Best Campgrounds near Peterson, AL

Peterson, Alabama provides camping access to several Army Corps of Engineers sites along Holt Lake and the Black Warrior River system. Deerlick Creek Campground stands as the primary developed camping area in the region, offering both RV sites with hookups and dedicated tent-only areas in a forested setting. The camping landscape includes a mix of established campgrounds with concrete pads and full hookups, along with more rustic options at Blue Creek Public Use Area, which offers dispersed camping opportunities. Most developed campgrounds in the area accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several sites featuring water views and wooded settings.

Road conditions to campgrounds near Peterson vary seasonally, with some requiring navigation along narrow, hilly routes. Most developed sites operate from early spring through late fall, though a few RV parks remain open year-round. "Roads to get here are narrow, hilly, and twisty, but in good condition. If you have a rig longer than 30ft and want room to breathe, get a pull-through site," noted one camper about Deerlick Creek. Sites at Corps of Engineers campgrounds typically feature water and electrical hookups, with varying levels of shade and privacy. Cell service is generally available through major carriers, though coverage may be spotty in more remote areas away from Tuscaloosa.

Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews, particularly at Deerlick Creek where many sites overlook Holt Lake. Visitors appreciate the privacy between campsites, well-maintained facilities, and natural setting. A visitor commented, "These sites are amazing, they are spacious, multi-level, and have views of the river." The tent-only area at Deerlick Creek offers particularly secluded sites with more distance between neighbors. Campers should note that some campgrounds in the area have limited bathroom facilities despite their size, and hiking trails may be unmarked or minimally maintained. Wildlife sightings, including deer, are common throughout the camping areas, especially in the evenings. Most campgrounds provide basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and grills, though campers must bring their own firewood or purchase it locally.

Best Camping Sites Near Peterson, Alabama (54)

    1. Deerlick Creek

    26 Reviews
    Peterson, AL
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 759-1591

    $20 - $30 / night

    "My campsite was near the bathroom/shower which was convenient.  Enjoyed the hillside view I had and the walks in the woods surrounding the campground."

    "Greta place to camp in the fall for Alabama football games, only about 15-16 miles from campus, yet very secluded. Really a great place to camp, whether with RV or tent camping!"

    2. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park Campground

    29 Reviews
    Green Pond, AL
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 477-5711

    $20 - $30 / night

    "Situated on a beautiful mountain side just minute from university of alabama. Camp beside a churning creek and listen to nature."

    "The park is in a great part of Alabama and is located close to a lot of the best hiking in the state. Additionally, the park is set up on an old ironworks plant where many people lived and worked."

    3. Sunset RV

    6 Reviews
    Peterson, AL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 553-9233

    $29 - $32 / night

    "Because it's across the highway. Close to everything in Tuscaloosa. No 5 stars because it sufficient for camping, not much more! Which is what we do!"

    4. Burchfield Branch Park

    11 Reviews
    Tuscaloosa, AL
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 497-9828

    $20 - $40 / night

    "Most of the campsites are tucked away beneath a canopy of trees with nice shade. The bath houses are always clean, as well as the entire campground. It is great for a relaxing weekend getaway."

    "The location was beautiful but there is no privacy.  The sites are small and very close together with no trees or brush separating them. "

    5. Lake Lurleen State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Coker, AL
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 339-1558

    "My only complaint about lake lurleen is the lack of cell service- but do you need that when camping!? Bathrooms are older, best well kept for public bathrooms."

    "We really enjoyed the beach area and the trails. Lots of mountain bikers throughout the weekend."

    6. Bama RV Station

    3 Reviews
    Peterson, AL
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 722-7005

    $30 - $35 / night

    7. Holt Lake

    2 Reviews
    Peterson, AL
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 553-9373

    "The tent sites are very nice and groomed and have a wonderful view of the lake. They have individual water pumps at each site and room for several cars to pull up and park."

    "The beach can be pretty crowded during the summer but it's a decent size and the bathrooms are nearby. Last time I went I found a needle in the sand, so keep an eye out."

    8. Blue Creek Public Use Area

    5 Reviews
    Tuscaloosa, AL
    14 miles
    Website

    "Has boat ramp and camping areas are near pacer park roads. Local traffic is mostly folks going to boat ramp. Camping area is along bluff over looking the River."

