Best Campgrounds near Cullman, AL

Cullman, Alabama features several established campgrounds with a mix of tent, RV, and cabin camping options within a 30-mile radius. Smith Lake Park offers waterfront camping with both developed and primitive sites, picnic tables, and lake access, while Thousand Trails Hidden Cove provides cabin rentals and RV sites with full hookups along Lewis Smith Lake. Cullman Campground and Good Hope Campground both cater primarily to RV campers seeking proximity to town amenities, though tent camping is available at some locations.

Access to most campgrounds around Cullman remains consistent year-round with primarily paved roads leading to developed sites. Several campgrounds maintain "all year" operating seasons, though summer brings higher temperatures and increased visitor numbers. As one camper noted, "Smith lake campground has a lot of great sites with plenty of shaded sites for summer camping. They have primitive and powered sites with most having picnic tables and some with shared water." Cell service varies throughout the region, with some visitors reporting spotty coverage in more remote areas. Most developed campgrounds offer basic amenities including drinking water, fire rings, and restroom facilities, while more primitive options may only provide minimal infrastructure.

The camping experience near Cullman centers around Smith Lake, with water activities serving as the primary attraction. Campgrounds like Smith Lake Park feature swimming areas, boat launches, and fishing access. According to visitor feedback, "The pool was nice. The lake is always nice, but the camping area itself feels like more of a trailer park than RV Park." Many campgrounds in the area show a strong seasonal resident presence, particularly in prime lakefront locations. Campers seeking more seclusion might prefer the primitive sites at Tomahawk Campground where creek access provides relief from summer heat. Visitors frequently mention the beautiful waterfall at nearby Noccalula Falls and the hiking opportunities available in the surrounding Bankhead National Forest as worthwhile day trips from Cullman area campgrounds.

Best Camping Sites Near Cullman, Alabama (110)

    1. Smith Lake Park

    12 Reviews
    Bremen, AL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 739-2916

    "I really enjoy Smith lake campground it has a lot of great sites. There are plenty of shades sites for summer camping."

    "Staying on tent site #55 power/ close to water spout. Bathhouse really close by nice shady lot."

    2. Cullman Campground

    6 Reviews
    Cullman, AL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 734-5853

    "Great place to stay for the night or longer. 2 miles off I-65 exit 310. Close to restaurants and shopping."

    "Off the beaten path but conveniently located close to town.
    The showers are really clean. We stayed the week of Thanksgiving, so it was decorated really cute."

    3. Palomino RV Resort

    5 Reviews
    Cullman, AL
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 737-0220

    $35 - $122 / night

    "Just 2/4 mile west of interstate 65 at exit 305. All sites are full service concrete pads with good Wi-Fi and lots of channels on the tv. We will be staying here again on our way home."

    "Pet park, tennis & basketball courts, playground & 2 lakes."

    4. Tomahawk Campground

    3 Reviews
    Baileyton, AL
    9 miles

    $8 - $15 / night

    "Campground Review:

    We really enjoyed  the weekend at Tomahawk Primitive Campground, a veteran owned, private campground, just outside Cullman, AL."

    5. Thousand Trails Hidden Cove

    13 Reviews
    Arley, AL
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Right on the lake but unaware of any kind of rentals available nearby— closest rentals are 40 mins away on the opposite side of the lake. Nearest Walmart is Cullman which is 45 mins away."

    "Plenty of amenities, pool, basketball court, disc golf, nice clubhouse with pool tables and other games/lounging, Lewis Smith Lake, nice playground, horseshoes, a lake overlook with gazebo and mini golf"

    6. Rickwood Caverns State Park Campground

    17 Reviews
    Hayden, AL
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 647-9692

    $17 - $30 / night

    "Somewhere in the vicinity, there was a faucet for washing dishes, etc., but it was surrounded by a giant mud puddle."

    "The sites were bordered by woods and hills which gave the kids lots to explore.

    The pool was closed when we were there in April, but I believe they said it was closed indefinitely."

    7. Clear Creek Recreation Area

    25 Reviews
    Arley, AL
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 300-1463

    $24 - $75 / night

    "While many reviews say the lakeside sites are first come, first serve, under the new management they are all booked in advance online."

    "The perimeter lake lots in the Hoot Owl Loop all had steps or path access from the site to the shore. This would be especially nice in the summer."

    8. Corinth Recreation Area

    26 Reviews
    Houston, AL
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 300-1513

    $18 - $50 / night

    "**Corinth Recreation Area– USFS **

    Corinth Recreation area is located near the town of Double Springs, Alabama."

    "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."

    9. Quail Creek RV Resort

    2 Reviews
    Falkville, AL
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 784-5033

    $36 - $40 / night

    "The site was plenty long enough to situate and disconnect for our two-night stay."

    "Close to 65."

