up litter on the Suwannee River to keep it beautiful. We'll provide the canoes, kayaks, paddles, pfd's, and trash bags. Registration required. 912-637-5274. |
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Full Moon Bike Ride Down Suwannee River Sill
Friday, Sep 28, 2012 7 PM to 8 PM
| Bring your bike for this ranger-led ride under the full moon. Look for alligators eyes shining bright red. Listen to gators bellowing and to a chorus of frogs and toads. Look for snakes resting on the pavement still warm from the day. Listen for owls and watch bats overhead. Cross your fingers for a shooting star! $5 Refuge Parking. 912-637-5274. |
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