    9. Coaches Corner RV Park

    3 Reviews
    Moundville, AL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (334) 425-1846

    $45 - $675 / night

    10. Candy mountain rv resort

    3 Reviews
    Peterson, AL
    7 miles
    +1 (205) 553-5428

    $30 - $400 / night

    "The facilities were probably lovely back in the day but we still enjoyed walking around exploding the grounds."

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Recent Reviews near Peterson, AL

317 Reviews of 54 Peterson Campgrounds


  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Chilton County Minooka Park

    Fine for big RV’s

    It’s more of an RV park than campground. There are spaces for tents, but they don’t have picnic tables. The trees are actually behind the sites. So, don’t think about a hammock. The bathrooms are clean, but there are no showers.

  • Randi P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park Campground

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 — Great mix of nature, history, and family fun

    We stayed at Tannehill Ironworks Campground for a long weekend and had a great experience. We arrived late on a Thursday night and appreciated that the ranger is on-site 24/7, since the campground doesn’t take reservations. The process is easy—you just pull in, find a site, and register/pay the next morning. It was a little hard to find a spot in the dark, but that was on us.

    There are three main campground areas. • Campgrounds 1 and 2 offer full hook-ups, with many outer sites backing up to a scenic creek. • Campground 3 has water and electric only.

    We stayed in site 122 in Campground 1, right on the creek. The sites are all gravel with picnic tables (a little worn—we brought our own table setup). Ours was pretty spacious, and since it wasn’t full, we had empty sites in front of and behind us, which made it feel even more open.

    The creek is peaceful and adds great ambiance, but there’s no designated access area for wading or swimming. That said, lots of kids were playing in the water right near their sites.

    T-Mobile service was decent—we were able to use our hotspot to stream TV at night. There’s no public Wi-Fi, but we didn’t miss it. We didn’t use the dump stations, but they looked clean and easy to access.

    Check-out time is 1:00 PM, and we didn’t see an official check-in time or posted quiet hours. The campground was fairly calm and relaxed, especially at night.

    The best part of Tannehill is everything there is to do. We brought bikes and explored miles of trails, all clearly marked by difficulty level. The park is also full of historical buildings like an old mill, furnace, blacksmith shop, and restored cabins (some are available to rent). There’s a Sunday church service at 9AM, playgrounds, picnic pavilions, a general store, a miniature train ride, and even an ice cream shop.

    If you visit during one of their Trade Days weekends, you’re in for a treat—it’s like a huge flea market with over 400 vendors, food stands, and all kinds of local treasures.

    Tannehill is a unique blend of history, nature, and activities for all ages. We’ll definitely be back and would recommend it to anyone looking for a laid-back getaway with lots to explore!

  • Melinda S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2025

    Oak Mountain State Park Campground

    Oak Mtn State Park Equestrian & section B campground

    A great State Park. I stayed one night in the Equestrian campground. They are all pull thru with as remodeled bathhouse. It was extremely clean. Then moved over to Section B of the main camp ground. Remodeled spaces with adequate space for a newbie to back her travel trailer in with no problems. “ What an Ego booster!” Remodeled bathhouses as well and kept clean even on a busy July 4th weekend. Gets morning sun but shade in the afternoon.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 22, 2025

    Birmingham South RV Park

    Ants, Dogs and Smells

    To be fair, the check in and staff were nice. Sites are level and partially shaded. Rules loosely enforced as there were trucks parked on grass which was noted as a very prominent rule on reservation and check in. Ants attempted to infest anything we sat outside (not food related items were specifically targeted as it was a pair of diving boots and our leveling blocks). It was horrible. There’s little to no control over everyone’s dogs. The best you can get is that they are leashed, otherwise, lunging at people or other dogs and barking all throughout the day is completely permitted. The sites are very small and your neighbors sewer hookups happen to be about 3 feet from your site’s picnic table. It’s just gross.

