Best Glamping near Arley, AL

Clear Creek Recreation Area houses upscale glamping accommodations on the scenic shores of Smith Lake within Bankhead National Forest. The glamping options include canvas structures with comfortable beds, electricity, and private outdoor spaces to enjoy the waterfront setting. Guests can experience luxury outdoor stays while still enjoying the natural beauty of the forest environment. The sites offer a peaceful retreat with ample spacing between accommodations for privacy while maintaining access to modern amenities including clean restroom facilities, picnic areas, and fire pits. Sipsey Creek Farm provides another glamping option near Arley with just three exclusive units featuring comfortable bedding, drinking water access, shower facilities, and toilets in a more secluded setting. One guest shared, "This campground became one of my favorite AL camping spots. The sites were close enough to see your neighbors but far enough away to not hear them."

Visitors at these glamping destinations enjoy direct access to Smith Lake for swimming, fishing, and water activities. Clear Creek features a dedicated beach area with ample shade, perfect for summer relaxation. The paved bike trail offers excellent opportunities for cycling enthusiasts, while hiking paths wind through the surrounding Bankhead National Forest. Wildlife viewing is excellent, with guests frequently spotting deer in the mornings. The location provides convenient access to nearby natural attractions, including Little Natural Bridge. Glamping accommodations remain open seasonally from March through October, with Clear Creek's luxury sites booking quickly during summer months. A recent visitor noted, "We stayed on Fox Loop and it had great water views and shade. Staff was very nice and kept things clean and family friendly."

Map showing campgrounds near Arley, Alabama

Explore the Map

Best Glamping Sites Near Arley, Alabama (6)

1. Clear Creek Recreation Area
25 Reviews
Arley, AL
6 miles
Website
+1 (205) 300-1463
$24 - $75 / night
"Very spacious with a huge fire pit. Easy walking distance to bathhouse. Great hiking as well. Day use area was closed due to pandemic."

"We stayed on site 101 on Bear Loop. Clear Creek was a beautiful and quiet facility. Staff was kind and helpful."
2. Corinth Recreation Area
26 Reviews
Houston, AL
7 miles
Website
+1 (205) 300-1513
$18 - $50 / night
"I arrived without a reservation trying to get one of the first come first serve spots. There is a gate without intercom, so you can’t just drive up."

"Well designed campground in the hills of Northern Alabama. Sites are well spaced. Well maintained. The lake is pretty. Each site has fire pit and table."

3. Sipsey Creek Farm
Be the first to review!
Bankhead National Forest, AL
13 miles
+1 (205) 275-7587
$25 - $125 / night
4. Point Mallard City Campground
12 Reviews
Decatur, AL
37 miles
Website
+1 (256) 341-4826
"Walking and biking trails. Laundry facilities on site and open 24 hours. Camp store on site and open everyday until 5pm."

"Very friendly staff, clean bath houses and next to a fun water park. Located in Decatur, AL, you are close to grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants and more!"

5. Dismals Canyon Cabins and Primitive Campsites
7 Reviews
Hackleburg, AL
37 miles
Website
+1 (205) 993-4559
"It's about a quarter of a mile walk to the campsite, but the site is absolutely gorgeous! Very secluded and very roomy! The waterfall at the campsite is not large, but it still makes noise."

"When you first arrive, you go down to the little general store that now has a cafe."
6. The Ridge Outdoor Resort
3 Reviews
Oneonta, AL
45 miles
Website
$5 / night
"There are dirt bike trails, a zip line, an air soft course, a pond, and stunning views of the valley below."

"We are the only ones here so we pulled up to the bath house. They will be out to turn on the hot water in a bit. Quiet. Relaxing after a day of seeing the sites. I have 2 bars on my Verizon."

Showing results 1-6 of 6 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented by

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Enter to Win

Glamping Reviews near Arley, AL

79 Reviews of 6 Arley Campgrounds

Nikki W.
Traveler
Apr. 18, 2021
Clear Creek Recreation Area
Good group camp sites
Really enjoyed the group camp site. Very spacious with a huge fire pit. Easy walking distance to bathhouse. Great hiking as well. Day use area was closed due to pandemic.
Rebekah C.
Ranger
Aug. 22, 2021
Dismals Canyon Cabins and Primitive Campsites
Great choice for Visitors of Dismals Canyon
We stayed in early August for 2 nights in the Sleeping Waters campground.

We got there pretty late (after dark) for setting up camp, and I do not recommend doing that. It's about a quarter of a mile walk to the campsite, but the site is absolutely gorgeous! Very secluded and very roomy! The waterfall at the campsite is not large, but it still makes noise.

After we got everything set up and got all the lights out, we noticed the glowing dismalites along the Canyon wall behind our tent!! It was super cool. We also had a creek flowing with crawdads, minnows, and bull frogs. Plenty of wildlife!!

The canyon was pretty cool! The waterfalls were awesome and I loved all the spur trails. Disclaimer: be prepared to get your feet wet!!

