George L. Smith State Park: Hours, Fees and Directions

Water And Ice Safety: read this before you go

Short answer

George L. Smith State Park is a 1,634-acre state park in Emanuel County, near Twin City. Park hours are 7 a.m.–10 p.m. Parking is $10 per vehicle per day or $70 for an annual ParkPass. Checked October 20, 2026 on its official page.

Hours

7 a.m.–10 p.m.

Cost

$10 per vehicle

Where

Twin City, East Georgia

Dogs

Leashed, 6 ft max

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Built around Parrish Mill and Pond, an 1880 combination gristmill, sawmill, covered bridge and dam, with a cypress-filled 412-acre mill pond for paddling and fishing.

Plan it in three lines

Getting In
Parking is $10 per vehicle for the day, or $70 for the annual ParkPass that works at every Georgia state park.
Park 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
What to Do
The official page lists Biking, 7 miles of trails, Birding and Boating, 10 HP limit.
Leashed dogs welcome outdoors
Make It a Day
Magnolia Springs State Park is about 24 miles away. Coming up near here: Statesboro 5K Turkey Trot in Statesboro.
2 events within 50 mi

George L. Smith State Park Hours

Hours at a glance

Hours in a day

Park7 a.m.–10 p.m.
Office8 a.m.–5 p.m.

A quick view of the usual hours. Seasonal changes and holiday closures are in the list below, so read that before you drive.

Park: 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
Office: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

What It Costs

Parking, by the visit

Day parking vs. the annual ParkPass, by number of visits

$70 annual ParkPass

Day parking is $10 per vehicle. Seven visits cost the same as the $70 annual ParkPass; from the eighth visit the pass is cheaper. Bars show what that many day visits cost in total.

Parking: $10 per vehicle per day, or a $70 annual ParkPass that works at every Georgia state park. Overnight guests pay the daily fee once per stay; parking is not included with a reservation (Georgia State Parks ParkPass page).

Where It Is and How to Get in Touch

Address371 George L. Smith State Park Road, Twin City, GA 30471
CountyEmanuel (East Georgia region)
GPS32.55856, -82.11937 (directions in Google Maps)
Park478-763-2759
Reservations800-864-7275
Official pagegastateparks.org/GeorgeLSmith

Dogs and Strollers

Dogs: Georgia State Parks welcomes pets on a leash no longer than six feet, with the owner at all times. Pets are not allowed in park and historic site buildings, lodges, yurts, group camps, swimming areas or beaches (park rules).
Strollers: the park does not publish stroller rules. Paths range from paved walks to rough trails, so call ahead (478-763-2759) if you need a stroller-friendly route.

What’s at George L. Smith State Park

Facilities the park lists: 412 Acre Lake; 10 Cottages; Yurts – Coming soon; 52 Tent, Trailer & RV Campsites; 4 Picnic Shelters; 1 Conference Center (seats 94); 1 Pioneer Campground; Historic Covered Bridge & Mill; Playground; Wi-Fi — available in the park office.

Things to do: Biking — 7 miles of trails; Birding; Boating — 10 HP limit; Fishing; Geocaching; Hiking; Park Paddlers Club; Picnicking; Kayak and Canoe Rentals.

Events Coming Up Near George L. Smith

Around George L. Smith within 50 miles

State parks and historic sites

1Magnolia Springs State Parkstate park24 mi
2Jack Hill State Parkstate park33 mi
3Sylvania Historic Welcome Centervisitor center39 mi
4Ball's Ferrypartner site52 mi

Events coming up

5Statesboro 5K Turkey TrotStatesboro21 mi
6Dublin Christmas ParadeDublin46 mi

Straight-line distances from the site’s GPS point. Dots sit in their true compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable. The same places are listed below.

Nov 21: Statesboro 5K Turkey Trot, Statesboro (about 21 miles away, from $15)
Dec 5: Dublin Christmas Parade, Dublin (about 46 miles away)

Events within 50 miles in the next 90 days from our Georgia event calendar, as of October 20, 2026; distances are straight-line from the site’s GPS point. The park’s own ranger programs and events are on the Georgia State Parks events calendar.

Nearby State Parks and Historic Sites

Magnolia Springs State Park (state park, Jenkins County), about 24 miles away
Jack Hill State Park (state park, Tattnall County), about 33 miles away
Sylvania Historic Welcome Center (visitor center, Screven County), about 39 miles away
Ball’s Ferry (partner site, Wilkinson County), about 52 miles away

More on It’s Georgia

All Georgia state parks and historic sites, by region
Georgia state parks compared: hours, parking, dogs and free accessibility equipment in one table
East Georgia: more places to go in the region

Source: the George L. Smith State Park page on gastateparks.org (Georgia Department of Natural Resources), checked October 20, 2026. Hours and fees change, so check the official page before a long drive. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will re-check it.

Safety Notice

Water And Ice Safety: Read This Before You Go

Lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, beaches and ice can kill, quickly and without warning. Conditions change by the hour and we cannot see them from here. This page is general information only. It is not a safety assessment, and it does not say or promise that any place, water, ice or activity is safe.

We do not inspect, test, measure or monitor water, ice, currents, depth, water quality, algae, wildlife, access, closures or lifeguard staffing at any place we list.
Posted signs, closures, advisories, flags and the directions of rangers, lifeguards and the land owner or managing agency always override anything here. A place being listed does not mean it is open, legal to enter, or permitted for swimming, wading, boating or fishing, and does not give you permission to be on private land or private water.
Children and weak swimmers: the CDC says to assign a responsible adult to watch children closely and constantly in or near water, with no phone, reading, alcohol or drugs, and to use life jackets for children in and around natural water. It also says inflatable or foam toys are not safety devices.
Open water hides hazards. The CDC names currents, waves, rocks, vegetation and poor visibility. As general guidance (not from a named source), also expect sudden drop-offs, very cold water even on a warm day, submerged objects, boat traffic and changing weather. Never swim alone, and never mix alcohol with water or boats.

Emergency in the United States: call 911. Learn CPR, as the CDC recommends.

Not ConfirmedWe have not verified current water or ice conditions, water quality, access, swimming or boating permission, lifeguard hours, fees, rules or closures for any place on this page. The land owner or managing agency (a park, city, county, state or federal office, or the property owner) is the one who can confirm them. Ask them before you go.

Sources read on 8 November 2026: the Minnesota DNR ice thickness guidelines (dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/thickness.html, no page date shown) and the CDC drowning prevention page (cdc.gov/drowning/prevention, page dated 29 September 2025). Guidance can change and can differ by state and by place: check the current text and your local agency before relying on it. This notice is general guidance only. It is not legal, medical, rescue or professional safety advice, and nobody on this site is a lifeguard or safety professional. You are responsible for your own safety and for any children and pets with you, and you use this information at your own risk. Water, ice, weather and local rules change quickly and differ by state, county and property. To the fullest extent the law allows, this site, its owner and its contributors are not responsible for any injury, death, loss or damage that results from using this information or from visiting any place, water or ice mentioned here. If you do not accept that, do not rely on this page (see the Limits Of Liability in our Terms Of Use).

Cite this page: It's Georgia, “George L. Smith State Park”, itsgeorgia.com/places/george-l-smith-state-park/ (updated 2026-11-09). Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page.

Getting In

What to Do

Make It a Day