    10. Good Hope Campground

    1 Review
    Cullman, AL
    4 miles
    +1 (256) 739-1319
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Recent Reviews near Cullman, AL

517 Reviews of 110 Cullman Campgrounds


  • Rae W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Boondock Dispersed Camping Alabama

    Simple & Peaceful

    Nice little spot out in the forest. Spotted the gravel road and went down a little to the first opening. Pretty decent sized clearing. You can hear cars on the road, but it didn’t bother us. Pretty warm, humid, and buggy this time of year, but cooled off through the night.

    The stars were incredible after the moon went down a bit. Lots of bird sounds especially in the morning. A previous camper had left behind some kindling, which was cool. Ended up having a little cell reception with T Mobile.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Lake Guntersville State Park Campground

    Great place for kids

    We went to Guntersville State Park campground for our first camping trip and really enjoyed it. We went on Labor Day weekend so it was pretty full. Even though nearly every campsite was booked, there was plenty of room for kids to roam, ride bikes, and play. I was really surprised how quiet it was despite the number of people there. No noise issues (other than my own kids). We spent alot of time at the playground and also a morning on the beach area. We’ll definitely be back one day.

  • Bobbie S.
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Jay Landings Marina & RV Park

    Beautiful Sunsets

    Absolutely beautiful place to stay with all the needed amenities plus extra! I felt very safe here every day while my husband was at work. They have a shower house, laundry room, several common areas to sit, docs, boat ramp, salt water pool & basketball hoop. But for the noise, this would be a five star place to stay. There is a scrap metal recycling plant beside the campground, a train not too far away (whistle blows at night 😫) and across the river is a nuclear power plant and a refinery. The grounds are very well kept with lovey landscaping, paved roads and level sites with crushed rock and grass. Jessica at the front desk was pleasant and easy to work with. I would absolutely stay here again.

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Northgate RV Travel Park

    Nice place to JUST stay in your RV

    Nice level gravel pull through sites. Full hook ups. Great water pressure. WiFi signal was very good ! Arrived on a Sunday afternoon and only one other RV was here. As explained in the description no bathhouse, pool or anything so just basic RVing. The only “complaints” were no fire pits for fires and is a little noisy from the highway traffic. Otherwise great pull thru full hookup RV park for the price.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 30, 2025

    Thousand Trails Hidden Cove

    Very nice, quiet campground

    Great campground & people! Only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is the lack of things to do. No fenced in dog park but plenty of space to have one. Right on the lake but unaware of any kind of rentals available nearby— closest rentals are 40 mins away on the opposite side of the lake. Nearest Walmart is Cullman which is 45 mins away. Wouldn’t recommend staying here if you prefer to be closer to the city but perfect if you want to be in the middle of the woods and have no reason to leave. Very hot, humid and rainy time of year! Would be back in the fall perhaps.

  • Nick E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 23, 2025

    Hidden Cove Thousand Trails

    Clean, Quiet, and Spacious

    Great little campground with awesome access to the lake. Great for Starlink and good AT&T reception.

  • Greg S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 21, 2025

    Monte Sano State Park Campground

    4.9 stars

    Pretty spectacular all around. Sites are spaced well, wooded, and many have direct access to the trails. The trails! So many! We saw 4 waterfalls, including one inside a cave. A mountain bikers or hikers paradise here. It is in a beautiful area with nice homes and mountain views. The camp store is great and the two gates with code are a nice touch. There are cool little wooden play obstacles for the kids in the campground and a huge playground 1/2 mile away inside the park. The Japanese garden is very cool also. Wonderful overlooks to take in the surrounding area. Just a short drive down the mountain to great shops and restaurants. Just what a state park should be. Loved our site along the trail and ridge.

  • WThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2025

    River Rocks Landing

    Nice Camp Ground

    Nice water views, campground staff helpful and friendly. Nice area close to restaurants if need to leave park.

  • Dave  K.
    May. 10, 2025

    Palomino RV Resort

    Palomino

    Nice concrete pads, park is ran very well by the city...clean and organized campground


Guide to Cullman

Camping in Cullman, Alabama centers around Lewis Smith Lake, a 21,000-acre reservoir with over 500 miles of shoreline. Dispersed camping options are limited in this region, with most camping concentrated at established campgrounds operated by the Corps of Engineers, Alabama State Parks, and private facilities. Summer temperatures typically range from 85-95°F with high humidity, while winter nights can drop below freezing.

What to do

Hiking in Bankhead National Forest: Visitors camping near Cullman can access the trails of Bankhead National Forest, located 30 minutes west. "We spent a lot of time walking with our kids on the trails and riding scooters around the campsite roads. Nature trails were extremely well kept with great views on the water," notes a camper from Corinth Recreation Area.

