I'm looking at doing 2 days of hiking for my first overnight hike on the AT. I was considering Woody Gap (20.5 miles from the trail start at Springer Mtn) southbound to Springer Mtn. I'm middle-aged and in decent shape having hiked roughly 10 miles in Great Smoky Mtns with no issues but also no camping gear so a lighter pack. I'm not sure how much to hike in a day (10-12 miles?) or if Hawk Mtn would be too far in a day or not. How do I find good camping areas if not staying in a shelter in Georgia on the AT?

I understand that most of the area I am hiking is through public land. Any rule of thumb advice or specifics around camping on GA public land is appreciated.