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Best Campgrounds near Columbiana, AL

450 Reviews

State parks and recreational areas surrounding Columbiana, Alabama provide diverse camping experiences within a short drive of Birmingham. Oak Mountain State Park, Alabama's largest state park, offers both developed campgrounds and backcountry sites just 20-40 minutes from downtown Birmingham. Paradise Point Marina and RV Resort in Columbiana provides waterfront camping with boat access. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park Campground, located near McCalla, features camping options from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV spots alongside historical attractions. Within a 30-mile radius, campers can find additional options at Birmingham South RV Park, Hoover Met Complex RV Park, and several county parks that accommodate both tent and RV camping.

Summer heat significantly impacts camping comfort in the region, with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F from June through September. As one camper noted, "A key bonus to this site is the pool which is very necessary when camping in Alabama in the summer." Shaded sites become premium during hot months, with many visitors seeking campgrounds near water for swimming opportunities. Most state park campgrounds remain open year-round, with fall and spring offering more moderate temperatures. Reservations are strongly recommended for weekend camping, especially at Oak Mountain and Tannehill, which can fill quickly during peak seasons. Many campgrounds offer both primitive sites and those with electrical hookups, allowing tent campers to use fans during hot weather. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area except in some backcountry locations.

Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers in the region, with several sites offering swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities. According to one visitor at Oak Mountain, "There is a huge lake which is perfect for swimming and family picnics, especially on a hot and humid Alabama summer day." The backcountry sites at Oak Mountain provide more seclusion than the main campground areas, with one camper noting they "couldn't hear a single car and it felt very secluded from the rest of the park." Historical attractions enhance several camping areas, particularly at Tannehill, where visitors can explore an old ironworks plant with a museum explaining the process. Facilities vary widely across campgrounds, with some offering modern bathhouses while others provide more basic amenities. Wildlife viewing opportunities include deer, woodpeckers, and various bird species.

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Best Camping Sites Near Columbiana, Alabama (107)

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Recent Camping Photos near Columbiana, AL

129 Photos of 107 Columbiana Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Columbiana, AL

450 Reviews of 107 Columbiana Campgrounds

  • Martha H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2025

    GrandStand RV Park

    Great location

    Beautiful park! Easy in and out. Nicely decorated for the fall. Beautiful pool, bathrooms, and showers. Nice laundry room. Owners are very attentive. Would definitely stay again!

  • mThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Oak Mountain State Park Campground

    One of the best !

    Campground was great. Our site on the lake was beautiful and had ducks came right up to our site. Clean and staff were friendly.

  • R
    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.

  • Peyton P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Hollins Hunting Camp

    Open and quiet

    Best for overlanding/camper/tents. No marked sites, just pull in and find a spot. I got in around 8 and there were only a couple people here, lots of space and easy to find a private spot. Hardly any bugs, no amenities

  • 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.

Guide to Columbiana

Camping options near Columbiana, Alabama center around the Lay Lake region, part of the Coosa River system at approximately 400 feet elevation. The area features rolling piedmont terrain with mixed pine-hardwood forests and limestone outcroppings. Weather conditions include high humidity levels year-round with summer dew points often exceeding 70°F, creating challenges for tent campers without proper ventilation.

What to do

Enjoy water recreation on Lay Lake: Paradise Point Marina and RV Resort provides direct lake access for boating and fishing. "Flat paved spot to park RV for home base while fishing/boating... Restaurant at marina and marina/store great. Staff courteous and helpful," shares one visitor at Paradise Point Marina and RV Resort.

Explore historical iron-making sites: The region preserves Alabama's industrial heritage with restored furnaces and interpretive exhibits. "The park is full of historical buildings like an old mill, furnace, blacksmith shop, and restored cabins... We brought bikes and explored miles of trails, all clearly marked by difficulty level," reports a camper at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park Campground.

Mountain biking on dedicated trails: Multiple trail systems accommodate riders of all skill levels. "This place has everything, mtn bike, gravel bike, trail running, road running, road biking, golf, equestrian, sailing and fishing," notes one camper about the recreation options.

What campers like

Secluded backcountry sites: Some campsites offer a more remote experience despite proximity to urban areas. "The site we stayed at was only a short walk, maybe 15 min from the road but it felt like a totally different world. We had a huge area to set up our tents and there was a small stream that we could pump water from."

Upgraded campground facilities: Many parks have invested in improvements to camping areas. "They put a massive amount of money into updating this place. This is the #1 best state park campground I have ever been at," shares a camper at Oak Mountain State Park Campground.

Shaded sites for summer comfort: Tree cover becomes essential during hot months. "Site may have been stoned at one time but now its two tire paths... A30 level site and nearly full shade coverage," mentions a visitor about their camping experience in the region.

What you should know

Varying bathroom conditions: Facility quality differs significantly between campgrounds. "Remodeled bathhouses as well and kept clean even on a busy July 4th weekend. Gets morning sun but shade in the afternoon," reports one camper at Oak Mountain State Park.

Off-road vehicle opportunities: Some parks cater specifically to ATV enthusiasts. "Minooka is a really fun place. They just added several TV hookups and have an almost new bath house with large showers. Lots of trails to hit on the dirt bikes or ATVs," notes a visitor at Chilton County Minooka Park.

Wi-Fi and cell service reliability: Connectivity varies by location. "It has wifi throughout and almost everywhere in the park has cell reception," shares one camper about their experience. Another notes: "There's no public Wi-Fi, but we didn't miss it. T-Mobile service was decent—we were able to use our hotspot to stream TV at night."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "There is a nice sized jungle gym at the playground. My 8 year old son has been having a great time playing with other kids there," mentions a visitor at Peach Queen Campground.

Educational opportunities: Historical sites provide learning experiences. "Don't miss the TREE TOP NATURE TRAIL!" emphasizes one camper about their visit, while another mentions the "very neat trail with rescued owls, turkeys and red hawks."

Swimming options beyond lakes: Some campgrounds offer additional water features. "A key bonus to this park is the swimming pool... There appears to be a skeet range adjacent to the camp," notes a visitor at Brierfield Ironworks Historical Park.

Tips from RVers

Stopover convenience: Several campgrounds offer easy highway access. "Its right off the interstate and easy in/out. They have late self check for any spot open... Its quick, clean and 35 a night tax included," reports an RV camper.

Reservation timing considerations: Some campgrounds don't take advance bookings. "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."

Hookup availability: Utility access varies widely. "We stayed in site 122 in Campground 1, right on the creek. The sites are all gravel with picnic tables... 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."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Columbiana, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, Columbiana, AL offers a wide range of camping options, with 107 campgrounds and RV parks near Columbiana, AL and 16 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Columbiana, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Columbiana, AL is Oak Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 97 reviews.

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

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 free dispersed camping spots near Columbiana, AL.

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