Cave exploring: Rickwood Caverns State Park offers underground exploration year-round. "The cave is fascinating and fun to tour too - lots of tight spaces and interesting formations. There is a bit of climbing (stairs) so if that's not your thing, you may want to think twice. We saw lots of super cute tiny bats but none of them ever bothered us," reports a visitor to Rickwood Caverns State Park Campground.

Swimming and water activities: During summer months, multiple campgrounds provide water access. "Great location by the water. This extremely crowded on holidays and the bathrooms are a bit of a walk from the tent camping, but if you are up for the walk it's not terrible. They have a small store which is nice as well and there is a gas station up the road," writes a camper at Smith Lake Park.

Golf nearby: Some campgrounds offer proximity to golf courses for those wanting to mix camping with other activities. "We played a round of golf and were surprised that the course is not very well maintained, but it does get a lot of play. The CG and the golf course are actually separate entities even though they are co-located," mentions a visitor to Quail Creek RV Resort.

What campers like

Creek access for cooling off: Smaller waterways provide relief from summer heat. "The creek was beautiful and clear, perfect for our dog to play in, and had good locations to set up a hammock and enjoy the peaceful creek sounds," writes a visitor at Tomahawk Campground.

Spacious lakefront sites: Many campers appreciate the waterfront locations. "The lots were beautifully wooded and spacing between each site was adequate, but you can definitely see from one site to the next. The perimeter lake lots in the Hoot Owl Loop all had steps or path access from the site to the shore. This would be especially nice in the summer," notes a visitor to Clear Creek Recreation Area.

Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathhouses receive positive mentions. "Bathhouse is really close by nice shady lot. Will try to book this one in the future. Bathhouse was clean considering more people last time I came it was off season and not the weekend was worried it would be too crowded," writes one camper at Smith Lake Park.

Quiet atmosphere: Some campgrounds maintain a peaceful environment despite being full. "This was by far one of the most quiet COE campground we have been to. Like is said, peace and quiet was the theme of the weekend. The camp was full but you would have thought the opposite based on how quite is was," mentions a visitor to Corinth Recreation Area.

What you should know

Road conditions: Some campgrounds have access challenges. "GPS took us in a very rural way with lots of twisty roads. One there we found an open spot on our own since it was a holiday the office was closed," notes a camper at Smith Lake Park.

Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly across the region. "We got 3 bars on Verizon. The CG WiFi was pretty good, but we put up our Starlink with no problem getting a northern shot," reports a camper at Quail Creek RV Resort, while another visitor at Thousand Trails Hidden Cove notes, "I had no reception with Verizon but my AT&T hotspot had good reception."

Permanent residents: Many campgrounds have long-term occupants. "It looked like the majority of the campers there were for the long haul," observes one visitor at Smith Lake Park, while another notes, "Sadly every spot you might be able to see the lake from was already taken by what seems to be someone living there full time."

Seasonality concerns: Summer heat and crowds affect the camping experience. "Park has a lot to offer if you're looking for more than just a night outdoors. Probably come back in the off season," recommends one camper at Smith Lake Park.

Tips for camping with families

Playgrounds and activities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated areas for children. "Park has cabins on site, places for RVs, and also areas for tents. There is a beach area and a boat launch. They have pavilions with grills and electrical outlets," notes a visitor to Smith Lake Park.

Swimming options: Water features are popular with families. "Olympic size pool fed by cave water!! Kids loved this campground! Low and high dive, great gift shop and cave tours," writes a visitor to Rickwood Caverns State Park Campground.

Kid-friendly sites: Some locations specifically accommodate families. "This campground is nice, small but nice. Bathrooms are clean kept, camp sites are shaded. The pool is big but wasn't open when we were there. It has a cave on site with a guided tour," notes a camper at Rickwood Caverns.

Tips from RVers

Hookup considerations: Pay attention to electrical capacity when booking. "Full hook ups and a fairly level grass pad. Not bad for an overnight. There are tons of thing to do here especially if you like to fish!" writes an RVer at Smith Lake Park.

Site selection: Choose carefully based on shade and levelness. "We were stopping in Cullman County to be with family. Since we were driving through with our RV, we stayed at Smith Lake for the evening. It was ok. The pool was nice. The lake is always nice, but the camping area itself feels like more of a trailer park than RV Park," cautions one visitor.

Weather preparedness: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain during rainy periods. "This is a great campground which puts you near all the magic of the Sipsey Wilderness Area in the Bankhead National Forest. We last camped here in May 2020 on Yellowhammer 21 and there was a bit of a sewer smell in that area when it's hot, so beware of that," advises a camper at Corinth Recreation Area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Cullman, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, Cullman, AL offers a wide range of camping options, with 110 campgrounds and RV parks near Cullman, AL and 4 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Cullman, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Cullman, AL is Smith Lake Park with a 3.7-star rating from 12 reviews.

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

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Cullman, AL.

What parks are near Cullman, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Cullman, AL that allow camping, notably National Forests in Alabama and Bankhead National Forest.