Best Campgrounds near Owens Cross Roads, AL

The camping landscape around Owens Cross Roads, Alabama encompasses several state parks and recreational areas offering tent, RV, and cabin accommodations. Monte Sano State Park Campground, located on a mountain plateau near Huntsville, provides nearly 100 campsites with varying levels of amenities, including primitive tent sites and full-hookup RV spots. Lake Guntersville State Park Campground, approximately 20 miles to the southeast, features waterfront camping opportunities with boat-in access points. The region includes a mix of public parks and private facilities such as Honeycomb Campground and Ditto Landing City Campground, providing diverse camping experiences.

Many campgrounds in the North Alabama region require reservations, particularly during summer and fall weekends when facilities often reach capacity. Monte Sano State Park's elevated location provides cooler temperatures than the surrounding areas, with shady wooded sites that help mitigate summer heat. Most established campgrounds offer water and electric hookups, while some provide full sewer connections. Cell phone coverage varies across the region, with better service typically available at campgrounds closer to Huntsville. Trail access and nature viewing opportunities are abundant throughout the area's parks. One camper noted that "Monte Sano State Park has so much to do you could easily spend an extended time there and not be bored, unless you want to be."

Campers consistently mention the hiking opportunities as a standout feature of the region's campgrounds. Monte Sano State Park contains numerous hiking trails ranging from moderate to challenging, with interesting rock formations and scenic overlooks. The relatively close proximity to Huntsville provides convenient access to urban amenities while maintaining a natural setting. Several visitors appreciate the spacious, shaded campsites available at many of the established campgrounds. Tent campers can find dedicated primitive camping areas at Monte Sano that are separated from RV sections, providing a more secluded experience. A camper shared that "As a female I LOVE the staff and feel safe camping and hiking the trails throughout the park solo and with my dogs." The mixed-use campgrounds in the region typically maintain clean facilities with regular maintenance of bathhouses and common areas.

Best Camping Sites Near Owens Cross Roads, Alabama (101)

    1. Monte Sano State Park Campground

    76 Reviews
    Brownsboro, AL
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 534-6589

    $14 - $30 / night

    "This site backs up to a draw and each evening just before dust we could watch the deer walk up through.  The bathhouse is centrally located, newer, and cleaned daily."

    "On top of Monte Sano in the woods and a world away from the town -- although it's close by. So many trails to run or walk and a playground for the kiddos. This has primitive camping as well as W/E/S."

    2. Lake Guntersville State Park Campground

    43 Reviews
    Guntersville, AL
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 571-5455

    "This is a nice state park in a small town in north Alabama. The lake is really pretty and the campground has a nice view of it."

    "Although the furthest away from a bathhouse, we truly enjoyed this site. It’s “pick your own” and we picked the site next to Seals hiking trail along the water."

    3. Honeycomb Campground

    19 Reviews
    Grant, AL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 582-9884

    "There are few places in Alabama that RVers can camp on a pristine Lake Front. Honeycome Campground is located on Lake Guntersville; AL."

    "Stayed at site 74 lakeside, plenty of room. Great site"

    4. Cathedral Caverns State Park Campground

    17 Reviews
    Woodville, AL
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 728-8193

    $14 / night

    "If you are looking for a Cave experience in Norh Alabama that little kids can handle, this is it."

    "state employees live fulltime within walking distance of the campsites."

    5. Redstone Arsenal RV Park & Campground

    5 Reviews
    Huntsville, AL
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 876-4868

    "We exited off on 14A to gate 9 where we went through the gate and then did a u-turn to take us back down past the golf course to the CG. We had no problem doing the u-turn with our 40' fifth wheel."

    "You must have access to military base to use. They have Laundry. Showers and bath. Full hook up. No trees for shade. Very hot. Needs mowed and more cleaning."

    6. Ditto Landing City Campground

    4 Reviews
    Laceys Spring, AL
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 882-1057

    $19 - $22 / night

    "A short walk to the Tennessee River."

