see it clearly
Camping Sites In Alabama
"Alabama the Beautiful" is more than just the state motto. From the rolling hills of North Alabama to the sugary beaches of the southern costs, Alabama is abundant in natural beauty, which makes it the perfect state for a camping adventure. Whether your idea of camping is a pup tent and, a fully equipped RV or a rustic cabin in the woods, Alabama can accommodate every style. The state is home to 22 state parks and dozens of private campgrounds. Before you set off, here's a little background to help you decide just when and where you'll want to take off on the perfect camping vacation.
The weather in Alabama is distinctive for each season and all can be enjoyed outdoors. Springtime brings mild temperatures and blossoming flowers and trees. Winter’s coolness sometimes hangs around a bit, so bring a jacket or sweatshirt for those days. Once summer arrives, if you’re a heat lover, you’ll be right at home, with temperatures in the 90’s most days. Humidity is a factor on most summer days, so remember to drink plenty of fluids if you’re hiking. Summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms especially in July, August and September, the hottest months. Summer nights can be magical with whippoorwills calling each other through the night, often under clear star filled night skies. Fall is especially beautiful with red, orange and yellow foliage dominating the landscape. Temperatures cool to between 65 to 85 degrees F and the humidity takes a hike. Winters are fairly mild with temperatures rarely below 40 degrees over most of the state. The northern part of the state is expectedly cooler and even manages to get an occasional snowstorm most years.
More than just a pretty place, Alabama is home to some of the best fishing in the country. The fishing enthusiast will find freshwater as well as saltwater fishing at it's finest in Alabama. Lakes, rivers and streams are home to a variety of bass, bream, crappie, catfish, walleye and rainbow trout to name a few! Regardless of the type of fishing you choose, please be sure to check state licensing regulations.
If you have the time, camping up one side of the state and down the other can be a real exploration full of variety and discovery. Along the eastern side of the state are Blue Springs State Park, Lakepoint, Chewacla, Wind Creek and Cheaha State Park. Up north you’ll find Joe Wheeler State Park, Lake Guntersville, Monte Sano, Cathedral Caverns (camping not currently available), Buck’s Pocket and Desoto State Park. In the western area of the state are Lake Lurleen State Park, Chickasaw and Bladon Springs State Park. The middle section is home to Rickwood Caverns, Paul M. Grist, Roland Cooper and Oak Mountain State Park. Down south are Meaher State Park, Gulf, Frank Jackson and Florala State Park. Here’s a sampler to whet your appetite for camping in Alabama from north to south, and east to west!
In Northwest Alabama, check out Joe Wheeler State Park. Whether you like to boat with just the wind behind you or power across the water, you can find your way to the Resort Lodge and enjoy a delicious meal in luxurious surroundings at the end of a long fun day on the water. The Park is approximately 50 miles west of Huntsville, Alabama and 27 miles east of Florence, Alabama. Wildlife at the park includes deer and eagles along the landscaped banks of Wheeler Lake. Buck’s Pocket State Park is in northeast Alabama. The story goes that Buck's Pocket State Park is where all the defeated public officials go to lick their wounds after an unsuccessful election. This park is a 2,000-acre nature lover’s dream secluded in a natural pocket of the Appalachian Mountain chain. Because of its unique location the park's picnic area offers a canyon rim natural vista into the pocket below. The pocket itself is on an upstream tributary of Lake Guntersville. A fully equipped campground is available with access to a boat launch and fishing area. The fishing area is seven miles downstream at Morgan's Cove on Lake Guntersville. Cheaha Mountain State Park is also located in the northeastern part of the state and is the highest point in Alabama at 2, 407 feet above sea level. You can’t go wrong with planning a trip here. The winding paved road that leads to the top of the mountain features plenty of scenic overlooks with breathtaking views of the valley below. The park covers 2,799 acres. You’ll want to take the short hike out to one of the prettiest waterfalls around near the top of the mountain. Camping options range from primitive camping down dirt roads to fully equipped campsites to a comfortable hotel room with a swimming pool. You can also rent your own private cabin, or best of all a mountainside chalet. Mountaintop dining at sunset at the park’s well-regarded restaurant is about as romantic as it gets if you decide to skip your campfire meal for a night.