  • Patrick P.
    Jun. 20, 2025

    Birmingham South RV Park

    Nice place ,

    Nice place , but the internet doesn’t work, bathrooms clean

  • Hannah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 28, 2025

    Payne Lake Spillway

    Spillway recreation area

    The Payne Lake spillway is a nice place to have a picnic and view the lake. There is a pavilion with four picnic tables underneath it and then there are isolated picnic tables around the area. They have fire pits and grills nearby for cooking. There are also bathrooms across from the pavilion. The boat ramp for the lake is right down the road from the spillway parking area. No camping is allowed in this area of the campground.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 23, 2025

    Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park Campground

    Great price for what you get

    Didn’t get to explore much as we stayed 1 night passing through. First come first serve reservations. There were many open spots when we arrived. We paid $25 that included electric hookup, bath house with showers, water on site, and a dump station. I believe you can pay another $5 for sewage on site. There were still several other RVs and trailers here, everyone being very friendly and keeping to themselves. Very quiet sleep and bathrooms were clean. Would definitely recommend.

  • Jules S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 20, 2025

    Deerlick Creek

    March 2025

    Stayed here for a few days in March 2025. Beautiful campground. My only complaint is the staff are hard to find. Upon checking in there was no one at the office and after 2 days there I had to hunt someone down for my tag and questions regarding the gate closing at night. Clean bath houses & campground. Good place for my dogs to swim as well. Also only small complaint is most of the decks at the campsites are rotting.

  • Michael U.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 13, 2025

    Moundville Archaeological Park

    Tent camping not recommended

    The rv sites look maintained. Tent camping is not. Ground is unkept so be careful of sticks poking holes in the floor. If you have a truck-mounted tent, you will have to get an RV site as you have to carry your tent a short ways. The rest of the park is great.


Guide to Peterson

Camping near Peterson, Alabama, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Hiking and Exploring Trails: There are plenty of trails to hike, like those at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "Trails to hike, water to play in, fishing, history places to see and go through."
  • Fishing and Water Activities: At Payne Lake West Side, you can enjoy fishing and swimming. A visitor shared, "Very quiet and secluded, there is a beach area for swimming."
  • Historical Sites: Check out the historical aspects at Brierfield Ironworks Historical Park. One reviewer noted, "Lots of neat buildings" to explore.

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Burchfield Branch Park said, "The bath house was super clean."
  • Spacious Campsites: Many enjoy the roomy sites at Deerlick Creek. One camper remarked, "The sites were large with new wooden picnic tables."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of the staff. A reviewer at Birmingham South RV Park said, "The guy at the front gate was super nice and helpful."

What you should know

  • Limited Cell Service: If you need to stay connected, be aware that some campgrounds, like Burchfield Branch Park, have no cell reception. A camper noted, "There is no reception here… so if you want to disconnect it’s an ideal place to do so."
  • Seasonal Availability: Some campgrounds, like Deerlick Creek, are only open from early March to late November. Make sure to check the season before planning your trip.
  • Noise Levels: Campers have reported noise issues at certain times, especially during holidays. One visitor at Birmingham South RV Park mentioned, "It was noisy at night with some folks partying."

Tips for camping with families

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds or sports areas. A family at Birmingham South RV Park enjoyed "movie night, coffee and donuts" during their stay.
  • Bring Your Own Firewood: At places like Payne Lake East Side, it's a good idea to bring your own firewood, as one camper noted, "As far as we could tell, there was nowhere at the campground to purchase bundles of firewood."
  • Plan for Weather: Be prepared for humidity and heat, especially in summer. A visitor at Lake Lurleen State Park Campground mentioned, "It was hot and very humid during the day."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: If you're bringing a big rig, make sure to choose a campground with spacious sites. A camper at Deerlick Creek advised, "If you have a rig longer than 30ft and want room to breathe, get a pull-through site."
  • Look for Full Hookups: Many RVers prefer campgrounds with full hookups. A visitor at Hoover Met Complex RV Park appreciated the "easy hooks ups and good WiFi available."
  • Be Mindful of Noise: Some RV parks, like Birmingham South RV Park, can be noisy due to their location. One camper said, "I dislike speed bumps in a parking lot, and I definitely am not a fan of them in RV parks."

Camping near Peterson, Alabama, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Peterson, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, Peterson, AL offers a wide range of camping options, with 54 campgrounds and RV parks near Peterson, AL and 1 free dispersed camping spot.

Which is the most popular campground near Peterson, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Peterson, AL is Deerlick Creek with a 4.6-star rating from 26 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Peterson, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Peterson, AL.