    7. Little Mountain Marina Resort

    9 Reviews
    Grant, AL
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 582-8211

    "I don’t like how you can’t pick your spot and you just have to drive around until you find one you like. My kids love the pools and the indoor pool is awesome during colder months. My kids love that."

    8. TGL Adventures

    2 Reviews
    Brownsboro, AL
    11 miles
    +1 (256) 693-3693

    $25 - $250 / night

    "We ended up fishing til daylight because the river was physically only 10 steps from our tents. The campsite had just enough light to be able to see go get to the restroom and showers."

    9. Mountain Breeze RV Park

    1 Review
    Laceys Spring, AL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 498-2571

    "Very nice host, plenty of space close to Huntsville. Stayed on my way to Florida and decided to stay again on my way back. Was easily able to squeeze a 37 foot travel trailer in."

    10. Charest Cove Campground (Closed)

    1 Review
    Laceys Spring, AL
    12 miles

    $25 - $125 / night

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Recent Reviews near Owens Cross Roads, AL

602 Reviews of 101 Owens Cross Roads Campgrounds


  • Anna M.
    Oct. 26, 2025

    Honeycomb Campground

    Drove 2.5 hrs and they no showed

    Spoke to Chris on Friday told her I was driving up on Sunday to take a look. She was really nice and we talked about some spots that would meet our needs. When I got there no one was at the gate to let you in. The phone number posted on the door was disconnected. The number online said they were only open Monday through Friday. The number I called on Friday went to an answering machine. So disappointed.

  • Anna M.
    Oct. 26, 2025

    Goose Pond Colony Resort Campground

    Unacceptable Bathroom Behavior

    There are maybe half a dozen sites that don’t have permanent plumbing set up. The showers have no doors and there is a warning sign about inappropriate behavior in the bathroom. Sites are small and people park boat trailers everywhere since there isn’t space on the lots. You have to take the pavement to the one bath house in the area since there is no path through the crowded RV’s. If you are a single man with no kids and just wanted to camp near your boat launch this might be ok. I’ll pass.

  • Anna M.
    Oct. 26, 2025

    Jackson County Park

    Summer Only

    The water level is really low right now due to drought but the bathrooms just aren’t built for showering in the winter. There is also a really loud fan noise in there. There is one bathhouse for 90 slips but there are 4 shower stalls and 4 bathroom stalls.

  • Anna M.
    Oct. 26, 2025

    South Sauty Creek Resort

    Self Contained for the Win

    If you are self contained and have onboard holding tanks this place has lots of waterfront sites. If you need a bath house there is only one and it’s located a good ways from all the campsites. You have to cross two roads and through a gas station parking lot to get to it.

  • Lizzy S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Red Coach Resort

    Tucked away in the trees

    This park is tucked away in a private neighborhood on about 80 acres. There are a lot of RV sites as well as primitive camping in the back. We really enjoyed all of the trees and being able to take the kids to play in the small creek in the back of the property. They have a nice playground and a koi pond with a little deck to sit on. The only negative is I feel like they “nickle and dimed” us to death.

  • j
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Evans Loop Backcountry Site — Tims Ford State Park

    Great setup hike isn’t for the weak thought

    The actual campsite is great theres a fire pit with a grill over it some good trees for a hammock there is cell service thats something I wanted to know before going the hike is rough though so pack light and be prepared

  • Jeff C.
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Decatur / Wheeler Lake KOA Holiday

    Nice place to relax

    Very nice campground on Wheeler Lake.  The staff is very pleasant and will work with you to find a site to your liking.  Facilities were clean and the campground was very quiet.  I only gave it four stars because the sites were kind of rocky and hard on my golden retreiver's feet.

  • dolphmike The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Walls of Jericho - Trailhead Campsite

    Quite

    Quite at night, but the primitive camping area is overgrown, and I have seen a lot of trash in the woods. Stayed one night just to hike the trail the next morning.