Gulf State Park is in the southern part of the state and is home to 2 miles of pure white sugary beaches. You can choose from modern and primitive camping or cottages. The marina is perfect for fishing. The Gulf coast surges with sea life. Nearby is Lake Shelby, a 900-acre lake with an abundance of freshwater fishing, skiing and swimming. You’ll have a chance to catch tuna, bluefish, flounder, cobia, amberjack and king mackerel on a walk down the beach. Wind Creek State Park is found in southeast Alabama and spans 1,445 acres along the shores of scenic Lake Martin, which is a 41,000-acre clear-water reservoir perfect for fishing, swimming and boating. This park boasts the largest state-operated campground in the United States with 636 sites, many of them waterfront to scenic Lake Martin. A 41,000-acre clear water reservoir is perfect for boating, swimming and fishing. There’s a camp store, a fishing pier, and playground and picnic areas with grills and shelters. Although not designated a state park, the Conecuh National Forest just north of the Florida-Alabama border spreads over 82,883 acres. Blue Pond Recreation Area and Open Pond Recreation Area are the two main recreation areas. Both feature campsites for either tents or trailers and fishing and boating facilities. The 20-mile Conecuh Trail wanders through an enchanting array of cypress, magnolia, longleaf pine, holly and dogwood trees. You might catch a glimpse of a white-tailed dear, a wild turkey, a raccoon, a woodpecker, or even an alligator. It should go without saying, but never ever feed an alligator! Primitive camping is available for all visitors except during hunting season. It’s a good idea to take the Boy Scout motto of “be prepared” to heart when you’re camping. Those extra minutes will be well spent. Pack everything you might need; don’t count on finding a well-supplied convenience store wherever you are.
Pack a first aid kit. Include antiseptics for cuts and scraps, insect repellent, a snake bike kit, pain relievers and plenty of sunscreen. Take emergency supplies. Besides the first aid kit, you’ll want to have a flashlight and an ample supply of batteries, a map, compass, waterproof fire starter, a whistle, a knife, warm clothing, non-perishable food items, and bottled water. Plan on getting to your campsite early enough so you can set up camp in daylight. You may not be able to see hazards like glass or sharp objects, or even large ant beds with your flashlight. There’s nothing worse than waking from a deep sleep to an ant invasion! Look for a level site with room enough to spread out all your camping gear.
Second worse to an ant invasion is waking up with a headache from all the blood rushing to your brain overnight caused by erecting your tent on an uneven slant of ground. Weather can change rapidly, so a compact weather radio will also come in handy. If you do run into a patch of rain, don’t run around in your wet socks! Keep a bag of dry clothes in a waterproof bag. Smoky the Bear is still advising folks to prevent forest fires. Some sites will have grills, others won’t. In that case, use stones to create an enclosed area. Never ever leave a smoldering fire at the end of the night. When you think your fire is completely out, add another bucket of water for good measure.
Pitch your tent a reasonable distance from your fire. The woods are not a good place to leave the door open. Zip up the door quickly when coming or going or you’ll need a tent that sleeps hundreds of non-paying guests! In a word, bugs. Yellow jackets, hornets, bees and wasps are plentiful in the Alabama woods. Leave the perfume and cologne at home since these guys are attracted to it as well. And while they’re sniffing, they’re prone to biting. Don’t panic if a flying creature comes toward you. Just move quietly away. Don’t provoke it. Watch out for poisonous plants, like poison ivy. Better yet, if you’re planning on a hike, wear long lightweight pants. If you do get exposed, calamine lotion is an old standby that will relieve most of the itching. The woods are Mother Nature’s home, so respect her creatures. Don’t feed the bears and be cautious about feeding other critters, too, unless you want to share your tent with one. Never leave food, garbage, coolers or cooking equipment in the open. Even a small scrap of food can attract a critter. Finally, leave the area as you found it or better. Dispose of all trash. If you’ve used a propane tank, read the instructions and dispose of properly.
You’ll do well to live by the motto, “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time.” Camping is a great way to get up close and personal with nature and nowhere is more abundant with natural beauty than Alabama, the Beautiful.
Author: Sandra Webber
About Author: Ellen Webber was born and raised in Alabama. She is a freelance writer and photographer.