The Canyon and campsite were pet friendly. Dogs were even welcome in the country store!! Just not in the seating area for the Soda Fountain.

I have few, minor complaints.. 1) I booked this campsite earlier in the year (early spring, I believe). I specifically wanted a night tour. They did not tell me that they wouldn't have night tours at that time of year. I wish I would've known, as I would've planned the trip for spring or fall. 2) the gate to get into the Canyon after hours for the bath house was difficult to operate. I'd pinch the code in and it wouldn't open. It would take several tries. The gate for the campsite area worked great! 3) The gate leading to the campsites was not marked. At night, it was challenging to determine where to park. 4) In the Canyon itself, not all of the landmarks were marked!! We had a map, but we had never been there before, so we weren't able to find everything easily.
Anna M.
Guide
Apr. 20, 2025
Corinth Recreation Area
It's commercial camping with tons of kids.
Very expensive, crowded and noisy but what do you expect. The hot water was out in the bath house so no showers. $10/day to enter if you have more than 2 vehicles. Everyone wants to be outside and camping most in large RV's with all the amenities and a dozen loud kids per. This is typical if you are looking for something else you will have to keep looking. Night time quiet hours are not enforced. Spaces are a little closer and tighter than other campgrounds.
Mara S.
Guide
Apr. 9, 2021
Corinth Recreation Area
Nice National Forest Campground
I arrived without a reservation trying to get one of the first come first serve spots. There is a gate without intercom, so you can’t just drive up. I called the phone number listed and the woman on the phone gave me the gate code and told me which sites were available. Worked out pretty well. Stayed in 22. One bathhouse is open. Another one I tried was locked due to Covid. Clean. Yellohammer sites have full hookup. Then there are tent sites. I was contemplating getting a tent site with my van, but they were pretty unlevel and small. There is a public boat ramp and one specifically for the campground. Water level was still very high in the lake after recent rains and storms.
Larry A.
Guide
Apr. 20, 2022
Corinth Recreation Area
Nice place
Well designed campground in the hills of Northern Alabama. Sites are well spaced. Well maintained. The lake is pretty. Each site has fire pit and table. The price was a little high even with the senior pass. Not much cell service.
Crystal W.
Scout
Mar. 28, 2023
Point Mallard City Campground
Great place
Family friendly with 2 playgrounds. Dog friendly. Walking and biking trails. Laundry facilities on site and open 24 hours. Camp store on site and open everyday until 5pm.
Genie C.
Guide
Apr. 8, 2021
Clear Creek Recreation Area
Great Weekend in the Bankhead National Forest
We stayed on site 101 on Bear Loop. Clear Creek was a beautiful and quiet facility. Staff was kind and helpful. CCRA just experienced major storms in the area, but did a great job accommodating individuals who’s sites flooded and needed to move. There was only one of bathhouse open for the property. It did not bother us, but could have been frustrating for others. We will be back soon.
Desiree K.
Traveler
Oct. 16, 2020
Corinth Recreation Area
Not for tents
We stayed here for two nights to kayak the Sipsey River nearby. The location is great. I don’t know about the other spots but the Yellow Hammer loop is not meant for tents. We were told by the host we could not pitch a tent on the grass so we had to pitch a tent on a gravel/concrete slab. There is water and electric hook ups. One of the two bathroom facilities was open. The showers were hot! This is a very family friendly campsite, we heard children playing loudly late into the night (so bring ear plugs) lol.
Trinity W.
Guide
Sep. 4, 2019
Dismals Canyon Cabins and Primitive Campsites
Beautiful, One of a Kind Place
My family has been going to Dismals Canyon since I was a child, and my mother's parents took her when she was a child. Now I take my children. The reason we return year after year is that it is absolutely gorgeous, and is one of the few places in the world where you can see the tiny glow worms called Dismalites. When you first arrive, you go down to the little general store that now has a cafe. I have not eaten at the cafe, so I can't attest to the quality of the food, but I can say everyone who has worked there has always been very friendly and knowledgeable about the canyon. Here you will pay for your campsite and/or your canyon access. Day tours are self guided, but the night tours to see the dismalites are guided. The campground is relatively expensive, for our area anyway, but it is very clean and beautiful, and each campsite we have visited has been very private. There is a nice bathhouse for campers. Each campsite also provides garbage cans and a fire pit. They DO NOT let you bring in firewood, but you can get firewood there. Also you cannot park right next to your site, you will have to park in the parking area and walk to your site. All of their rules are very strict, but they do so to preserve the park in a clean, natural state. There is a nice fairly deep reservoir to swim in, as well as creeks and streams throughout. Also waterfalls, giant trees, and many neat rock structures. The trail through the canyon is not terribly difficult. I hiked it with my 2 year old strapped to my back the last time we went, and my 62 year old mother and 5 year old in tow. The hardest part is really the long stairs going into and out of the canyon. The cost is really the only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5. Bring bug spray.