Guide to Owens Cross Roads

Camping near Owens Cross Roads, Alabama sits at elevations ranging from 600-1,100 feet, creating distinct microclimates throughout the region. The proximity to Tennessee River waterways provides water recreation options within 20-30 minutes of most camping areas. Fall brings temperature variations of 15-20°F between mountain plateau campgrounds and valley locations.

What to do

Hiking technical trails: Monte Sano State Park offers challenging hiking paths with rock formations. One visitor shared, "These are not your easy day hike trails, though it is possible to take it easy. The problem being when you look at the map and read the names you can't help but go check out the trails! Good, technical hiking, bring your sticks and bug stuff."

Cave exploration: Cathedral Caverns State Park Campground features one of the region's most impressive cave systems. "Our tour guide did a great job not only telling us about the beauty and history of the cave, but helped us to imagine one of the caves first explorers and its benefactor Mr. Gurly," reports one camper who visited with his son.

Water sports access: Lake Guntersville provides extensive water recreation opportunities. A camper at Lake Guntersville State Park Campground noted, "Right on the banks of Guntersville lake which has great fishing and watersports."

What campers like

Mountain plateau camping: Cooler temperatures at higher elevations make Monte Sano popular during hot months. A frequent visitor explained, "Monte Sano State Park is conveniently situated right next to Huntsville, Al. So you can feel as if your out in the middle of nowhere and town is 10 minutes down the road."

Secluded tent areas: Many campgrounds offer dedicated spaces for tent campers. At Cathedral Caverns State Park Campground, "There is a primitive tent area... It's quite a walk to the restroom and unless you are driving, it would be unreasonable to rely on it as your bathroom. Bring a camping toilet or a shovel."

Waterfront access: Multiple camping options provide direct water access. One visitor to Honeycomb Campground shared, "Our site was spacious and right on the lake. The beach was very nice and the staff was beyond helpful."

What you should know

Limited cell service: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds. A camper at TGL Adventures noted the campsite had "just enough light to be able to see go get to the restroom and showers" but limited connectivity.

Reservation timing: Summer weekends require advance booking, with some campgrounds filling 2-3 months ahead for peak season. At Lake Guntersville State Park, one visitor suggested, "Book in advance, water sites are hard to come by in the summer!"

Weather considerations: The elevated terrain creates variable conditions. A camper at Cathedral Caverns mentioned that a ranger "verified that I had registered at the camp, informed me that it might rain that night, and wished us a good evening."

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated recreation for children. At Little Mountain Marina Resort, "My kids love the pools and the indoor pool is awesome during colder months... Overall it's a fun place to go if you have kids."

Playground access: Multiple campsites include play areas. A visitor reported, "There are cool little wooden play obstacles for the kids in the campground and a huge playground 1/2 mile away inside the park" at Monte Sano State Park.

Educational opportunities: The region offers learning experiences through natural features. TGL Adventures provides easy river access where families can "splash around" with "steps to take down to the river."

Tips from RVers

Site selection strategy: RVers recommend considering solar exposure and spacing. At Honeycomb Campground, campers note, "This campsite had beautiful waterfront lots but many of the interior sites were full of long term RVs who have personalized their lots to the extreme."

Hookup considerations: Not all campgrounds offer full connections. One RVer at Ditto Landing City Campground mentioned, "There is no sewer hookup which would be fine if the dump station worked."

Access routes: Some areas require navigation planning. At Cathedral Caverns, a camper advised that the sites are "outside of the state park's main gates which means that anyone can easily enter or leave the camp at anytime day or night."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Owens Cross Roads, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, Owens Cross Roads, AL offers a wide range of camping options, with 101 campgrounds and RV parks near Owens Cross Roads, AL and 3 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Owens Cross Roads, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Owens Cross Roads, AL is Monte Sano State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 76 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Owens Cross Roads, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Owens Cross Roads, AL.